(Recto) Trial of Sailing; 'Phaeton' the winner passing 'Trafalgar' (the turning point), off Malaga, 17 July 1852; (Verso) near collision between 'Dauntless' and 'Trafalgar' RMG PZ0870-001

(Recto) Trial of Sailing; 'Phaeton' the winner passing 'Trafalgar' (the turning point), off Malaga, 17 July 1852; (Verso) near collision between 'Dauntless' and 'Trafalgar'
No. 22 of 36 (PAI0849 - PAI0884).
(Recto) Inscribed in pencil top left, 'July 17th 1852 / Trial of Sailing / Fresh westerly wind - off Malaga'; and along the bottom in ink identifying the ships of the Mediterranean fleet involved: 'Vengeance', 'Encounter', 'Highflyer / (Second)', 'Phaeton/ (Winner)', 'Trafalgar / (Turning Point)', 'Indefatigable', 'Arrogant', 'Albion', 'Dauntless', 'Bellerophon'. The 'Trafalgar' (Mends's ship) is shown hove-to with her bow towards the Spanish coast and the other vessels racing to be first round her from the westward. These sailing trials were a regular form of 19th-century naval exercise, for reasons of practice and morale, in a period of extended peace - albeit one shortly to be broken by the Crimean War. In this case they probably formed part of the Mediterranean fleet's summer cruise from Malta - itself an exercise combined with 'showing the flag'. All the ships shown appear to be under sail only, though some (including 'Highflyer','Encounter' 'Dauntless' and 'Arrogant') had auxiliary steam. See also PAI0872 for a further such exercise, mixing sail and steam, off Cabo de Gata two weeks later.
(Verso) Inscribed in ink top left 'Near collison between / Dauntless & Trafalgar / July 17th 52', and 'Dauntless' and 'Trafalgar' below the two ships shown. This is in starboard bow view dangerously close together, with the 'Dauntless' under sail only, close-hauled into the wind on the starboard tack, and the 'Trafalgar' beyond hove-to. This very sharply executed drawing is clearly an incident during the sailing trial, and was no doubt caused by 'Dauntless' attempting to round 'Trafalgar' as the turning point as closely as possible so as not to lose her race position, which the recto image suggests was already second to last.

Trial of Sailing; 'Phaeton' the winner passing 'Trafalgar', off Malaga