The annual regatta pulling races were held at Salonica, and the sailing races at Lemnos. An additional prize was presented by the Vali of Salonica to the winners of the all-comers race. Tryon directed that the junior midshipman should accept the prize for the winners, on the grounds that he would most likely live longest to remember the event. The sailing events took place at Moudros Bay, a large expanse of water largely surrounded by low-lying land providing good sailing conditions, and plenty of opportunity for officers to go ashore and hunt local game. On this occasion the admiral's cup was won by Commander Tate of the Colossus. The two divisions now separated again, the first with Tryon returning to Malta for the winter. Sinking of HMS Victoria and drowning of Vice-Admiral Tryon On 22 June 1893, the fleet was on exercises when Tryon's flagship, HMS Victoria, sank following a bizarre order from him which brought it in collision with the flagship of his second-in-command, Rear Admiral Sir Albert Markham. Tryon went down with his ship, his last reported words being "It is all my fault". Tryon was considered by many of his contemporaries to be a supremely competent yet radical officer, but with a strong and sometimes overbearing personality. This manner was felt to be a contributory cause to the accident. For instance, an article in Society Journal Talk in July 1893 (following the accident) said, "Much has been said about George Tryon's charm of manner, and the rest of it, but in truth he was, at any rate when officially engaged, a very brusque and dictatorial man. Unfortunately he was a 'viewy' man too, a man of theories..." His son Tryon's son was the Conservative politician, George Tryon, 1st Baron Tryon. See also Battle of Sinop British Mediterranean Fleet References Bibliography Andrew Gordon, The Rules of the Game: Jutland and British Naval Command, John Murray, London, 1996. Richard Hough, Admirals in Collision, Hamish Hamilton Ltd, London, 1959. Rear-Admiral C. C. Penrose Fitzgerald, Life of Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon K. C. B., William Blackwood and sons, Edinburgh and London, 1897 External links 1832 births 1893 deaths People educated at Eton College Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath People from North Northamptonshire Deaths due to shipwreck at sea Royal Navy personnel of the Crimean War Royal Navy vice admirals Military personnel from Northamptonshire Permanent Secretaries to the Admiralty