284 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[gki'T. 30, 1898. 



Navahoe was on her best point in having a broad reach over the entire 

 course, while on the other hand, Britannia does not so much excel In 

 that particular point as she does sailing to windward and to leeward. 

 So heavy was the sea that for upward of a hundred miles the two 

 yachts were under two sails only, yet even then thej; were reaching 11 

 knots, pounding the water in a wonderful way, and it is not too much 

 to say that the drift was flying 20ft. up the mast. 



Mr. Carroll made an objection that the starting vessel was not in the 

 same position at the finish that she was at the start. The answer to 

 this was that a vessel may not anchor in a fair way at night time. The 

 times were taken directly each of the vessels came in line with the 

 stream of the Needles Lighthouse, and this was better than being ob- 

 tained in passing a floating mark. The secretary of the Royal Yacht 

 Sf^uadron, Mr. Richard Grant, acted as starter and timekeeper. De- 

 tails are subjoined: 



Match for the Brentotf s Reef Cup, presented by Mr. J. G. Bennett, 

 open to yachts of all nations. Course, from the Needles round Cher- 

 bourg Breakwater and back, 120 miles. New York Y. C. rules, but 

 without allowance for time. Five minutes to be allowed for crossing 

 the line and the difference to be corrected at the finish. The cup may 

 be challenged for at the expiration of thirty days from the time of its 

 being won, but not for a race after third Thursday in October. Last 

 holder, British yawl Wendur. 



Rating. 



Britannia (defender^, cutter, Prince of Wales , 151 



Navahoe Cchallenger), cutter, Mr. R. Phelps Carroll 156 



The wind was blowing of full single reef strength from the eastward 

 when the two vessels got to the rendezvous, and both had the first 

 earing hardened down in mainsails, third jibs out and jib-headed top- 

 sails aloft. The Navahoe set her big working staysail and the Britan- 

 nia the reaching one. According to conditions five minutes were al- 

 lowed to cross the line, the time to be corrected at the finish. Britan- 

 nia was first to keep away, the Navahoe soon followed, the official 

 timing of the start being: 



Britannia 12 01 06 Navahoe 12 02 05 



With the wind about two points free, they set their course across 

 channel, a little having to be allowed for the ebb stream, which was 

 just beginning to soak westward. Britannia, on an eastern line, had 

 Navahoe on the lee quarter, and thus they ran in a rising breeze. On 

 opening St, Catherine's the full weight o£ the wind was felt and the 

 sea began to get heavy. A slight pull was taken at mainsheets, and 

 with every prospect of worse weather big staysails were shifted for 

 working ones, and jib-headed topsails got'on deck, but topmasts were 

 kept on end. Both vessels were soon tearing along at a grpat speed 

 and making a close match, the Britannia's early start being somewhat 

 discounted. When about 20 miles from the English coast Navahoe's 

 jiptopsail got adrift and she had fom- hands out to gather in the sail, 

 which was badly torn. The vessels got ofC in mid-channel about 2:30 

 with a heavy mn of sea, which the hard blow of the preceding hours 

 had helped to get up. The Navahoe, however, began to traVel the 

 faster and got close up under the lee quarter of her rival. In running 

 off and coming up she was first pointing for lee side and then the 

 weather of her opponent, but at last she was given a sharp intentional 

 luff across Britannia's stern, and on keeping away drew up and event- 

 ually passed by to windward into first place. 



Topmasts were housed when they got within about two miles of the 

 land, and on drawing near the breakwater sheets were rattled in with 

 the weight of the wind. The Navahoe was not more than a clear 

 length ahead when the pair began to draw up for the buoy at the 

 western end of the breakwater. Here the last pull at sheets was being 

 taken, and the Britannia, luffing sharp, made a clever inside turn and 

 had her bowsprit overlapping the Navahoe, the latter at this time hav- 

 ing to alter her helm a little to clear a French steamer. The times the 

 buoy at the western entrance was luflfed roimd were as follows: Nava- 

 hoe 5h. Im., Britannia 5h. Im. 10s. Both were sharp by the wind, but 

 were just able to lay through Cherbourg Roads on port tacks. On the 

 way the Britannia got her jibtopsail in off the bowsprit end and both 

 were got fit for the coming sea fight. The Britannia held her reach 

 until she could just fletch to windward of the buoy lying off the pitch 

 ■of the breakwater, and on coming round on starboard tack Navahoe 

 was a few lengths distant on the weather quarter of the leader. The 

 western tide was running when a look out in the open was made, and 

 before getting anything of an ofBing an ugly sea was met; indeed, the 

 sea was so bad and the wind so heavy that it became compulsory to 

 -ease both vessels of their foresails. 



Britannia was beautifully nursed in regard to helmsmanship, the 

 the heaviest of the seas being met on the beam, while the Navahoe 

 was also nicely sailed to shoulder the combers. Darkness closed in 

 and the same close fight was kept up, the Britannia sailing about 

 four cables' length distant of the Navahoe, which was almost broad 

 on the lee beam^ The wind was furious about twenty miles out, and 

 the laboring of the vessels was terribly trying, but as they got off 

 into mid channel things improved. When about five miles from the 

 Needles the Navahoe drew in the Britannia's wake, but she was not 

 more than two lengths astern. In a lighter breeze the speed dropped 

 a little, but both were tearing along foaming, and they had now fore- 

 sails on to help them along. As the land was closed in, the wind 

 shortened, and sheets were drawn a little aft. Half a mile from the 

 Needles the Britannia was quite on a wind, while the Navahoe was 

 being sailed hard along. The Britannia was pinched up so as to 

 only give the Goose Rock a clear berth, while the Navahoe was half 

 a mile to the westward. Thus the two vessels crossed the line and 

 finished a memorable race. The official timing of the finish was: 

 Britannia (winner 10 37 35 Navahoe 10 38 32 



The Prince of Wales's cutter was thus .57s. ahead, and from this 

 Mi/^a. had to be deducted for the difference at the start, the balance 

 on the winner's favor accordingly being only 2i,^s. 



Mr. Carroll, the owner of Navahoe, was entertained at dinner last 

 night at the Royal Yacht Squadron Castle, and a large number of 

 members and other yachtsmen were present. There was a cordial in- 

 terchange of international courtesies, and full honor was paid to the 

 sporting spirit which has been displayed by the guest of the evening. 

 The race for the Cape May cup, which was fixed for to-day, has been 

 put off. It will probably be sailed on Monday, but over the same 

 course as the Brenton Reef cup— namely, from the Needles to Cher- 

 bourg breakwater and back.— London times. 



A Cowes correspondent telegraphs that ihe reports that Mr, Car- 

 roll, owner of the Navahoe, had withdrawn his protest against award- 

 ing the Brenton Reef cup to the Britannia is without foundation, and 

 the sequel shows that he had perfectly honorable grounds for object- 

 ing to the official recoi'd of the finish of the Channel race on Tuesday 

 night. The matter was discussed by the Yacht Squadron sailing 

 committee yesterday afternoon, the Marquis of Ormonde, vice-com- 

 raodore, presiding, Mr. Carroll had not only verbally objected, but 

 had lodged a written protest, though he had hauled down his winning 

 flag pending the deci^iion of ^ he committe. His case was simply this: 

 The starting line was to have been the finish, made by the steamer 

 being anchored opposite the Needles in such a manner that the 

 Needles Rock should be brought in with the Needles . Rock. At 

 night, however, the captain of the steamer refused to anchor in the 

 fairway of the Solent lest his ship's lights should be mistaken 

 for the liarhts indicated on the chart. The committee's vessel was 

 brought to in a bay at right angles to the Needles. The yachts were 

 back long before they were expected, or probably the steamer would 

 have been taken back to its position at the start. When they were 

 sighted the racers had passed what would have been the original line, 

 and the Navahoe having aa outside berth had to sail round some dis- 

 tance to come into line with the committee vessel and be timed, Mr. 

 Carroll was supported by seven of the gehtlemen who were engaged 

 in the race, and who concurred in his assertion that there would have 

 been a difference of only a few seconds, instead of 56 if the committee 

 vessel had been in position at the finish, which the sailing rules had 

 rendefed obligatory. The committee accordingly had no alternative 

 than to declare the Navahoe winner of the prize, and her crew sent up 

 her winning flag with ringing cheers. The race over the same course 

 for the Cape May cup has now been fixed for to-day, — Wefilern Morn- 

 itig Nevjs. 



RebeUious Tacbt Crews. 



Apropos of the recent "strike" on board Jubilee, the following from 

 the Field is interesting: 



"On Saturday last a case of some interest to yacht owners came be- 

 fore the Justices at Newport, Isle of Wight, Sir G, Hamond-Gi'eeme in 

 the chair. Three seamen of the schooner yacht Egeria, belonging to 

 Lord Dunleath, were charged with refusing to obey a lawful order of 

 the master under section 248 of the Merchant Shipjjing Act, 1854. Mr. 

 H. C. Damant appeared to prosecute, while the defendants were rep- 

 resented by Mr, H, R, Hooper. It appeared from the opening state- 

 ment of Mr. Damant, and from the evidence of the master, John Har- 

 bert, that on Aug. 5 last, when the yacht was lying at anchor in Cowes 

 Roads, orders were given to get her under way to proceed to South- 

 sea, the weather at the time being perfectly fine and both wind and 

 tide fair. This order defendants and others of the crew refused to 

 obey, alleging that the yacht was short-handed. It was proved that 

 at the time she was one hand short, but that all told she then had a 

 crew of thirteen hands on board. It appeared that, in consequence of 

 the refusal of the men to worli the yacht. Lord Dunleath had been 

 compelled to lay her up, being unable to obtain another crew at that 

 time of year. For the defence it was eoniended that, even if they were 

 one hand short of the number stipulated for in the articles which they 

 had signed, they were justified in refusing the order, and furthermore 

 it was stated that the yacht was leaking and was not in a state to jjro- 

 ceed to sea. The master was recalled on this latter point and stated 

 that the men had never previouely complained of the state of the 



yacht, that she had made a little water, but *as in a sBdwOrthy Condi- 

 tion. Mr. Hooper then took a technical objetition, grounded on the 

 fact that no entry of the occurrence had been ehtered in the official 

 log. Mr, Damant submitted that under the Merchant Shipping Amend- 

 ment act of 1862, Sec. 13, it was Dot imperative that a master of a yacht 

 should keep a log, and this view was accepted by the bench. In the 

 result the defendants were each fined £1 and costs, with the option of 

 a month's Imprlsoument, 



The Royal Victoria Gold Cup. 



The following account of the races between Navahoe and Britannia 

 for the gold cup of the Royal Victora Y. C. is ftom the Western 

 Morning News, of Exmouth, Eng. 



First Bace— Wednesday, Sept. 6. 



"There's no wind, and there will be no rain," said the weatherwise 

 yachtsman on Ryde esplanade this morning at 6 o'clock, as he 

 thought anxiously of the match between the Prince of Wales's yacht 

 Britannia and the American, Mr. Royal Phelps Carroll's Navahoe. 

 He was wrong. There was wind, and there was as pretty a race as 

 is possible when one yacht is manifestly the superior of the other. 

 Victory on three days ont of five is necessary to the final success 

 which will carry off the handsome gold cup, with 600 guineas, which 

 the Royal Victoria Y. C. offer for the International contest. Tp-da,y 

 the Prince of Wales's yacht, the Britannia, wotl the raC^ easily by 

 more than 16m,, after a sail which lasted for nearly 6 hoUrs, The 

 Navahoe never got a chance from start to finish. The Britannia led, 

 a,nd she increased her lead at the end in a style so splendid that not 

 only is to-day's race decided, but the match is virtually decided. The 

 Britannia is shown to be the manifest superior of her American 

 competitor, though Mr. Carroll, who has so pluckily determined to 

 carry the English cup to America, determines to fight to the last. 

 From the point of view of the mere amateur, to-day's weather was 

 the pink of perfection. There was hardls^ a cloud in the sky, and 

 there was scarcely a wave on the water. In the morning there was 

 no wind worth speaking of in the Channel between Southsea and Ryde, 

 and the greatest anxiety as to the possibility of racing at aU prevailed 

 at the headquartersof the Royal Victoria Y, C, at Ryde. Their cup has 

 never been raced for before, and the great match is an event in their 

 history, which is made memorable by the fact that the Prince of AVales 

 is a competitor, and is likely to be the successful competitor. The 

 course selected is familiar to yachting men. The start was from the 

 well-known W.arner Lightship outside Ryde, thence in a southeasterly 

 direction to the Ower's Lightship, thence westerly to Dunnose Point 

 and back again, around the Nab Lightship to the starting point. It is 

 a triangular sail and gave great variety to test the yachts engaged. 

 Since Britannia's last racing she has been given a new boom, her old 

 hollow one having been removed and replaced by a solid one. The 

 Navahoe also has had 28in. taken off the heel of her mast, and seeing 

 that she was skippered by Oapt. Crocker, acknowledged to be the 

 crack American yachtsman, it may he imagined that though Navahoe 

 was beaten, the very best of seamanship was displayed. So perfect 

 were the arrangements made hy the Royal Victoria Y. C. that there 

 was not a hitch from start to finish, and if there was one little misad- 

 venture on board the Britannia it did not hinder her iu her final stlc- 

 cess. 



The start from the Warner Lightship took place at 11 :10. It was the 

 prettiest of beginnings. Perhaps there was a second or two's advan- 

 tage on the part of Britannia when the line was passed, but that may 

 be a phantasy. Certain it is that Britannia was soon forging ahead. 

 It was said that a light breeze would greatly favor Navahoe. She was 

 to windward, but she did not seem to have full way on her, and Brit- 

 annia opened iu a grand way, and was in two minutes several lengths 

 ahead. There was no real race afterward. The start decided every- 

 thing. It was clear to experts that Britannia would win easily. She 

 had begun too well. Navahoe was game, however, over a losing battle 

 and the race to the Ower's Lightship was a close haul. Navahoe 

 slightly improving her position, there were indeed some who thought 

 she might yet recover her loss, and one American lady offered to bet 

 gloves in profusion in proof of the confidence of her patriotism. But 

 at the lightship Britannia was still ahead. Here are the times as de- 

 claimed: 



Britannia 1 05 58 Navahoe 1 08 12 



The Britannia, in other words, was already 2m. ahead. She improved 

 her position on the reach back nearly to White Cliff on the port tack. 

 The breeze was not freshening, and the Navahoe put out that 

 very peculiar spinnaker which has so greatly startled and amused 

 ISnghsh yachtsmen this summer; but in the run to Dunnose the Brit- 

 annia had a still greater advantage. She made a long leg against a 

 foul tide, and gained the advantage. The Navahoe was more pinched, 

 and her short tack proved to be a mistaken strategy. In the endeavor 

 to round the flag ofE Dunnose she delayed herself some minutes, and 

 the result was perceived when the times were taken. 



Britannia 3 40 .30 Navahoe 3 55 55 



In a word, the Britannia was now 15ni. ahead. Victory was now 

 assured, the race ceased to excite, and Americana no longer wanted to 

 gage gloves. Passing Dunnose both yachts ran with spinnaker boomed 

 to port for the Nab. The times there are not so clearly ascertained, 

 but they are like this: 



Britannia 4 32 51 Navahoe 4 47 03 



Then came the reach home. From the Nab Lightship on a port tack, 

 the Britannia came in as prettily as she went out, and made as hand- 

 some a finish as could be desired. Loud cheering greeted her from 

 the crews of all the craft around, and the whistle of every steamer in 

 the neighborhood sent up imitations of human cheers. There was a 

 band on one boat, and it played "God Bless the Prince of Wales" with 

 a vigor that proved the loyalty of the bandsmen English yachtsmen 

 conaratulated one another with that laughter which the sailor loves so 

 weU. Presently they began to look for the Navahoe. She would have 

 been a clipper Last year, and would have carried off prizes, but the 

 Britannia has beaten her, and beaten her fairly and squarely once 

 more. The Navahoe did not lag behind, but she was leaning far more 

 than the Britannia, and her loss was almost exactly 16i.^m. The time 

 at the end, as officially certified, is: 



Britannia 4 50 02 Navahoe 5 06 SO 



Second Race— Thursday, Sept. S. 



Yachtsmen were enthusiastic at Ryde to-day when they found a fair 

 breeze blowing for the second day's race between the Prince of 

 Wales's Britannia and the American cutter, Mr. Royal Phelps Carroll's 

 Navahoe. Y'esterday the breezes were light, to day they were fresh 

 enough, and the sea was what old salts called nasty. Nevertheless 

 the result was the same. The English boat won and had beaten her 

 rival before the Navahoe came to grief. But we ha'l more of a race 

 to-day than yesterday. In running with a free wind the Navahoe has, 

 if anything, the advantage over the Britannia, and one of the most 

 interesting and exciting events of the days was the twenty miles run 

 to leeward into the channel. The idea was Mr. Carroll's. The Royal 

 Victoria Y. C. committee would have preferred a ten-mile sail to 

 windward and a ten-mile sail back, but Mr. Carroll seems to have 

 depended upon his staying powers and his wish was at once, and with- 

 out demur, acceded to. 



Naturally, the course could not be laid down beforehand; it depended 

 upon the wind. The Nab lightship was chosen as the rendezvous and 

 starting point, and when the yachts, club steamer and committee tug 

 reached it the wind was found to be a little north of westerly. It was 

 therefore determined to make the Owers lightship the next point, 

 and to place the flag-marked buoy eight miles to the southeast by south 

 of her, a point just off Little Hampton. Off went the tug to drop the 

 buoy while the instructions were taken by the commodore of the club 

 in the Nab lightship's boat. The general belief was that the Navahoe 

 would have at least the consolation of proving herself to be indisput- 

 ably a better running boat than the Britannia. English patriotism 

 did not. perhaps, enable our people to desire to see the American beat 

 us even in one race in our own waters, but the speed of the Navahoe 

 before the wind was believed to be greater than that of the Britannia, 

 and it was warmly desired that she should prove it and that the 

 Britannia should recover herself for the heavy work on the return 

 journey. This was the general forecast of the race before it was 

 sailed. 



The start took place at a quarter to twelve. It was almost as pretty 

 as that of yesterday, and at first it seemed likely to be similar in all 

 respects. Having more way on her. the Britannia at first took the 

 lead, but she could not keep it. The Navahoe is easily beaten reaching 

 to windward in a choppy sea, but she soon proved her metal, and not 

 only headed the Royal yacht, but gave the Britannia all her time to 

 keep with her. She would have done better but for evil furtuue. Mr. 

 Carroll had luck against him all day ; everything seemed to go wrong. 

 At the very worst moment he put forth that costly spinaker of silk 

 and hemp which is supposed to be as great a wonder as it is undoubt- 

 edly a novelty. It is supposed that a sheet gave way; at all events the 

 Navahoe was soon in difficulties, and before the spinaker could be got 

 right again it had split both top and bottom, though not so as lo Juake 

 the sail useless. In the meantime, while the spiuaker was being 

 brought under control again, the Britannia had overhauled the Kava 

 hoe, but she could not keep her advantage. Gradually the Na\ahoe 

 forged ahead and she held her advantage almost to the very end of the 

 run. In one sense this created less astonishment than the running 

 powers exhibited by the Prince of Wales's yacht. It was a real race. 

 The Navahoe could afford to givn nothing away. She had to put forth 

 all her strength to hold her own, and she lost the victory over the run 

 by a mere accident. In going on, the very middle of the channel was 

 chosen by both boats, so as to get everything from the tide. The exact 

 spot of the marked buoy could not, of com-se, be steered. Seeing that 

 it was dropped only about half an hour before the boats went round 

 her only a general "Une could be steered until the buoy was sighted. 

 Both the competing cutters, whether from accident or from intention, 



went nearly two miles to windward of the buoy. That was fair enoueh, 

 but the Navahoe went further to windward than the Britannia. The 

 American had a lead of something like two minutes when the two 

 yachts had to make the elbow for the buoy before turning homeward, 

 but she lost this in a moment. The Britannia had the better position 

 and was ahead. A very fine struggle was made at the last, hut the 

 one consolation which might have been dear to him was denied to the 

 American, The Navahoe had led the race practically the whole way, 

 but when she went round she was behind by just twenty seconds. The 

 time officially taken was; 



Britannia 2 04 09 Navahoe 2 04 21) 



It was a grand race, and would have been won by the Navahoe if 

 her spinaker had not gone wrong, or if she had kept to the leeward 

 instead of going to the windward. Even now It Is recognized that 

 running to leeward the Navahoe is superior to the Britannia. It was 

 a quick twenty mfle race. At one tune the two yachts must have been 

 going at the rate of more than 13 knots an hour, and the managemeht 

 of both boats was almost perfect. There la no fjuestion about the 

 superiority of the Britannia sailing to windward. The rtlce was over 

 two minutes after the marked bUo*- hAd been tilrned Catitain Cartf I- 

 was simply walking away from the American, .wheii .hqw troubltS 

 arose, and placed the Nftvahoe practically AorS de cdmhat. '-What's 

 the mattet- with, hei- gflff," bried some one suddeilly ; and, It wis seen 

 thdt its fieftk end was turning upward instead of being bent slightly 

 downwards. The middle span of the purchase|halliards tiad given wav 

 This was enough to daunt an ordinary yachtsman, and doubtless iui- 

 peded, though ever so slightly, the Yankee's boat. But that av,!is not 

 enough. As in going outf he craft had to take the mid channel for the 

 tide, so in coming they were made to hug the shore close to avoid any 

 tide As in eoing out they both went too far to windward, so in coui- 

 ing back they went too far to leeward. It is due to the watchfulness 

 of the lightshipmen that a disaster did not occur. We were all sud- 

 denly startled by a. gun, and looking ahead we found the siL;nal out 

 from the lightship, telling both yachts that being so close iu shore near 

 Selsea Bill, they were in danger. The Britannia soon get nut, but it 

 took the Navahoe longer to put herself in the open, and she lost txviK 

 here. 



The lead of the Britannia was still increasing wheh another trouble 

 occurred, and practically brought the day's race to an end The jib of 

 the Navahoe was suddenly seen to be what the sailors call "funny,"' 

 What wa.s it? Most of ua imagined that the bobstay had been broken, 

 Certain it was that the jib had to be taken iu, and the Navahoe prac- 

 tically resigned herself to her most untoward fate. Meanwhile the 

 Britannia seemed to exult iu her own certaihty of victory. Steered 

 magnificently, she made a long reach oh the port tack fof the Nab, 

 out-distanijed the club boat, which should have been ready to receive 

 her at the Nab lightship, and made for home wilbouL a chaHgc ot 

 course. It was a sight worth seeing, thodgh there \\'a.s hn Ir.uger an^' 

 struggle flr any possibility Of any race. The Britauhia kept lii!rFfil:' 

 very erect; the Navahoe Was. vtiry t-oCk.y, ahd liiy dver So mltcli as to 

 suggest unpleasant posstbiUtles, . , , 



What is shown by to-day's rdce Is that a rdnning boat the 

 Britantila Is bettel- than Spttl^, eVerl of her admirers believed, The 

 NaV-ahoe has had no fair play from Dame Fortune, but her inferiority 

 is now confessed and the only question is whether the Valkyrie will do 

 as well in American waters against her sister yacht, as the Britannia 

 is doing at home. The finish' was a splendid one for the Britannia. 

 She passed the line and then returned for the cheer, her crew cheering 

 back again. The Navahoe came in very rapidly considering all things 

 She was not 35m, behind. The actual times are: 



Britannia 4 50 06 Navahoe 5 24 57 



A difference of 34m. lis. 



As soon as the American could be overhaided, we learned that the 

 injury on the bowsprit was not too serious to be dealt with. The jib out 

 hauling gear had been carried away. That was all. Mr. Carroll was 

 asked if he would be read, to race again. Very prompt came the 

 reply. There was no hesitation; he will repair to-night, and be ready 

 again at 11 o'clock to-morrow. The coursi- selected is w hat Is known 

 as "The long Victoria course." It is so arranged as to give very little 

 open sea, and will, as was yesterday's race, be sailed In what may 

 almost be called inland, and certainly are sheltered « aters. The 

 ' long" course will be the final trial. There is no doubt about the 

 result. The Britannia will win; but as there is a great variety of con- 

 ditions on the course, there should be some exciting moments. 

 Third Race—Mojiday, Sept. It. 



As was expected after the first day's match on Wednesday, and 

 as was morally certain if no accident happened after Thur.sday's trial, 

 the Prince of Wale.s's cuttei', the Brilannla. yesterd.iy won the third 

 of the three con.secutii'e i-aces for the Koyal Victoria \. C.'s gold 

 cup. The cup is until ne.vt year at all eveul-s still the tn'asun;' of this 

 country, and it adds to tlie diguity and hooor of the Engli.sh sitccfess 

 that it is in the keeping foi- the time beiug of the Prince of Wales; 

 Yesterday the Navahoe never had a shoW; as "the EDgll slinian" 

 headed the American from the start, and kept it to the flhi.sh. It is 

 an additional gratlHoation that thel-e is no jealousy or any sus- 

 picion of anything approatJhing linsporlspiatililie treatniHut Both 

 Mr, Royal Phelps Carroll, the owtler, and Mr. Cn,':ker, tlie sailing 

 master of the Navahoe. acknowledge, it is Understood that they have 

 been hand.somely treated, they certainly nave no rea.sr»n to com- 

 plain of their treatment on Friday. The Navahoe actually started 

 for the race before she burst her mainsail. It was wilhin'the right 

 of the Britannia to sail the course and claim the pvize. Mr. Jameson, 

 however, who is representing the Prince of Walf^s on board the 

 Britannia, prides himself, it is said, on the fact that he has never 

 condescended to .sail the course unless he has had the chance of a 

 fair race. 



The wind blew fitfully from the e^ist, with a movement now to north- 

 ward, now to southward. In the Solent there were occasional changes, 

 but they were transient and slight. The sky, which at night was 

 cloudless, iu the morning suggested the remote possibility of rain; but 

 we had not a sprinkle all day. The direction of the wiiid helped to 

 dictate the order iu which the course would be run. Every yachtsman 

 knows the long Victoria course. It has been raced upon for tif i y years, 

 and those who do not know it, but know the .Sideut, will easiU' Kacher 

 what was the course steered yesterday. Ttie. ir tai ting place was the 

 Ryde Pier and Noman Port was the first point. It was left on the star- 

 board hand. The course was then taken iu the direction of the Nab 

 Light. It was left on the starboard hand and rounded. Near Spit 

 Fort was placed a markboat to be rounded on the port hand. There a 

 markboal was placed in what sailors iu tiiesa waters know as the 

 westward of the Middle. It was left on the ^lort hand, and the return 

 made to Ryde. Practically the race was over a course beginning at 

 Rjde, passing to the Nab and returning to Cowes, and thence hack 

 again to Ryde Pier. The waters are iidand, aud the Navahoe never 

 had to labor in one of tho.se heri vy seas which are her terror. Shu had 

 very much her own weather, let the Britautjia easdy tieat her. It is 

 difficult to understand why the race was so hollow, for after she had 

 fallen 14 minutes behind the Navahoe kept her jiosition very fairly, and 

 lost only about a minute, but she never recovered her early los.s. She 

 might have made a better race had she begun belter. 



Both boats at starting carried the same canvas. The Britannia set 

 the example. She had a single-reefed mainsail, a jib and foresail. Nor 

 again yesterday did Capt. Crocker, of the Navahoe, try his di-astrous 

 experiment of Friday, when he tried to put a second reef iu his main- 

 sail Nevertheless, when the gun fired for the start Jie was behind. 

 He has always been so in these races. As the two cuttcr.s passed the 

 line on the starboard tack, Navahoe was timed 2s. behind. The official 

 time is: 



Britannia 11 05 40 Navahoe 11 05 42 



Thus the Britannia had from the outset the lead. She never lost her 

 advantage. She sailed iu the teeth of the wind to tiie N.ib, and left 

 the Navahoe further and further behind her. No race was ever more 

 devoid of incident, and, therefore, less provocative of excitemeut. The 

 only words heard on board the club committee boat were those which 

 Indicated that in the opinion of the experts the race was over before 

 noon. So it proved, tnough if the racing had been the same iu the 

 first hour and a half as it was in the afternoon, there would have been 

 some chance (though not much") for Navahoe. At the Nab the times 

 given were: 



Britannia 12 12 ,37 Navahoe 12 21 42 



The Britannia, in other words, had a lead of 9m. 5s. Then came a 

 broad reach to the markboat, near the famous Spit Fort, It showed 

 the Navahoe "cocky" again, and led to unfavorable comments on the 

 weight of her sails. She seemed to be afraid of her canvas and 

 pinched herself aU the lime. Nevertheless, she did not do so badlv. 

 At this point the times taken official I v were: 



Britannia , 12 40 21 Navahoe la 40 J2 



A gain of 14s. for the American. Still there was rothirg to enthuse 

 about. The Britannia was always seen striding away, w hile the Kava- 

 hoe was toUing after her in vain. Both put out their spinakers but 

 this made little difference in their relative positions. U'hen the mark 

 boat off the west buoy of the Middle was reached the limes were: 



Britannia... 1 12 U9 N'avalioe 1 21 22' 



A diff'erence of ym. 13s. At this point the Navahoe made an error in 

 saiUng; she jibed too late; she took iu her jib so olumsfly that she 

 nearly hove to, and she lost way a httle. At the eud of the first round 

 the figures taken at Ryde Pier were: 



Britannia 1 58 48 Navahoe 2 14 13 



In a word the Britannia was now more than a quarter of an hour 

 ahead. The Navahoe had the only one little bit of luck in the first part 

 of her second course, as she passed the Warner Lightship. When the 

 Britannia was laboring to windward far ahead she had a f ee gust of 

 wind from the land, which was worth ten minutes of time to her. She 

 did some credit to it and seemed likely to do better, hut the breeze tVlL, 

 away; she got again into the same water as the Britannia and showed 

 less speed. She had improved, but not much. At the Nab the timta 

 were: 



