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Extracts from the RMYS Scrap Book series 1883 to 1885

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AQUATICS in VICTORIA 1838
Salt or freshwater amusements were not held in much esteem by the early

Port Phillipians possibly in consequence of the distance to the bay from the town
and it was some years before any regularly organized movement towards estab-
lishing marine sports was inaugurated. Through the kindness of Captain David
Fermaner, a veteran tar, and a resident of the modernly designated Newport, I am

enabled to supply a brief record of the
FIRST SAILING MATCH on PORT PHILLIP
in the colony. Towards the end of 1838, Mr George Arden, a co-proprietor and
editor of the Port Phillip Gazette imported from Sydney the cutter baptized as The
Devil Afloat. A Captain Boden, stil or recently living in the Horsham district,
owned a schooner-rigged boat known as Eliza, and he and Arden agreed upon a

water race for £25 aside, the course to be across the bay, from Point Gellibrand at
Williamstown to the Red Bluff (Point Ormond) near the place subsequently named
St. Kilda, and back.
It was arranged that Fermaner, who had a smart little cutter of his own,
should anchor off the Bluff and the competing boats were to round him and then

make the best of their way home.
There was a small migration to Williamstown on the day of the match and
the fishing village turned out its dozen or so of its inhabitants to witness the event:
but the most important personage on the water was Mr. John Batman, in a boat
rowed by four of his but rival Sydney Aboriginals Eliza and the Devil started on
their competing trip and succeeded in safely circumsailing Fermaner. Their

progress, however must not have been anything like first class time, for after they
started on the run home, Fermaner boated after them and reached Williamstown
before them. The lady must have had the true ring of womanhood in her, for she
beat the Devil who consequently floated back to the starting point in anything, but
angelic humor.
Prior to 1841, though racing and cricketing were slowly but surely making
their way in public favor nothing further is known of any sailing or rowing
matches unless one or two clumsy attempts at boat racing got up by Batman and

his coloured oarsmen; and once by Thomas Halfpenny of Studley Park pulled in
an opposition boat supplied by one of the ships in harbour. This experiment was
an abortion, and died out, but towards the close of 1840 when the few colonists
were prepared to attempt anything in the world suggested for business or plea-
sure, all of a sudden there popped up a notion to celebrate the infancy of the
ensuing year by a grand marine demonstration and accordingly rapid prepara-

tions were made to render the project a success. Subscriptions were raised, an
elaborate programme (on paper) was issued and Messrs W H Yaldwyn, F A
Powlett, and James Simpson were nominated as stewards of