The conditions of this race were as follow Open. to all House Boats (leeboards), owned by Members of the Club. Start from moorings off Recreation Ground, and over the same course as Yachts for the "Challenge Cup." After-house to remain intact. No restrictions to number of Sails, Yuloes, Crew, or Friends, The Samli and Widgeon were the favorites, and the former sailed with a speed scarcely inferior to the yachts. Leaving them to follow their course when they became mixed up with shipping and junks, attention was now directed to the yachts. About 12.15 the signal gun announced that they might hoist sail. The Starter, Mr. Croad, pexnitted them we understand, on account of the position of the buoys, to get away on any tack they pleased. The outer buoys it is said lie in 15 fathoms, and it is suggested that they should be ranged along from Jinkee towards the Creek, where a more reasonable and uniform depth, of about fathom, would be obtained. The Lillie, late Lucy, rapidly took the lead on the windward side; the Nimrod had the leeward position, but managed to get a good place in the immediate struggle for the advantage of the tidal flow along the Pootung shore, The Madcap was 3rd, Phantom Ath, Charm 6th, and Fearless a considerable distance behind, having been rather long of getting under way. Merrily they sped through, the water, urged Uneso best by a splendid yachting bre from the south; and the Dragon followed rapidly, to keep them in view. Before they got to Seven-mile Reach the places which the yachts held, with slight variation as to distances, all the way through, were marked out by their The gentle Lillie had to energetic Nimrod and to the fleet Phantom, whose consort, the Madcap, kept close in her wake. Satisfied that all was going on immingly with the racing ducks, the steamer party turned their attention to questions of internal administration. It was moved that, to trim the ship, it was expedient to convey a portion of her plentiful ballast of provisions from the forehold to the quarter-deck. The resolution had many active seconders, and was very much carried. A picnic tiffin was now heartily enjoyed, and when the ladies lad been attended to, the gentlemen made both bench and board of the foredeck, and plied their knives and forks with all the zest inspired by the novelty of the situa tion and the excellence of the repast. During this absorbing interval the steamer passed the yachts, and, rounding the stakeboat a few minutes before the leaders came up, have to so as togive her company an opportunity of seeing. this important point in the contest. Each yacht rounded time handsomely, in the following order and 60
8 25 8 50 12 41
The Lilly and Fearless rounded 3 to 5 minutes later, and the houseboat Widgeon almost with the Madcap. Down the wind ward shore of this fine reach of the river the three leading yachts, closely accompanied by the fast houseboat, now bowled in splendid style, and as the steamer kept about midway between them and the later yachts, which were coming on in equall regular order, a very pretty double motel was run. The rapidity of the run thus far required the homeward course to be made against the still flowing tide, and various were the tactics resorted to by the knowing steersman of the yachts, "Upon the whole, however, no material change was brought about by these nice manceuvres, The Phantom appeared to gain a slight advantage as they cleared seven-mile Jteach, and the Charm made decided improvement; but as they came into Pagoda Reach the Nimrod gradually increased the lead she held, and the Charm's chances looked less hopeful, A keen and close race was made of itali the way in from here, for it was evident that little more than a minute would determine. the result between the Nimrod and Phantom, that minute being in favour of the latter, from the time allowance the longer waterline of the former required her to concede, The wind died away partially when the junks were reached, and the Dragon Steamed ahead #0 as to be on the finishing line as the yachts arrived, There the time was noted by Captain Croad, when the gun was fired from the Police Hulk, as follows:
Nimrod 4 29 Phantom 4 32 58 Madcap....s 4 34 The Charm followed in less than five minutes, and the Lillie and Fearless, in the order in which they had been going, not many minutes later. The Phantom wins by about three-quarters of a minute.
The race was one of the interesting and successful that has ever been held by the 8. Y. ©., and the party on the steamer were unanimous in expressions of satisfaction with the pleasant trip which the care of the Club Committee, the courtesy of the B. & O. agent, and the good management of Capt, Cooper, had afforded them. Three cheers were given for the winner, and the Dragon then disembarked her numerous passengers. It will be seen that the course of about 30 miles was done in little over four hours.
From the natural anxiety of the steamer to look chiefly after the yachts, we were unable to note many details of the Houseboat Race, and are obliged to confine ourselves, at' least for the present, to noting the time of arrival of the several boa!
Widgeon Samii.
Kuo-pu-ciw 6 1 30
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.