The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-27 00:00:00

AQUATICS.

ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB.
The first regatta of the season amongst the yachts of
this distinguished club came off yesterday with the advan-
tages of delightful weather and a good entry list. The com-
peting boats were of the third and fourth class, the prizes
being for the first named a very elaborately chased silver
tea and coffee service by Benson ; and for the second class
a very handsome silver claret jug by Garrard, and to the
second boat a silver cup by Benson. The distance was
from Erith to the Lower Bligh buoy and back, with an al-
lowance of half a minute per ton for difference of measure-
ment. The following were at their stations :

Third Class. ---
Yachts. Tons. Owners.
Chimera l9 .... E. Saunderson, Esq.
Swallow lB Captain H. F. Sykes.
Fourth Class.
Julia
Emily
Quiver l2 Capt. D. T. Chamberlayne.
Violet
Romp
The Fire Cloud, in consequence of the prevailing wind,
could not fetch round in time to be measured, and conse-
quently-, although in the entry of the third class, did not
start.

The Prince of Wales steamer, as usual, ably commanded
by Capt. Williams, had been engaged by the club, to accom-
pany the race, and bore a very numerous and fashionable
attendance, including the Earl of Wilton, Commodore of
the Royal Yacht Squadron ; Lord Elcho, Lord Otho Fitz-
gerald ; the Hon. F. Fitzmorris, R.N.; Sir J. Burgoyne,
Bart. ; the Hon. B. Bruce ; T. Chamberlayne, Esq., Vice-
Commodore Royal Victoria Yacht Club; A. Arcedecknot
Commodore Royal London Yacht Club ; Captain Watson,
R.N. ; J. A. Hankey, Esq. ; M. H. Williams, Esq. ; F•
Bennett, Esq., R.H.G., and a great number of others whose
names we could not catch. The officer in command for the
day was R. Green, Esq., the eminent shipowner, and vice-
commodore of the club; and his yacht the Phoenix, and Mr.
Arcedeckne's Gnome were gaily dressed out for the occasion.
The yachts in company were too numerous to mention; but
it was as full and perfect a fleet of schooners and cutters Si
was ever seen afloat.

All the yachts entered were " clippers," and a good race
was anticipated. At 11h. 28min. 30sec. the gun was fired
for starting. The wind was very variable, but at the time
of starting N.N.E. The first off was the Romp, followed
by the Julia and Chimera, the Violet being next. They had
all exercised much alacrity in covering their elegant spars
with canvas, and were snugly rigged for the work of beat-
ing down, there being little chance of sailing more than one
reach, as the wind was eastwarding. It died away, how-
ever, for a minute or two, during which the craft were vari-
ously advantaged The Quiver, by a most judicious course,
in less than ten minutes came out well ahead of the whole.
The Chimera was for a brief space second, but soon for..
feited that place to the Swallow. In each succeeding board
these two yachts became further ahead. The Chimera. •
Violet, and Emily making a very close and pretty race, re-
sulting in Chimera being a good third. They were to have
gone to the Chapman, but the flood began to make so
strongly that they turned at the Bligh Beacon as follows :
h. m. s.
Quiver
Swallow 3 9 0
Chimera
Violet 3 36 0
Emily 3 42 10
It was a run up, and balloon sails were in vogue with all
but the Swallow, who merely changed her canvas by hoist-
ing a fuller topsail. The interest in the race was enhanced
by the fact that the Quiver, if she came in first, although a
fourth-class boat, would be entitled to the superior prize of
the third class, which she obtained, there being no change,
and the race finishing in the following way
m. S.
Quiver
Swallow • 5 12 23
Chimera 5 16 40
Violet 5 43 3
The prizes were then severally presented to the owners 011
the Quiver, Swallow, and Violet, by the vice-commodore,
with the accustomed honours. Much credit is due to lux-
Watt, the steward, for his viands, and to the officers of the
club for their unremitting attention to the comfort of the
visitors.