The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-15 00:00:00

THE ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB

REGATTA.

RYDE, THURSDAY EVENING,—The attendance of
fashionables on the pier this day was by no means so
numerous as on Wednesday, partly caused by the heavy
showers of rain that have fallen at intervals during the
day, and partly in consequence of the only matter in
mierence to the Victoria Yacht Club being the annual
dinner at the clubhouse. Several fresh yachts, however,
arrived during the day, who will contend for the prizes
to-morrow.

At the closing of the report on Wednesday evening
only some slight facts were wiven as to the progress of
the race for the prize of 1001. for yachts of all nations,
in cons, quence of the lateness of the hour at which they
were star td and the excessive length of the course, being
completely round the Isle of Wight, which deficiency
will now be supplied, and to give as connected a detail
as possible it may be necessary to recapitulate the
movements of the vessels from the starting point im-
mediately opposite to the pier. At the time of starting,
at forty minutes after two, it was nearly a dead calm,
with light airs from the eastward, and but little progress
was made by any of the yachts for nearly half an hour,
when the wind " flying"round to the west, and the Arrow
being at the time the weathermost vessel, she took the
lead, but with a very trifling advance, followed closely
by the Cygnet, who took close on her quarters the 13ae-
chante. After her at some distance came the Lcelia, and
in close company the Secret, Alarm, and Brilliant. The
latter yacht schooner, being 393 tons, in the absence of
sufficient wind to tighten her large mainsail, fell into
the rear, the lighter cutters not experiencing the same
difficulty in maintaining their relative positions. They
continued i❑ this order, with a difference of a slight na-
ture off Lymington, when the Cygnet shitting her jib,
the Alarm weathered her off this point by about one
board. The advantage was but of temporary duration,
tor soon after the Alarm slightly touched the ground and
split her jib; but this latter accident was speedily reme-
died, and it can hardly be considered to have altered her
chances in the match. Th© Cygnet soon after recovered
her place, and in working through the Needles, took
the advance of the Arrow, rounding it first in the fol-
lowing order:—

Cygnet ...
Arruw
Bacchante

h. m. s.
... 7 45 0
... 7 43 0
... 8 12 0

Shortly after the two leading vessels had passed Ly-
miugton, the Leelia cutter, 75, Twysden Hodges, Esq.,
got aground, and so much time being lost through this
circumstances, she here gave up the contest mid pro.
ceeded no further. This was much to be regretted, as
Do test of her sailing could then be obtained.
The remaining vessels did not arrive at the Needles
until nearly half an hour sifter the three above named,
and in consequence of a thick fog coming on, it was im-
possible to ascertain how they arrived. The Cygnet and
Arrow having now got round to the back of the island,
with a fair course before them, a most interesting con-
test ensued between them as to who should claim the
prize, as the pretensions of all the others were now com-
plete►y out of the question, and nothing could exceed
he beauty of their sailing qualities, so nearly balanced
were their respective merits. They kept their position
together until arriving off -Ventnor, it blowing a fine
tresh breeze from the west at the time, when the Arrow
vegan slightly to advance, and this without any demerit
to the Cygnet. when it is considered that the Arrow is
84 tons, and the Cygnet but 35. The Arrow now hoisted
An immense amount of canvas, and by this mins she
was enabled to overpower her smaller rival, arriving at
the Nab Light as follows:

Arrow
Cygnet

b. m. e.
... 11 0 0
... 11 5 0

The jachts then took the wind at north-west, and
beating inwards from the Nab Light to R 3 de, the Cyg-
net again proved her excellent sailing qualities by reco-
vering two minutes and a half upon the Arrow, which
amount of time was gained in the short distance between
the Nab and Ryde, the Arrow reaching the starting
point at the pier little more than twu minutes iu advance.
the time officially declared was—

Arrow ...
Cygnet ...

h. m. s.
... 12 13 0
... 12 15 15

At the time the gun from the committee's yacht was
tired there was scarcely any perso❑ to witness their arri-
val, and the pier that had been only an hour or two be-
fore crowded with beauty and fashion, who had remained
until a late hour to witness the display of fireworks, was
now all but deserted.

On the starting of the yachts the Wildfire, not en-
tered;took a weather station of the yachts in the mated,
for the purpose of testing her qualities, which place she
kept until nearly off Hurst Castle, when the wind fresh-
ened, and she was soon left in the rear.

The celebrated American yacht America, J. R. Ste-
phens, Esq., joined the squadron in the Cowes roads, in
company with the Pearl, belonging to the Marquis of
Anglesey, having only her staysail and foresail, set, and
continued with the ct.ntending vessels up the West
Channel, and again gave proof of her good qualities and
excellent trim, and there can be no doubt that she will
be a formidable rival to any yacht who will take up
her challenge and contend against her. So sanguine
are her owners of her superior prowess that they
aro ready, we understand, to back her to almost any
amount.

The club dinner is to be held this evening at the club-
house, and is expected to be very numerously attended,
and the performances at the theatre were under the pa-
tronage of George Holland Ackers, Esq., the commo-
dore of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, Thomas Chem-
berlayne, Esq., vice-commodore, and the members of the
club.

At a late period in the day a novel species of amuse-
ment was provided for the visitors. . A pig was fastened
up in a barrel; which was lashed at the end of a pole, pro-
jecting from the pier into the sea, the surface of the pole
being thickly greased, and whoever could walk along
the top and liberate the pig was entitled to receive
the same. Innumerable attempts were made to reach
the required spot, the consequence in each case being a
good ducking. After a great number of trials, a boy
named Shirley was fortunate in reaching the spot, and
let out the pig into the water amidst roars of laughter.
It was soon recovered, and he welked off in triumph with
his prize.
Toe sports for to-morrow will be a 501. race for fore
and aft schooners, the property of members of the Roy al
Victoria Yacht Club, the course on this occasion being
varied, passing round the red buoys off the Brambles,
round Celshot light vessel, thence to the eastward of the
ehequwr,•d and white buoys of the Brambles, then round
the Nab light ship, passing outside the No Man and
Sand Head buoys,vesse i completing
vtihe.
Another the race by passing:between
501. race will also take place for cutters, the
.pthrecpsct,ratryt'ing
of members of the Royal Victoria Yaeht Club,
above 75 tons to 105 tons, old measurement, inclusive.
'li ere will also be several minor prizes for galleys and
other boats, and some excellent sport is anticipated.
A large company of. distinguished personages, it is
fully expected, will be present on the occasion. The
regatta ball will take place in the evening, and from the
number of tickets already disposed of, it is believed that
it will be of a most brilliant description.

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.—The number of pas-
sengers conveyed on this line to and from the London-bridge
terminus on Tuesday was 16,524—namely, 8,138 to London,
and 8,386 from London. On Wednesday, 15,712 passengers
were conveyed—namely, 7,510 to London, and 8,202 from
London.