to get in front of her. Before 'Red Lancer's' arrival, at the end of July, 'Dacia' scored by far the best of the Solent trio, the other two boats ('Quinque' and 'Fleur-de-Lis') being a good match _inter se_.

'Valentine' was sailed capitally, and made a good fight for a place in light weather; but she never won first honours, and was as clearly outcla.s.sed as she was in 1890 when she competed against 'Alwida,'

'Glycera,' 'Quinque,' and 'Archee.'

_Racing Records for 1893._

+--------------------------------------------------------+ | | | Prizes | | | 1893 |Starts|-----------------|Figure of| | | |First|Other|Total| merit | |---------------------+------+-----+-----+-----+---------| |_20-Rating Cla.s.s_ | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Dragon III | 29 | 19 | 8 | 27 | 52 | |Deirdre | 29 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 25 | |Molly (Dragon II.) | 19 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | |_5-Rating Cla.s.s_ | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Red Lancer | 13 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 59 | |Dacia | 27 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 35 | |Fleur-de-Lis (Squall)| 41 | 11 | 9 | 20 | 22 | |Quinque | 37 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 20 | |Valentine | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | |_2-1/2-Rating Cla.s.s_ | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Meueen | 49 | 26 | 14 | 40 | 44.8 | |Gareth | 53 | 25 | 17 | 42 | 40.1 | |Elf | 34 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 14.3 | |Manx Cat (Polynia) | 46 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 5.4 | |Papoose | 48 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 5.1 | |Kismet | 34 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 4.8 | |Faugh-a-Ballagh | 10 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4.5 | |Gavotte | 26 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3.0 | | | | | | | | |_1-Rating Cla.s.s_ | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Morwena | 36 | 20 | 8 | 28 | 45.4 | |Sacharissa | 49 | 21 | 14 | 35 | 36.2 | |Scud | 20 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 22.6 | |Tipcat | 33 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 19.6 | |Tartar | 34 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 14.3 | |Wolfhound | 32 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 12.6 | |Whisper | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12.5 | |Doushka | 12 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 11.4 | |Hark Holla | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10.7 | |Whoo Whoop | 18 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8.2 | |Kitten | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6.5 | |Roulette | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6.1 | |Javelin | 33 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2.5 | |Fantasy | 36 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 2.3 | | | | | | | | |_1/2-Rating Cla.s.s_ | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Wee Winn | 11 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 49.1 | |Coquette | 52 | 25 | 14 | 39 | 40.8 | |Koodoo | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 34.5 | |Ragam.u.f.fin | 12 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 28.6 | |Pique | 14 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 15.2 | |Mosquito | 51 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 14.97 | |Queen Bee | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 14.92 | |Ladybird | 37 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 13.3 | |Humming-top | 20 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 11.3 | |Spruce | 18 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8.2 | |Lady Grizel | 21 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 7.2 | |Idono | 18 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4.1 | +--------------------------------------------------------+

_The 2-1/2-Raters, 1893._

The racing in this cla.s.s soon became princ.i.p.ally interesting in the duel for first honours between the Gosport boat 'Gareth,' owned by Mr.

Henderson, and frequently sailed by Mr. Collingwood Hughes, and the Herreshoff boat 'Meueen,' owned and sailed by Mr. Hardie Jackson, who did so well with 'Faugh-a-Ballagh' in 1892. 'Meueen' was fully 'up to date' except her rig, which was sloop with a gaff-mainsail. This, however, she soon discarded for the more fashionable rig in the small cla.s.ses, and she always made a fine race with 'Gareth,' except in the hardest weather. Even in strong winds and heavy seas she did well after her lead was increased. She has great overhang, like 'Wenonah'

and 'Wee Winn'; but there is nothing excessive in beam or in shallowness of body. Her elements are not at present obtainable, except L.W.L. 24.82 feet, and sail-area 596 square feet. 'Gareth'

raced this year on a length for rating of 29.15, and a sail-area of 533 square feet, which together produced a rating of 2.58, and she had to allow time for the excess of rating over 2.5, in accordance with Rule 3, Y.R.A., as revised in 1893.

The 'Elf,' a new boat built at Gosport for Mr. Dudley Ward from a design by Mr. C. Nicholson (jun.), was rather too advanced in type.

She did fairly well at first, but fell off as the other boats were gradually tuned up to their maxima of efficiency. Her figure of merit was 14.3, 'Gareth's' being 40.1, and 'Meueen' heading the cla.s.s with 44.8. 'Kismet,' another new boat, built and designed by Payne for Miss c.o.x, proved to be a disappointment, as the record table indicates.

Mr. Gurtside Tipping, R.N., purchased 'Polynia' during the winter of 1892, and raced her in '93 under the new name 'Manx Cat.' She did very well until her keel and attached rudder were removed and replaced by a fin with bulb and a 'disconnected' rudder. This made her very hard on the helm, and she rarely scored afterwards.

Mr. Paul Ralli stuck to his good boat 'Papoose,' and tried to invade the 5-rater cla.s.s with her; but this was frustrated mainly by the clubs promptly adopting conditions to stop this form of inter-cla.s.s racing.

The 'Faugh-a-Ballagh' started in 16 races and scored one first prize; as did 'Gavotte,' which started 26 times on the Solent. 'Undine'

started twice, 'Fiera' and 'Ca.s.sowary' seven times, but no prizes came to the lockers of these three boats.

It is questionable whether this cla.s.s will retain its popularity. The 2-1/2-rater is decidedly an expensive boat; the first cost and maintenance being nearly as much as a 5-rater, and the comfort very much less. Moreover, it is severely pressed by the cla.s.s below of 1-rating, which is becoming very popular, and deservedly so. A 1-rater can be built complete for 100 to 150 guineas, whereas some of the new 2-1/2-raters cost nearly 400_l._; and a 5-rater can be built for 500_l._, although it is stated that some of them cost 600_l._

_The 1-Raters, 1893._

It has been very difficult to draw up a record of the cla.s.s racing in the two smaller cla.s.ses, because many of the sailing clubs and some of the yacht clubs do not send full reports of their numerous matches to the press. The winners only are mentioned in some reports, but it is necessary to know the number of starts for each boat if her figure of merit is to be calculated. The figures given in the table of winners in the Y. R. Calendar are not trustworthy; first, because the owners often make mistakes in sending in their returns; and, secondly, because some of the results are taken from mixed races, not cla.s.s races, and some from races outside the Solent.

The record table is compiled from the reports of the regattas given in the Y. R. Calendar, and in the 'Yachtsman.' Two of the Portsmouth match days were omitted, and the winners only were mentioned on one of the Royal Albert days, one of the Victoria days, and on the Squadron day.

There may, therefore, be a small decimal error in the figure of merit of a few of the boats, but the order of merit may be regarded to be correct as it stands in the table.

The best 1-rater was the Yankee boat 'Morwena' with the high M. of 45.4. She is similar to the other Herreshoff boats in the small cla.s.ses, and has been well sailed.

'Sacharissa' came next with the excellent M. of 36.2. She was sailed faultlessly by Mr. P. Perceval (jun.), and was the best boat turned out by Payne in 1893.

'Scud' came third with an M. of 22.6. She is one of the wide and shallow type, answering well to her name when going over rather than through the water.

'Tipcat' went well; also 'Tartar' and 'Wolfhound.' 'Whisper' was not seen often enough to judge of her merits accurately, but the old 1892 crack 'Doushka' went as well as ever when Mr. Perceval brought her out at the end of the season.

'Fantasy,' a novelty built at Hamble for Mr. Randal Vogan from his own design, went far better than anyone expected. She has a ram bow, long counter, and fin-bulb keel, with narrow beam and sides that tumble home above the water-line. She often scored second honours.

'Mahatma,' 'Viva,' 'Cariad,' 'Rogue,' 'Vlekendor,' 'Leading Article'

did not race often on the Solent, and did not score any first prizes.

'Roulette,' 'Dona,' and 'Rogue' did most of their racing on the Thames, which has been tabulated by Mr. Winser, and published in the 'Field' of November 11, 1893.

_The 1/2-Raters, 1893._

The smallest cla.s.s suffered from the extreme popularity of the 1-rater cla.s.s, and it often occurred that only two or three 1/2-raters started in a race. 'Wee Winn' again proved herself to be the champion boat in the cla.s.s, but she only competed about a dozen times. She made the fine M. of 49.1. 'Coquette,' which was raced hard all the season, also did remarkably well, and made a fine figure of merit, 40.8.

'Koodoo' and 'Ragam.u.f.fin,' which came out late, also did well.

'Sagamore,' 'Nautilus,' 'Tiny,' 'Vega,' 'Khistie,' 'Coral,' and 'Haha'

raced occasionally, but failed to score first honours.

* * * * *

When this chapter was begun the writer feared that designers would refuse to give any information about successful boats, but the tables have been filled in by many of them in a most liberal manner; and the author begs to tender them his thanks, and he hopes those of his readers, for so doing. The elements thus recorded are hull-dimensions, but the sail-dimensions are often equally interesting and instructive.

These are given on the certificates and are public property; but they become more valuable for comparison when collected in a tabular form.

The table has therefore been made.

At present the lugsail, invented by Mr. Tom Ratsey of Cowes, reigns supreme in the small cla.s.ses, 'Doreen' leading the list with a mainsail about 1,000 sq. ft. in area. Nevertheless, we find 'Wee Winn'

beating the other 1/2-raters with a cutter mainsail; but all our experience points to the belief that she would go still better with a lug. The table deserves careful study, and it will be seen that the proportion of head-sail to total S.A. has steadily decreased, until in some boats it has almost reached the vanishing point, and 'Coquette'

came out with all her sail in the lug. This tendency is bad, and will be still further encouraged if the actual area of head-sail be measured as proposed by the Council of the Y.R.A.[14]

[Footnote 14: The resolution to measure the actual area of head-sails in yachts of 10-rating and under, as proposed by the Council, was lost at the general meeting of the a.s.sociation held December 6, 1892.]

* * * * *

Here ends the summary of the Solent racing under the Y.R.A. rule of rating. The type of boat which was produced up to the end of 1891 is excellent, being dry, seaworthy, fast, and easily driven with small sails; but it is easy to see that the most recent developments are not equally satisfactory. In the words of the 'Field,' October 29, 1892:--'It seems that all which is good has been got out of the present rating rule, and there is nothing more to be derived from it but an increase of speed, with a possible decrease of weight, internal s.p.a.ce, and sail-spread.'

This sums up the much-debated rule question in a single sentence.

What the next period will bring depends greatly, perhaps entirely, upon some small mathematical sign in the form for the rule of rating.

For instance, the American rules use a sign indicating addition where we use one indicating multiplication, the consequence being that the former is a more adjustable rule than ours--more easily controlled by coefficients. But it is not necessary to enter into these matters now, as they are specially treated in Chapter VII. The racing man on the Solent or the Clyde cares more for the sport than the science involved in questions of displacement, length, and what not; and we may rest a.s.sured that whatever the Council of the Y.R.A. do, or leave undone, the sport will proceed in the same enthusiastic manner.

There cannot be the smallest doubt that an immense advantage to yachting would be gained if England, France, and America raced under the same rule of rating and a similar cla.s.sification; and if an international conference were invited to meet in London the thing would be done without much difficulty.

The table of Clubs on p. 286 shows that 2,761_l._ in cash and 933_l._ in cups, plate, &c. were won on the Solent in 1892, or a total of 3,723_l._ This does not include the prizes won at the Town Regattas--Cowes, Southampton, Lymington, Yarmouth, Totland Bay, Ryde, and Portsmouth. Good prizes are offered to the raters at several of these regattas, probably increasing the above total to nearly 4,000_l._[15]

[Footnote 15: These amounts were all larger in 1893.]

_Table of Rig, Dimensions, &c._

+-------------------------+---------+-------------+------+------+-----------+------------+-----------------+------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | Sail | Areas | Spars | Lines | | Name of Yacht | Rig | Date |Rating|L.W.L.+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ | | | | | |Total| Main| Head | Top |Boom |Gaff |Yard | Luff | A | B | C | D | I | J | +--------+----------------+---------+-------------+------+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ | 10- |Yvonne | Cutter | 1889| 9.80 | 34.10|1,726| 813| 658 |254 |34.00|21.6 | -- | 22.85| 44.3 | 19.2 | 40.2 | 19.3 | 46.2 | 28.5 | | raters|Doreen | Lugger |July 15, 1892| 9.96 | 38.05|1,572|1,061| 511 | -- |38.38| -- |33.38| 18.75| 57.8 | 24.3 | 42.4 | 16.9 | 34.4 | 29.7 | +--------+----------------+---------+-------------+------+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ | |Alwida | Cutter | May 15, 1890| 4.95 | 29.66|1,002| 684| 318 | -- |29.7 |19.5 | -- | 22.1 | 41.1 | 13.3 | 36.0 | 18.3 | 28.8 | 22.1 | | |Glycera | Cutter | May 15, 1890| 4.93 | 30.97| 957| 657| 300 | -- |29.3 |19.3 | -- | 21.5 | 40.7 | 16.7 | 35.8 | 17.7 | 28.0 | 21.4 | | |Archee | Cutter |Aug. 21, 1890| 4.96 | 30.43| 980| 675| 305 | -- |30.5 |19.5 | -- | 21.4 | 40.5 | 17.25| 36.0 | 18.1 | 29.0 | 21.0 | | |Quinque | Cutter | May 29, 1890| 4.99 | 31.56| 951| 645| 306 | -- |28.8 |19.0 | -- | ? | 40.0 | 16.7 | 35.3 | 17.6 | 25.9 | 23.6 | | 5- |Windfall |Lug. cut.| May 19, 1891| 4.97 | 32.89| 909| 659| 250 | -- |30.4 | -- |27.0 | 17.7 | 47.0 | 19.1 | 33.8 | 12.4 | 25.0 | 20.0 | | raters|Savourna |Lug. slp.|June 2, 1891| 4.94 | 33.40| 888| 669| 219 | -- |31.65| -- |28.6 | 12.0 | 47.0 | 20.5 | 34.0 | 11.0 | 26.5 | 16.53| | |Iernia |Lug. slp.|June 5, 1891| 4.99 | 31.48| 953| 774| 179 | -- |35.75| -- |29.3 | 12.0 | 48.0 | 22.6 | 37.5 | 11.5 | 26.05| 13.75| | |Cyane |Lug. slp.|June 3, 1892| 4.95 | 33.75| 880| 668| 212 | -- |35.5 | -- |28.0 | 13.25| 46.0 | 19.5 | 33.0 | 12.2 | 29.2 | 14.5 | | |Quinque |Lug. slp.|July 21, 1892| 4.96 | 33.15| 898| 677| 221 | -- |35.95| -- |29.6 | 12.75| 46.3 | 21.0 | 33.5 | 11.4 | 27.45| 16.1 | | |Dacia |Lug. slp.|June 15, 1892| 5.00 | 33.83| 888| 700| 188 | -- |31.87| -- |31.6 | 13.0 | 49.4 | 20.2 | 33.0 | 12.2 | 28.13| 13.33| +--------+----------------+---------+-------------+------+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ | |Thala.s.sa | Sloop | 1887| 2.46 | 20.94| 706| 422| 208 | 76 |22.58|15.82| -- | ? | 31.5 | ? | 27.8 | 14.5 | 25.41| 16.33| | |Thala.s.sa | Sloop | May 17, 1889| 2.49 | 22.95| 652| 452| 200 | -- |22.6 |14.8 | -- | ? | 34.8 | 12.5 | 29.8 | 15.7 | 24.9 | 16.1 | | |Humming Bird |Lug. slp.|July 12, 1889| 2.44 | 25.90| 567| 432| 135 | -- |23.46| -- |23.2 | 11.5 | 39.0 | 15.2 | 26.5 | 10.2 | 23.54| 12.0 | | |Mliss | Sloop | May 15, 1890| 2.50 | 24.97| 603| 448| 155 | -- |24.5 |16.0 | -- | 17.7 | 32.5 | 14.2 | 29.5 | 14.7 | 22.2 | 14.0 | | |c.o.c.k-a-Whoop |Lug. slp.|June 18, 1890| 2.50 | 25.00| 600| 438| 162 | -- |24.1 | -- |23.0 | ? | 36.2 | 16.8 | 26.8 | 10.0 | 24.1 | 13.4 | | |Babe |Lug. slp.|1890 and 1891| 2.48 | 26.76| 557| 429| 127 | -- |23.6 | -- |22.9 | 11.6 | 36.5 | 15.6 | 25.4 | 10.5 | 21.7 | 11.7 | | | | {June 12, 1891| 2.49 | 28.00| 536} { 111 } | | | | | | | | | { 10.8 | | |Fiera |Lug. slp.{ | | | } 425{ } -- |23.8 | -- |23.0 | 11.3 | 38.0 | 15.5 | 26.2 | 10.0 | 20.5 { | | | | {June 18, 1892| 2.45 | 27.36| 539} { 114 } | | | | | | | | | { 11.1 | | 2-1/2- |Avadavat |Lug. slp.|June 10, 1891| 2.49 | 28.00| 536| 425| 111 | -- |23.8 | -- |23.0 | 11.3 | 38.0 | 15.5 | 26.2 | 10.0 | 20.5 | 10.8 | | raters |Janetta |Lug. slp.|Aug. 14, 1891| 2.48 | 26.45| 563| 430| 133 | -- |23.8 | -- |23.0 | 11.6 | 38.0 | 15.5 | 28.8 | 10.5 | 22.6 | 11.8 | | |Molly |Lug. slp.| 1892| 2.49 | 28.26| 531| 439| 92 | -- |25.3 | -- |24.5 | 9.5 | 38.0 | 17.0 | 26.7 | 8.7 | 17.1 | 10.7 | | |Stork |Lug. slp.| 1892| 2.50 | 28.52| 527| 442| 85 | -- |25.3 | -- |24.5 | 9.1 | 38.4 | 17.0 | 27.0 | 8.5 | 15.7 | 10.8 | | |Faugh-a-Ballagh |Lug. slp.| May 30, 1892| 2.48 | 27.48| 543| 433| 110 | -- |23.8 | -- |23.7 | 11.3 | 38.5 | 15.3 | 25.8 | 10.3 | 20.0 | 11.0 | | |c.o.c.katoo |Lug. slp.|June 28, 1892| 2.41 | 27.24| 533| 436| 97 | -- |23.3 | -- |24.0 | 12.3 | 40.3 | 14.5 | 25.6 | ? | 20.1 | 9.7 | | |Papoose |Lug. slp.|June 11, 1892| 2.50 | 27.65| 543| 446| 97 | -- |23.6 | -- |24.0 | 12.5 | 40.5 | 14.8 | 26.2 | 11.2 | 20.1 | 9.7 | | |Polynia |Lug. slp.|July 1892| 2.47 | 28.15| 528| 431| 97 | -- |23.6 | -- |24.6 | 10.75| 39.4 | 15.4 | 25.4 | 10.0 | 18.5 | 10.5 | | |Gareth |Lug. slp.|July 30, 1892| 2.48 | 28.02| 533| 442| 91 | -- |24.9 | -- |24.5 | 10.6 | 40.3 | 15.4 | 26.2 | 10.0 | 10.7 | 9.7 | | |Wenonah | Sloop | Aug. 3, 1892| 2.40 | 25.05| 577| 449| 128 | -- |27.4 |14.9 | -- | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 19.6 | 13.1 | +--------+----------------+---------+-------------+------+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ | | | { 1890| 0.99 | 18.21| 328| } | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Pup |Lug. slp.{ | | | | 272} 72 | -- |20.0 | -- |18.4 | 7.8 | 29.5 | 13.2 | 21.2 | 7.3 | 15.2 | 9.4 | | | | {July 1892| 0.99 | 17.37| 344| } | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Rogue |Lug. slp.|Aug. 18, 1892| 0.99 | 20.91| 285| 238| 47 | -- |18.5 | -- |18.3 | 7.00| 28.0 | 12.5 | 19.4 | 6.5 | 13.5 | 7.0 | | 1- |Barbet |Lug. slp.|Aug. 23, 1892| 0.97 | 20.27| 288| 249| 39 | -- |19.0 | -- |18.9 | 6.25| 29.0 | 12.9 | 20.0 | 6.2 | 10.2 | 7.6 | | raters|Doushka |Lug. slp.|June 30, 1892| 0.98 | 21.07| 281| 245| 36 | -- | ? | -- |19.0 | 5.75| 28.8 | 13.2 | 20.0 | 5.5 | 10.0 | 7.2 | | |Nansheen |Lug. slp.| May 28, 1892| 0.99 | 20.24| 297| 251| 46 | -- |19.5 | -- |17.0 | 8.00| 28.0 | 12.4 | 20.5 | 7.5 | 12.8 | 7.2 | | |Mahatma |Lug. slp.|Apr. 27, 1892| 0.99 | 20.61| 289| 242| 47 | -- |18.4 | -- |17.7 | 6.5 | 27.0 | 13.1 | 20.0 | 5.9 | 14.7 | 6.5 | +--------+----------------+---------+-------------+------+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ | |Coquette |Lug. slp.| May 14, 1891| 0.50 | 15.58| 192| 192| -- | -- |16.8 | -- |14.9 | 7.6 | 25.2 | 10.3 | 17.8 | 7.0 | -- | -- | | |Dee Dee |Lug. slp.|July 14, 1891| 0.50 | 17.17| 177| 149| 28 | -- |14.8 | -- |14.9 | 4.6 | 21.5 | 10.8 | 15.8 | 4.2 | 11.00| 5.1 | | |Jeanie |Lug. slp.|June 18, 1891| 0.50 | 16.25| 187| 162| 25 | -- | ? | -- |12.7 | 6.1 | 22.9 | 9.7 | 17.0 | 5.6 | 12.3 | 4.1 | | |Spruce | Yawl |Aug. 27, 1891| 0.41 | 16.20| 154| 123| -- | -- | ? |12.9 | -- | 4.75| 17.0 | 10.4 | 13.8 | 4.4 | -- | -- | | 1/2- |Eileen |Lug. slp.| May 13, 1891| 0.49 | 15.90| 185| 144|(mizz.|30.5)| 5.95| 7.0 | | 2.83| 8.5 | 5.2 | 6.5 | 2.6 |mizzen| -- | | raters|Narua |Lug. slp.| May 19, 1891| 0.49 | 15.97| 183| 143| 41 | -- |14.5 | -- |14.9 | 4.8 | 20.3 | 11.0 | 15.0 | 4.3 | 12.6 | 6.5 | | | | { 1891| | | | } 40 | -- |14.6 | -- |14.8 | 4.8 | 20.0 | 11.0 | 15.0 | 4.3 | 12.6 | 6.4 | | |Dancing Girl |Lug. slp.{ | 0.50 | 15.99| 189| 167} | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | {July 13, 1892| | | | } 22 | -- |16.4 | -- |15.0 | 4.8 | 23.4 | 11.0 | 17.1 | 4.5 | 11.1 | 4.0 | | |Daisy |Lug. slp.| Aug. 26 1892| 0.50 | 17.10| 176| 152| 24 | -- |15.6 | -- |14.1 | 5.3 | 22.2 | 10.0 | 16.0 | 5.1 | 9.0 | ? | | |Wee Winn | Sloop |July 23, 1892| 0.46 | 15.61| 178| 141| 37 | -- |15.1 | 9.16| -- | 8.6 | 18.8 | 8.2 | 16.6 | 7.7 | 10.9 | 6.7 | +--------+----------------+---------+-------------+------+------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+

Some of these town regattas are managed in a most remarkable manner, the fireworks at night being perhaps the most important matter for consideration in the eyes of the Committee.

A year or two back, the raters at Cowes were started in a line with the committee vessel, with no outside limit! On the day of the race it was a lee sh.o.r.e; consequently Lord Dunraven, Mr. Perceval, and one or two others who were wider awake than the rest, started in the dim distance, well to windward, and romped down full and bye to the first mark.

At Lymington the 5-raters are started from a line at the river-mouth from a little boat, by a little man, with a little gun and a big flag, and the finish is right up the river, in a narrow place thronged with small boats, with probably a four-oared race in progress. After an accident has taken place and a few people are drowned, this may be altered.

At Totland Bay in 1892 there was a handicap for which two very unequal boats had entered. The sailing committee could not agree about the handicap; some bright genius therefore proposed that the difference of time between the boats at the end of the first round should be multiplied by 3 for the handicap on the three rounds, and it is said that this was actually done! And so on. These regattas are very good fun, if only because the unexpected usually occurs.