Note 11 — Chapter IV · THE THAMES CLUBS AND WINDERMERE

For some unexplained reason, 1782 was the last year that the Duke gave a cup to the 'Fleet.'[11] He certainly remained its patron up to his death in 1790, but he ceased to take any personal interest in the affairs of the club. This cup was won by the 'Caroline,'[12] belonging to Captain Coffin, and seems to have had a curious history, as in 1886 it was discovered in a pawnshop at San Francisco, and, it is said, was bought and raced for by some yacht club in America. On August 10, 1782, the first below-bridge match of the Cumberland Fleet took place. It was between the 'Caroline,' Captain Coffin, and the 'Eagle,' Captain Grubb, for a wager of 40l.: the course being from Cuckolds Point to the Lower Hope, and back again. The 'Caroline' won easily.