The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-07-27 00:00:00

DEFEAT OF THE "AMERICA" YACHT

Considerable surprise has been created by the defeat,
on Friday, of the celebrated yacht America, for ht:r
Majesty's cup at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club's Re-
gatta, and that, too, by a vessel, which though lengthened
since last year, has never been considered one of the
" crack" boats of the squadron.
At half-past ten o'clock the yachts took their stations
off the pier, and whatever might have been said of the
America, she did not appear to have suffered from her
Mediterranean voyage in the least degree. Inoeed, the
only perceptible difference in her was, that she no longer
displayed her spangled flag and stripes, but the colcurs of
Old England, naturalised as she is into the family of
Great Britain.
Of eight which were nominated, only the Mosquito,
America, Arrow, and Zephyretta determined to start.
At 35 minutes past ten the starting gun was fired, the
signal being made that the yachts should proceed to the
eastward, the course being round the Isle of Wight. There
was a good stiff breeze blowing at the time, and the day
was peculiarly favourable for testing the powers of the
yachts capable of standing under a heavy press of sail.
The Mosquito was the first to get under weigh. and soon
showed her bowsprit ahead of the Arrow, which followed
closely in her wake. The America was somewhat tardy
in getting her gafftepsail set, which gave the cutters a
decided advantage in the start, but that was of trivial ac-
count when compared with the extent of the course. The
Zephyretta was the last to get away, and was about twice
her length astern of the America ; but at 11.2, when
abreast of the Warren Sand, the Zephyretta had con-
_

siderably overhauled the America, the Mosquito still
leading, the Arrow being about half a mile astern of her,
and about a quarter of a mile between her and the
America. In this order they passed the Noman Buoy,
beating up against the tide. From this point the yachts
pursued their course with light winds, prevailing, which
seemed not to suit the America's rig, the Zephy-
retta passing the Nab Light one minute before her.
Here the Mosquito, from her shorter length, was the
best enabled to avail herself of the light breeze. On
rounding the Needles, the America, which had previously
passed the Arrow, succeeded in almost overhauling the
Mosquito ; but there not being so much wind in the
Needles Chapel as was expected, and the Mosquito, hoist-
ing her large topsail and balloon-jib, maintained her
position unti Igettiag towards Sconce Point, when the
breeze stiffened from the northward, the sails of the
America began to draw, and she continued to overhaul
the Mosquito very fast, and passed dead under her lee
abreast of Lymington Creek. Having now obtained the
lead, the hopes of her friends were revived that she
would prove, as she had before, victorious over all
competitors, and but little doubts were entertained
that she would be the victor. She.•preserved the
ead until she got abreast of Osborne House, when
the Arrow and Mosquito ran close astern of her,
and becalmed her sails. At that time she was going
dead before the wind. Being able to answer their helm
quicker than the America, and the wind being very light,
a great advantage was obtained by the cutters, who had
their large balloon topsails set, while the America, with
but one small topsail, was not allowed, according to the
regulations of the club, to set her maintopmast staysail.
Consequently she gave way, and was not able again to
regain the leading position. The following is the official
return of the arrival of the yachts off the pier, as com-
municated to the commodore of the club :

Arrow

h. m. s.
6 59 30
6 59 31
1 20
39 0

Mosquito
America
Zephyretta •
It will thus be seen that there was but one sewn
difference between the arrival of the first and second ves-
sels, and the guns from the Bril!hint were so closely fol-
lowing each other that they were almost fired simul-
taneously.

MOcame off on Saturday. The course
YstAaretHedT
Ferry round the southernmost powdk
RACE.—
:iah
rTugallaneitn,t.ned 1
I: ndine, the Ci
boat moored off the Dingle, back to
ingvDssEeLls
round the powder magazine a
me
the Polly and Jane, and the
Mosquito. The yachts were
" off " at half past
two with afresh breeze from the
S.S.W. They
all- got well away. the Truant being the
ist ; but in beating
up to Eastlia in, she son"
Dance, gaining ground on every tapir
magazi:le about 100 yards in
..ond, followed closely by the
fachts a short distance astern.
the Truant did not appear to gain mucu upon the
until she reached the flag-boat off the Dingle,
having the hest of the braze, she shot ahead rapidl
leaving theUndine and Mosquito becalmed off the Ding'
The Truant then went far in advance, rounding the P
boat off Monks' Ferry, and running up to E istha-
the slack of the tide, while her two fore
were standing across the river from the Hermit,.
Dock towards Monks Ferry. She now had it all .
own way, and rounded the magazine vessel just as the tiu
was turning, whilst her nearest competitor was three
miles astern. It was then a drifting race for the Truant,
the wind having almost died away. She reached the
commodore's flag-boat shortly after six o'clock, and
Grinnell was then presented with the prize, a hand
silver salver, the gift of Mr. W. H.

Yacht Club race

er vessel, round

Ferry, then

ome. The folio

bowed in

powder

the Ur
tiro, the other

G-oil;1; before the w

most o