'Corsair,' midship section.
We have started, it should have been said, for the Australian Cup, value 50l., presented by Mr. Gibson Miller for yachts exceeding 20 tons and not exceeding 40 tons. The second prize, 30l., is given by the Royal Squadron. The westerly wind turned out very light, and without a good sailing breeze racing becomes peaceful repose. Much interest, however, is felt in the performance of 'Irene,' 40-rater, designed by Mr. G. L. Watson for Prince Henry of Prussia, who was at the tiller all day, heart and soul in it, longing for a breeze, and probably keeping up the old superstition by giving an unintentional whistle for one; but still it would not come. At 4 hrs. 0 min. 35 secs. 'Queen Mab' came in the winner, 'Thalia' taking second prize.
For real racing a true wind, such as we had in the race for prizes given by the Royal Southampton Yacht Club, August 6, is indispensable. This was a small but sporting muster. 'Iverna' and 'Meteor' were sent away at 10.45 A.M., 'Iverna' crossing the line to a second. The forties, 'Corsair,' 'Queen Mab,' and 'Thalia,' were despatched half an hour later at 11 A.M., to a perfect start and a whole-sail westerly breeze, 'Mab' crossing two seconds after the Blue Peter was hauled down. The gun missed fire. We hailed the Committee Boat, 'Are we all right?' when the pleasant echo returned, 'All right, go on,' and away we went.
Our masthead man.
Lashing the Emperor's
racing flag.
It was a fine reach down Southampton Water, the three close together in single file. Passing Calshot Lightship we hauled our wind and stood over for Cowes, feeling the westerly breeze which came sweeping up from the Needles; below Egypt we went about and took our jumps merrily—a nasty sea, if the sea can be nasty; our working topsail relieved her somewhat—for 'Corsair' and 'Thalia' were carrying jackyarders. It was a grand beat down to Lymington; the rain was heavy, but after a few hard squalls the sun came out and the Lymington mark-boat was rounded, 'Queen Mab' 12 hrs. 45 mins. 10 secs., 'Corsair' 12 hrs. 46 mins. 20 secs., 'Thalia' 12 hrs. 47 mins. 35 secs. As the mark-boat was neared all were astir. 'Get your gear on your spinnaker boom, my lads, and top him as soon as you can. Will you take the time, sir, of "Meteor" and "Iverna" rounding?' Before this our masthead man George had gone aloft by an acrobatic performance which is always interesting to the beholder: on the port tack with the port foot on a hoop, and the starboard foot on the sail, as indicated in the illustration. George was a good compact cheery hand, and must have been born for this particular function. By this time we are round.