Yacht, yot, a pleasure boat. The word is of Dutch origin, from yagen, to chase, and means a swift hunting vessel. The term is applied to a variety of ships propelled by wind, steam, or electricity. The term is somewhat indefinite. A yacht may be used for racing, cruising, or exploring, but not for carrying passengers or freight. Some yachts designed for inland waters are little larger than skiffs. Others, like the royal yacht of the emperor of Germany, are built for seagoing service. The word appears to have been introduced into England in connection with a boat given by the Dutch to Charles II in 1660. There are now in Great Britain about 120 yacht clubs. There are about 200 yacht clubs in the United States, with nearly 5,000 yachts. The oldest and most celebrated in this country is the New York Yacht Club organized in 1844. It contains a number of millionaire members whose yachts cost from $60,000 to $500,000 each. In 1851 the America crossed the Atlantic and entered for a race around the Isle of Wight, winning the race and the cup. This cup was set aside by its American owner as an international trophy. It is at present held in America. Sir Thomas Lipton, the importer of the Lipton teas, has spent what to most men would be a fortune in building yachts and attempting to lift the American cup. Yacht racing has been reduced to an exact science. Rules have been adopted covering almost every conceivable point of size, sails, starting, course, etc. The largest pleasure yachts are about 300 feet in length. The Niagara, owned by Howard Gould, cost him $500,000. During the yachting season its maintenance involves an expense of $10,000 a month. The most noted American yacht builders are the Herreshoffs of Bristol, Rhode Island. There are seven brothers--three are blind--all are designers and builders and sailors. They built the America, the Vigilant, the Defender, and the Columbia,--all winners in the cup races. They started in life with nothing but jackknives.