Notes
Commodore Archie Palmer’s yachting history is deeply woven into the local lore of the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club during the mid-20th century. He was widely known on the Hamilton Harbour not just as a prominent club leader, but as an incredibly generous figure who used his prized vessel to support local yachting culture, junior sailors, and marathon athletes
Commodore Palmer’s pride and joy was the Diamond H, a magnificent 53-foot Richardson motor yacht. Docked at the Hamilton Harbour Commission slip, the yacht was a local landmark. Because of its substantial size and power, it was uniquely suited for heavy-duty open-water duties on Lake Ontario.
Before high-powered modern trailers were common, transporting smaller racing vessels across Lake Ontario for out-of-town competitions was a major logistical challenge. Commodore Palmer solved this for local racers. On regatta weekends, he would tie up to six 6-metre racing vessels in a massive line behind the Diamond H and tow them across Lake Ontario to events in Toronto. To keep the crews in good spirits during the long tow across the lake, Archie would famously float baskets of treats and food down a long line to the sailors trailing behind him.
Local historians and older club members fondly recall Archie Palmer’s dedication to teaching the next generation. He frequently opened the Diamond H to groups of junior sailors, giving them tours of the harbour to instill a passion for navigation and seamanship.
When he wasn't on the water, the Diamond H served as a premium floating grandstand. On local race nights, the yacht’s slip offered an unobstructed view of the course. Archie and his friends would sit out on the deck of the Diamond H, closely watching the 8 six-metre boats battle it out on the water and placing friendly bets on the outcomes.
For major events on Lake Ontario such as the grueling 1964 Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) marathon swims, large motor yachts like the Diamond H were frequently volunteered or commissioned to serve as crucial official escort boats, support vessels, or tow boats for the swimmers and their crews.
Whether volunteering the Diamond H to escort international athletes safely through freezing waters during the 1964 CNE Marathon Swim or simply supporting local club events, Commodore Palmer represented an era of yachting defined by community spirit, mutual aid, and a shared love for the Hamilton waterfront.