The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-17 00:00:00

FIRST CLASS.

- - -
Station. Yachts. Tons. Owners.
1. Cissey
2. Albertine
•i. Diadem 126 Mr R. Watt.
4. Galatea 131 Mr T. Broadwood.
SECOND CLASS.
1. Fleur•de•Lys 80 Mr H. W. Birch,
2. Agueline.... 59 Mr 11. Chamier,
3. Medea 69 Mr NV, J. Hideout.
4. lolanthe 75 Mr H. Bridson.
5. Intrepid
6. Madcap 70 Mr J. S. Dunbar.
7. Flying Fish 42 Mr G. Jessop.
8. Blue Bell
9. Hesperus 33 Mr T. M. Dodington.
Of these the whole contended but the Diadem and Hesperus.
The races were open to all Royal Yacht Clubs, the prizes
being apiece of plate value £1 0 for the first class, of yachts
exceeding 100 tons; and a piece of plate value £5O for the
second class, not exceeding 100 tons. The above list comma
prised some of the finest schooners afloat ; but it was to be
regretted that the wind was not such as to try their sailing
qualities.

There were besides the commodore's yacht, with his
illustrious guests, and the club steamer, the Oread and the
Queen of the Thames, filed with company, and a fleet of
fifty gentlemen's yachts. The yachts were, as it appeared,
in three lines, but this was the effect of accident. They had
been arranged in two lines, but a part of the smaller craft
had dragged their anchors, the only difference originally in
position between the first and second class being that the
larger craft were in a lane a few yards above the others.
The signal to get ready was given at 1020, and in five
minutes afterwards a gun proclaimed the time for going off,
the noble vice-commodore having as usual officiated in the
disposal of the yachts at their stations and superintending
and directing the race. When the gun to start was fired
the Eagle took the Water Lily in tow, and owing to a tier
of barges below Tilbury Pier it became necessary to swing
both the steamer and the yacht, and the nautical skill dis-
played by Capt. Ryan, the commander of the Eagle, in per-
forming this difficult task with vessels of such length,
gained for him the universal applause of experienced men
who witnessed it, and the yacht, with her Royal freight,
evenly fell into the rear of the ponderous steamer.
The wind was southerly, and there was a nice little breeze
at the time of starting, but it unfortunately did not con-
tinue long. The Intrepid swung well and made the best
start ; the Blne Bell let go her spring too soon, and not
being able to get round went ashore, from whence she was
in five minutes afterwards towed off, but although she
continued the race she was, of course, disqualified. The
lolanthe and Albertine, at a minute after they swung,
took the lead, and all set balloon topsails and jibs, and
began to move briskly, with the wind aft. On entering
Gravesend Reach there was a very beautiful sight. As far
as the range of vision would extend, the eye beheld a perfect
cloud of canvas belonging to the accompanying vessels, while
close within view from the steamers were the contending
craft, courting by every means in their power the gentle
zephyrs, which became more gentle every minute. There
was at that moment the Galatea to windward, half-a-dozen
yards ahead of the Albertine and Cissey to the north, while
the Medea, Fleur-de-Lys, and remainder of that class were
almost beam and beam to the southward. As they con-
tinued down the reach the Albertine gained slightly, but
the advantage was almost momentary, and was as soon lost,
and the Albertine, Cissey, and Medea were all again almost
in a line. The wind now almost died off, leaving the
Galatea to windward, the Cissey to leeward, with Madcap
in the best position, and close to her the Cissey. As the
wind died away, all the vessels were again together, and it
became sheerly a matter of chance for a long way which
should lead, some of the sternmost boats bringing down a
nice light air with them, while the others were almost be-
calmed. Some of the larger vessels came up to the Medea
and Fleur-de-Lys, and the Albertine then shot to windward
of the Fleur-de-Lys and tried to go by the Galatea, but
could not. It would have been difficult to have crowded
more canvas upon the yachts than they bore; the Medea
had an enormous balloon jib set to her topmast-head, and
certainly profited by it; but as vr e have before said there
was nothing to try what the yachts could do, and their posi-
tions became uncertain by the wind blowing ont from differ-
ent points of the compass,and the tide really aiding their pro-
gress as much or more than the wind. At the Chapman there
was a light breeze from north and by west,and the Albertine
and Galatea were on the north side of the river, while on the
south were the Madcap,Aquiline, Flying Fish,and lolanthe,
with the Cissey and Medea in the centre beam and beam,
and the Blue Bell astern of them—while there was hardly
a couple of cables' length in point of position between the
whole fleet. Shortly after this the Albertine,standing well
over to the northward, got a nice breeze and went right into
the first place, the Madcap being second, and the Aquiline
third; but soon there was another change, the Intrepid
passing the Madcap into the second place, the Galatea being
third, and the lolanthe fourth. Off Southend the foremost
boats were again nearly becalmed, while the sternmost
brought down a nice wind, which brought them all together,
and the Galatea came close in the wake of the Intrepid, while
the latter became level with the Albertine. The Intrepid
then went towards the Nore with a slight lead, the Galatea
next, coming beam and beam with the Madcap. The ebb
tide having nearly expired, and their being no use whatever
in protracting this tedious and uncertain state of things, the
Eagle was anchored a quarter of tt mile below the Nore,
and the yachts rounded the Water Lily at her stern in the
following order :

R. M. S.
Intrepid 3 41 0
lolanthe
Albertine
Madcap
Galatea
Cissey
Fleur-de-Lys
Blue Bell

Flying Fish 3 50 15
Medea
_ _

Aquiline
Within the experience of the oldest yachtsman present,
it was admitted that there never had been seen so fine and
so picturesque a scene as the above yachts presented in
rounding ; the Albertine literally covered the view of
the lolanthe, while the other yachts were in a complete
cluster. When they jibed the echelon again elicited the
utmost admiration. There was but very little wind, but
the flood tide was beginning to make well, and they tacked
over io the north side of the river, the Albertine coming
right away from her tier of vessels, but the Intrepid still
leading. When the steamer had got her anchor, the wind
having slightly freshened, the foremost vessels were lost to
view, and when the Eagle became level with the middle of
the fleet they were found on different tacks, so dispersed, so
wide, and so intermixed with the number of boats not in the
race, that it was difficult for a long while to make them out
with any degree of certainty. And while on this subject we
may take occasion to say that some little distinguishing co-
lour should be used by yachts while racing ; and to advert
to the improper conduct of vessels not engaged in races
crossing and impeding those who are. This was so manifest
in one instance, that at the request of Lord de Ros, Captain
Maybownie, of the Thames Conservancy, was kind enough
to remonstrate with the captain of a cutter who had so
offended. Off Southend the Madcap and lolanthe were stand •
ing on the south side, the Intrepid had just tacked, and the
Albertine was nearly half a mile astern of her. The Blue
Bell was to windward of the Flying Fish, Fleur-de Lys,
and Galatea, and the Medea was going dead to windward of
the Cissey. They were now again lost to view for some time.
Shortly before arriving at the Chapman beacon, with a very
improved state of wind, the Madcap reached by the intro-
'd, and above the beacon the Albertine passed the Madcap
and Intrepid to windward, and afterwards was so closely
pressed by her all the way home that it was a question to
the last which would win. The race finished as under:—
H. H. a.
Albertine
Mad cap
Intrepid
lolantho
Blue Bell
Aquiline 7 54 26
Galatea
Medea 7 57 7
Fleur. de Ly.
Flying Fish

After the Eagle anchored for the arrival of the above at
Gravesend, the Water Lily was brought alongside, and the
Prince et Wales, who had expressed the greatest gratifica-
tion in witnessing the race, presented the prizes to Lord
Londesborongh and Mr Dunbar, when the former, in re-
turning thanks, expressed the gratification he felt at win-
ning the prize, the valu,, of which was so materially
enhanced by coming from the hands of the Prince, at the
same time expressing his regret that his Highness's plea-
sure had not been increased by witnessing such a race as a
fine wind would have afforded.
The prinbe and his suite then embarked in the ferry boat
for the Tilbury line to London.
The refreshments, as usual, supplied by Mr May,
.the
steward of the Eagle, were excellent; but great complaints
were made of the conduct of the band of the Horse Guards
Blue,