STRUGGLE WITH THE ESTATE ORGANIZATION OF THE ESTLAND IMPERIAL YACHT CLUB

The Estland Imperial Yacht Club at the time of its creation was a closed sports organization for representatives of the nobility and the richest merchants in the Baltic provinces of the Russian Empire. The establishment of the yacht club found wide support among the noble families in the Baltics. Initially, the aristocrats and merchants of the Baltic provinces perceived the Estland Yacht Club as a closed estate sports organization. The charter of the new public organization was approved by the Russian naval department together with officials from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The main task, announced by the founders of the new yacht club, was to develop interest in sailing among the population of the Baltic provinces. However, from the entire population of the Baltic provinces, the "imperial" yacht club included only representatives of aristocrats and merchants. It was they who could own private small floating craft and take part in all-Russian and international competitions. However, at the beginning of the twentieth century. in the Russian Empire, the massive development of water sports begins. Student yacht clubs were gradually formed, and many imperial sports organizations began to hold rowing and sailing competitions for the common people. In such a situation, the Estland Imperial Yacht Club is trying to overcome its class character, but taking into account the social position of the Baltic nobility and merchants, it retains its initially closed character