June 15, 1898.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



Events and Courses of the Bi'itish Season. 



Teie coming races of Nava:tioe with three out of four new Britisli 

 yaelits, and the races which will be sailed at about the same time by 

 ihe foui th with a com]jetilor picked from four new American yachts, 

 have tm-ned the atteution of each side to the racing on the otlner; and, 

 so far as this country is concerned, the interest iu the racing in British 

 waters is for Iteenor than even in tlie cases of Galatea or Thistle. The 

 races, of which enough have no\^' been sailed to give a fair estimate of 

 the positions of the new boats, are reported with more or less detail 

 by cable to the larger daily papers ; but unfortunately these reports are 

 of but liiiuteU interest to the majority of the American yachtsmen, 

 owing to their utter unfaraibarity with courses sailed. 



The cliart which we lierewith reproduce is from a useful and inter- 

 esting book lately reviewed in the Fore.st ajv'd Stream, entitled "Our 

 Silvei' .Streali'' hy Mr. Arthur Underliill. being a cruiser's guide to the 

 ICuglisLi Channel aucl adjacent waters. The chart shows the leading 

 feM.lures ut' tlie faiuons estuarjr of the Thames, where all the early 

 races o£ eacli season are sailed; and by its aid one can follow very read- 

 Uy the reports of tbasa races. 



The l!i-iristi Hcas.jn, so fur as the larger classes is concerned, begins 

 about the l.ist weel: ui May, with, the three river matches of the Eoyal 

 Tbanie.s, Kew Thames and .Royal London clutis, sailed on successive 

 days arid over the same course. The start is made off Gravensend, in 

 tbe Lowej- Hope, a reach of the Thames immediately above Sea Reach 

 and tjje Muekhng i.,iglu:, or just to the left of the margin of the chart. 

 Tlie course is down the river, throttgh the Sea Reach, jjast the Nore 

 Lightship, tlie turn being at the Mouse Lightship; returning over the 

 same course, the allowances being for 50 nautical miles. It will be 

 seen that the river is uari-ow, and the tides are strong, the rise and 

 fall being ahotit lift. The mud banks are plentiful and constantlj'- 

 shifting. TJie distance from the start to Southend is about 15 miles, 

 and from the start to the Nore is 19. 



Following these three races comes that of the New Thames Y. 

 0., to Harwich, starting oft' Southend Ker and going "Down Swin," 

 or througli the main channel of the Thames estuary, also .50 nautical 

 miles. At Harwich is the itoyal Harwich Y. 0., made famous by Mr. 

 Ashbury m isri, wlien lie sailed for the America Cup in its name. 

 Here two days are devoted to racing, the courses being around 

 several pronhnent marks off the town, the Simk, Shipwash, Cork and 

 Long Sand lightships. Sontetiirtes a return race is sailed from Har- 

 wich to Southend, the last being in 1889, when Irex and Yarana beat 

 the first Valkyrie. 



After the river and Harwich matches, comes the Channel race of 

 tl.ie Royal Thames Y. C, from the Nore to Dover, GO miles followed by 

 two days racmg under the flag of the Royal Ciuiiue Forts Y. C, of 

 Dover, the first olf that port, the second across the Channel to Bou- 

 logne and back, 50 miles. - 



All of the prominent marks iu the races thus far except that off 

 Boulogne, are shown on the chart, but after the middle of June the 

 racers pass beyond its limits and usually get to the Isle of Wight for a 

 few races, then on to the Mersey by the end of June, and then further 

 north, so that by the first of Jtily they are ready for the notable 

 series of races of all classes which make up the Clyde fortnight. 



From the Clyde the fleet crosses to BelfafL Lough, on the Irish 

 coast, then on to Kingstown, and by the end of July the whole fleet, 

 iucluding some that have not made the full racing circuit, is gathered 

 at Cowes for the event of the season, the week of the Royal Yacht 

 Squadron. Prom Cowes the fleet continues west to Plymouth. Wey- 

 mouth, Terquay and Dartmouth, the season ending with the month of 

 August. This pj'ogramme is often varied in detail, but as a rule fol 

 lows very closely the order given, as will be seen from the following 

 list of the principle fixtures of this year; 



25. Royal Thames, River Match. 



26. New Thames, River Match. 



27. Eoyal London, River Match. 



JUNE. 



3. New Thames, Southend to Har- Vi. Royal Cinque Ports, Dover to 



■^vich. Boulogne and return. 



5-G. Royal Harwich. 16-17. Royal Southern, Jubilee 



10. Royal Thames, Nore to Dover. Races, Southampton, 



la. Royal Cinque Ports, ofl Dover. 2i-2B. Ptoyal Mersey, Liverpool. 



a9. Royal Largs, Clyde. 



HVLY. 



Royal Northern. 8-10. Royal Clyde. 



4. Royal Western. 14-15. Royal Ulster, Bangor Lough 

 .5. Mudhook. 19-20. Royal Irish, Kingston. 



7. Clyde Corinthian. 31. Royal London, Cowe.s. 



AUGUST. 



1. Royal Yacht Squadron, He- 14-15. Royal Albert. Snuthsea. 



gatta Week, Cowes, 18-19. Royal Dorset,' Weymouth. 



0. Royal Southampton. 23. Royal Tor bay, Torquay. 



12 Royal Victoria, Regatta Week. 35. Royal Dart, Dartmouth. 



Cowes. 30. Start Bay, Dartmouth. 



13. Royal Plymouth, Corinthian, 



We have not seen the programmes of all these clubs, but as a rule 

 each of them gives prizes for the 40-j-atiug and larger classes, and this 

 year there will probably be special prizes and I'aces for the 85ft. 

 yachts. No dates are yet set for the Cape May and Brenton's Reef 

 cups, or for the Royal Victoria cup, all of these races probably coming 

 oil: in September or late in August. The racing in the large classes 

 stops promptly in England with the end of August and the opening of 

 the shootuig season; but it may prove necessary to saU some of the 

 international races m September. 



Under the most favorable circtmistances Navahoe will take three to 

 four weeks to cross, and. when she reaches Cowes, about the first week 

 in Ju]y, the ileet will be on the Clyde. With everything favoring, it 

 \\ ill be isossible for Mr. Carroll to reach Cowes, refit and join the fleet 

 at Kiugstowu; but it is very unlikel}^ that he wfll do more than fit out 

 and sail about the Isle of "Wight fdr the short time prior to the Royal 

 Yacht Squadron week, tunmg up the boat so far as possible and be- 

 coming tanhliar with the courses and tides. As it is his expressed 

 intention to enter the regidar club races, Navahoe will probably sail 

 with the Heet after once joining, and she will be eligible for the Meteor 

 Sliield. if not for the Queen's cup of the R. Y. S. 



As to Valkyrie she wfll probably leave the racing fleet after the 

 Solent races of June 16, 17, and fit out so as to leave by July 1, reach- 

 ing New York about a month later, giving her ample time here to 

 relit and acclimate her crew. 



Considering the early opening of the season, ii is not surprising that 

 many of the new yachts are hurried into commission in a more or less 

 incomplete condition, and that they reach the Thames after a jiassage 

 from the Clyde or the Solent in very poor racing form; and with this 

 in miud one is inclined to mistrust early reports and first impressions, 

 and 10 wait for at least tlie first half dozen races before attempting to 

 place the boats. This year the chief sufferer by this tardiness is 

 ihe Satantia, who was not ready untilSthe fourth race. Britannia and 

 Valkyrie were both read}' in good season, and had enjoved a httle 

 preliminary sailing on the Clyde, but aU of the river races were too 

 much of the natiu-e of trial trips to give any true test of merit. 



The first race, on May 25, of the Royal Thames Y. C, found the 

 following racers at the fine with a large attendant fleet of sail and 

 steam yachts: 



First Class. — A match for yachts exceeding a rating of 40. First 

 prize, .t'lOii; second prize, ±'50. Ctmrse from the Lower Hope round 

 the i\louae Liglitship and return to Gravesend. Time allowance for 

 rig and rating accordmg to the rules of the Y. R. A. for a 50-mile 

 course: 



RATING CATPROXIMATE). 



Britannia, cutter, The Princeof Wales. . , , , 154 



Valkyrie, cutter. Lord Dunraven , .".'.'.".'.145 



Calhma, cutter, P. Donaldson . .. . . . .'.'.137 



Iverna, cutter, J. Jameson . . . , . . , .114 



Britannia allowed Valkyrie .50s., Calluna 4m. 37s., and Iverna 7m. 



aos, 



Second Class.— A match for yachts exceeding a rating of 30, but not 

 exceeding a rating of 40. First p^ilze, £30; second, £35. Course, from 

 the Lower Hope, rouud the Mouse Lightship, and return to Gravesend; 

 time allowance for rig and rating accordin.£r to the rules of the Y.R.A. 

 lor a i>h-mile course. Lntries: 



ii A ii .N a C A ' 'l'«0^ J MAT 15) . 



\ ;u-iiini, cutler. (;a|it. J. Towers-Clark .«) 



Vendctla, cutter. Adml. the Hon. V. Montague . 40 



Lais, onttei'. J. (Sretton 40 



A hanaica).!, open to all yachts of any rig oi- rating. First prize, £-10; 

 1 1 11 11 iwti llDpe 



i-,,ujul the Mouse Lightship, and return to Gravesend. Entries: 



i; .A T IK a t Ai'PHOXIM A'l'E j . 



Mabel ui'/'e Ire.x i, eihlei-, i\l. A. Muir UO 



Coluinbine, yawl, \V. B. I'a^et •. 60 



Creole, euder. ij.ii. V . i;a:j-oi 



Castanet, cutter, W. K. Cookson \\' \ 35 



Siola, cutler. (Tuidsuiith , '' _ 20 



I he I hret' new boats and the old iverna are all well known to our 

 readers; nt llie 4t)-ra:ers Varuua is one of last vear's bouts, a keel 

 by Watson, while Vendetta, desi^-ned by Payne, and 

 ;ip class .Mabel is 



and both dropped CaUuna and Iverna. The four luffed around the 

 Mouse as follows: 



Britannia 2 10 15 Calluna S 11 26 



Valkyrie 2 10 23 Iverna 3 12 20 



For the next 20 miles Britannia and Valkyrie held together, 

 tack and tack, the former holding the weather berth which she 

 took at the turn, btit with the latter close to her. Calluna being 

 well astern and Iverna last. At the Upper BIythe Buoy Britannia 

 had just made her aUowance on Valkyrie, and a verj- close finish 

 was promised, but in the T,ower Hope the breeze though light was 

 puffy, and Valkyrie lo.st her bowsprit. Calluna had already been in 

 trouble, her new patent ^ib splitting along the diagonal seam, but she 

 had set a second jib aaid now passed Valkyrie. The latter cleared the 

 wreck atid continued under maiusail and staysaU, and after Calluna 

 took the ground a little later on Coal Hotise Point Valkyrie was once 

 more seeond, but she failed to save her time on Iverna, the result 

 being: 



Britannia (winner) 5 26 00 Iverna (second prize) 5 H8 08 



V.alkyrie • 5 33 33 



The times of the second class were: 



Vendetta (winner) 5 49 50 Varuna 5 53 09 



Lais (second prize) 5 150 43 



The London Tivies sums up the race as follows: "That a remark- 

 able advance has been made iu yacht building since the Thistle and 

 Iverna were built was shown yesterday in the big cutter race of the 

 Royal Thames Club. It was as fair a test of speed in moderate 

 breezes as could he desired, and in the result the Prince of Wales's 

 new cutter Britannia proved herself to be 12m. faster than Iverna on 

 a 50-mile course. An unfortunate mishap to the Valliyrie robbed the 

 race of .an exciting finish, the two vessels being marvelouslj* well 

 matched. AVhen about fotu- miles from home the Britsinnia had btit 



cla 



better Uiui 

 The first 

 carrying clubto]; 

 Britannia and Ive 

 hma was a lew le 

 Raach, all setting 

 tliree ucw h .Mis \' 

 ahead, bin 



on, while Ven 



detta. 



re new eraft. Irj ih 



re.\. preiieetrs 



,01- ot 



ted at noon 

 btupsails an, 



l:ia'll.; 



ssed the line t 

 tern. Vfilkvi 



■ aetlie 

 ie too 



rs, but oft ih 



^ Chai_ 



teveu. An 0 



-Id ila 



■ Fife, a 

 he old 1 



1 dropped back le 



liainiic 



lode'rate N.W. wind, all 

 n slaysails. Vallcyrie, 

 with the gun, but"Cal 

 the lead down the Sea 

 ran Light at i2-45 the 

 ' ot wind sent CalluLa 

 ith the others. The Nore 



was pp.ssed ut 1 :oo and soon alter spiuakors came in. Britanuhi. after 

 hanging to Valkyrie's weather quarter for a time, ra ' " ' 



I, rail ahead a length. 



The time allowances were: Britannia allows Calluna 5m. 17s., 

 Iverna 6m. 53s., Columbine 29m. 43s., Varuna, Lais, Vendetta and Cas- 

 tanet 34m. 41s., and Siola 56m. 13s. 



Valkyrie was not ready after the disaster of the day before, and 

 with a light northerly breeze which made a reaching race both ways, 

 Britannia led the fleet from the start. At one time she was a mile 

 ahead of Calluna and Iverna, but in thefluky weather the Scotch boat 

 picked up and was only a couple of minutes astern at the turn, which 

 was timed: 



Britannia 2 04 44 Lais 2 23 33 



Calluna 2 07 08 Castanet 2 24 03 



Iverna 2 09 07 Vendetta 3 24 55 



Vartina 3 20 23 Siola 3 33 24 



Columbine 2 31 34 



The return was uneventful, Britannia gaining steadily in the light 

 and variable wind. The finish was timed: 



Brit.<inuia (winner) 4 .55 11 Vendetta 5 40 35 



Calluna (third) 5 01 08 Castanet 5 40 55 



Iverna... 5 09 39 Columbine 5 42 23 



Varuna (second) 5 33 55 Siola Not timed. 



Lais 5 36 07 



The Times says of the race: "Britannia proved herself a veritable 

 wonder at reaching, and at the end of the day .she served Calluna out 

 a nine minutes' beating and led Iverna home by nearly 15 minutes, the 

 last named being on her best point of sailing. The result of the trial 

 among the forties was somewhat a surprise, as last year's boat, 

 Varuna, fairly reached away from the new boats, Lais and Vendetta, 

 all day. 



The entries for the race of the Royal London Y.C. on May 27 were as 

 follows: 



Match open to all yachts exceeding 40-rating, belonging to any re- 



THE THAMES ESTUARY AND ITS RACING COURSES.— From "Our Silver Streak.' 



a few seconds more than the time she had to allow in hand and both 

 vessels were cracking on every thread they dared carry. Valkyrie's 

 bowsprit did not prove eciual to the strain and went short off at the 

 stem head. She thus lost her chance of winning honors. The Britan- 

 nia, being about 2ft. the longer boat, should be the fastei-. but there is 

 really httle betwen the pair and the Valkyrie is the quicker iu stays. 

 As a challenger for the America Cup the' Valkyrie's performance was 

 s.atis£aetor\' in the highest degree, and on a 50-mile course more free 

 from tidal influences than the Thames she wfll probably prove from 

 J.':i to --'hni. faster than the Iverna, which is the best trial" boat in the 

 C'ltintrj'. Tlie Calluna ran fast, but did not show up well on a wind 

 compared to Britannia and Vallcyrie. The reason, no .toubt, was that 

 she is comparatively undersparred and strong winds will, no doubt, 

 prove her strong point. The Lais, after weh leading the Vendetta, 

 lost her place, aud is problematical which is the faster boat. Vanma, 

 however, made a highly creditable show with botJi. Cousidermg 

 that the breeze was never strong there was a long score of misliap.s, 

 some of them, it may be said, quite unaccountable." 



The regatta of the New Thames was safled next day, the additions 

 and entries being: 



Match open to yachts of any rig belonging to anv recognized yacht 

 club. Fii-st prize .£.50, second prize £25; third prize £.10. ' If tlie fli-st 

 prize is won by a yacht exceeding Iti rating the seeond jirize to go t.o a 

 yacht under 40 rating; the third prize to follow the first. Course f. om 

 the Lower Hope, rouud the Mouse Lightship, and back to Gravesend. 

 Yacht Racing Association rules and time aUowance for a .50-mile 

 course: 



HATl.\'(i (.AJ^PROXIMATE). 



Britannia, cutter. The Prince of Wales '. . . . . ..1.54 



Calluna, cutter, P. Donaldson .' ".' 137 



Iverna, cutter, J. Jameson 114 



Columbine, yawl. W, B. Paget ' " wi 



Varuna, cutter, Capt. S. Clark 40 



Lais, cutter, J flretton. Jr ', jn 



Vendetta, cutter. Admiral Hon. V. Montagu 40 



Siola, cutter, W, J. Goldsmith 20 



Castanet, cutter, W. R. Cookson , , , , 40 



cognized yacht club. Prize £80. Course from the Lower Hope, round 

 the Mouse Lightship and return to Gravesend. Yacht Racing Associ- 

 ation rules and time allowances for a 50-mile course. 



RATI :■; g; (approsimate) . 



Eritauuia, culter, Tlie Ptinee of Wales 154 



Calluna, cuttei-, P. Donaldson '.137 



Iverna, cutter, ,1. Jameson ' '.'.!'.'.'.'. 114 



Valkyrie, cutter. Earl of Dunraven '.".'.'.'.'.'.' 149 



Tlie time allowances accordin.i: to the approximate ratings' were'- 

 Britannia allows Valkyrie 50h,, Calluna 4m. 37s. and Iverna fjm. 53s' 

 Lais and Varuna were entered in the 40-rating class. 

 -The r.ice was preceded by a startling accident, Calluna losing her 

 mast just Ijefore the start, the spar breakuag in the middle and making 

 a bad wreck, the cluiitopsail lieing set. Britannia had the best start, 

 the orlier two having to luff for passing vessels, and she soon planted 

 herself 011 Valliyrie's weather bow and stayed there through Ave suc- 

 cessi\-e taolrs. The rhiy was cloudy, with a fresh N.E. breeze coming 

 in puffs at times and heading the boats in the Sea Reach. Britannia 

 stiU held her weather berth, but beyond the Nore Valkyrie was close 

 under her lee, and the two worked short tacks, Valkyrie being just 

 enough quicker iu stays to make it hard work for Britannia to .stop 

 her. This was fun for Iverna, who had been left astern, but now 

 gamed by having a. clear cotn se, while the others were liinderinir each 

 other. The turn at the Mouse vras timed: 



Britanm'a ,:i Ou 39 Iverna 3 10 0 



alkyrie 3 tU 08 



Splnakers were now set to port, and Valkyrie started to run by 

 Britannia, the wind being well east; but after a tune it backed and 

 booms were jibed over. Reaching up the river Britannia showed bet- 

 ter than Valkyrie, but the difference between them was but httle ii< 

 the finish shows: ' 



Britannia 5 56 19 Iverna (winner by time) 6 00 3" 



Valkyrie 5 57 33 



Iverna saved her time and took first prize, but the restilt was de- 

 pendent in no way on her sailing. The race is summed up as follows 

 m the Tiiaes: "In the coui-se of a magnificent struggle between the 

 Britannia and VeOkyne, the latter gave a highly satisfactory account 



