The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-11 00:00:00

PLYMOUTH ROYAL REGATTA.

The committee met at the Guildhall, on Thursday
evening, when it was resolved that the regatta for the
present year should take place on Wednesday, Aug. 26,
being the anniversary of H.R.H. Prince Albert's birth-
day.

RYDE, MAY 9.
FIRST MATCH OF THE SEASON.
The match which has been for so long a time past the
talk of the yachting circles, between the Shadow, cutter,
52 tons, the property of Sir Gilbert East, and the
Coquette, schooner, 47 tons, Mr. John Hugh S. Pigott,
came off on Thursday last. The course fixed was round
the Isle of Wight.
The morning was in every respect as fine a one as a
true lover of this delightful sport could wish. At ten
o'clock, the hour fixed for starting, there was a stiffish
easterly breeze blowing, with a bright sun shining. The
starting gun hating been fired from the Rdyal _Victoria
Yacht Club-house, both yachts got under weigh in excel-
lent style, veering their heads a little round to the island.
It was feared, shortly after the start, by the in:xpe-
riencad, that both vessels would be run ou the sands, so
closely did they hug the shore ; but, in so doing, it
showed the skill of the respective commanders, for by
working their craft close up to the Sand's Head buoy
they were enabled to keep close in shore, and thus escape
the strong run of the tide. The Coquette, having a
slight start of the Shadow, passed inside the Sand's
Head buoy, after which she held her course out to
Brecoridge-ledge. The Shadow was now keeping far-
ther oft shore with the view of rounding the " No-
man," thereby enabling the Coquette to pass the "ledge"
first, which she did in good style at 11.30. Directly she
passed the "ledge," the Coquette bent up gaff-topsails,
square-sail and balloon-jib, causing her, as it were,
to fly, with the breeze and tide both in favour. Upon the
arrival of the Coquette off Bonchnrch, the Shadow was
a long distance astern : and, after a splendid dashing
run to the Needles, the schooner passed the rocks at
2.13, and the cutter at 2.25. It was after passing the
last-named point that both vessels had to struggle for the
mastery, both tide and wind being here dead against
them, causing them nothing but tack for tack till their
arrival at Scone Point. When off the fort, the Coquette
was compelled to " put about," and lose a deal of way
which she had on her, owing to the'Government Ap-
prentice brig standing close on to her weather quarters.
The effect of the above accident was to allow the Shadow
to pass the schooner, the former gradually increasing the
lead till her arrival at,Ryde at 6.1., the Coquette arriv-
ing at 6.16.

Considering the disadvantage which a schooner labours
under, in comparison to a cutter, this can be considered
as no great defeat. On the contrary, it is one of the
closest runs that has been for a long time, the whole of
the course inside the Needles being a dead weight, with
a succession of short tacks.

YACHTS AT AND OFF THE STATlON.—Henrietta Count
Batthyany ; Snake, Capt. G. Brigstoeke ; Dawn, T.
Broadwood, E,q. ; Wildfire, T. Turner, Esq. ; Coquette,
H. S. Pigot., E,q. ; Shadow, Sir G. East, Bart. ; and
the Triter), T. Meares, Esq.