The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-01 00:00:00

broke her mast, which, falling, broke the gaff and her toTY-
sail hung over the mainsail to leeward. This was entirely
the effect of accident, and, being so, no protest was made
by the owners of the injured craft. This left the Astarte
second, the Vindex third, and the purge fourth. Half-way
down the Lower Hope the Mosquito was still a ~^,ouple of
boards a-head, the Vindex and Astarte holding a fine iase
for the second place. At the middle Thigh Buoy the
Mosquito still led as before, the struggle for second place
continuing between the Vindex and Astarte ; but on arriv-
ing at the Chapman the Astarte went ahead of her, the one
being on the port and the other on the starboard tack, the
Astarte holding a very good wind, but, as it was thought,
being somewhat slow in stays. Off Southend the Astarte
forereached the Mosquito, both being on the starboard tack ;
but in the next board the Astarte, being hampered by a
schooner, had to bear up, and thus give the Mosquito an
advantage, by which she profited, and so main took the
lead. The Astarte and Vindex now shifted their topsails,
and set jib-headed ones; but the Astarte again gradually
overhauled the Mosquito, the wind freshening, and went
into first place, which she continued to hold till rounding
the steamer. Throughout the journey down, the Vindex
had proved herself a very fine yacht to windward. There
was a signal of protest by the Vindex against the Astarte for
not giving way when upon the port tack, as she was bouni
to do, but it was not persevered in. The rounding was as
follows :

H. M.S.
1 Astarte
2 Mosquito
3 Vindex
4 Surge 3 20 25

In rounding the Viudes broke the jaws of her gaff. They
all now spanked up before the wind with a flowing sheet and
good flood tide under them, and nothing occurred worthy of
notice upon the return, the race finishing in the following
times and order :

H, M. S.

1 Astarte
2 Mosquito
3 Vindes
4 Surge . 5lB 35

Of the third• class match we are not able to say much, for
the reason before assigned. The Vampire, Satanella, and
Dudu were very smart in setting their canvas and getting
away, but the Zerlina and the Alexandra were somewhat
slower, The first three were soon in trim, but the Zerlina
getting her peak halyards foul was thrown astern of the
others. Placed in a line below the others they also made a
board to the north shore, and the Vampire soon after the
start took a decided lead, which she held some distance up,
There was some fine sailing between the Alexandra and
Dudu, and was continued to Thames Haven, where the
Alexandra led, the Dudu second, and Vampire third. but
ou approaching the Chapman, the wind freshening, the
Vampire passed her boats and took the first place, and from
that point continued to lead all the way down. No time
was kept at the turning boat, but the following is the order
in which they rounded :

Vampire three minutes ahead.
Dada second, by a minute.
Alexandra one minute ahead of the Zerlina, which was six
minutes before the Satanella.
They kept the same order all the way home, finishing as
follows :

H. M. S

1. Vampire
2. Dudu - 55 3
3. Alexandra
4. Satanella
Z2rlina, not timed.

The noble Commodore then presented Mr. A. Duncan,
of the Vindex, with the fi-st prize of his class, and Mr.
Houldsworth, of the Mosquito, with the second, winning
by time ; Captains Cermoran and Baldock, the owners of the
Vampire and Dudu, with the prizes of their class.
Too much praise cannot be given to Mr. Watt, the steward
of the Princess of Wales, ',for the excellence of the provi-
sions on board,