Jan. 6, 1887.] 



FOREST AND STREAM, 



47S 



Act^'ess all communications to the Forest anil Stream Pith. Co. 



A RACE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. 



IN view of the prohabililies of an international ocean face from 

 some English port tMs summer, the following proposal lias 

 tieen made by Mr. K. T. Bush, ovmn of the keel schooner Coronet: 



New York, Jan. 1, 18S7. 

 To the. Oimern of aU Amcriran Keel Schooner Yaclds: 



Gentlemen— For the purpose of testing and comparing the sea- 

 going and sailing qualities of (he keel schooner yachts Duilt and 

 now owued in this country the uiidei'sicrued, owner of the Coronet, 

 would be pleased to join us nianj of ynu as feel so inclined in or- 

 ganiisinK and carrying out an ocean race from JSaudy Hook to 

 QueenstoAvn Harbor. 



CONDITIONS. 



The conditions to he about as folloAvs: 

 First -Tlic race to be open to all keel schooner yachts of Ameri- 

 can build \s-,l iioiitany allowance wluitevcr. 



Second— The amount of entrance fee to be agreed upon by the 

 gentlcniej) in interest, biat not to exceed SlO.Oiin tor each yacht. 



Third- 'Phe total aiuount ot fees paid for the entry of all the 

 yachts shall bo lield.in trust and paid to the o-\vner of the whining 

 yacht ton days after the result of the race becomes known, less the 

 expenses for .iudgos. their boat and some few other expenses which 

 should properly lie borne in comuion by all. the owners of yachts 

 participating: in the race. 



Fourth— liie race to be started not later than May 15 next. which 

 AVill enable the yachts to reach the other side in lime tor the sail- 

 ing masters (o "iiick their hints" and start hack in the race for the 

 Royal Thames Cltib prize of l.UtiO k Jiueas. 



Grentlemeii interested iu this matter are requested to confer 

 with or address the secretary of the New York Y. C, 67 Madison 



avenue, >!e\s' York. 



Very respectfully, 



R. T. Bush. 



THE NEW Y. R. A. RULE. 



ON Deo. 1-t a meeting of the Y. E. A. was held at the Langham 

 Hotel, London, at which Mr. Uenry Crawford presided. Sir 

 ■William Forwood moved that the rule recomtnended by the com- 

 mittee be adopted, and his motion was seconded by Mr. A. Man- 

 ning, and carried by a vote of ^1)t o:2. Sir AViUiam Forwood then 

 moA^ed that the rale be enacted for a period of seven years, unless 

 repealed by a vote of three-fourths of the f 'ouncil. confirmed by a 

 malority at a Kcaeral ineeting. Mr. J. H. Ciublains suggested an 

 amendmeut to the elfect that the vote for repealing should be two- 

 thirds of the members present at a general meeting, after notice, 

 which was accepted, and the resolution, seconded hy Mr. (iubiiins, 

 was carried. Sir William Forwood moved the adoption of tlie 

 following recommendation, seconded by Mr. Baden-Powell: "That 

 the classification shall be as follows: 



5 tons equal to existing yachts of 3 tons. 

 10 tons equal to existing yachts of 5 tons. 

 20 tons equal to existing yaclits of 10 tons. 

 10 tons equal to existing yachts of 20 tons. 

 (!fl tons equal to existing yachts of 40 tonsi 

 and above 00 tons."' Mr. F. Willan suggested 'Ai tons as tlie mini- 

 mum, and also tliat the word rating be used instead of tons. A 

 -proposal was made to limit leugth and sail area in each class, and 

 another to class by 1. ^y. 1. only; but the orignal motion was finally 

 carried. A motion to expunge the rating by length in use on the 

 Solent was carried, and also one to abolish Class B (ex-racers) 

 entirely. Two other resolutions, "That the C class be retained 

 for the season of 18S7, but without interclass tonnage penalty," 



and "That the tonnage rule — ' — ^'^q '^^ ' be put into the Appendix 



for the season of LSJ^T for the purpose of tlie C class," were referred 

 hack to the Oounril for further consideration. Tlie chairman 

 offered the foUowinp icsolution: "If tlie distance from the center 

 fore and aft line of tlie mast to the outer end of the spinnaker 

 boom, wlien shipped in its plare and square to the keel, exceeds 

 the distance from fo!-e side of the mast to cranse iron on bowsprit 

 end, the excess to be addi_'<i to the base of the triangle formed by 

 the tieadsail, and the area of the headsail to be computed accord- 

 ingly. Foot yards not allowed on spinnakers." Sir WiUiam For- 

 wood seconded the resolution and it was carried. The new meas- 

 urement rule, as we have several times given it of late, is 

 L.-fS. A. ^j^^ sail area being meaam'ed from the spars. 



6000 



THE PLANS OF THE THISTLE. 



THE Bostnn Hcrahl replies as follows to the statement in our la.9t 

 issue concerning the plans of tlie Scotch yacht Thistle: 

 "The FouEST and Stkeam has ttndertaken to controvert the 

 authenticity of the plans published last Saturday in the J3cratd, 

 and in its comments published yesterday makes many misstate- 

 meuts regarding them. It says that "an inspection of the drawings 

 and accompanying description gives every reason for the lielief 

 that tliey Avere not what they purported to be,'" and adds tliat, if 

 further ijroof were needed, the following cablegram will supply it: 

 The followinc was sent to Mr. Watson from New York, Dee. ^7: 

 'Plans of Thistle in BoHiim HcraW, 80ft. waterline, IBtt. beam. 

 Are they aut henf ic V" Mr. Watson answers as follows." 'Quite im- 

 possible that Hcrahl can have true plans.' By the above answer 

 the Forest and Stream claims that the waterline length of the 

 Thistle is still in disptite, and that it \\ ill not be made knoM'u for 

 the present. The question asked by the Fohest and Stream was 

 not a proper one. with the evidence it had., from what appeared in 

 these columns. Had it asked the question, *0n the working plans 

 of the Thistle, as given the builders, to estimate from, does tiie 

 Thistle measure h'Oft. waterline and lOtt, beam?' it -r juld have 

 been more in accord with tlie publisiied plans. Mr. Watson's 

 reply does not contradict the Hcrairi statement of the dimension. 

 On the contrary, he does not squarely ans\\-er the question asked 

 him by tire Forest and Stream. Mr. Burgess has read Mr. Wat- 

 son's reply, and he says: 'Mr. Watson's reply is an evasive answer. 

 He does not deny in his reply that Thistle is 80ft. long.' The 

 Herald correspondent in Scotland said that the plans were the 

 working plans of the Thistle, and this positive statement has not 

 yet been denied by Mr. Watson. The Forest and Streajm should 

 investigate the mattter further." 

 *********** 



Concerning Ids part in the work, as questioned in the iVeio York 

 HeralO, Mr. John Frisbee writes to the Boston HerdiA as follows: 



"Last Wednesday an attache of the Boiton Herald called on me 

 on professional business. Before informing me of his business, he 

 exacted of me on my personal honor my word that the contents of 

 a roll of paper which he held in his hands should not be disclosed 

 by me without his permission. To this proposition (as it was a 

 ■business matter) I agreed, and thereupon the paper was unrolled 

 and handed me. If one goes through a lot of land, and it is filled 

 with monuments and tombstones, tlte strong presumption is that 

 it is a graveyard. So my experience in naval architecture forces 

 me to the belief that the drawings in the paper handed me were 

 the working plans of a cutter yacht. The plans were stamped 

 'G. L, "Watson & Co., Naval Architects and Surveyors, Glacgow, 

 Scotland,' and the date of issite was Nov. 23, 1886. The plans came 

 from Scotland, for the wrapper, ^vhich was torn off, indicated this, 

 besides a letter was shown me from the person who sent them. 1 

 made au exact copy of the drawing and gave it and Mr. Watsoti's 

 drawing to the BiMoii HeralcVs secretary. It seems to nie pre- 

 sumptous for any man without any knowledge of the subject 

 about which he is criticising, to chai-ge a respectable journal 

 with publishing a, 'humbug.' Mr. Harvey says that Mr. Watson 

 never designed a steel vessel with inside and outside plates. The 

 writer says he did, for he has seen the plans and worked on them. 

 The copy of the plans made by me were exact, and, if there is any 

 defect in their publication, it is the fault of the photographer ancl 

 engraver, and not mine. Mr. EdAvard Burgess says the plans are 

 geniune. He has seen them and is forced to this conclusion. He 

 has compared the writing on the plans with letters he received 

 from Mr. Watson, and the h;+ndwriting is the same. An experi- 

 ence of 30 years on laud and sea, from boy to captain, a practical 

 shipwright and an instructor of naval architecture in Boston for 

 the past 15 years, warrants me in saying tliat 1 can tell a set of 

 'working plans" when I see them. I liave had much experience 

 in naval architecture, both practical and theoi'etical. The last 

 work performed by me on big yactits was the 'laving do^vn' in 

 the 'mold loft' the famous yachts Mayflower and Sachem.— John 

 L. Frisbee, Naval ArcMteet." 



Tlie Forest and Stream has not disputed the statement that 



city as correct plans, as far as they go, of the Thistle. The speci- 

 fications are no doubt approximately correct, but it does not 

 follow that the sketches accompanying them by any means accur- 

 ately represent the ne^v design. For the purpoa© for which 

 tbey were xna4e it is not necessary that they sQonld do bo, an4 



considering the care tlrat has been taken to conceal the dimensioiis 

 of the new yacht, it is unlikely that t)iey do. A comparison of 

 them Aviththe dimensions and photographs of Yanduara, designed 

 by Mr. Watson seven years since, shows sucli a close similarity as 

 to v.'arrant the belief that her original plans have been used for 

 the basis of the rough skeleton design that alone was necessury to 

 accomimny the speciflcationH. \Ve do not question the HeraliPs 

 good faith in the matter. It would, however, be interesting to 

 know just Jiou' tlie plans were obtained by its coi-respondent, 

 without the consent of the designer, as builders are not generally 

 at liberty to make ptiblic such details as may be intrusted to them 

 for the purpose of making an estimate. 



AMERICAN YACHTING IN 1886. 



WITH yachts all hauled out and sails and gear stowed away, at 

 least half of the yachtmen's occupation is gone until the 

 return of warmer weather. Sailing is possible only with the few 

 who are aboard of an iceyacht as toon as their other craft arc 

 stripped, and the only resource left to the majority is to ^\'ander 

 at times among the dismantled fleet, where some one is sure to bo 

 found with whom to sail over the races of the past season, or to 

 draw forecasts of the coming year. Just now, perhaps, yachting 

 is at its dullest ebb. and between the excitement and bustle of the 

 lively season Jusi closed and the liopes and expectations of one 

 that promises to be no wliit behind it, tliere is time for a quiet 

 crack over the iiast and future. 



As in 1885, tlic opening yeai' found a challenge on hand for the 

 America's Cup. the circunistances in each case being somewhat 

 similar. It is true that on tlie tirst occasion there was no defender 

 ready, and little was known of the strength of the challenger; 

 while last year not only were two yachts all ready built and two 

 new ones building, ■but'much had been learned from the previous 

 races. The competing boats, liowever, promised to lie miicn the 

 same in character ; Galatea, the British challenger, being a newer 

 and longei' Genesta, by the same designer ; and Mayflower, gener- 

 ally considered the probable defender, a newer and longer effort of 

 Puritan's designer. Tlius the contest promised to be of the same 

 general character as in 1885, and no less interesting. 



The additions to the fleet during the winter were not nninerous, 

 but were of some importance. First of course M'as Mr. Burgess's 

 new ventui-e, Majdlower, designed for General Paine, who pur- 

 chased Puritan at the end of the season, only to sell her shortly 

 after to jNlr. J. Malcolm Forbes. As was to be expected the new 

 boat departed btit little from her sticcesattil predecessor; but 

 tliose departures took lier a step further in the direction in ■which 

 all American yachts are steadily tending, more length, more draft, 

 more out.side lead. The model was fined in some directions, nota- 

 hly abreast the mast, where the fullness, so apparent in Puritan, 

 was rcdticed, wiiiletUe keel was widened at the rabbet. In general 

 appearance the two yachts were too nearly alike to be readily dis- 

 tin.guished at sight, but Mayflower was gi'^en a larger sail plan 

 a nd a heavier outfit of spars and ironwork aloft, as Puritan's gear 

 had proved rather light. 



The other new aspirant for international laurels was built at 

 Mumm"s yard at Bay Bidge by a syndicate of members of the 

 Atlantic Y. C, from a model made by Mr. Philip Ellsworth a year 

 before, and sulimitted to Coin. Bennett, but not then built from. 

 The experience gained in the races of iss.". told, so strongly in favor 

 of low balhist that it was decided to follow Mr. Bui-gess" lead, and 

 give the new yacht, besides her centerboard, a lead keel of 35 tons 

 instead of inside lead as first proposed. Her length, 81ft., and 

 beam, 2.1ft. 2in., did not vary much from Mayflower, but in dis- 

 placement and model all resemblance ceased; Atlantic, as she was 

 called, being of 120 tons displacement, with a large midship sec- 

 tion, a long, wedge-shaped bow and a short inih. She differed 

 radically from the type of boat in which her modeler had made 

 his previous successes, and the chances of her success or failure 

 were eagerly discussed by yaclitsmen, tlie opinion generally being 

 against her; while her appearance received only unfavorable 

 criticism. The rig, following Puritan, was a modification of the 

 cutter, and though for the sake of consistency a single jib was 

 talked of. and indeed tlie sail was made, it was bent but once, and 

 the yacht was sailed always with jib and staysail. To sum up 

 briefly, Atlantic, though aided in the races by the skillful handling 

 and local knowledge of Capt. Joe Ellsworth, and with alterations 

 made and money freely e.Kpendcd, proved a faUm'e, aud in all 

 probability has ended lier career a.s a racer. During the season 

 she was troubled by leaks that could never be stopped, and at its 

 close she was sold tor a fraction of her cost to close the accounts 

 of her many owners. 



Next to M.aytlower in importance comes Sachem, a schooner, by 

 Mr. Burge.ss, of almost identical dimensions with his now famous 

 singlesticker; of the same length nearly, being 86ft. 1. w. 1., the 

 same beam and draft, but witli a clipper stem and only 2^^ tons on 

 keel, with a centerboard. Handsome in hull and rig, and with a 

 lockerful of kites, she has shown thus far great promise of speed, 

 though luck has been against lier. Ready late in the season she 

 made her debut in tlie Goelet Cup race, sailing very fast but 

 throwing away all ciiance of the prize by an ill-judged exploring 

 expedition up the Sakonnet Kiver. In the Citizens" Race at New- 

 port, later on, she was with the leaders over the first leg, but 

 jammed by the tide at the bell buoy, she laid for hours watching 

 the fleet drift away from her. Her chance came, however, a few 

 days later, when slie sailed rotmd the same buoy in a private 

 match Avith the famed Miranda, and beat her badly, in racing 

 weather. As yet she has shown little of what is evidently in her, 

 and with sails and gear stretched next year she promises to be a 

 worthy sister of Mayflower. 



In the nest lower class there was no bnildiag, the only change 

 to note being the alteration of the old Gracie, a raising of the top- 

 sides and lengthening of the overhang, the bottom remaining the 

 same v\ith some alterations in rig. The improvement in appear- 

 ance was very marked, but less can be said of the speed, as she 

 has done nothing all the season, though frequently entered. 



troing down in the scale of size, tlie only notable addition to the 

 third class was Cinderella, a new rival of the famous Clara, a 

 boat of the new type, 52ft. load waterline, 16ft. Oin. beam. Oft. 7in. 

 draft, with a lead lieel of 12 tons besides her centerboard and a 

 cutter rig. Entering the first races and racing steadily through 

 the season, she has shown herself far ahead of aU her class, so 

 much so as to leave all the old boats hopelessly out of it; but she 

 still is astern of Clara, having failed to score a single win against 

 the redoubtable cutter. No doubt she has been less ably handled 

 than Clara and is not yet in perfect form, though her sailing has 

 improved during the season; but as far as the question of type goes 

 her races in all weathers with Clara (ten all told, in all of which 

 she has been beaten) by far overbalance the two light-weather 

 contests by wliich the possession of tlie Cup was this year deter- 

 mined. This winter she will have more lead added 'to her keel 

 and with other minor alterations will probably begin the season 

 in better form than ever. In the same class among the new boats 

 must be mentioned Adelaide, a 50ft. yacht, built in Boston and 

 notable thus far for little besides a grotesque sheer and a stern 

 which even rivals that of Atlantic. Thougli not a racer, another 

 boat deserving of a passing notice is Vandal, 39ft.8in.load waterline, 

 designed by Mr. Burgess for a cruiser, with an iron keolOtons 

 aud a centerboard, the trunk being entirely below the cabin floor. 

 She is a trim and sightly craft and thus far has answered her 

 owner's purpose admirably. No important additions have been 

 made in the next smaller class during the year, perhaps the most 

 noteworthy being a miniature of Atlantic, dubbed the Arab, and 

 resembling her big sister in all respects even to her faults. Com- 

 ing within the season's record is the schooner Oriole, designed by 

 Mr. A. Cary Smith and built at Toronto, a centeriioard craft of 

 80ft. load waterline, that has hardly been tried yet, but has done 

 well on two or three occasions; and the new steel schooner Julia, 

 from the same drawing board, just away on her first cruise. 



In the old fleet Piudtan remained practically unaltered; but 

 Priscilla, in new hands, received a ney^' rig, while her sternpost 

 was raked, forefoot reduced, and bulwarks cut down, lessening the 

 deck weight by over a ton. Site has been raced steadily during 

 the entire season, and at times has shown indications of great 

 speed, which, however, have not been realized, and her record has 

 been a disappointment to her friends. There yet remains the 

 resource of a lead keel to be tried, but it seems little likely tliat it 

 will be done, as she is now offered for sale. The second cdass was 

 little changed during the winter, Gracie being altered as described. 

 Bedouin making some minor changes with excellent results, as 

 she has never traveled as fast before. 



Besides the new boats, some important additions were made to 

 the fleet from across the Atlantic. The well-known Miranda was 

 purchased by a New York yachtsman, sailed across, and ai'rived 

 just too late to enter for the Goelet Cup. Twice afterward she 

 came to the line, once in the Citizen's race at Newport, and a few 

 divys later in a. private match «ith Sachem, in which she wa« 

 defeated, as told fm-ther on. Tlte addition of so famous a flyer to 

 the American fleet was in itself a most interesting event, as 

 Miranda represents the culmination of schooner racing in 

 England; but it must not be forgotten that it is a long time since 

 she was designed, in 1875, and that many important enangcs have 

 since been made. When her career as aracer ended, several years 

 since, improvements in her class stopped entirely, so that sue by 

 no means represents the latest possible developement of her type. 

 Further than this, the boat that was once worthy of all of Cran- 

 field's care^ad skill is now given over to a skipper who makes no 

 claim to tw A racing oian, sails, gear ana copper are all o^. 



Tbe great majority of American yachtsmen are nowready to judge 

 a boat pretty fairly on Iter merits, no type in itself faulty can be 

 saved by special pleading after a decided failure on the regatta 

 courses,and wc do not propose to try to aid Miranda in any such way, 

 but in view of her long and honorable record, it is only fail' to con- 

 sider the circumstances under wliicJi she rhay be called upon to 

 sail liere, before sacrilioiiie: her to make a reputation for home- 

 built craft. Coming here as alie does, her position is a prominent 

 one, and the question of her place alongside of American yachts 

 is not only interesting in tlio extreme, but most important. All 

 yachtsmen will be glad to see her next season at her best, and to 

 know that lier future failure or success is well deserved. Next to 

 her on the list of emigres is Cytlicra, a bold looking cruiser from 

 the hands of the elder Fife, once famous as a racer, but long since 

 outclassed, as with HHt'L 'Mv., l.w.l., she carries but l.'> ions on her 

 keel and iron inside. However, she crossed the Bay of Biscay In 

 winter witJv lier new o\raor and his family on board, and proved 

 herself a grand seaboat. She is notable also for being tho first 

 large English yawl ever in these waters. Three of the small 

 racers liave also crossed this yeai', Ulidia, famous as a 10-ton 

 flver, and two fives, Delvin and Sliona, rivals at home, but not yet 

 matched here, as one hails from Boston and one from New York. 

 Delvin has never raced here, but Shona has sailed twice, once in a 

 sail-over and once in the Beverly 1". C. open regatta, when she not 

 only led lier own class ca.sily, but at the same time beat by three 

 mimites the famons sloop Shadow, wliich sailed thu same c<mrse 

 in the centerboard class. As Shadow is beyond question the best 

 of her class, and deeper than most of her age, this contest between 

 her and an extremely narrow boat of the same Avaterline aud less 

 than half her beam, is very interesting and instructive, though 

 the daily press, tor some reason, has not seen fit to notice it. As 

 stated, tho two -svere not classed together, so the result does not 

 appear on the record ; bnt each was sailed to win, starting 

 together over the same course, aftd tlie narrow cutter made the 

 course in over three minutes less time than the sloop. Of course liaxi 

 the result been the other way, it would have been doubly "Her- 

 alded " in leaded headlines, with many irrefutable conclusions 

 appended. 



With the many exciting events ahead that tlie season promised, 

 its openiufif was eagerly looked forward to, but all the early races 

 suflered from calm Aveather and it was not until the end of June 

 that a good breeze and a race day came together. The first to 

 open the season were the bold skippers of the mosquito fleet of 

 South Boston, wlio Avere afloat and racing in their diminutive 

 cracks as early as April 8. The nomiual opening of the season. 

 Decoration Day, was a dismal failure about New York. PrisctUa 

 and Atlantic were both out but with no wind to try tliem. The 

 day waa generally observed by yaclitsmen, and fifteen clubs cele- 

 brated it by races, while many more held informal revie\v8 and 

 mad'.' short cruises. Bringing, as it does, a full holiday just as the 

 yachts are ready, the date is becoming each j-oar more important 

 in tiie yachtsman's calender, and serves well to mark the formal 

 opening of the season. 



Of course the events of regatta week were an aited this year 

 ■with nnusual impatience, as tlie first appearane.; together of the 

 four big yachts was to be the princii)al feature. Siiortly before 

 the races, at a time when it was doubtful whether all four would 

 enter, the Seawanhaka <"'orinthian Y. C. came for\\-ard :\ ith the 

 offer of a, valuable cup as a. prize for the first class yachts in their 

 annual regatta, at the same time altering their sailing regulation 

 so as to make possible the en fries of a.U four. The week opened 

 with the Atlantic Y. C. regatta, Jtiue 15, a day of calms and cats 

 paws that disappointed everyone. Priscilla carried off thelaurels, 

 beating Atlantic, while Puritan did not hoish. Thetis scored a 

 win over Gracie in the next cUiss. while Clara, tiioufrh in a lower 

 class, boat Thetis on actual time. Two days later came the New 

 York Y. C. regatta, with no better weather, calms, rain squalls 

 and little wind. Priscilla did the best saDins; of the four, this 

 being Mayflower's first race, but the results were extremely un- 

 satisfactory. The change in the club classes had left Bedouin on 

 the line between the first class and the second class in which her 

 mates all belonged. During the race, in which she sailed closely 

 in company' with Priscilla all day. it was supposed that she was in 

 the second" class, but at the finish she managed to save her time 

 from the iron boat, and the subsequent measurement showed her 

 to be 70.17t't., or just over the class limit. On this showing she 

 was at first declared the winner in first class, the prize in second 

 class going to Thetis, but the matter was subsequently arranged 

 by the owuera of Thetis and the other second class boats consent- 

 ing to the first prize in the second class going to Bedouin, so that 

 Priscilla scored first in first class. The matter was an awkward 

 one and should never have happened, but the final decision was 

 certainly an equitable one, as Bedouin always has been and always 

 will be classed with (Tracie and Fanny rather than with Priscilla. 

 and Mayflower. Btit little iiisigbt into the merits of the lour was 

 given by tiiis race as the sailing was fluky and uneven. Fortuna 

 and Montauk led the two schooner classes and Clara simply swept 

 out the rest of the fleet, beating on elapsed time, without allow- 

 ance, everything but Priscilla, Bedouin, Puritan and Atlantic. 

 Both second and third classes were so far astern as to have no 

 place beside her, and she fiuished two minutes ahead of May- 

 flower. As stated before the day was fluky and the sailing of little 

 value as a test, but this is only one instance out of many in Clara's 

 case wliere she won easily. 



Two days later, June 19, came the Seawanhaka C. Y. C. regatta, 

 with more bad weather. Puritan topped her class,with Priscilla sec- 

 ond, Atlantic third. Grayling had a sailover, Bedouin beat Gracie 

 by 'A minutes, tvnd Clara beat the two by 5 and 2i minutes respec- 

 tively on even time, and left her own class out of sight astern, her 

 nearest competitor, Cinderella, being 15 jniimtes later at the fin- 

 ish. It must be noted that all the fleet w^ire handicapped. by a 

 flood tide and a calm at gunfire, and the actual sailing times over 

 the course make the order Mayflower, Priscilla, Puritan and At- 

 lantic. The three races had shown little as to the relative sailing 

 of the yachts, but indicated their future order as Mayflower, Puri- 

 itan, Priscilla and Atlantic, a rating which the season has fuUy 

 borne out, though the difference between the first and second is 

 but small. 



Priscilla and the cutters at once left New York, for Marblehead, 

 hnt none of the sloops cared to go so far for one race, which is 

 where they missed it. Looking back now there are one or two 

 bright spots in the season's dull record of drifts and flukes, the 

 brightest of which certainly is the Eastern Y. C. regatta of June 

 29 at Marblehead; a clear, bright day, a fine open-water course, a 

 rattling breeze, varying from clubtoj^sail to housed topmast 

 strength, and as fine a picked fleet as is often brought together. 

 Unfortunately no sloops were entered except Active, and a grand 

 chance for a "'\undi cation" was lost to them, with Bedouin, 

 Stranger, Clara, Ulidia and Shona at the line. The new order of 

 things was represented by Thetis, but none of the older boats 

 showed up. The way that Priscilla opened the ball, how she trav- 

 eled down the first leg swinging a big elubtopsail, while the two 

 white ones iield to tfiimblelieaders, and Mavflower at least had 

 more wind than she wanted, was a sight well wortli seeing. To 

 ^vlndward, however, she fell astern, and Puritan served her out 

 in short order. No doubt Mayflower fared best of the three when 

 the time came to house topmasts, as hei" topsail stretched so as to 

 more than fill the space between gaff and topmast, and was only 

 hindering her, while she^vas clearly overweighted aloft. The end 

 was that Puritan won easily and Priscilla led Mayflower by a few 

 seconds. Tbe sailing of the new bo.at in this race gave good prom- 

 ise when her sails were in better shape, but she showed a great 

 lack of stability. Unfortunately Atlantic was not present, being 

 on the ways tor repairs to her leaky keel. Bedouin and Stranger 

 botli defeated Thetis easily and Clara disposed of Active. Owing 

 to the faulty classification, Ulidia of f2ft. was matched against 

 Clara of -53 and ,50ft., with no possible chance in such a'wiud. 

 Shona scored a sail-over, not a sloop entering against her. For- 

 tuna left Gitana and Monican so far astern as to rob the race of 

 all excitement, and Gevalia defeated Alice and Meta in her class. 



For the next month there was little racing, but a ripple of ex- 

 citement was caused by the arrival of Galatea at Marblehead on 

 Aug. 1, after a passage of thirty-one days. 



The next event was the race for the Goelet Cups at I\ewport, 

 Aug. 7, bringing together tho entire fleet from Sandy Hook to Cape 

 Ann. Here the weather was again favorable and a good breeze 

 held all day. Maj^ower had received more lead on her keel and 

 had been lightened aloft; she was well sailed and won easily, with 

 Piu-itan 5 min. astern and Atlantic and Priscilla fairly distanced. 

 All the single-stickers sailed for one cup, so there \vas no show for 

 the smuiUer yachts, but Bedouin simply left her class entirely, 

 showing more plainly than ever how helplessly out of it Fanny, 

 Hildegarde and even Gracie now are. Clara did as much for her 

 class, the only one that made any show beside her being Cinder- 

 ella, this time only i min. astern. Each of these classes had ita 

 owa sweepstakes, and L^Udia and Kegina did the same, the little 

 cutter beating the sloop out of sight. 



It is a reversal of the proper order to leave the big schooners to 

 the last, but naturally the four racers have made the single-stick- 

 ers most prominent this season. The honors of this day went to 

 Grayling, \vith Montauk a good second out of a fleet of ten. 

 Sachem, in spite of bad judgment in choosing her course, was 

 tliird, and in the estimation of many would have won a far better 

 place on her sailing had she not gone out of the way up the Sakon, 

 net Kiver, losing greatly as she weather-bowed a strong tide. 

 GrayliiJ^ on tbe contrary made a long leg on port tack for tjie 



