3-065-897 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Channel Match of the Royal London Yacht Club from Dover to Southend: yachts passing the Goodwin Light-Ship, 1874. 'The first match of the Royal London Yacht Club was sailed on Thursday week. It was an "ocean match" - that is to say, in the open sea round the Forelands of Kent...After passing the light-ship at the South Sand Head, the changes of the wind gave much to do in altering the smaller sails, and the yachts lay becalmed about an hour...Drifting and sailing in turns, the yachts slowly worked their way onwards, first one and then another taking the lead, until about five, when a nice sailing breeze sprang up, and, lasting for about a couple of hours, gave them a good lift against the strong ebb tide. After a long, tedious drag up the river the race finished about midnight, the order of arrival being - Arethusa first, Kriemhilda second, Norman, Myosotis, Surf, Cetonia, [Gertrude, Florinda] &c. The Arethusa therefore wins the cutters' prize, £80; the Surf the yawls', £50; and the Cetonia the schooners', £30. The sailing was tedious, but it was a pleasant day at sea'. From "Illustrated London News", 1874.