The International Yacht Races: Start Off The East End Of The Isle Of Wight

The International Yacht Races: start off the east end of the Isle of Wight, 1870. 'The championship match, to be decided in three races between the British yacht Cambria, belonging to Mr. Ashbury, and the American yacht Sappho, belonging to Mr. Douglas, has excited much attention...three races were to be so arranged as to test their comparative rapidity in beating to windward and in sailing with a free wind, and their seaworthiness in different positions relative to the winds and waves...The Sappho is registered, according to the Royal Thames Yacht Club rule, by the R. Y. S., at 394 tons, and the Cambria 193...The sails of both vessels have been cut with the greatest care, and on the most approved principle...It was arranged that the course should be sixty miles to windward and back, from the east end of the Isle of Wight, near the Nab...Both yachts started with jib, standing jib, staysail, mainsail, and gaff-topsails set. Our Illustration, from a sketch by our artist on board the Vectis, shows the scene at the start...The Sappho, however, took the lead of the Cambria, and kept increasing her lead till she had got seven or eight miles, at least, to windward of her competitor. The Cambria then gave up the contest, and returned to Cowes'. From "Illustrated London News", 1870. Creator: Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)