The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-21 00:00:00

*Doubtful starters.

Tho Tartar heads the list, and, seeing the very moderate
lot in the field, he ought to show conspicuously in the race.
Claremont, if he would only run up to his true form, has
a great chance of "landing" his backers this time. Holly-
fox does not go so well in the market as he did two or
three days ago. If wanted he can scarcely loose. Nemo
and Hornblowor are in one interest. Whichever carries
the money must be dangerous. The Guide at the last
moment has come with a rush, in consequence of a favour-
able trial on Friday last. This may not be his journey,
but if his owner lets his head loose he will win in a walk.
From the very moderate lot that will compose the field, I
shall expect to see the number of The Guide or Claremont
hoisted as the winner.

A FRESH MAN.

AQULITICS.

ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB REGATTA.
RYDE, Aug. 18.

THE COMMODORE'S CUP.

This was a prize value £lOO, given by Mr. Charles Thel-
luson, for all yachts belonging to the Royal Victoria Yacht
Club. Course, round the island; to start to the westward.
Under way at 9 a.m. Yawls to class as cutters, with a
fourth of their tonnage deducted. Time race ; half Ackers'
scale. The following yachts entered :
Name. Class. Tons. Owner.
Volante ......... Cutter •
Meteor .........Schooner l9O Mr. T. Brassey.
Marina' Cutter
Witchcraft ..... Schooner 224 Mr. T. Broadwood.
Christabel. .....Cutter
Osprey ~~,,,,,Cutter
Pearl ~~,.......Yawl
The prize is a baronial tankard in silver, "as in ye olden
time," illustrative of the German ballad " The Wild Hunts-
man." In the front of the cup is a stag, the badminton or
champagne to be poured through the " antlered monarch's"
lips. On the handle is a crouching hound, and on either
side a hound lies ready to spring, watching the stag. The
cover is surmounted by a finely executed prancing steed,
bearing " Hienrich, the Wild Huntsman." The work was
executed by Messrs. London and Ryder, of New Bond-
street, London, who also designed and manufactured the
elegant Broadwood group in silver, representing Venus and
Adonis at the chase. The Prince of Wales expressed him-
self much pleased with the prizes when he viewed them at
Marlborough-house on Wednesday week.
The wind, W.N.W., blow fresh and strong, the sky being
clear, unlike the previous morning, when the wind came
from W.S.W. As the yachts were starting westward, it
would be, if the wind prevailed true in direction, a beat to
the Needles, a run to Bonchurch, a long reach to the Nab,
and the same for Ryde. At starting, however, they had a
strong weather westgoing tide, which set them well up to
windward, and accelerated their progress westward.
At 9 a.m. the starting gun was fired, four vessels only
being ready for the fray. The Witchcraft, having a good
weather berth when the gun fired, the Pearl north or lee-
ward of the lot, and the Osprey astern. The Pearl was the
first to go about in the middle of Stokes' Bay, weathering
the Marina, sailing under reefed lower canvas only, while
the Witchcraft, with reefs down, carried a maintopsail, the
big yawl doing the same. However, as such a strong wind
was blowing, Mr. Broadwood's schooner would have been
much better canvassed if a topsail had been set without
a yard, as the sail was continually shaking. The Witch-
craft went about soon after the Pearl, and both vessels on
the starboard tack stood over towards King's-quay, and
when they again stood to the north on the port tack the
Witchcraft was still the windward vessel, leading the Pearl
by about a quarter of a mile. The Witchcraft reached
across the mouth of Southampton-water to Hill-head, the
Pearl following in her wake, both sailing out of much of
the weather tide, and were headed by the wind that drew
down the river. The Witchcraft, sailed a good full, was
reaching astonishingly fast compared to all her previous
performances, weathering the Pearl on every tack, and at
10.56 the yawl, trying another course, went about short a
little southward of the Peel buoy, under the lee of the
Witchcraft as that vessel was standing out from Old Castle
Point, and she was still the leading vessel when they sailed
out of sight from Ryde-pier at 10 a.m. on their course W.
N. for the Needles, wind W.N.W. The Marina kept on
the weather of the Osprey in working towards Cowes ; the
latter vessel, however, forereached her upon every tack, but
not edging up to windward like the Marina, she still kept
astern. Neither stood so long to the north shore as the Witch-
craft and Pearl in working down, and it could be seen by the
distances that separated them upon their going out of
sight, that they, by making shorter boards, had adopted
the wisest course. In the beat for the Needles the yachts
changed positions, the Osprey overhauling the Marina and
the Pearl, and they passed outside of the Needles about
noon, the Witchcraft still leading, Osprey two, Marina three,
and Pearl last, after getting outside the Needles the vessels
coming before the wind at squaresails, pitching heavily over
Venter, the Osprey carried away her
the rolling sea. Off
gaff, and was obliged to set her trysail ; the Witchcraft here
also carried away her jib tack, and took in her topmast stay-
sail. Reaching across Sandown-bay the Witchcraft was still
leading, Pearl 2, Marina 3, peprey a long way astern, off
Dunnose, the accident putting her out of the race. At 220
the Witchcraft was in sight from Ryde, the Pearl appearing
next, half a mile astern. The former vessel reached through
Spithead, but as she stood in for the mark boat at 2 55, on
the starboard tack, the east-going tide set her down, and she
made considerable leeway, having to make another tack
before she weathered the mark. The Pearl did the same,
but the Marina, holding better wind than either, fetched
the mark with one tack, and shortened the distance of sepa-
ration considerably between herself and Pearl. Thematch
was terminated at—

H. M. 8.
Witchcraft .................................... 3 14 63
Pearl ........................................... 3 21 39
Marina.......................................... 3 22 38
Tho Osprey, as the Marina was passing the boat, being
at the Warner, three miles astern.
Tho Witchcraft thus won Commodore Thellusson's Cup,
and Mr. Broadwood two years ago won with the Galatea
the Commodore's Cup in the match to Cherbourg.