The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-10 00:00:00

AQUATICS.

ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB REGATTA.
HYDE, TUESDAY EVENING.
VISIT OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN.

Since the communication of yesterday an immense
number of visitors have flocked into this fashionable re-
sort of the island ; every train, both of the London and
South-Western and the South Coast Railways, bringing
down to Portsmouth vast crowds of persons, a large pro-
portion of whom immediately depart by the steam boats
for the Isle of Wight. The consequence is, that this town
is now crowded to an extent unprecelented, at any rate,
for many years ; and the, lodging-house keepers are reap-
ing a.truly golden harvest. Lodgings are scarcely to be
obtained on any terms, and all other accommodation has
risen in proportion.
Amongst the more prominent of the visitors arrived
since yesterday were—Admiral Lord Radstock, Sir J.
Rivett Carnac. Captain and Mrs. Jones, the Duchess of
Cleveland, the Hon. A. Keil., Colonel Peisler' Mr. F.
Peel, Lady Vane, the Hon. St. John Motting, C. Wyld,
Esq.; J. H. Phillips, Esq. Captain Cust, Charles Brown,
Esq., M.P., Lady Harrison, Sir George Pocock, &c.
At an early hour this.morning, in consequence of the
extreme fineness of the weather, the pier was crowded
with fashiOnables, amongSt whom were elegantly-dressed
ladies, and the amusements appeared to excite a very
general interest.
The only match on the card for the day was a prize of
50!. for schooners belonging to the Royal Victoria Y..cht
Club. The entries embraced the followidg yachts :--

_
Name. Tons. Owners.
. Genevra. l4O ... Sir Percy Shelly, Bart.
Shark l5O ... W. Curling, Esq.,
Vestal 74 ... B. G. Bowles, Es.q.
Novice .: 79 .. A. Arcedeckne, Esq.
Wanderer
Derwent ll B... M. E. Hoare, Esq.
The coftse was from abreast of Ryde Pier, proceeding
to the eastward, round the Nab light-ship, leaving it on
the port hand, thence round the weathermost buoy of
the middle, leaving it on the port hand, back to the sta-
tion vessel, passing between it and Ryde Pier— a course
of about 23 miles.

The time appointed for the start was 10.30 a.m., but
at that time neither the Genevra or Shark had arrived.
The Shark is an entirely new vessel this season, and re-
port gave out that she was to prove a real clipper. Her
debut at this regatta was, therefore, regarded with no
little interest by all classes.
The following yachts only appeared at the station :
Yachts. Tons. Owners._ Flags.

Vestal.... 74...8. C 4. Bowles, Esq... White, with urn of fire.
Novice... 79... A. Arcedeckne, Esq.. Blue burgee, with lion.
Derwent 118... M. E. Hoare, Esq... Red.
At 11 h. 23 m. 30 sec. the starting-gun was fired, and
they got away under a light breeze from the eastward.
The Vestal was the first to get under weigh, followed
by the Novice, but through some cause or other which
could not at the moment be ascertained, the Derwent
was some considerable time before she " made any sign"
of motion. A-most interesting race followed between
the other two,- the Vestel maintaining the lead well ur
to the No Man Buoy, which the Vestal came abreast of
at 11.46, hut the Novice was so well to the windward,
and so evenly balanced were they in their powers, that
no opinion at this point could be formed as to which of
them would prOie victorious. The Derwent was a long
way astern. Having rounded the Nab Light they re-
%urned, and arrived abreast of Ryde Pier as under :--
m. s.
3 12 0
3.13 0

Vestal.
Novice

They then went away for the remainder of the course
to Cowes and back, but had not returned at the closing
of this dispatch.
To render the occasion more interesting, at 25 minutes
past 4 o'clOck the booming of the guns from the ships in
Portsmouth harbour gave unmistakeable evidence that
the Sovereign was approaching, and the sound of them
had scarcely died away, when almost simultaneously,
the Royal salute was taken up by the Duke of Welling-
ton and all the, other vessels of the fleet, The firing was
so regular,as to resemble an immense volley. The ves-
sels were all dressed from stem to stern, and with the
yards manned, presented a scene that has never before
been witnessed.

The httle vessel Fairy, conveying her Majesty, with
the Royal Standard flying at the main, passed through
the tiny fleet of yachts off Ryde. The committee vessel
and the battery at the Club House also fired Royal
salutes. The Royal vessels, Fairy, Elfin, and Victoria
and Albert, then proceeded to Osborne House, where
her Majesty arrived soon after 5 o'clock.