All except the Arrow, which has been undergoing a thorough overhaul, the completion of which was delayed at the last moment by the bad weather, and the last three boats in the handicap list above, started for the race.
Though the weather lately has certainly been exceptionally wet and unpleasant for this time of year, Saturday morning broke bright and showed hopeful signs, which were verified by the sunshine coming through the clouds soon after eight o'clock, and from that hour the weather continued to clear so that at the time fixed for starting it was a beautiful morning, with a moderate sailing breeze from the North-east and the tide half ebb.
Although Inspector Howell of the Police Bulk has most satisfactorily taken the times for the many races which have been sailed down the river during the season, on this occasion, seeing that the prize was an important one and the handicap times carried into seconds, he invited two gentlemen, who went on board with chronographs, to assist him, It should be observed that the mode of starting, which was used until the middle of last year's season and then given up on account of its being thought to lead to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.