486 
THE FIELD 
SAILING HATCHES AN'D CLUB REGATTAS, Ac. 
t » ... . ’ Klrtt mitfCh of the Prince 6t Wales Yacht Club. 
J “?° \ VeflnMday^ Royal MerSPy Yrtcht Club. First Match of the 
TnneT Tliursilay - First Snlllnjr Match of the Liverpool Yacht Club 
for a Cup vnino £20, with £S added. Course : from Birkenhead 
round the Y'or in by Lightship and back Fixed keels only. 
June |7 — ItlrkenlleirU Model Yacht Club Sailing Match for £20. 
Juno* 20 —Royal London Yacht Club— Second match of the Season 
for First and Second Class Yachts. Last day of entry, June 13. 
j„ly Birkenhead Model Yacht Club Sailing Mutch for £10. Boats 
of two tons, fixed keels. 
July 0, Thursday. -Second match of the Royal Thames 1 fldit Club- 
Schooners only. 
July 8 — Royal Mersey Yacht Club— Challenge Cup. 
July 18, Tuesday.— Annual Regatta at Lowestoft, 8uffolK. 
j u ly Match between the Second Class of the London Model i acnl 
J u?y29. — BlrkenBWld Model Yacht Club Sailing Match for £10. Two 
ton boats, fixed keels. 
August 8.— Annual Regatta, nt .Southampton, of the Royal .southern 
August 9, and' following days.— Annual Regatta of the Royal Vic- 
toria Yacht Club, at Rvde. , 
August IS— Royal Yrtcht Squadron Regatta Trlnco Alberts Cup. 
Fireworks In the evening 
August 16.— Royal Yaoht Squadron— annual dinner. 
„ 17 - Her Majesty's Oup of 100 guineas, by schooners of 140 
tons and upwards. 
August 18.- Royal Yacht Squadron Bull. 
n 19.— The Squadron Cup, value £100, open to all yachts of the 
squadron. 
August ....—Annual Regatta or the Royal Western Yacht Club, In 
Plymouth Sound. „ 
August 10. — Birkenhead Model Yacht Club Sailing Match for £20. 
Centre-bourdr, „ , , , 
September 2. — Birkenhead Model Yncht Club Sailing Match for a 
Fifty Guinea Challenge Cup, open to all the world. 
ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUD. 
Since the year 1823, when “The Thames Yacht 
Cluji” wus first founded, we cannot remember a eloscr 
termination (o n match than that witnessed at Erith on 
Monday last, between tlie Phantom and the Thought. 
It may appear out of order to mention the end of u mutch 
before its beginning, but in the mind of each yachtsman who 
wus present we are sure the close of the struggle Mill re- 
mains uppermost, and we cannot help glancing nt what 
proved almost a dead heut between the two crack vessels in 
question, even in the very commencement of this our report 
of l ho incidents of I ho day. Doi'Iing is a great name at 
Epsom ; and what Dorling’s cards arc to Hie inamorato of 
racing, Bonner’s regatta cards nru to the lover of sailing. 
Bonner’s “Copyright Regatta Card,” now published “By 
Authority,” under the sanction of the olliccrs of the Royal 
Thames, Royul London, the Prince of Wales, and London 
Model Yacht Clubs, wus first Issued in 1844, and has now 
computed ten seasons of proved utility. Furnished with 
ono of these indispensable cards, we saw it recorded there- 
on that Hie first suiling match of the season between vessels 
of Hie Royul Thames Yacht Club was fixed for Monday 
last; and* having, through the courtesy of the worthy 
Treasurer of the Club, received the entrio to, the Pi inco of. 
Wales steamer, which had boon chartered to accompany the 
competing yuchts, wo found ourselves on tho appointed 
day standing on her spacious deck a few minutes before 
nine in the morning, and gazing on a long line of fushion- 
ablos proceeding towards her gangways from Adeluide 
Wharf, oft' which site had bcCfi moored to rocoivo members 
and their invited guests.' Captuin Wheeler (the time- 
honoured treasurer) whs in command, Hie Commodore, 
Lord Alfred Puget, M. P., being unavoidably absent owing 
to the reccut decease of his lamented father the Marquis of 
Anglesey; und Viec-Coinmudore Green was also away, tho 
preparations for the race requiring his able assistance ut 
Erith. We niny hero mention that Her Majesty had relieved 
Lord Allred Puget from ids duties at Court owing to the 
same here; v* uont which prevented his presence among the 
yachtsmen lie has so long commanded. Among others w hom 
we missed “ut the accustomed spot” was Mr. Scerctury 
Alldridge, now abroud, uml doing his duty in war, onboard 
II.M.S. DIumoiid, against tho Russians, ns energetically as 
he did in peace, and to the Advantage of yachtsmen, when at 
home. The club is, nevertheless, fortunute in his successor, 
Capt. Grunt, who, alllioiluli tuken from tho sister scrvico, 
seems unlimited with the triio aquatic spirit, ami is ulready 
a great favourite. Some delay occurred in the departure, 
from London Bridge, almost nn hour, which i» attributable 
to the band of tho Blues — engaged as usual by the Club — 
being quartered ut Windsor, whence they had to inarch on 
Monday morning, so that (he steamer, if not tide and time, 
had, on this occasion, to wall for mutt and train. But joining 
the ship ubout 10 H.m., the Prince of Wales nt last oust off, 
exuctly as that hour struck ; paddled away through (lie 
Pool, took in a largo addition to her passengers ut 1 Oil. 
35m., at Btackwall Par, mid leaving this immediately, 
reached Erith in less than dn "hour. There, in tliut plbasunt 
buy, we descried the Phoenix (tho Vice Commodore’s yacht) 
at uuchor, and gaily dressed alow and aloft In signal flags. 
The racing yachts were also ut their stations, and the title 
was all t hat could bo desired, it having been high waier at 
London Bridgo ut 1 Oh. 5lin. a. in. Thorc was no entry 
for the First Class ; hut three cutler yachts were entered 
for tho Second ; and four for tho Third Class: — 
8ECONH CLASS. 
YACHT 
IONS. 
J OWNER. 
It l:\IANKS. 
Pliauiom - - - 
29 
I 8. Lane, K>q. - - - 
Winner. 
Thought - - 
•JO 
G. Coope, Ii»q. - - 
- 
Muud - - - - 
— 
Absent. 
THIRD CLASS. 
Vuinpiru - - - 
18 
, C- WheelerrEx,. - - 
Winner. 
Vesper - - - - 
18 
1’. Roberts, R.q, - - 
Kitien - - - - 
— 
T. Harvey, livq. - - 
1 Dirt not 
SeaNymih - - 
— 
1 R. SqIIv, Hsq. - - 
i start. 
The prizes for which tho Yachts were to contend, were, for 
the second class, an Epergno in silver, value £50 ; and for 
the third class, a Claret Vase und Salver, value £30 ; these 
were made by the firms of Gas, and Day and Nicholson. 
The prizes last year were by Storr and Mortimer, but being 
this season thrown open to competition, it resulted that the 
above were selected by the club out of u very large number 
sent in for examination. They were now placed on Hie com- 
panion-bead, adorned with ribbons of “ naval blue,” and 
they attracted considerable attention. The 1‘iiuco of Wales 
was not the only steamer to accompany the match ; Hie 
Petrel took in a large party at Loudon Bridgo and at Black- 
wall, at three shillings a head for tho cruize, und so did the 
Merry Andrew, tug, at three half-crowns; and also at 
Blackwell appeared tho Gemini, which lust, although 
covered with hunting and offering, us t lie Petrel did, all the 
attractions ol u brass hand, seemed not to reeeivo tho 
patronage of more than a dozen passengers. Tho Petrel, 
however, and tho Merry Andrew, were lull ; and we sub- 
sequently saw the Gemini at Gravesend, but, if sho ever 
readied the Nore, we did not observe her there. On board 
the Prince of Wales (Hie club steamer), Mr. Cranford was the 
caterer. Ho is the usuul steward of the boat, which plies on 
the Margate station, and last week ran from Bluckwall to 
.Margate in four hours. Mr. Cranford hud fitted up tho 
saloon very tastefully, and wc did not hear a complaint 
throughout the day, either on the score of waiters or pro- 
visions. No one, however, cun bout our old friend Mr. 
Goro at catering, — he distinguished himself ugain at the 
London match on board the .Mars, on the previous Saturday ; 
but, although less known lo yachtsmen, we cannot but also 
record our rnccd of praise to the Crauford “ of that ilk,’ 
who superintended the “creature comforts” during the 
match of Monday. 
Reverting to Erith, let us observe that wo noticed the Sea 
Nymph at anchor. She had arrived there hut the night 
before ; and, not being fully prepared, did not proceed to 
her station. The Kitten was, indeed, at her berth; hut as 
the owner’s son, who was ready to suil her, is not a member 
of the R. T. Y. C.— his father is— and as no member of that 
club stopped forward to make ono on board of her during 
the race, sho was precluded from starting. 
“ Aufici.B 10. That a yacht sailing in a match shall have 
some member of the club to which she belongs nn hoard, 
who shall bo hold as fully responsible for the vessel being 
sailed in accordance with Hie rules and regulations of Ihe 
Royal Thames Yacht Club as if lie was actually steering her, 
and Hie said yacht shall not have on board more than one 
hand for every five ions and fraction thereof, exclusive of 
tho master, pilot, and three members of any Royal Yacht 
Club, or officers of t he army or navy ; and that any member 
winning a prize be requested not to give more than 10s. Gd. 
gratuity to each of the crew.” 
Thus, in the third class, tho Vampire and Vesper had it 
all to themselves; while, in tho second, tho Maud not hav- 
ing arrived, the Plmntoin and Thought were tho only 
champions. 
A goodly muster of yachts studded Erith Buy; and among 
them that curious craft, the Margaret, of which we gave an 
illustration in tho Second Volume of the Field, at page 583 
[Dec. 17], was at anchor, but preparing to weigh. The 
Mayfly schooner wus standing oft' and on, with Hie Mischief 
cutter (the winner in Hie Inst H. L. Y. C. match) and about 
a dozen oilier well-known yachts. Tho club-steamer now, 
unfortunately, fouled a biig, and carried away her own fore- 
topmast; hut such a trifle us this was altogether disregarded 
in the general anxiety for 
THE START. 
Tho weather was most favourable for the match ; breeze 
just strong enough to blow off a hat or two every now and then ; 
the sky threatening ; the spray leaping men ily up over bark 
and boat in the rolling tide ; und dead to windwurd ill the 
S.W. were uninistakenhlo signs that a drifting match would 
not he Hie order of tho day, either oii t lie outward or the 
homeward course. The rule as to half ininuto lime per ton 
dropped' through on this occasion, owing lo the measurement 
of tho two yachts in each class being equal, or nearly so. 
“ Section 23. Measurement shall be taken in the man- 
ner following : — The length shall bo taken in a straight line 
ut Hie deck, from the fore-part of tho stem to the after- part 
of the stern-post ; from which, deducting tho breadth, tho 
remainder shall bo esteemed tho just length to find the 
tonnage, and Ihe breadth shall he taken from the outside of 
the outside plank in the broadest part of the yacht; then 
multiplying tho length by tho breadth so tuken, and the 
product by liulf tho breadth, and dividing the whole by 94, 
the quotient shall be deemed thetruo tonnage; provided al- 
ways, that if any part of the stem dr stern-post project 
beyond the length taken as above mentioned, duell pro- 
jection or projections shall, for Hie purposes of finding Hie 
tonnage, he added to the length taken as before mentioned, 
and that all fractional parts of u ton shall be considered as 
a ton.” 
The gun to prepare was fired at llh. 33m. 
The gun to start nt llh. 37m. 
At this instant Mr. Harvey was seen returning to the 
Kitten, und few of t ho visitors were then aware that the 
Kitten wus disqualified, and great was the disappointment 
when the other four yachts dashed off on their course, 
leaving her astern, and apparently losing time so precious, 
and probably irrecoverable. The third-class vessels were 
i lie first nway, Vesper unexpectedly taking the lead of Vum- 
piro, and Thought of Phantom, but the lust soon appeared 
to be overhauling tho Thought, though smartly sailed by 
Jem Lulten of Gravesend. For some little time no topsails 
were set, undheavy puffs blew from llic Kentish shore, throw- 
ing the racing yacltis gunwale under. The Phantom seemed 
to Jay over more than the Thought, but n'importe, a little 
more or less water on deck is of littlo consequence in a match. 
A slight but judicious delay in the steamer’s leaving Erith 
Hay. allowed, in such a breeze, tho racing yachts to get a 
littlo ahead, and as tho Kitten was soon known to ho out of 
tho mutch, Mffi being so far astern of Vampire and Vesper 
j led to littlo remark. Closing, the four competitors, we saw 
I Thought set a jib- headed topsail, while tho Phantom would 
not ho content without carrying a square-headed one. 
Vesper and Vampire were both admirably sailed, and near 
Green hit he the four yachts formed cue of the prettiest 
pictures we ever gazed upon. Having a fair wind down, 
Hie great interest of the mutch was reserved till tho return 
from the Nore. But as yet there was little room for the 
! niceties of match-sailing to ho exemplified. At Grecn- 
bitho wc counted tcu yachts at anchor. And here Hie 
i Vampire dowsed her topsail. It was good seamanship. We 
have known a frigate in chase, and losing her enemy when 
cracking on, gain on her by taking in a reef. But sailors, 
whether professionals or yachtsmen, have a great horror of 
shortening sail in the presence of an enemy or a rival, and 
crews are over best phased at cracking on. They love 
foam even as the tapster does. Five yachts kept well 
ulieud of tho match, tho four competitors again curried i 
their topsails, and off Broad Ness, on the Kentish 
shore, Phantom again gniued on Thought, and Vampire 
and Vesper were close together, Vesper a littlo ahead. 
I Phantom hud a jib ready -lashcil on her bowsprit, but 
Thought had not taken that precaution. And now at 12 h. 
25 m. oft' Wales’s Hotel at Gravesend ; “ mine host ” fired a 
salute — ns he ever does on match days — and by this time 
the first and second class had somewhat separated, eacli 
making an admirable match of itsolf. The steamer took up 
u position between the two classes, so that looking a-head wo 
could watch Phantom und Thought ; and looking astern 
criticise Vampire and Vesper. Vampire gradually closed 
upon Vesper, and hung on her starboard quarter, hut the 
critics on board the Prince ol Wules pronounced an opinion 
that both tho “ V’s” wero going out of their road, and 
were hugging Hie Kentish shore too much. This wus 
near Milton. But, disregarding this, tho trial of 6ki|l 
between Vampire and Vesper was intensely interesting 
Vampire, not able to run to windward of her Hvu! 
suddenly bore up, and tried to pass to leeward a 
manoeuvre which was clearly observed on board the Prince 
of Wales, and must have been seen to greater advantage on 
board the Petrel steamer, then higher op the river’ ut^ 
nearer these third-oluss yachts. Vampire was here carrying 
a jib-headed topsail, and Vesper a sqiim e-lteaded one • nnd 
astern of them we could distinguish five yachts watching 
their manoeuvres, hut currying no topsoils at all ; while a 
sixth turned out to he the Margaret, left in the morning at 
Erith, but now under her four sails, crocking on to come up 
with the headmost yachts. At the buoy oft’ the Hope Point 
Vesper was not more ahead of Vampire than a very lew 
seconds; — bringing each on with a mark os they passed the 
buoy, we could only, and rapidly, count from ono to ten 
ere tho Vampire reached the spot just passed over by tho 
Vesper. Off the west buoy of tho Blythe the Vampire op. 
peared to lower and reset her topsail. She may have shifted 
it, hut tiie Prince of Wales steamer was now closing the 
Thought and Phantom, of which we, on hoard that steamer, 
saw more than of the Vampire and Vesper. At Hi. 30m. 
the Vice-Coinmodore fifed a gull, when off “ The Jerkin,” 
as a signal to tho (bird-class yuclits to round the distance- 
boat ho then dropped from the steamer os a mark, which, 
we understand, they did at the subjoined time, having, be- 
fore reaching Iloly Haven, taken in their topsails and struck 
topmasts — 
it. it. s. n. »r. s. 
Vampire .. 1 51 30 j Vesper .. 1 32 0 
Oft' Southend, Wc fell in with the Marina Yacht, and ut 
2 p.m. we could not distinguish who was a-liond, whether 
Vampire or Vesper, but in the second class Thought was 
still leading, say by two minutes. Thought was next seen 
to take in her foresail, and Phantom to shift jib, strike 
topsail, and send down her topmast. Breeze still freshen- 
ing, steamer rolling “ a lcetle,” but not very perceptible, 
except when those who had not acquired their sea-legs 
tried a step or two across the deck. No rain as yet — all 
sunshine, and wind, with dark clouds hovering in the dis- 
tance, and preparing to greet us on our return to the me- 
tropolis. We now heave- to oil’ the Nore light, to see the 
Thought and Phantom round which they did as follows— 
II. m. s. «. m. s. 
Thought .. 1 58 0 | Phantom .. 2 0 30 
The Thought exhibited a beautiful specimen of steering, 
and came round under her four sails, standing up the river 
again, close-hauled, the band playing — 
“ We always are ready, 
Steudy, boys, steady, 
To fight and to conquer again ami again.” 
And now comes the Phantom, and more cautiously than 
usual, and in our opinion losing ground, sheering off too 
far, but still coming round in style, nnd greeted by 
“ Cheer, boys, cheer,” by the brass of the Blues. The 
guns here fired seemed to wake up the “Boy at the Nore,” 
who immediately ran on deck, rubbing his eyes, and dis- 
played the Ensign of the Trinity House. It was the only 
compliment he could pay to yachting. Here the Margaret 
was close in company, and now the Prince of Wales turned 
her head homewards. In the course up, tho Thought 
took in her topsail at the entrance to Sea Reach; and wc 
must here cease to record the doings of the second 
class, for the Club Steamer made the best of her way 
onwards to catch up the Vampire and Vesper, nnd thus 
soon lost sight of Thought and Phantom. By-und- 
by, after running past them, wc, at ten minutes after four, 
reached Gravesend, the four racing yachts then in sigh 
nstern, Vampire here leading on the port tack. She 
seemed to make sure of victory, (ho Vesper being some- 
what astern, but still, ns the wind hud now lulled, Vampire's 
friends on hoard the Prince of Wules would have been more 
satisfied had she here made “certainty more sure” by re- 
setting: her topsail. Further down the Reach were the 
Thought uud Phkutom, and the majority in the club 
steamer expected Phantom trt lose, but we ourselves held 
an opposite opinion, and were foHunately j-uslified by the 
result, though we admit it was tut just *’ touch-and-go.” 
Off Tilbury Fort, where we parted from Phantom und 
Thought, they kept the Essex shore on board ; they wero 
close together, but Thought had tho weather-gage. Reaching 
Greenliithe, I no yacht in company, tho wind again lulled 
a little, and still the Vampire wus Without her topsail, and 
the tide was yet scarcely flovvfng, or, ftt least, tho craft Rt 
anchor had barely swung. On wo padtiliid to Erith, hovc- 
to off llic flag-buoy, ubout five o’clock — an early hour in 
river- matches, and anxiously expected Hie ai'rivnl of the 
racing yachts. And, although we had some littlo time to 
wait, there was nothing to he regretted, for the close of tho 
match was interesting in the extreme. It would have been 
difficult in either class to find jaChls so equally matched, on 
so difficult a course, as those actually engaged in the present 
contest. Tho racing yachts nnW passed bfetweeu the steamer 
and the flag-buoy at the following time : — 
THIRD CLASS. 
II. M. s. H. M. s. 
Vampire .. 5 15 30 | Vesper ... 5 2115 
SECOND CLASS. 
II. M. Si II. M. S. 
Phantom .. 6 58 0 | Thought ... 6 38 C 
Mr. Lane and Mr. Wheeled thus became tho winners, to 
whom Vice-Commodore Green presented the prizes on board 
the Prince of Wales, accompany ihg each presentation with 
an appropriate speech, arid then divers toasts having been 
drunk in champagne, including the health of Lord Alfred 
Paget, and, of courso “Thu Ladies,” the steamer returned 
to London, just us the rain laid prepared to set in, and duly 
luuded her passengers at Bluckwull and London Bridge. In 
conclusion, we have only to say that not a singfti accident 
occurred to mar tho pleasures of ttVe day. 
[We have been informed, from un official source, that tho 
Vesper and Vampire rounded the “Jenkin” At 111. 47m. 
and lh. 48m. The time wo have given ubove WAS received 
from the boat-keeper at the “ Jenkin.” — E d.] 
LONDON MODEL YACHT CLUB. 
On Wednesday, the 24th inst., this club held a sort of 
opening trip, or reunion, on the Serpentine, when n lino 
day promised plenty of amusement. The “ Ripple” sailing 
boat, gaily droned with the club, colours, was out early 
cruising up and down the river. A reWchoico spirits were on 
hoard, among whom we noticed the Commodore, tho Vies 
Commodore, t he “Gunner” of tho “ Ganoid,” with gay 
pipe in his mouth, ever ready to aid the Commodore in Ins 
orders; and many members of the Sailing Committee. 
Tho wind was however very gusty and variable, conse- 
quently tho little fleet played many pranks quite contrary 
| to tho wishes of their owners. 
