Tuar the interest in yachting displayed during 1880, in Shanghai, has suffered no diminution during 1881, will be readily perceived from a glance at the table at rheend of these remarks: It will be seen that no less than twenty races were organised, and brought to a suc. cessful issue (the majority in good sailing breezes) by the indefatigable Committee of the Shanghai Sailing Clab., On nearly every occasion a goodly number of starters sported bunting, proving the popularity of the handicapping system, not to say the skill of the, various handicappers. This is somewhat., ro-markable, as in the principal yachting localities of England and America handicapping sailing craft has..nover been looked upon with favour...No doubt, to an outsider the extravagant allowances sometimes given to yachts competing in the S,! races appear absurd, but if we revert to the days of the defunct S.Y.C. (when a, time-allowance for difference of length on water-line was in vogue) we shall discover that the races became very tawa affairs after several matches bad been sailed. Observing the strength wind on th day of the race, it was not dificult to find the winner, and, as a natural consequence the owners, of craft not quite fast enough. to save their time, very soon lost interest in the pursuit of a sport where all the plus wore secured by one or two bor Keeping this in mind, it must be conceded that the Committee of the S.S.C. have shown wisdom in maiutaining the custom of liberal allowances to the defeated, who, believing in the old saw 'Better luck next time," are ever found ready to try fickle fortune again if & few extra mivutos' allowance are generously doled out by the bandica per. If the table of performances be overhauled it will be seen thatthe Undine takes the premier position, scoring six firsts and three seconds out of eighteen starts. The Undine acquitted herself well, starting from scratch on very occasion, und, allowing more than double the tine she would be called upon to do by the old $.Y.C. rule to some of her rivals, she generally managed to lend the fleet if there was a fair supply of the motive power, Coquette is next to Undine with three first and one second out of fifteen sturts. Coquette on the wind, off the wind, along the wind, in fact under every condition of sailing is an undeniably good boat, and if competing under the S.Y.C. measurement. rule would score much oftener than she does. It is very discomfiting to arrival skipper to find Coquette out on his weather bow, for she is not easily picked up when jamming the wind. Fairy follows Coquette with three first and one second out of nineteen starts. Fairy in some of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.