Chapter 15

'Iverna,' 1890. (John Jameson, Esq.)

Lines and midship section of 'Iverna.'Dimensions, &c.: Length (on L.W.L.), 83.50 ft.; beam, extreme, 19 ft.; depth, 10.70 ft.; tonnage, registered, 84.40 tons; tonnage, y. m. 152 tons; Y.R.A. rating, 118 tons. Designed by Alexander Richardson for John Jameson, Esq.

The valedictory match on the river on May 27 proved the best racing test, and furnished the most stirring sport of the trio. 'Valkyrie' was ready to join in, and the fleet was similarly constituted to the opening day. The race was under the Royal London burgee, and was sailed in gloomy weather and a smartnorth-east breeze. A sensation was served up before the contest proper had been started, and directly after the heavily freighted official steamer had got down to the Lower Hope, through 'Calluna's' mast breaking off short as a Jersey cabbage-stalk. With her whole canvas pile carrying away over the side it was feared some of the crew might be entangled; but luckily everything went clear and no one was hurt. It was 12.45 before the Commodore started the race, and at the time the Hope was full of trading craft. A bulky hopper barred 'Britannia's' way, and both 'Valkyrie' and 'Iverna' had to be shoved up in the wind; and while the two last named were hovering, 'Britannia' stood away for the Kent side into the full scour of the ebb, and came off on the starboard tack in weather berth. 'Valkyrie' had to short tack at the top of Sea Reach to clear her wind, and asa long leg could be made, 'Britannia' reached away with the lead, 'Valkyrie,' half a dozen lengths astern, pointing high for her weather quarter. The wind was puffy and both dropped 'Iverna,' but the two leaders were sailing a grand race, and made a long stretch as far as the East River Middle without breaking port tack. Hereabout, however, the wind suddenly shortened on them from the eastward, and the 'Valkyrie' most unluckily was thrown dead under the lee of 'Britannia.' With the tide soaking them bodily to windward, they both fetched under the Nore Sand, which had to be stood from for water, and by short turnings they then made a fine race to the Nore Lightship. Here they got in deep water, and after a short hitch and a rap-full stretch to clear had failed, 'Valkyrie' went in for short boards of about twenty seconds, and ended by being given lee helm directly she was full. This meant that 'Britannia,' being slower in stays, had not got sheets in before she wanted to go about again, and she would to a certainty have been weathered by 'Valkyrie,' before getting as far on as the West Oaze, had not the Prince of Wales's cutter been treated to longer boards. 'Britannia' then got away and weathered the Mouse, after as fine a display of short tacking as has ever been seen on the river, with a lead of 39 seconds, and the duel had let 'Iverna' get within 10 minutes of the leader. They ran back against the tide with spinnakers to port; but it was dead running, and 'Valkyrie,' edging in to the Maplins, got through into first place above the Admiralty mile. The wind then came off shore, and 'Britannia' at once began to luff in. 'Valkyrie' was determined to keep her weather wind clear, the pair had a match up to Southend, and on keeping away both touched the ground, the 'Britannia' bumping three times hard on the north head of Leigh Sand. The Prince of Wales's cutter, however, keeping wide, slipped past 'Valkyrie' about the Chapman, drew to, and came fair ahead. The pair kept up a grand race on the Essex side of the river, but 'Iverna,' greatly favoured by the wind and her opponents' jockeying, had got within a couple of minutes of the leaders when offHolehaven. Spinnakers were carried through the Hope, and a grand race finished with a free reach from Coalhouse Point home, 'Britannia' beating 'Valkyrie' by 73 seconds; but 'Iverna' won the prize by time.

THAMES, HARWICH, AND CINQUE PORTS COURSES.

A very fine open-water match was that of the Royal Thames Club on June 10 from the Nore round the back of the Goodwins to Dover. The usual tale of five of the national rig and the schooner 'Amphitrite' made up the entry, and all mustered at the rendezvous. It was a cheerless morning, the sky being heavy and of slaty hue, whilst a brisk north-easter blew cold off the water. The schooner had a yard-topsail set, 'Calluna' her No. 2 jackyarder, and the 'Britannia,' 'Valkyrie,' 'Satanita,' and 'Iverna' their jibheaders. Reef-tackles were ready to pull earings down, but the breeze veered to the east north-east and did not harden. They had a beat to the Tongue with a swinging weather tide, 'Britannia' made a capital start, and twice crossed ahead of 'Valkyrie'; but exactly half an hour after the start, off the 'West Oaze,' 'Britannia' found her sister marching clear ahead. 'Calluna' had been in Tilbury Dock since her inglorious performance at Harwich; she was there lightened of tons of dead weight, and the syndicate ship was very much livelier, and infinitely more able at breeze squeezing; while the turnings were too short for 'Satanita' to be cutting a dash. 'Britannia' jumped up on 'Valkyrie' every time the long leg on port came, and at the entrance of the Alexandra Channel 'Valkyrie,' on the bearing tack, had to come about under the lee bow, the Prince of Wales's cutter thus becoming 'bell wether.' 'Valkyrie' stayed for 'Britannia,' which was however on port, but the former was clear enough ahead before getting abreast of the beacons on the Girdler. The two leading boats worked shorter tacks than the rest down the Alexandra to the southern pitch of the Shingles, and they were consequently getting picked up a little by 'Calluna' and 'Satanita.' After a long leg on port, the last tack was made for weathering distance of the Tongue Lightship, and on passing this mark after a beat of 19 miles with a weather tide, the 'Valkyrie' led 'Britannia' 2 mins., 'Calluna'7 mins. 30 secs., 'Satanita' 9 mins. 30 secs., and 'Iverna' 15 mins. 30 secs. It may be said that the distance was covered by the leader in 2 hrs. 18 mins. After allowing for a sweep of fair tide they had a broad reach off to the North Sandhead, and although 'Britannia' raced up on 'Valkyrie,' she stopped directly she began to yaw about on the leader's quarter sea, and was half a minute astern at the North Goodwin Lightship. 'Satanita's' was a remarkable piece of sailing, as according to the 'distance table' it is 14¾ miles from the Tongue Lightship to the North Sandhead, and she was timed officially as taking just over one hour to do the distance; it should be added that the tide was running about two knots, and setting under the weather quarter, whilst it is worthy of note that between the marks 'Satanita' had two luffs with 'Calluna' and shifted her jibheaded topsail for a jackyarder. In a run to the East Goodwin main booms were carried to starboard, and 'Britannia,' running the nearer to the sands, was placed to cover 'Valkyrie,' when an inevitable gybe came off at the East Goodwin. 'Valkyrie' came over all standing just after passing the lightship, and unluckily for her the parts of the mainsheet got under the counter. 'Britannia' was also gybed in a hurry, and, covering her opponent, she slipped past into pride of place, while 'Valkyrie' was unable to pull her boom in and luff; oddly enough, however, 'Britannia' was in the same mess as her sister, and it was some time ere both had mainsheets running free through the blocks. With the North Sea tide swinging along hot, a fine head of speed was kept up, and about the Calliper head-sails were taking well and spinnakers were got in. Although the wind was quarterly from the Southsand Lightship home, 'Britannia' made but a very trifling gain on 'Valkyrie,' and, according to official clocking, crossed the line with a lead of 17 secs., and, having 13 secs. to allow, thus won with 3 secs. to spare—a remarkable finish of a grand race. 'Satanita' was 5 mins. 52 secs. astern of the leader, 'Calluna' 7 mins. 26 secs., and 'Iverna' 18 mins. 32 secs.

A smart easterly wind on the morning of the cross Channelmatch from Dover to Boulogne very naturally gave rise to anticipations that the time record for the course would be broken. The breeze came unsteady, however, and put a veto on the accomplishment of a fast journey either way, whilst a serious collision at the start, in which the 'Valkyrie,' 'Britannia,' and 'Vendetta' were involved, had the effect of utterly spoiling the race. A fleet of eight responded to the starting gun—namely, 'Britannia,' 'Valkyrie,' 'Calluna,' 'Iverna,' 'Mabel,' 'Lais,' 'Vendetta,' and 'Varuna'—and they ran in close flight for the line before a north-east wind, with booms to starboard and having a gybe to make immediately after crossing. 'Vendetta' got away first and was reaching off on her course when 'Valkyrie's' bowsprit end took the 40 on the port quarter and forced her round until she filled on the starboard tack, her topmast being carried away as she was slewing. There was not much room between the outer flagboat and the port side of 'Valkyrie,' but 'Britannia's' helm was drawn down—after gybing—to give her a chance of finding a passage. She fouled the mark, however, and through 'Valkyrie's' way being deadened when she fouled 'Vendetta,' 'Britannia' had the alternative of steadying her helm and giving 'Valkyrie' a sliding blow, or of keeping it a little a-lee and crashing right through the 40. The 'Britannia's' helm was eased, and she put her bowsprit inside 'Valkyrie's' rigging, while 'Vendetta,' after getting her bowsprit broken off by 'Britannia,' got some of the gear foul and dropped alongside the Prince of Wales's vessel, with her counter up about level with the big cutter's main rigging, and the stem even with the taffrail. The three vessels, locked together, sidled away towards shore, 'Britannia,' listing to the wind, pressed her mainsail on to 'Vendetta's' port crosstree, and the sail split up from boom to gaff. The trio laid thus entangled for ten minutes, but meantime 'Valkyrie's' crew had chopped away at 'Britannia's' bowsprit and headgear; eventually the spar broke, and then the three vessels at once got clear. Meanwhile 'Calluna' and 'Iverna' had been racing away for the French coast with a fine leading wind, and twelve minutes afterthey had crossed the line 'Valkyrie' started in pursuit. The wind was shy and very puffy after getting inside Grisnez, and 'Valkyrie' picked up six minutes on 'Calluna,' which had beaten 'Iverna' only 3 mins. 45 secs. in going across, and 'Varuna,' the leading 40, by 24 mins. 'Calluna' hung on to her jackyard topsail in a wonderful way, as some of the puffs laid her over until the lee decks were full. 'Valkyrie' passed 'Iverna,' but 'Calluna' well kept her lead, the wind easting enough for all to fetch clean full home. 'Calluna' beat 'Valkyrie' by 5 mins. 27 secs., 'Iverna' by 8 mins. 52 secs., and 'Lais,' the first of the 40's, by 46 mins. 6 secs.

'Calluna,' 141-rater (Peter Donaldson, Esq.)

There was a full muster of the heavy-weight cutters at the Royal Southern rendezvous, the club having a first-class match on June 17, the second day of its 'Jubilee' Regatta. 'Satanita's' light blue banner was carried nearer the water-level than in herprevious racing essays, owing to the lower mast having been clipped 3 feet, and additional lead had been put on her keel. 'Britannia' had made good the damage sustained at Dover, and with 'Valkyrie,' 'Calluna,' and 'Iverna' the fleet was brought up to normal strength. It was a lovely morning, glorified by fervent sunshine, and softened by a gauzy haze, but a southerly chill was not strong enough to 'carry' the smoke of the starting gun, and the surface of the Solent looked smooth as burnished steel. With flying airs filling jackyard topsails, they started the race, and ere going half a mile 'Calluna' got aground on the Calshot Spit. 'Valkyrie' was lucky to strike the first of a gathering breeze, and went reaching fast from the fleet down the West Channel. She afterwards gave a fine display by the wind, and showed matchless form on a dead run. 'Valkyrie' eventually beat 'Britannia' by 5 mins. 32 secs., and 'Satanita' by 16 mins. 4 secs., 'Calluna' and 'Iverna' both being miles astern. 'Valkyrie's' was a good performance, but she was distinctly lucky in getting the first of the wind, and she likewise was kindly treated subsequently by Dame Fortune.

Rather singularly the Jubilee Regatta of the Royal Southern Club was followed by the Jubilee of the Royal Mersey; but the latter meeting, on June 24, did not open under such exhilarating influences as the Solent gathering, particulars having just come to hand of the 'Victoria' disaster in the Mediterranean, while the weather was dismally dull, and a tearing north-north-west wind blowing. Consequent on the prevailing stiff breeze an alternative course—three times round the Formby—had been plotted off overnight—probably not, however, from any tender consideration whether the racing vessels could cross the bar safely, the anxiety more likely being in regard to the Committee-boat and her freight. The inside course was named on the day, but, in spite of foresight and precaution, the racing was disappointing. The 'Valkyrie,' which had come round from Cowes with her mainsail an underdeck passenger, could not get the sail bent owing to the rain and wind; then 'Calluna' got her anchor foul, and being 25 minutes late, did not start. 'Britannia' alone wasnear the line when the Blue Peter came down, yet she lost 1 min. 50 secs., while 'Satanita' came 2 mins. later, and 'Iverna' a minute after 'Satanita.' There was wind enough to warrant second earings being hardened down, all topmasts were housed, and with the tide flying to windward the ground was sidled over very fast. The start meant victory—barring accidents—in beating out of the narrow Mersey channel, and although 'Satanita' worked right up under 'Britannia,' she was kept safely pinned. There was a short jump of sea, and the two new ships were giving a free display of the fore body, smashing the tidal combers into blinding clouds of sea dust. 'Satanita' had a rare drilling from 'Britannia,' and although she also ran the faster, she could not get through in such a limited stretch of water. Thus the game was played to the end, it being a flog out from New Brighton to the Formby, and a run back each round. Had the 'Satanita' got her opponent's start, she would probably have beaten the Prince of Wales's cutter fully 5 mins., as in such a breeze she was clearly the faster to windward. 'Iverna' was very soon done with, and at the finish 'Britannia' finished 2 mins. 19 secs. before 'Satanita.'

The Royal Northern Regatta opened on July 1 with a piping breeze strong enough for slab reefs to be pulled down; before noon, however, jackyard topsails were wanted, and calms and partial breezes made tiresome work afterward, flukes being as plentiful as motes in a sunbeam. The 'Calluna' put in an appearance, and when viewed broadside on her big sail-plan gave her quite an over-hatted look. 'Satanita,' 'Britannia,' 'Valkyrie,' and 'Iverna' all made their number, and the match commenced in a rush of wind, 'Satanita' clearing out of Rothesay Bay faster than any steamboat ever left it—perhaps a madder burst of reaching was never seen. The Southampton boat was at the head of affairs for some time, but after some fluking 'Valkyrie' led. At the end of the second round, however, 'Satanita,' through a sheer slice of luck, got 3 mins. ahead of 'Britannia,' and as it was then 4.30 and clock calm in the Clyde, it was thought the match would be stopped. TheCommittee, however, wanted the distance done, and 'Britannia,' being the faster in light airs, got home late in the evening 1 min. 49 secs, before 'Satanita,' 'Valkyrie,' which was nearly 20 mins. astern of the latter at the end of the first round, getting in 1 min. 32 secs, after, and saving her time for second prize. The 'Calluna's' wide wings did not seem to help her as they should have done in flaws and catspaws.

The Mudhookers opened the ball on July 5 at Hunter's Quay, and a very capital sailing programme was put forward by the exclusive 'forty' which constitute the club, the leading event being a prize value 100l.for big cutters. With 'Britannia' and 'Calluna' disabled, the affair virtually resolved itself into a match between 'Valkyrie' and 'Satanita,' although the 'Iverna' was a starter. It was imperative that the helmsmen should be amateurs, and Mr. W. G. Jameson shipped for the day as timoneer of 'Satanita,' Lord Dunraven having Mr. George Watson to relieve him on 'Valkyrie.' Starting with a free sheet in a smart breeze, 'Satanita' went away so fast that 'Valkyrie' looked likely to have a stern chase; but the wind got baffling, in beating up the Firth from Ascog 'Valkyrie' worked up, and off Dunoon, in standing off on port, she had to come round under the lee bow of her rival. A wind-jamming trial then followed, and 'Satanita' either sidled away and dropped down on 'Valkyrie,' or the latter ate up under her rival, as the end of 'Satanita's' gaff hooked 'Valkyrie's' topmast shrouds, and Lord Dunraven's cutter was towed along for some minutes. After getting clear, it was thought 'Valkyrie's' topmast was slightly sprung, and there were cross protests at the finish of the round. A desperately close race was sailed on the second turn round the course, and 'Satanita,' which was only 27 secs. ahead at the finish, got beaten on time by 'Valkyrie.' 'Iverna' finished 26 secs. after the leader.

Amateur helmsmen were in request for the big ships on Clyde Corinthian Club day, when the 'Britannia,' 'Valkyrie,' 'Satanita,' and 'Iverna' responded to the starting gun. The weather was very uncertain, the breezes being so light that onlyone round of the course could be sailed. 'Valkyrie' was the lucky ship as she rounded the Kilcreggan flagboat, two and a half miles from the Commodore, last boat. Standing off in the Firth, along the edge of a flaw, whilst her opponents were lying becalmed, she tacked into a breezy lane, and, passing 'Iverna,' 'Satanita,' and 'Britannia' in turn, carried her way up to the line, getting the winning gun 30 secs. before 'Britannia' struggled through, and 2 mins. 15 secs. in advance of 'Satanita.' The 'Valkyrie' was steered by her owner, the 'Britannia' by Mr. W. G. Jameson, and the 'Satanita' by Mr. R. Ure.

A more unfavourable racing day than that which opened the Royal Club Regatta has never been experienced even on the unutterably fluky Firth. Sudden spurts of wind, calms, a very long spell of what was quite a deluge of rain, deafening thunder, blinding lightning and depressing gloom, made up the sample of weather vouchsafed to the competitors during the time that the 'sport' was progressing. The big cutters mustered in full force, and had a light easterly breeze, which gave a reach down the Clyde. Just before the start, 'Britannia' on the port tack, with the wind pretty broad abeam, made 'Calluna,' which had run down from the eastward with boom over the port side, come round; and this was deemed cause for 'Calluna' to pursue a protest, on the ground that a breach of the rules of the road had been committed. 'Valkyrie,' too, made a mark of 'Britannia,' the latter getting the stem, and sustaining damage to the port bulwarks aft and the taffrail. After an unsatisfactory start, 'Britannia' and 'Satanita' went round the Ascog mark together, but just as the latter was stepping out in style, and apparently in first place, her bobstay pendant burst and the bowsprit broke off short to the stem-head. Topsails had been shifted, as there was a prospect of a strong breeze, but the outcome was a tempest without a rattle of wind. 'Britannia' sailed in fine form, and simply lost her opponents directly 'Satanita's' accident had put that boat out of the way. It was a wretchedly poor time, however, and, thanks to not a little goodfortune, 'Britannia' beat 'Valkyrie' by 41 mins. 40 secs., and 'Calluna' by 62 mins. 17 secs., while 'Iverna' gave up. Protests were lodged against 'Britannia' on behalf of both 'Calluna' and 'Valkyrie.' The 'Calluna's' objection was considered, and about midnight the Sailing Committee decided to disqualify the 'Britannia,' only one witness, be it said, from the last-named vessel having been called. There was really not a semblance of racing on the second day of the Royal Clyde Regatta, which was the valedictory fixture in the so-called 'Clyde fortnight.' Flying chills and draughts out of every 'airt,' with long spells of calm, kept the vessels hanging about the lower part of the Firth until the shadows were well slanting eastward. An evening breeze helped 'Valkyrie' home, but it took her nearly seven hours and a half to cover one half the course, and she finished 54 mins. 9 secs. before the 'Calluna,' 1 hr. 31 mins. 30 secs. before 'Britannia,' and about 2 hrs. 40 mins. before 'Satanita,' the last named taking 10 hrs. to cover 25 miles.

Inspiriting racing marked the opening of the Irish fixtures at Bangor, and the Royal Ulster Regatta attracted all the big cutters. The wind was fresh from the north-north-east, slab reefs were down in mainsails and sharp-headed topsails set. A thrilling and eventful contest followed a perfectly judged start, and 'Britannia,' 'Satanita,' and 'Valkyrie' formed first flight in a plain sail round the Lough as far as the South Briggs flagboat, where the last named lost her place through one of her hands getting knocked overboard in a gybe. At the same mark in the second round 'Britannia' got the inside turn, when the main boom had to come over; but 'Satanita' at once began to luff, and with mainsheet blocks together on both they went heading out in the Lough. Foot by foot 'Satanita' came up, off Ballyholme Bay she had ranged broad on the weather-beam of her rival, and was thus able to claim room at the home flagboat, which she luffed round with 5 secs. lead, and Jay then kept her shooting almost as long as she would to keep weather berth. 'Britannia' unluckily got her mainsheet jammed, and as she could not in consequence be sprungto the wind—at once—so high as 'Satanita,' she dropped under the lee quarter, and got a severe blanketing all the way up the Lough. The pair sailed an exciting match round the rest of the course, and 'Satanita' travelling like a shooting star reached home winner with 5 secs. in hand. It may be said that the feat was accomplished in one third of the course, 16½ miles, and that she beat 'Britannia' 2 mins. 29 secs. in that distance, which was a very high tribute indeed to 'Satanita's' speed. 'Calluna' finished 7 mins. 19 secs. after the winner. 'Valkyrie' never regained any of the time lost in picking up the hand who got overboard.

ROYAL ULSTER YACHT CLUB BELFAST.

The breeze steadied down during the dark hours, and the 'Valkyrie' had a day just to her liking. 'Iverna's' well-known racing banner was missed for the first time in the season, owing to her rudder-head being twisted. Spectators were treated to a magnificent light-weather match between the 'Valkyrie' and 'Britannia.' The former took the lead directly after the flash of the starting gun, but she did not seem to ghost along in the usual peerless style. 'Britannia' was with difficulty kept pinned under the lee; in fact, it was evident that 'Valkyrie' could not allow her opponent a cross-tacking chance, or her quarry would certainly have slipped her. The breezes were paltry and patchy, with plenty of white water spots about, and the course was shortened to the extent of one third the distance, 'Valkyrie' eventually crawling home winner about three lengths ahead of 'Britannia,' although there was 1 min. 56 secs. difference between them in time. 'Calluna's' big sail-plan availed her little, and 'Satanita' never once really woke up in the prevailing zephyrs. 'Calluna' finished 16 mins. 53 secs. astern of 'Valkyrie,' and 'Satanita' struggled in against the tide 8 mins. 6 secs. after 'Calluna.'

There was a piping breeze from the westward on the opening day of the Royal Irish Regatta, and a stirring struggle with 'Satanita,' 'Britannia,' and 'Calluna' for Her Majesty's Cup was accordingly anticipated. 'Calluna' risked a whole mainsail, but 'Britannia' and 'Satanita' had the baby reef in andall set jibheaded topsails. Perfect judgment was shown on the 'Satanita' and 'Britannia' in manœuvring for the start, but 'Satanita's' skipper scored first honours as he gave his ship a wipe away at the nick of time, and she reached through the line, fairly foaming a length ahead of the Prince of Wales's cutter, 'Calluna' being about a hundred yards astern. They went along the wind at a tearing pace to the Muglins Mark, jib-topsails being cracked on, and on going to the Kish the wind was brought on the quarter, a nasty roll tried spars and gear, and an ugly gybe came on before making the Lightship. At this mark 'Satanita' had given a startling illustration of her speed with a free sheet, as she led the 'Britannia' 2 mins. 5 secs., with 'Calluna' only 19 secs. astern of the latter. A very fast piece of close reaching was done between the Kish and the Rosebeg, then came a dead peg across the Bay. 'Britannia' tried hard to get 'Satanita' into short tacking, and the latter, having to turn about more often than suited her, found 'Britannia' settling up, enabling 'Calluna' to profit by the game her opponents were playing. In a hard squall the second round commenced, and through a backing of the wind they had a run with spinnakers to the Kish. A gybe had to be made, and it was a heavy one. 'Satanita' and 'Britannia' got their booms over all right, but 'Calluna's' came in a hurry, and while the boom-end was buried deep in the water, the inner part came with a surge against the runner and broke off, the outer half of the spar launching in board and lying square across the deck. Luckily no one was hurt, which was simply a miracle. The 'Satanita' and 'Britannia' sailed a desperate race during the rest of the round, and this time the former had the better of her rival beating across the bay. In going free to the Kish on the last turn, 'Satanita' sailed in peerless form, and had a lead of 4 mins. 44 secs. at the Lightship. In a close reach to the Rosebeg, 'Satanita' lost a few seconds, and then followed a splendid race tack and tack home. 'Britannia' was the better on this point, but 'Satanita' kept her under the lee and weathered the line with a lead of 2 mins. 47 secs., winning theRoyal trophy and scoring a brilliant victory with 69 secs. to spare.

The Royal Irish Regatta finished on Thursday, July 20, in changeable weather and baffling breezes. With 'Calluna' crippled, the 'Satanita' and 'Britannia' had a match for the club prize, and not at all unexpectedly 'Britannia' was winner. She scored by no means a bloodless victory, and her crew had a scare when 'Satanita' struck into a breeze about half water between the Muglins and Kish, and went streaking past like a flash of greased lightning. 'Satanita' was pluckily sailed, but had not wind enough to wake her up and, when the match was stopped at the end of the second round, 'Britannia' had a lead of 4 mins. 4 secs.

ROYAL IRISH YACHT CLUB. DUBLIN BAY.

'Navahoe,' 161-rater: N.Y.Y. Club (Royal Phelps Carroll, Esq.)

Most auspicious was the opening of the Cowes racing week in regard to wind and weather, there being every indication of the morning breeze of Monday freshening when the stream bent westward, and of lasting sunshine and a clear atmosphere. The match was under the Royal London burgee, and the club had adopted a new course of which it may be said that a better could not have been marked off inside the Isle of Wight. The big cutter entry included the 'Valkyrie,' 'Britannia,' 'Satanita,' 'Calluna,' 'Iverna,' and the Gold Cup challenger 'Navahoe,' and there was general rejoicing on the morning of the day that the American would be certain to get a trustworthy test of speed in her first racing essay. Curiosity to see how she would acquit herself under the circumstances ran high. The match commenced with a free reach to the eastward on the back of a fair tide, and the wind followed and gave a run, but it came in streaks and the fleet were all together at the Warner, the 'Valkyrie' being leader, with 'Navahoe' 75 secs. astern. A nice breeze was found to windward, and in turning in to the Noman 'Valkyrie' worked away from the Yankee and then went for 'Britannia,' which, with 'Satanita,' stood away for the north shore. 'Valkyrie' was then left with 'Navahoe,' and the latter along Ryde Sands and on to the Motherbank got more wind and a slacker tide, inside 'Valkyrie,' and forereached so muchthe faster that on coming off she crossed comfortably ahead of Lord Dunraven's cutter. 'Navahoe' performed this feat 'on her uppers,' while 'Valkyrie' was stiff as a tree, perhaps through having less wind than there was to leeward. The breezes continued to be served out partially in strength and direction, and 'Britannia,' 'Satanita,' and 'Calluna' were having a bad time in working the north shore down. 'Valkyrie' picked up 'Navahoe' in beating on to Calshot, and went round that mark with just a clear lead. The breeze was unsteady and puffy in reaching to Lepe, but for the most part sheets were checked, and 'Navahoe's' big sail-plan dragged her by to windward of 'Valkyrie,' and shewas first round Lepe buoy, but she made a wide sweep in the gybe and 'Valkyrie' ran on to the fore. With a leading wind 'Navahoe' slipped through to leeward into first place before getting to Cowes, and thence they squared away. 'Valkyrie' was not raced with the same spirit as 'Britannia' was on the first run eastward, or the 'Navahoe' would have been luffed out into Spithead; the latter was, in fact, allowed to keep the even tenour of her way, and she rounded the Warner with 10 secs. lead of 'Valkyrie,' 'Britannia' having run up on both, while 'Satanita' had taken the American in nearly 3 mins. With a weather tide and truer and fresher breeze, they had a fair test to windward, and a couple of boards sufficed for 'Valkyrie' and 'Britannia' to weather the American. 'Valkyrie' was sailed to bother 'Britannia,' while the 'Navahoe' was fairly let run loose. Had the sister ships been simply sailing boat against boat, they could not have carried on a keener duel. 'Britannia' beat 'Valkyrie,' but instead of having a substantial lead at Calshot Lightship, she was only just to windward of 'Valkyrie,' and but 1 min. 33 secs. ahead of 'Navahoe.' In reaching to Lepe, 'Britannia' and 'Valkyrie' gained in distance on the American, but nothing in time, owing to the rushing lee-tide. There was a smart breeze to blow them home against the boiling stream, and the 'Navahoe's' big sail-plan helped her. Both 'Britannia' and 'Valkyrie,' however, kept to the fore, and 'Britannia' finished winner of a hard race, 63 secs. ahead of 'Valkyrie,' 1 min. 23 secs. of 'Navahoe,' 3 mins. 50 secs. of 'Satanita,' and 7 mins. 36 secs. of 'Calluna.' It may be said that 'Satanita' gained 4 mins. 34 secs. and 'Calluna' 6 mins. 18 secs. on the 'Navahoe' in sailing the second round; the pair picked up on 'Britannia' and 'Valkyrie' simply owing to the suicidal tactics adopted in racing the sister ships.

A breeze was wanting on the opening morning of the Royal Yacht Squadron Regatta to put animation in the scene afloat, still in the flood of sunshine it was a brilliant spectacle. There was a galaxy of private yachts, and quite a fleet of fighting ships of various nationalities riding on the Solent dressed in bunting,the German Emperor's new 'Hohenzollern' looming up a very Triton amongst the host, through which the racing fleet had presently to thread their way eastward. The starters for Her Majesty's Cup were the 'Meteor,' 'Britannia,' 'Valkyrie,' 'Viking,'née'Wendur,' and 'Mohawk.' An alteration in the course had been made by substituting the Bullock patch buoy for the Nab, and with thoughtful consideration for the length of leg of the modern craft, the three-fathom North Bramble Channel was left out. A dreadfully slow run was made eastward, the 16½ miles from Cowes to the eastern limit of the course taking about 2½ hours to cover. The breezes came in puffs out of every cloud, but mostly from the north or north-west, and in this sort of weather it was absolutely humiliating that the aspirant for America Cup honours should be led round the lee mark by the seven-season-old 'Meteor.' With a better and fairly true breeze westerly 'Valkyrie' and 'Britannia' on a close reach in to the Noman passed the Emperor's cutter, and, from mark to mark eight miles, 'Valkyrie' beat 'Meteor' exactly 4 mins. After fetching well up to Cowes, they turned through the roads, and then got a northerly slant in the west channel; a flying weather-tide settled them bodily to windward, and at Lymington mark 'Valkyrie,' which had gone in grand form to windward, was 3 mins. ahead of 'Britannia' and 15 mins. 40 secs. of 'Meteor,' the time allowance of the last named having thus run out by 68 secs. The wind was breezing up, and they ran through a roaring ebb tide at a fair speed, the modern boats pushing out a tremendous bow wave. The 'Meteor' unquestionably had a stronger following breeze than the two leaders, and with about 3½ ft. less draught than 'Valkyrie,' she could be edged inside the tide rift on the north shore, the result being that she gained 50 secs. on 'Valkyrie,' yet with an allowance of 14 mins. 32 secs. she thus lost by 18 secs. On the question being raised that 'Valkyrie' had not followed the track marked on the official chart furnished, it was admitted that she had left the Nab on the wrong hand, and the Sailing Committee disqualified her and declared the'Meteor' winner of Her Majesty's Cup. It may be said that the 'Wendur' after rounding Lymington mark attempted to set her spinnaker, but lost the sail, which was picked up by a pilot boat. Worse still, the boom was let drop in the water, and on it breaking two of the crew were badly hurt.

Wednesday, August 2, was chosen by the Royal Yacht Squadron for the match for the Meteor Challenge Shield presented by the German Emperor, the course being from Cowes round the Isle of Wight (outside Nab), thence round the Shambles Lightship and back through the Needles passage to Cowes, a distance of 112 miles. According to the conditions four yachts were to start or no race, but out of an entry of six only 'Britannia' and 'Satanita' went for the trophy. The start, which was fixed for seven o'clock, was delayed an hour owing to the card and sailing directions differing. At 8 o'clock, when 'Britannia' and 'Satanita' got away, the 'Valkyrie's' crew, which had made a show of getting the vessel ready, had proceeded as far as hoisting a jib in stops and lashing up the fighting colours, the vessel subsequently lying listless at anchor all day. A charmingly bright clear morning with a bonny breeze from the north-west sent the two ships scudding out in hot haste to the eastward. Spinnakers were on and jackyard topsails, and at the Nab 'Britannia' had run out a lead of 4 mins. Coming on a reach the east stream was faced, and 'Satanita,' doing a wonderful stretch of sailing, had almost drawn level with her rival, when the wind came ahead and gave a beat of about forty miles to the Shambles. In order to shun the tide the Island shore was worked, but 'Satanita' got too close and bumped hard several times on Atherfield Ledge. In working on a nasty short jump of sea was trying the vessels, and off Swanage the breeze came in such hard puffs that big topsails were got down. 'Britannia' worked away from her rival, and after a pretty considerable amount of pile-driving got round the Shambles at 4 o'clock with a lead of 10 mins. They had to face a west tide, and as the evening closed in the wind almost entirely failed. In the west channelit was mere tide-work, and at 9.30 'Britannia' drove across the line winner, 'Satanita' at the time being barely discernible astern. It was an uninteresting match, but a hard one for ships and crews, and in the heavy plunging which went on between the Needles and St. Albans 'Britannia' sprung her mast.

Thursday morning opened with a fine singing breeze from the west-south-west, and the match for the Cowes Town Cup gave promise of stirring sport. 'Britannia's' absence, owing to her mast being sprung, was generally regretted; but 'Navahoe,' 'Valkyrie,' 'Satanita,' and 'Calluna' appeared under fighting flags. All had a single reef in mainsails, and 'Valkyrie's' topmast was struck, the rest keeping theirs on end. They were sent first to the westward, and had a clean reach to the first mark, a capitally judged start being made. 'Satanita,' nearest the Hampshire shore, was first on the line, with 'Valkyrie' overlapping the western quarter, and 'Calluna' and 'Navahoe' broad to windward. Laying down to the hard breeze, 'Satanita' was given the weight of it, and went smoking away, while 'Navahoe' in weather berth was getting comparatively very lightly sailed. A hard breeze, however, caught the Yankee, making her curl up to an ugly angle, and as she went off her helm, 'Calluna's' crew were getting scared that she would either drop down flat on them or make a wild shoot into their ship. A heavier slam than the first put the 'Navahoe' fairly out of control, and she went down on her side and wallowed helplessly in a smother of foam, until a gripe up to the wind relieved her and she came upright, when particular care was taken not to fill on her again. The weight of the wind had burst the mainsail at the clew, and, after getting the sail off the vessel ran away up Southampton Water, International rivalry thus coming to a summary end for the day. Owing to the strong wind and flood tide, the mark-boat had driven about a mile eastward, so it was soon reached down to, and 'Satanita' was first round, then 'Valkyrie' and 'Calluna.' It was a broad reach to the Warner, and cracking on a jibheaded topsail'Satanita' was ploughing along at an astounding speed; in fact, she was doing 14½ knots when crossing the Admiralty mile. With a jibheader on, the leader was leaving 'Valkyrie,' which had lost 'Calluna's' close company through the latter, when careening to a squall, fouling the jibboom of the steam yacht 'Cleopatra,' the cutter getting mainsail split and gaff broken. 'Satanita' stayed round the Warner at 10.52, 1 min. 18 secs. before 'Valkyrie,' and the former had the benefit of a reach back as far as Cowes. Heavy squalls came off the Island, and 'Satanita' had lee decks full, 'Valkyrie' by comparison standing up manfully. Owing to the flagboat drifting, they went round Lepe buoy, and having to nip to fetch, 'Valkyrie' gained a trifle. Coming back free, 'Satanita' was driven along with jibheader, and she held a lead of 7½ mins. at the Warner. The homeward track could be laid clean full, and the wind coming off with canvas-splitting force, 'Satanita's' lee decks were washing like a porpoise's back, but she was travelling at a tremendous speed and would have gone much faster and on a more even keel had the topmast been struck. It was a wonderful display of fast sailing on her part, as she finished 8 mins. 13 secs. before 'Valkyrie,' and covered the distance, 48 miles, allowing for the drifted flagboat at Lepe, in 3 hrs. 40 mins. 50 secs., thus averaging a little over 12½ knots.

An exceedingly brilliant wind-up of an eventful regatta was made at Cowes on Friday, August 4, when the Royal Yacht Squadron prize was sailed round the Warner-Lepe course. The competitors were 'Satanita,' 'Valkyrie,' 'Calluna,' and 'Navahoe,' and they started on a short beat down the west channel in a rising breeze from the west-south-west, jibheaded topsails being set over whole mainsails. In the first board 'Navahoe' was weathered by each of her rivals, the Yankee being kept hovering in the wind, instead of being made to feel the weight of it, the previous day's experience perhaps being the cause. A heavy squall with sheets of rain passed over before the Western mark-boat was weathered, and they drove back to Cowes with spinnakers, all but the Yankee being run onthe wrong gybe. From a run they came to a free reach off Osborne, and went streaking out at a great pace to the Warner, all except 'Satanita' cracking on jackyarders, but 'Valkyrie' shifted back to jibheader off the Sandhead buoy. The latter kept pride of place going east, but in coming back clean full the wind came off the Island in savage puffs and 'Satanita' was racing up. A regular flame of wind struck off above the Peel, and 'Satanita' went by the windward into first place, leaving 'Valkyrie' fairly stuck up. 'Navahoe' and 'Calluna' hung on to big topsails too long, the Yankee continuing whipper-in and falling down flat on her side in the hardest of the gushes. 'Satanita,' too, crabbed up badly, but did not heel to such an angle as 'Navahoe,' and was always lively and manageable in the puffs; she also got up a higher head of speed the fresher the wind piped. On the second round it was harder driving between 'Satanita' and 'Valkyrie' than with 'Calluna' and 'Navahoe,' and after the free reach to the Warner the first named was 2 mins. 2 secs. ahead or 3 secs. short of her allowance. It was just a clean reach from the Noman to Cowes, and some of the puffs came off the Island with the rush of a white squall. 'Satanita' was knocked down flatter than 'Valkyrie,' but she did not steady her speed, and finished a splendidly fought and most exciting race with 2 mins. 9 secs. lead of 'Valkyrie,' 'Satanita' winning with 4 secs. to spare. 'Calluna' was 5 mins. 22 secs. astern of the winner, and 'Navahoe' 7 mins. 36 secs.

ROYAL SOUTHAMPTON YACHT CLUB.1892. "Warner and Lymington Course".

Ill fortune has of late haunted each annual Saturday fixture of the Royal Southampton Club, and that of August 5, instead of attracting the fleet of heavy weights, was reduced to a match between the 'Navahoe' and 'Calluna.' The 'Britannia' had her new mast in, but was not ready, 'Satanita' was getting a strengthening band shrunk on her masthead, and 'Valkyrie,' which had come across from Cowes to Southampton Water, did not start, fearing there would be too much wind for her sprung main-boom. A north-wester came shooting down Southampton Water fresh enough for 'Navahoe's' small reef to be pulled down, 'Calluna,' however, had whole mainsail and both jibheaders.The Scotch clipper was unluckily sailed through the line too soon, and the 'Navahoe' got two minutes start; but 'Calluna' bringing quite a rattle of wind, nearly nailed her rival at Calshot Spit. The breeze got light in the west channel and came bare, while the tide had to be stemmed. 'Navahoe' kept sailing into the first of the wind, and, getting a fine lift near the Lymington Mark, led by 3 mins. 'Calluna' was sailed without heart or judgment in the run up the west channel, and so on to the Warner. She might well have carried her jackyard topsail going west, and certainly wanted it, coming back with sheets off. 'Calluna' was gybed in Cowes Roads for some reason; and while her opponent was running clean with boom the other side, the Scotch boat was 'by the lee.' 'Navahoe' at length was first to shift her big topsail, and had 6 mins. lead at the time, but when 'Calluna' did go to work sail shifting, it took her crew eighteen minutes to get down the jibheaded topsail and replace it with jackyarder. In the beat from the Warner up past Browndown there were some flukes lying under the north shore which might have been picked up for the seeking, and 'Calluna's' poor attempt at match sailing ended by 'Navahoe' weathering the line off Netley with a lead of 11 mins. 25 secs.

The racing fleet mustered in force on the Royal Albert Station, and cruisers swarmed thick as bees to do honour to the last of the Solent racing fixtures. A light gauzy haze in the early morning of Monday, August 14, did not bode well for sport, but an air came just before the starting hour for the Albert Cup, and stretched out the fighting flags of 'Britannia,' 'Navahoe,' 'Calluna,' and 'Satanita.' A south-east breeze of about weight enough for small jib-topsails to be carried with profit to windward was drawing in against the last of the east-going stream, when an eventful race commenced with 'Satanita's' bowsprit end showing first across the line; the others were close at hand, and a pretty start was made.

ROYAL ALBERT YACHT CLUB. SOUTHSEA.1892.

The wind freshened at night after Weymouth Regatta, and on Sunday morning there was an ugly sea off the Bill. Theyachts which made the passage to Torquay had a coarse time, some of them ran back, others did not leave the Dorset port, the consequence being that there was a poor muster in Torbay. The 'Satanita,' 'Navahoe,' 'Britannia,' and 'Calluna' were ready to answer the starting gun on Monday morning when the wind was piping loud from the westward. All had a reef in mainsails, and topmasts were housed when anchors were broken out, but 'Satanita's' was very unwisely got on end, and she subsequently set a jibheader. 'Satanita,' over-eager, sailed the line too soon, and her opponents had been racing for the off mark nearly 3 mins. before she followed them across. With the wind quarterly, she soon smoked out to the first flagboat, where 'Navahoe' was leader and 'Calluna' second. Then came a beat in a little head jump, and the full drift of the wind was felt. 'Navahoe's' performance in beating to Brixham was far and away her worst display, as she simply crabbed on her uppers and sidled away, while 'Satanita,' crippled as she was with jibheader, was—truth to tell—not shaping a whit better, and seemed to be simply wallowing in dead water. Off Brixham, 'Satanita' had another set back, through one of her extra hands slipping overboard, but a very smart job was made in picking the man up. 'Satanita' was punished with jibheader again on the second round, and 'Britannia,' 'Calluna,' and 'Navahoe' were waltzing away from her. On the third round the sail was pulled down and the spar housed, but it was too late in the day to pick up the first flight. 'Satanita,' however, began to tramp away, and in addition to reaching her rivals beat the lot going to windward. The wind fairly whistled off shore as they reached on for Goodrington, but 'Calluna' and 'Navahoe' did not lower staysails as on the second round. The 'Britannia's' jib, however, burst, and 'Navahoe' shifted hers. The latter was in the way of a regular canvas splitter as she kept away round the Goodrington mark, and falling down flat she swept the mark-boat with her mainsail, but continued the match. At the end of the third round 'Navahoe' was 8 mins. astern of 'Britannia,' and 4 mins. of 'Calluna,' while 'Satanita' had gained 4 mins. onthe Yankee in 10 miles. The 'Navahoe's' mainsail was found to be damaged at the clew, and to be giving out at the reef lacing, and just as 'Satanita' was collaring her off the Imperial she drew to the wind and gave up. On the last round 'Satanita' gained 1 min. 42 secs. on 'Britannia,' the latter finishing an easy winner 4 mins. 30 secs. ahead of 'Calluna,' and 7 mins. 9 secs. of 'Satanita.'

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