3-021-318 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Regatta of boats of the Channel Fleet at Lisbon, 1869. Engraving of a sketch by Sub-Lieutenant F. Eardley Wilmot, of H.M.S. Minotaur. 'The fleet lay anchored in two parallel lines, at one end of which lay the Minotaur and H.M.S. Penelope abreast of each other. The course was about a mile and a half long, commencing from a boat anchored off Belem Castle and, lying between the two lines of ships, ended between the Penelope and Minotaur. The sketch, taken from the Minotaur, shows the land on the south side of the river, and the Penelope and Bellerophon at anchor. The Penelope is the ship to the left hand. The boat which has just won the race is the Minotaur's launch, with eighteen oars, double banked - that is to say, with two men to each oar. The men are holding their oars erect, in saluting fashion; and the other boats in the order in which they are shown, from left to right, are the Penelope's six-oared gig, the Warrior's eight-oared gig, the Penelope's galley, and the Minotaur's galley. Steam-launches were in attendance to tow the boats down to the starting-place, and to keep the course clear of other boats...the copper punt race...was a very grotesque performance. The humour shown in the dresses of the motley-crews...was considerable'. From "Illustrated London News", 1869.