The start for the race on Saturday was put at the unusually early hour of 12.30, the course being up river.
It was thought that although the ebb 1 tide would make soon, the flits would have been well un their way "before it was met in full force, and thus with ordinary luck as regards wind be able to complete the course; but this was not to be.
With a light N.W. following breeze and spinnakers set to starboard fair progress was made ty the junks, where spinnakers came in The breeze was very fitful and fluky, and changes in position were at different times frequent, the fleet bei led by Winsome, Violet, and Thresher.
When the leading yachts were off the Arsenal the little breeze there had died away to nothing, and a struggle. ensued against the now strong ebb to prevent drifting back to Shanghai. There was a bare hope that a breeze might spring up, and after long and tedious waiting' this was verified, a very light air coming away from the eastward.
Spoondrift, by working along the Pootung shore, got the lead. Violet tried to do the same, but it was too light for her. Winsome worked merrily along the Arsenal shore, headreaching on the Spoondrift, but she was to leeward, and when she crossed over nearing Pagoda Point, the tide swept, her down so that she came into line behind Spoondrift.
Entering Pagoda Reach the breeze freshened. It was a close reach on port tack to the next point, and Spoondrift, setting her jib, fairly outsailed Winsome, establishing'a long lead, but time was getting on. The time limit for the race was 8 o'clock. Could it be done?
It all depended on the strength of the breeze, but sunset was approaching, aad the breeze became lighter and lighter, making the task of getting round the mark-boat a hopeless one.
Winsome gave up first and Spoondrift, succeeding in getting within a quarter of a after struseling on hoping agalest hope and mile of the mark-boat, reluctantly followed suit.
All the other yachts had given up the race in the Arsenal Reach.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.