The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-09-06 00:00:00

Corsttsbirt.

WEYMOUTH REGATTA.

Our annual aquatic file came off on Monday week
'under tolerably favourable circumstance. For in-
stance, those usually morose hut latent influences,
the weather authorities, comb:ace:pled to smile so far
boaignly On the prooeetlings as to defer their "hostile
showers" until late in the afternoon, and by this con-
siderate forheanume gave pretty ample scope for en-
joyment to the large number of holiday folk whom
the railways brought by every train to the gay and
festive scene. Another cause of the affair assuming
a more spirited tone than in former years, was the
wise arrangement of the committee in condensing
their programme into • single day, instead of &lip
ting the ma:end at their disposal, and *uttering it to
drag its slow length along into a second edition, thus
indict*/ much unnecessary tedium on the sight-see-
ing public. The weather, for sailing purposes, was
magnificent.

" The fair breeze blew, the white foam dew,
The furrow followed free."
The hay consequently presented a very animated as-
pect, with its numerous freight of yachts and other
"craft," riding at anchor or skimming here and
there and spreading their wings under the influence
of the enlivening breeze. On shore the Esplanade
was lined with many hundreds of spectators, and
formed a Very appropriate " setoff" to the busy spec-
tacle no the waters. Much of the attractiveness of
the regatta is due to the hand of the Bedford militia,
which was kindly permitted to play during the after-
noon, and for • time noinopolized the largest share
of public attention, which could not fail to lend a
willing ear to so excellent • performance. Our Town
band too, "assisted" very ably in the general enjoy-
ment. The following is • programme of the different
matches and their result,

Members' Purse of Fifty Sovereigns, open to all
schooners.
Distance four times round marks. Time race, 30
seconds a ton. The entries were:
Wildfire, (J. T. Turner, Esq.)
Lenenehire Witch, (H. Faueett & W. Jeseop,
Fairy Queen, (G. Binlmp, Esq.)
An excellent start Wll4 made at lh. ina and the
first round terminated thus:

MP toss

11. n. a.
Wildfire 2 32 13
Lancashire Witch 2 44 0
Fairy queen 2 50 0
The lsst named yacht then gave up. Second round
aa follow.:
Wildfire
Lancashire Witch 4 26 0

The Lancashire Witch retired, leaving the Wild-
fire to "walk round the course," and she finished her
third round at sh. 31m., Mr. Turner being the win-
ner of the prize. Whatever of racing took place in
this contest was remarkably good, and the sailing of
the Wildfire elicited unqualified admiration from
nautical judges.

A Purse of Thirty Sovereigns, to be sailed for by
yachts not exceeding 35 tons. Three to start. His.
tance three times round marks :
Secret (H. J. Waring, EN.)
Laxly Bird...(J. P. Lethbridge. Esq.) 3O „
Enchantress . (T. Atkinson, Esq.) lO „
The start wee made at lh. 18m
YIRST HOUND.

Secret
TAdy Bird
Endiantraes " gime up
111•COND 101/14D.

Secret
Ladybird
THIRD ROUND.

4250
withdrew

Secret
627 0
The Secret was therefore the winner.
A Puree of Twenty Sovereigns for Yachbi not
exceeding twenty-live tons. Distance, as previous
race.
Little Dorritt, (S. 15. Talbot, Eq.)
Folly, (W. L Parry, Esq.)
Rare Avis, (Capt. (husky.)
Gipsy, (J. F. Delaney. Esq.)
Quiver, (D. T. Chamber[Jayne, Seq.)
rindly, (T. Durant, Esq.)
The start was made at 12h. 20m.
FIRST ROUND.
Tittle DUMB
Folly 1 :V) 0
Firefly
Rows Avis 1 44 45
The Quiver, having carriedaw ay some portion o
her rigging was obliged to retire before completing
the first round, and the Gipsy, being a schooner, de-
clined starting on account of the wind.
SECOND ROUND.
I.ittle Dorritt
Polly .
Hera A vis 3 5 15
A Purse of Five Sovereigns, for sprit-sail boats be
longing to the port. Throe to start.
Ocean Bride, (F. Vincent.) 1
Nancy, (W. Bussel.)
Puffin, (J. Tissrd.)
Before the regatta concluded a violent shower took
plasm, which of course caused a general .0 tree qui peed
for shelter, and the Eeplanade was speedily deserted.
In consequence, the boat racing, duck-hunt, &c. was
deferred until the following day. One excellent
rowing match however, bail taken place—between
six launches of her Majesty's fleet, for a purse of
five sovereigns. Two boats each (ruin the Neptune,
Edgar, and Imperieuse entered. This was a very
spirited race, and the twenty oared boat' contending
with the wind and waves were • sight worth seeing.
The match was won by the Edgar's launches. A pri-
vate rowing match for £2, also occured between a
four oared galley manned from the crew of the Biter
gun-beat, and another galley belonging to Mr. Bar-
rett, painter of Weymouth, and rowed by "New.
Quay-End-Men." It was • keenly contorted race,
and resulted in favour of the IVeymouthians. In ad-
dition to the above, there were various shore ameee-
ments, such as donkey racing, jumping in sacks, boy
races, &c. All of which, under the direction of Mr.
11 N. Howard, as master of the revels, were regarded
by the spectators on shore—at least the nautically
ignorant—as the best part of the fun. The rain,
however, put an untimely end to this portion of the
amusement, leaving the pig with the greasy tail to
make hie unwilling debut the following day, and also
unceremoniously Lurking various other ingenious
contrivances for the public delectation.