[Illustration: 'Brilliant' and 'Ariel' race, 1830.]
There was one day's racing in 1892 which should be handed down as a remarkable instance of what the new boats can do in a stress of weather. It was Largs Regatta, July 12, when the Largs men witnessed and took part in the kind of sport they so dearly love; they are severe critics, but give honour where honour is due, especially to weatherly craft and good seamanship. The wind was from the east, freshening up towards the time for the start. Unfortunately 'Meteor' and 'Iverna' were not competing, the former having damaged her gaff. The forties were there, four in number--'Queen Mab,' 'Corsair,' 'Varuna,' and 'White Slave'--the 'Mohican' was flagship, in line with a flag on Largs Pier. It was a truly wild morning, white squalls being frequent and severe. The Firth was all spoondrift; 'Queen Mab' and 'Varuna' had housed topmasts, one reef down, 'Corsair' topmast on end. Under Knockhill the squalls were tremendously heavy, very patchy and local. Off Skelmorlie the racers got the true east wind hard, and found the flagboat dragging her anchor. They rounded, however: 'Queen Mab' was timed 11 hrs. 8 mins. 16 secs., 'Varuna,' 11 hrs. 8 mins. 52 secs. Coming over towards Largs they got into a lull, when 'Corsair' set her gaff-topsail, 'Mab' and 'Varuna' getting topmasts on end; the latter set her topsail, the former did not. Soon a mighty rush of wind burst down from between Tomont End and Largs. At the 'Knock' again there was a kind of vacuum-cum-Mäelström. Soon after, in a wilder phase of Clyde weather, 'Mab' and 'Varuna' were caught by a fierce squall and laid down to it. 'Corsair,' unfortunately, was the victim of a squall spout, which carried away her mast close to the board--such was the strain that something must have gone. The 'White Slave,' belonging to Mr. F. W. L. Popham, was at this time off the Knock; she took in her topsail, and nearing 'Corsair' further reduced her canvas, lowering her mainsail to assist her. Ultimately 'Corsair' was towed by Duncan, of 'Madge' fame. Skelmorlie mark was rounded at 12 hrs. 42 mins. 30 secs. by 'Queen Mab,' at 12 hrs. 45 mins. 12 secs. by 'Varuna.'
After this all was flying spoondrift and canvas reduced to two sails--the wind harder than ever. Smoking bows were the order of the day, clouds of spray soaked the mainsails nearly to the peak, gaffs were like rainbows in curve, all hands were warily standing by to lower foresail or meet the next emergency. 'Queen Mab' finished in 1 hr. 43 mins. 35 secs., 'Varuna' 1 hr. 49 mins. 33 secs.