Antique Kobe Sailing Club Pennant Flag, K.S.C Japan, Champion Dinghy Class 1919, Mary
Very rare, presumably unique !
Kobe and Yokohama sailing clubs had a very close relationship and were at the forefront of pioneering sailing in Japan, around the 1900's They had many regattas and sailing events together. I understand this reference to 'Mary' on this flag relates to a boat belonging to T. M. Laffin, who was a member of the Yokohama Yacht Club. 'Mary' would have won this particular championship and was an infamous boat of this period.
Sewn satin fabric, potentially silk.
Original & authentic to the 1919 date, not reproduction.
40cm x 63cm approx
Period roped tassels, with wood upper batten.
Further information about yacht 'MARY' is below.
This cutter yacht was built in Yokohama in 1891 by her owner, T. M. Laffin,
Esq. She was originally a cat boat with a centreboard. She did not prove a
success, and her rig was changed to a sloop. The following year, she was
further improved by taking out the centreboard and putting on a keel with some
of her ballast outside. Her rig too was again changed, this time to a cutter.
But her owner was not yet content and the third season saw her appear with a
Gloriana bow and a long counter. At the same time, her owner was not yet
content and the third season saw her ballast was all put successful, and now she
is a very fast and able little craft.
This description depicts how her owner modified the vessel over and over again
within a very short period to improve her performance in preparation for entering
races, and thus indicates the seriousness of the Club.
Thomas Melvin Laffin was an American seaman that settled in Japan about 1886, married a Japanese girl and together they had 8 children. All 5 girls are buried in Japan. The boys are buried in New York State, California and Hawaii. Thomas established a successful business in Yokohama.
Good used condition for age and application, with some wear, marks, creases and discolouration.
I have included some additional images in the photos, just for reference. Images of the boat 'Mary', Thomas Laffin (left hand side gentleman) Yokohama Yacht Club & Kobe pennant flags, Mary pennant flag and yachts / dinghy of the period sailing in the bay.
I have other related Kobe and Yokohama sailing club flags available, which I will be listing separately.
The Kobe Regatta & Athletic Club has a long and fascinating history spanning three centuries. The club's fortunes have been closely tied to the oft turbulent emergence of modern Japan. The club has survived extremes of fortune which would have felled any lesser an organisation, yet through the persistence and dedication of its members, the club can look back on a record of significant contribution to the lives of both foreigners and Japanese in the Kobe region and beyond for over 135 years. As such, it is important to understand the history of the development of the port of Kobe.
It was in the Oriental Hotel within the Foreign Settlement that the clubs' founder met with 31 other enthusiasts, gathered by a notice in the Hyogo News. At this meeting, on the 23rd of September 1870. This was less than three years after the Port of Kobe had been opened when the foreign population, excluding Chinese, stood at only 300. Mr A. C. Sim, a Scotsman, a pharmacist by profession and an all round athlete, would become a part of the fabric of Kobe over the next 30 years. In 1870, within six months of its foundation, the club moved into a newly fabricated boathouse and gymnasium in an area known as the Eastern Chamber on the southern shore of the Kobe Foreign Settlement - the current site of Kobe Customs House at the end of the Flower Road. This was the stage for Kansai's first ever regatta, held on December 24th, 1870 with Cameron Sim acting as umpire and starter.
In 1871 the first interport sporting event between the 'Southern port', Kobe and 'Northern port', Yokohama was held. As the railway did not extend as far as Kobe at that time the Kobe rowing team travelled to Yokohama by steamer to compete with the Yokohama Rowing Club and the Nippon Rowing Club. Here began the long tradition of annual interport sporting fixtures between Kobe and Yokohama which are still keenly competed today.
Many persons and organisations have laid spurious claims to have introduced certain sports to Japan. The fact is that clubs such as the Kobe Regatta & Athletic Club and its counterpart in Yokohama, the YC&AC, served as incubators for non-Japanese sports such as football, rugby, baseball, sailing, yachting, rowing and tennis. The clubs would often organise games against crew members from visiting warships and other vessels. The Japanese, students in particular, observed with considerable interest. In this informal manner western sports were first introduced to Japan.