In consequence of the point from which the wind set, the course was out to the westward-and home, of course by the Nab. It is not our purpose to give the logs of the wager vessels. It will be enough for us to say that the "Dolphin" led to Cowes Roads, with the "Anaconda" very hard upon her-the last in company through the Needles; and at the back of the island, the tug of war lying between these two and the "Magic"-father and son piloting the first and last; and very probably-we speak problematically-making common cause against the "Anaconda." The "Brilliant" sailed about an hour afterwards, on a cruise by herself, round the island, shaping her outward course eastwards by Spithead.

At five o'clock the wager schooners were seen rounding the land, and standing over for Portsmouth Harbour. The "Anaconda" was the weathermost, with the "Dolphin" next her, then the "Magic," while the little "Bianca" was creeping in shore, and making the most of the dead water. Here, perhaps, the handling of some of them was not the best in the world; but, be that as it may, as they stood over from the mainland on their last board, the match was the most interesting ever seen. It was impossible to give even a respectable guess as to the winners, for it was a time race--Acker's scale-and they were all within apparently equal main and chance. The " Anaconda" was the first to round the winning vessel, followed by her antagonists in this order, as we made it :

h. m.

The Bianca

At the conclusion of the match, a consultation was held on board the committee vessel, when it was ultimately decided that the Bianca," on her allowance of time, was the winner by seventeen seconds!

The way that Sir Charles Ibbetson took his triumphant defeat-for it was nothing else would have astonished the old school of Zeno. Yet he's no stoic-but a hundred times a better style of thing-one of the best hearted fellows alive, though he may quarrel with us for saying what we know of him.

At noon the start for second class took place.

A £50 Cup, for cutters of any R.Y.C. above 31 tons and under 50 tons; to start at noon precisely; the position of station as before.

Name.

Tons.

Owner.

T. Rutherford, Esq.

Le Marchant Thomas, Esq.

J. P. Wyckham, Esq.

H. Lambton, Esq.
G. S. Harcourt, Esq.

The course from the starting vessel to the westward of the two red buoys of the Brambles, round the Calshot light vessel, from thence round the Nab light vessel, leaving both on the starboard hand; twice round; but this being optional with the committee, it was altered to once round.

The signal being fired, it was up dimity-a process which, somehow or other, the Princess Olga failed in extensively, for she "got into irons," as Jack says, and so "mull'd" her chance-which indeed she never had; for the poor Princess, though a beauty to look at, is far from “a good 'un to go." They say that Mr. White attributes the want of all

wager-sailing qualities in this clipper-looking craft to too "many cooks.' Her owner wrought very hard to insure her perfection, whereby he overdid the dose. It's a pity, where it was all well meant. The Princess then being left behind, off the others went; but not for plain sailing, as you shall see. The van consisted of the Aurora and the Cygnet, as they swept away to the westward. Here, or at some other point of the race, as I understood from the gallant owner of The Eclipse, his vessel bolted-owing as his impression was, to the fault of her pilot; while he call'd on his saints to bear testimony to his having steered her in exact conformity with the orders of the sailing committee. Still, however that might have been, she "cut it," and great was the growling thereat. All this time you will conceive the few remaining in are doing their devoirs like grim death. There you saw them skimming the "north shore"-the technical way of indentifying the shore of the mainland opposite to Cowes and Ryde. It's terrible dull work, however, writing-how much worse reading-the manœuvres of a vessel which, perhaps, was out of sight a great portion of the time in which they were enacted. We won't think of such a thing, but proceed to state that the Cygnet won most gallantly, luffing up broadside on with the pier head, by three minutes; the Aurora being the second boat. There was not near enough wind for anything very dashing--but it was a right pleasant day. During the progress of the sailing matches the boatracing was carried on with great vigour; but that style of aquatics don't come within the intent and purpose of our paper.

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The second day of the R.V.Y.C. regatta was Friday, the 30th July, Another most propitious day it was for a pageant, for the sun shone and the brisk breeze blew, and all went merry as a marriage bell." The pier was like a tulip bed: such gorgeous colours flaunting in the bright air, and such "birds of beauty" flitting on every hand, such grace and fragrance, and-oh! never tell us about Araby the Blest-go to the Isle of Wight on an occasion such as this, and you'll find yourself in Paradise outright. The Queen having graciously announced her intention of being present "to rain influence" on the sports, great was the congratulations of the loyal-and the curious-for there be cockneys at Ryde during the epoch of the non-season in town; as, indeed, where are they not at such a time? The wind was at w. N. w., when, about half-past one, the signal gun boomed for the start, and the principal event was thus put into action:

£30 CUP, for yachts of any R.Y.C., between 15 and 30 tons; a quarter of a minute per ton allowed.

Course from the station vessel off Ryde Pier to the southward of Lazarette, thence to westward of the Brambles round Calshot Light vessel, passing West Buoy off Sturbridge to starting vessel.

One is bound, in candour, to state that it was not a very soul-stirring sight. It was pretty-that was all-perhaps that was enough. They kept close order which was something, and being handled, no doubt, with great skill and dexterity, afforded much to amuse their crews, and all that were concerned about them. But as a spectacle, it is too

far removed it is not in a long perspective that a sailing match best pleases-but rather

The Daring was the winner, despite the fact that she had handicapped away certain of her half minutes.

SECOND CLASS MATCH.

Vessels belonging to any R.Y.C., not to exceed 15 tons. Course the same as the other, only proceeding in a contrary direction.

This was another closely contested affair, which The Gleam won by about a couple of minutes. * Her Majesty and her Royal Consort honoured the gala with their presence, arriving in The Fairy about three o'clock. The royal yacht tender lay just off the pier head, where the august visitors witness'd the contests of the gig rowers for some time. These stalwart Neptunes made some capital sport-on which was shed the odour of the Sovereign's bounty. Several of the squadron yachts came down from Cowes, and quite a little pleasure-fleet was assembled abreast of Ryde, to grace the propitious day.

The fortunes of The Royal Victoria Yacht Club are in the ascendant: may no cloud of discontent come over the summer of their content. The new club-house-certainly the most beautiful structure of its kind extant is very nearly finished, within as well as without. It is a combination of elegance, convenience, and comfort, rarely found in public buildings of a similar class. An exquisite bust of the royal patroness of the society has been placed in a niche on the grand staircase. It is in white marble, a faithful resemblance, and a most creditable specimen of the art of sculpture in these inartistic days. This club-house will be finished and furnished in the spring of next year, and will offer a fitting asylum for the members of that distinguished society on their next rendezvous at Ryde, to celebrate their annual naumachia.

There was a regatta in Russia, in July. The Emperor, when he visited us not long ago, ordered a schooner yacht to be built, by White, of East Cowes; and she was duly finished, found, and sent to her imperial master, who gallantly named her after his royal host-The Victoria. There thereupon originated (if it did not exist before) a yacht club at St. Petersburgh! Omnipotent fashion! who shall oppose thy autocracy? seeing thou hast but to adopt a taste,

"And waft it from the Solent to the Pole!"

The Emperor's splendid galley, however, succumbed to The Reindeer; a cutter which last year, in her native waters, couldn't beat a respectable washing-tub, and which was generally believed to have been lost on her voyage out to the Baltic. Of such stuff are men's hopes and hearsays made.

The Royal Southern Yacht Club Regatta was held in Southampton Water on the 4th and 5th of August. The Royal Southern Yacht Club has lately made unto itself a local habitation, in shape of a very pretty club-house, which faces the Royal Pier, and has a most jaunty

sun.

appearance. I use the term pretty in reference to its architectural character, as being the most appropriate I can call to mind. The building is highly decorated, but it is too lofty for its girth. It gives you the idea of something long and unsubstantial. The fitting, internally, is certainly most admirable. Pity there should be some difficulty in the exchequer department; there's nothing perfect, however, under the The day before the regatta, too, the club elected a new commodore, by acclamation, in the person of the Earl of Cardigan. Unfortunately there was some misunderstanding as to this election, for the noble earl was not present at the festivities of his constituents, which of course arose from his ignorance of the honour that had been conferred upon him; but for all we write in a tone so conciliating, there was a screw loose touching something or other. People grumbled almost everywhere you saw them grouped; and the yachts in and around the harbour bore evidence of pouting. The "two big schooners," as the amphibious pier-loungers called them, were in full undress; and as for cordiality among the gentlemen-sailors, you couldn't have found less in a court or a cabinet-no, not at Cowes itself. Still, there was the pageant put on the scene; its "streamers waving in the wind ;" a band of music with all the steam on, braying away for dear life, aboard the committee vessel; and there were brave doings in The Maud, the vice-commodore's pretty schooner; and on the pier a company of German boys, in shocking bad hats and all other appliances of toilet to boot, were playing polkas, in a fashion that would have astonished Weippert: of a verity the land of sour krout is also the cradle of sweet sound! Others, beside ourself, seem to have been inspired by the magic of the hour; or how else are we to account for the following notice of the occasion extracted from the plain-sailing columns of one of the journals of the day?

"The number of minor yachts and galleys which filled up every spot on the water reminded us of the period beyond the memory of the oldest inhabitant'-to wit, the summer of 1564; when the marriagecontract having been settled between Philip, Prince of Spain, and Mary, he arrived at Southampton with a fleet of 160 sail, partly Spanish and partly English, and remained four days in the town. But we will not go farther to record the history of bygone days; our duty is to record the passing events, and to hold up the mirror' without favour or affection. In the early part of the day the glassy surface of the water was unfavourable to the Smuggler in Chase,' and Phoebus's bright rays poured down upon the heads of his admirers, and added increased lustre to the passing events by the number and varied hues of the so-necessary appendage to the female costume-the parasol. As noon advanced, the son of Hippotas, according to the poets, governed Æolia, the first sailmaker;' and Ulysses having untied his bag and given the wind his liberty,' Zephyrus, mindful of his channel duty,' sent forth a military breeze, in order that the craft destined to figure Nos. 1, 2, and 3 on the festival might go out and home without accident, and cool the alreadyheated atmosphere.'

6

The programme was a pretty particularly extensive one-I have it before me as I scribble-set forth on a foot of foolscap. The bills told of considerable sport, to commence at half-past 10 A.M.; but at 1 P.M. everything was in statu quo, and the "Silver Tea-kettle and Stand,"

failing to bring any craft to the post, looked ominously indicative of things being in hot water. One can hardly help saying, and serve them right. What do they want with tea-kettles for sailing matches? What would be thought of the Cachmere Shawl Stakes at Epsom?

Does the reader remember Tony Lumpkin's chart of the route his mamma is to take, as set out in "She Stoops to Conquer"? The same hand might have sketched the courses for the Royal Southern Yacht Club Regatta.

"THE COURSE.

"Schooners will start at 10-30 from their own anchors off the lower Gymp Buoy, and their course will be round the Nab Light and back, round a flag-boat off the Club-house to win. All points of the course to be left on the starboard hand.

"All other matches will be at intervals of ten minutes. The 16, 20, 30, and 50 tons will start from opposite the Club-house, where a warp will be laid down with buoys attached and numbered. The course to be down the river, round the N.W. buoy of the Sturbridge, off Ryde (keeping the chequered buoy of the Brambles on the starboard hand), thence to the West Bramble buoy, and back round the flag-boat opposite the Club-house, to win; leaving all points of the course on the starboard hand.

"The Ten Tons Class will start from opposite the Club-house; and the course will be round a buoy off High Cliff, thence across to Cadlands, back round Cracknore Hard Buoy, and to the flag-boat opposite the Club-house, to win. All points of the course to be left on the starboard hand.

"Shifting ballast allowed, and sails unlimited.

"The committee reserve to themselves the right to make alterations if necessary." To the sports. The first event was the match for the Silver Salver, value £30, for cutters between 12 and 20 tons. Three went, with the "military wind" as our extract has it. This The Zuleika won; beating The Snake and The Termagant. The chief race of the day was that for a Silver Cup, value £45, for cutters not less than 35, nor exceeding £50 tons. Three sailed for it; viz., The Eclipse, The Heroine, and The Daring. This was a most animating affair: The Heroine being, up to this set-to, the conqueror in all her contests. Mr. Wickham had had mortal bad luck with his clipper, up to this date : he had lost time races by seconds, and been worsted by mischance when all was in his favour. Now, however, he took the lead and kept it; winning a beautiful race by a couple of minutes. That is to say, The Eclipse won; but Mr. W. was not aboard, being, it was said, at a cricketting hard by. The terms of sailing permitted by this club are unlimited sails, whereof a proportionate use was made. The cutters, for gaff-topsails, spread out-and-outers-fields of cloth-making their mainsails show like pocket-handkerchiefs. There was a third race between small cutters, which the Don Juan won; and the day's amusement ended, so far as concerned the million. The élite, however, had the ball at the club-house. This was most tastefully got up; the supper-room being quite a jewel of a saloon for a nautical festival to moor in for the night.

The appearance of affairs on Thursday was not promising; at least in the forenoon. It rained, and looked black; and there was nobody would set an inch of canvass for the soul or body of the bewildered secretary. Squalls" were the order of the day; but in the afternoon the social atmosphere cleared a little. But there was nothing poetical in the day's operations. You missed ladies in P. jackets, doing the picturesque (what do you mean, Smellfungus, by saying burlesque ?)-with fans agoing as if it was Almack's afloat. Umbrellas are ungrace