The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-21 00:00:00

AQUATICS.

THE GREAT CHANNEL SAILING MATCH FROM
GRAVESEND TO RYDE PIER.

IThis race, emanating from several influential yachtsmen
at the Union Yacht Club House, Gravesend, came off on
Saturday last, June 18th, and was started under the able
management of Lord do Ros, vice-commodore of the
R.T.Y.C., assisted by Capt. Tucker, R.N., the harbour-
master, and Capt. Grant, secretary R.T.Y.C.; the noble
lord having kindly consented to arrange the start accord-
ing to the instructions of the ocean match to Harwich on the
4th. The vessels consequently took their stations in tiers of
three, the cutters being lower down the river, and the
schooners forming the upper division, anchored a little above
the Union Yacht Club House. The following were entered,
but the Amazon did not start :
SCHOONERS.
Station, Yacht. Tons. Owner.
4. Galatea
Blue Bell 82 .... Mr Edwards
2. Madcap .. 7l Mr J. S. A. Dunbar
1. Medea 7O Mr W. J. It'dcout
CUTTERS.
5. Marina
4. Night Thought 61 .... Mr J. D. Lee
3. Volante
2. Amazon
1. Vindex
The race was a sweepstakes of five soya each in each divi-
sion, with a time allowance, double Ackers' scale ; the start
to take place when the second flag (red) should be hauled
down at the U. Y. C. house. It being high water about
114 a.m., it wos arranged by Lord de Ros that the vessels
should start as nearly as possible at 11 30 a.m., and all to
cast to the southward. The signal having been given at
11 29, the start was magnificent, the vessels having
weighed anchor within a few seconds of one another ; wind
W.N.W, strong and squally. Amidst the cheers of the
spectators the Blue Bell, Marina, Vindex, and Volante
were off together; Blue Bell and Marina being the smartest.
The Madcap, Medea, and Galatea bringing up the rear.
Abreast of the Lobster, Madcap, Marina, and Blue Bell
were beam and beam, and next Volante and Vindex, Medea,
Galatea, and Night Thought in the rear rank, some 200
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entering Lower Hope, Blue Bell second, Madcap, Volante,
and Vindex abreast, Galatea and Medea 200 yards astern,
Coal House Buoy was passed by Marina first, Blue Bell
second, Vindex, Volante, Galatea, and Madcap all in a
cluster. Wind freshening, clear blue sky. Night Thought
and Medea astern. At 12 1 Blue Bell and Marina were beam
and beam, Blue Bell to windward, Vindex a quarter of a
mile astern, Volante next, Medea and Night Thought astern.
Off Mucking Marina still led, Blue Bell two lengths astern,
to windward ; Galatea walking up fast, Madcap fourth, Vo-
lante fifth, Vindex sixth, and Medea to windward; Night
Thought astern. Below Shoal-Haven, Galatea set square-
headed topsails, and at 12 29, wind lessening, Marina did
the same, Blue Bell abeam of Marina to windward, Galatea
coming up, Vindex a mile astern, Abreast of the Chapman,
tide one hour's ebb, Galatea passed under the lee of Blue
Bell, took first place, Marina ranging well up, Volante far
astern, then Vindex, Medea, &c. Very little wind, hot sun.
Galatea now took a decided lead, her balloon staysail begin-
ning to fill, and Volante shifted her jib-headed for square-
headed topsail. At 12 52, off Yantlett, came up with Clytie,
Flying Fish, and other schooners—positions unchanged.
Soranend at 1, Marina making up to Galatea, Blue Bell,
Volante, and Madcap together, a mile astern. Off Sheer-
ness Marina jibed, wind W. by S. and paltry, Galatea
making for Mouse, Blue Bell a mile behind. Passed Nore
Light at 1 31, Marina leading, and tide half ebb. Galatea
now went for the Alexandra passage, Volante 200 yards
astern of Marina, both making for the five-fathom
channel with all canvas set ; weather superb. At 142 wind
freshened, and Marina :increased her lead of the cutters,
Galatea in the Alexandra channel, Volante astern of Marina
on the starboard tack, Madcap half a mile behind, thenVin-
dex and Night Thought three miles to the bad ; wind
W.N.W., Blue Bell leading by about 100 yards, Marina
second, Galatea about a mile from the west buoy in the
Ouse channel. At 2 4 Marina jibed to N. for the five-
fathom channel, the rest (except Galatea) by the overland
route, Madcap following astern. Passed West Spaniard
Buoy at 2 9, Blue Bell first, Marina second, Volante third,
Madcap fourth, and Galatea to the north, bound for the
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- second on the starboard bow, Blue Bell third, MadVaVricntielnha:tspael
fourth, Volanto fifth, steering N.W. At the Reculvers the
Marina jibed to the land, leading the lot, Volante second,
Madcap fourth, Vindex fifth, Medea and Night Thought
several miles off, and the Galatea about four miles to the
N.E. in the Alexandra channel. Passed the Tongue light-
ship at 3 38, Marina steering E.S.E., Volante close up on
her starboard quarter, and a splendid race between them ;
fine weather. Breasted Margate pier at 4 p.m., four and a
half hours from the start, when the Volante went ahead to
leeward and led the fleet. Galatea was clear of Margate
Sands at 4 o'clock, and began to draw on the others, pass-
ing North Foreland at 4 25, going at a spanking rate.
Marina jibed to port, Volante leading, Blue 801 l third,
Madcap fourth, a mile astern. Rounding the North Fore-
land Galatea was two miles ahead of the rest, Madcap
stood to N.E. and passed Kingsgate Castle,Volante second,
and Marina third, at 4 35, Blue Bell fourth, Madcap filth,
Vindex sixth, and the others out of sight. North
Foreland Light, wind W. by N. freshening, Volante and
Marina going away at a spanking pace. Marina to wind-
ward 110 yards astern, and Galatea increasing her lead.
Passed Ramsgate Pier at 4 55, breeze freshening, and at
5 6 breasted the Middle Brake Buoy, every stitch of can-
vas drawing, Galatea increasing her lead, and going ahead
wonderfully ; Volante second, a quarter of a mile ahead of
Marina; Blue Bell 4, a mile and a half astern; Madcap
5, the rest hull down, Passed South Drake Buoy at 6 15
reached the Downs at 5 19, wind W., and Galatea increas-
ing her lead, and passing the South Foreland at 5 30; Vo.
lante 2, Mariana 3, Blue Bell 4, Mapcap 5, two miles
astern, and Medea nowhere, The Yolante's bobetay now