The Express.
London, England, 1863-08-14 00:00:00

ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB REGATTA.

Wednesday was set aside as the "quiet " day in
the programme of the Royal Victorians. At 1.25 p.m. the
fleet stood away S.A.E., the Commodore leading in his
schooner, the Aline, and some hours afterwards, after
mancenvriog at Bpithead, paring Rvde pier-head in two
divisions, in single file, led by the Commodore at the bead
of the schooner line, and by the Vice-Commodore, Lord
Borleigh, in his yacht, the Osprey, at the heed of the
cutters. As the yachts passed within speaking distance
of the pier-bead a most excellent view was obtained
by the numerous assemblage on the pier of each
vessel, and the spectacle was one that will not
be easily forgotten by any who were so fortunate as to
witness it. Fifteen schooners, thirteen cutters, eix yawls,
and two screw steamers thus passed in procession by the
pier in all the glory of well-kept bulls, snow-white canvas,
and coloured bunting. The day, however, did not pass off
quietly.. intended, • most exciting contest springing up
between the Alarm Rod the Gipsy—the Alarm bearing down
upon the latter, and giving • friendly challenge. The wind
wail just sufficient to keep the two vessels' sails well full
from 11.5. E., but veered slightly more to the southward as
the race progressed. The two craft luffed as close u pos-
sible to the shoals of the Sand and Noman, the celebrated
cutter Arrow being seen in pursuit about four cables'
length astern, for apparently a little fun of bar own. At
3h. 20m. 30s. the Alarm opened out clear of Nettlestose.
point to view from the pser-head at Ryde ; and the Gipsy
followed suit at 3b. 24m. From here they ran down dead
before the wind for the Noman buoy, which was passed by
the Alarm at 4h. Wm 41s. and by the Gipsy at 4h. 14m.
575. Hauling in round the Sandhead, both came on before a
nice breeze, about 8.8. E., for the anchorage of the Victoria.
in Rycle-roads. and passed the pier-head, at the conclusion
of their most friendly but exciting contest, in the following
order and time :

B. B. S.
Alarm
Gipsy 4 46 65
The English Alarm thee beat the American Gipsy in point
of time ; but there are several things to be considered, and
especially by English protesatonal yacht builders. First.
whatever credit belongs to the Alarm, as the acknowledged
fastest English achooner yacht in all weathers, such credit
can only be claimed by her veteran owner. Mr. Weld, who
originally deeigoed bar, and has subsequently planned all
her alterations during her existence as a cutter, and in her
transformation to a schooner. Secondly, had yesterday's
been a time tare the Gipsy meet have won ; and thirdly,
the Gipsy yesterday sailed with the same spars and canvas
with which she recently crossed the Atlantic, and to fit her
for this purpose, and render her comfortable to her owner,
Mr. A. biome and his family, who all crossed from New
York to Queenstown in her, she bad eight feet cut off bee
lower made before leaving New York, and her bulwarks
eensiderably raised. In her racing trim, that is, with her
full allowance of spars and canvas, the odds would he in bar
favour, even in a straggle with the famous Alarm. Under-
wood, the pilot, who sailed the America in 1851, railed the
Gipsy,
.and we are informed that Nicholls jockeyed the
Alarm

A RionrrEann Lrrl"lnt-BAO Leer. —The General
Post-office authorities have announced a reward of 501. for
the recovery of a mail-bag contaiciog registered letters,
which by some means was lost in its transit from Ipswich to
London, on Woodsy night. It is rumoured that many of
the letters had valuable contents, and the report receives
some ecairmstioa from the Um that the next day (Tuesday)
was clearing day M the London commercial world. The
lose of the bag is at present a mystery.