Bounding Old Castle Point, we opened up the harbour, and came in sight of the West Cowes Castle, and the handsome clubhouse, and a line of private residences, with a broad esplanade facing the sea, and wooded heights rising above it; and beyond, looking northward, a number of villas, with trees round them and a green lawn extending to the water. The harbour was full of vessels of all descriptions, and a number of fine craft were also anchored in the Roads.  We thought Cowes a very pleasant-looking place.  It was here that the first yacht club was established.  The vessels composing it are known _par excellence_ as the "Royal Yacht Squadron;" and a regatta has taken place here annually for more than half a century.  Ryde, Southampton, and Portsmouth, indeed nearly every seaport, has now its clubhouse and regatta.  The chief are Cowes, Ryde, Torquay, Plymouth, Cork, Kingston, and the Thames.  Each has its respective signal flag or burgee.  That of Cowes is white, of Ryde red, and most of the others are blue, with various devices upon them.  At Cowes, some way up the harbour, on the west side, are some large shipbuilding yards.  Here a number of fine yachts and other vessels are built.  Mr White, one of the chief shipbuilders, has constructed some fine lifeboats, which are capable of going through any amount of sea without turning over; and even if they do so, they have the power of righting themselves.  He has built a number also to carry on board ships, and very useful they have proved on many occasions. Ships from distant parts often bring up in the Roads to wait for orders; others, outward-bound, come here to receive some of their passengers. Very frequently, when intending to run through the Needle passage, they wait here for a fair wind, so that the Roads are seldom without a number of ships, besides the yachts, whose owners have their headquarters here, many of their families living on shore.