During the 19, century almost all the young men of Caernarfon took an interest in ships. Was it not the case that they witnessed many ships being loaded and unloaded daily in the Slate Quay? Caernarfon was a renowned Schooner Port and boys could not wait to leave school in order to go to sea. Many of them had studied Navigation under the watchful eye of Ellen Edwards, a particularly talented teacher of the subject in the town, and later in life would sit examinations to qualify first as Mates and then as Master Mariners.

It was from choice that such people became seafarers, but there were other young men of the town who were employed in less hazardous conditions, that were attracted to the sea. and many of them spent their leisure time in yachts and boats on the Menai Strait.

The young solicitor Llewelyn Turner, youngest son of William Turner, Parkia, wealthy quarry owner in the district, had his own yacht and would go sailing whenever he could. He was a successful competitor in Regattas both locally and in the South of England.

At the early age of 24 he became one of the founders of the Royal Welsh Yacht Club at Porth yr Aur and remained a respected officer of the club throughout his long life. September 18. This year is the hundredth anniversary of his death and, no doubt, we shall hear more of his deeds on behalf of Caernarfon during the year.

As the owner of his own yacht, however, he was an exception and certainly not all the young men of the town could afford a yacht. But that did not deter many of them from enjoying their leisure hours on the Menai Strait.

Across the Aber Bridge and 200 yards or so to the left of it was a building that housed The Caernarfon Rowing Club, where many young men learned and practised the skills of an oarsman and of racing rowing boats.

One Bank Holiday, Whit Monday of 1870, six of the club members embarked on what became a feat much talked about in Caernarfon for years afterwards. A feat that was proof of the fitness of these young men. They had set their minds on rowing around the Isle of Anglesey and to complete the journey in one day.

Their boat was a gig aptly named "Volunteer" and they commenced rowing from the Caernarfon entrance to the Menai Strait at 5 o clock in the morning. By 2 o clock in the afternoon, 9 hours later, they had travelled the length of the West side of the island, had passed Holyhead and then eastwards to Amlwch, where they stopped for a meal. Thence they made their way homeward past Moelfre and Beaumaris, went under both the Menai and Britannia Bridges and arrived at Caernarfon shortly after 10 o clock in the evening.

Some feat, one might say, and it was estimated that they had covered a distance of over 70 miles that day. One cannot help wondering whether this record has ever been broken, or has a similar feat ever been attempted since this one that was achieved 133 years ago.