The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-07 00:00:00

ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON REGATTA.

COWES, MG. 6.
The melancholy event which plunged a nation
into mourning last December has had a most preju-
dicial effect on the fortunes of the annual aquatic
festival here, and has prevented the admirers of the
noble sport of yachting from witnessing or partak-
ing in the contests which have hitherto taken place
at Cowes among the vessels of the Royal Yacht
Squadron. All aquatic readers know that for many
years it has been customary for her Majesty and the
late Prince Consort to give cups of the value of XlOO
each, to be sailed for by vessels belonging to mem-
bers of tile squadron, and although the death of his
royal highness naturally prevented one of these
gifts from being conferred as usual, it was presumed
that her Majesty's cup would be given, and on this
supposition an official announcement was made some
time since that the match would take place, which
announcement has been often repeated ; and indeed,
the official advertisement of the squadron appeared
in Bell's Life in London on Sunday last, so that no
one imagined any alterations in the arrangements
would be made ; but it appears that the committee
of the squadron and the yachting world were doomed
to be disappointed, for at the last moment, after nume-
rous vessels had arrived here to take part in the con-

test and hopes had been excited that one of the finest
matches that had been seen for many years would

ake place, the bills issued and circulated through

the town were withdrawn on Friday, and it was
announced that there had been a misapprehension,
and that her Majesty did not intend to give a cup

his year, nor to give the usual donation towards

the funds of the town regatta. When it is remem-
bered that the Queen and her late Consort have
hitherto taken a warm interest in the matches for

the cups given by herself and his royal highness,
and have generally been present at the lively sports
carried on at the town regatta, it can hardly be a
matter of surprise that her Majesty should have
been unwilling to sanction any immediate revival
of scenes which would have recalled so forcibly the
calamity which has befallen the royal house and
the country ; but this does not seem to justify the
course pursued by the committee of the squadron in
giving publicity, without decided warranty, to an
announcement which has had the effect of drawing
hither so many persons, and of causing so much
disappointment and vexation.

In anticipation that the Queen's cup would be
sailed for as usual, that the squadron would also
give an open prize, and that the year would prove
one of more than ordinary interest to the yachting
world, there have been more vessels fitted out this
season than for a long time past. It is true it was
announced that the Queen's cup would be the only
match of the regatta, and that the customary ball,
dinner, and fireworks would not take place, but it
was logically presumed that if her Majesty's cup
would be sailed for (and of course after the official
announcement was so pertinaciously repeated the
public had no doubt this event would take place)
the squadron would think it no mark of disrespect
to the memory of his royal highness if they gave
their annual prize, and thus the disappointment
has been all the more severely felt. As a proof
that the general body of the members of the
squadron anticipated that the contest for the
cup would take place, it may be mentioned that
two schooners were entered, and additional interest
was felt in the match as the conditions were al-
tered this year, for whereas the contending yachts
have been hitherto required to be of above 200 tons
burden, this year it was stated that vessels must be
under that amount of tonnage. This alteration
gave great satisfaction generally, as the redoubt-
able Alarm was thereby excluded from the contest,
and other and smaller vessels having a chance of
carrying off the prize, there is no doubt that before
the list of entrieb had closed six or eight yachts
would have been nominated to compete.
At a meeting of the squadron last week it was
announced that the respected vice-commodore, Mr,
C. R. M. Talbot had resigned, and that another
gentleman would be elected as his successor at the
next meeting. The Marquis of Conyngham is a
candidate for the vacancy.
The town of Cowes is almost as full as usual of
distinguished visitors, and the roads present the
customary magnificent spectacle of a fleet of splen-
did specimens of naval architecture, of the largest
tonnage known to any yacht club in the world.
The sister yacht club, the Royal Victoria of
Ryde, hearing that there was a disinclination on
the part of the members of the squadron to cele-
brate the aquatic festival in the customary manner,
held a meeting last week, at which the matter
was discussed. The majority of the members felt
inclined to hold a regatta as usual, but the com-
modore, Mr. G. H. Ackers, and the vice-coma:net
dore, Mr. T. Chamberlayne, were of a
daleartter
opinion ; and the result is that both
officials have resigned. No less than
for the prime],
distin-
guished noblemen were competitors siche.
°posed, and the
pal post, but no one was formally
meeting deferred the election.
Captain
vice-com-
Pprtain Thellusson
of the Aline, was subsequently e

modore.
owner of
The week will r
gards racing, for last night aot be entirely a blank as re-
gards e
thh was made
between Colonel IVlvrkblinl, Sultana,
schooner, 130 tons, and Lord Londesborough, of
the Albertine, schooner, 156 tons, to sail their
vessels in a private match. The course to be from
to the west-
Cowes to Lehe Buoy, about four miles
ward, on the Solent, and thence eastward round
the Nab light-vessel, and return to Cowes—twice
round.

The vessels started accordingly this morning at
about a quarter before noon, when in a short time the
Sultana passed her larger opponent to windward,
and in beating up to the buoy gained a lead of
about two minutes, It was generally presumed
that she would be beaten in her turn in running,
and this presumption was fully verified, for on pass-