“I don’t see how they can sail with a southerly wind,” Ted said. “Aren’t they going to tack south as soon as they strike the ocean?”
“Well, we’re facing more southeast, than south, aren’t we, Polly?” Ruth asked with one eye on the sun.
“Girls,” breathed Polly, tensely. “I don’t care a rap how we’re facing. Watch the race, and stop your talking.”
“Spoken like a true sailor,” Aunt Cynthy echoed, warmly, and they all turned to the railing to watch the yachts as one by one they slipped through the channel, and the race was really on.
CHAPTER XIX
THE FIRST EVENT
It was late in the afternoon before the first sails of the returning fleet appeared in the channel. All day long the girls had been honored guests of the Orienta Club, and had enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Although both Mrs. Vaughan and the Commodore were away on board the Adventure, the other members and their wives had all heard about the yacht club over on Lost Island, and were happy to meet the girls, and see that they had a pleasant day of it.
“I think,” said Mrs. Allison, the chairman of the reception committee for regatta week, “I think it would be nice for you to meet your competitors in the race, the girls of the Junior Club. Let me see how it can be best managed? There are six, no, eight, in your club, and nine in the Juniors. Dorothy, will you just press that button behind you, dear?” She smiled around at the circle of interested faces. “We will call the club steward, and you may have a luncheon all by yourselves and get acquainted.”
So it was arranged. Instead of the “girl element,” as the Doctor laughingly dubbed the rival clubs, eating luncheon in the large dining-hall with the other guests and members, they were given one of the smaller side rooms all to themselves.
Dorothy and Bess acted as official hostesses, and there was a great cluster of red and white carnations in a cut glass bowl for a centerpiece, as red and white were the Orienta colors. Besides the Vaughan girls, there were seven others, all daughters of club members, and a delightful lot of girls, the rest decided.