FOREST AND STREAM. 
[April 15, 1905. 
The Great Ocean Race of 1366. 
Between Henrietta, FIcetwing and Vesta. 
After discussing at length the merits of their respective 
yachts, Fleetwing and Vesta, Messrs. George and Frank- 
hn Osgood and Mr. Pierre Lorillard decided the way to 
.settle the matter definitely was for the two boats to race 
across the Western ocean from Sandy Hook to the 
Needles. These gentlemen believed that such a contest 
would prove conclusively which of the two vessels was 
the faster; and to give their seagoing qualities a thorough 
test it was decided that the race should take place in 
December. The race was sailed in accordance with the 
following agreement: 
Agreement. 
George and Franklin Osgood bet Pierre Lorillard, Jr., and 
others ?30,0CO that the Fleetwing can beat the Vesta to the 
Needles, on the coast of England, yachts to start from Sandy 
Hook on the second Tuesday in December, 1866, to sail according 
to the rules of the New York Yacht Club, waiving allowance of 
tin;e. The sails to be carried are mainsail, foresail, jib, flying 
jib, jibtopsail, fore and main gaff topsail, storm staysail and trysail. 
(Squaresails added.) 
No sooner was this bold venture known, than a third 
party, James Gordon Bennett, Jr., requested to be ad- 
mitted to the match and the following was added to the 
agreement : 
The yacht Henrietta enters the above race by paying $30,000 
subscription by members of the New York Yacht Club; any 
minor points not embraced in the above, that cannot be settled by 
Messrs. Osgood, Lorillard and Bennett, shall be decided as fol- 
lows: Each shall choose an umpire; the umpires chosen in case of a 
disagreement to choose two others. Twenty per cent, of the money 
to ■ be deposited with Mr. Leonard W. Jerome, on the 3d of 
November, the balancs to be deposited on the first Tuesday in 
December — play or pay. 
(Signed) J. G. Bennett, Jr. 
Franklin Osgood, 
George A. O&good, 
Pierre Lorillard, Jr. 
December 5, 1866. 
-Henrietta, Fleetwing and Vesta started on the race 
from Sandy Hook to the Needles December ii, i866, at 
I o'clock P. M. On Christmas Eve at 6:55 the Scilly 
Lights were sighted by Vesta, and just fifty minutes later 
they were picked up by Henrietta. Sailing the whole 
course without a tack, the latter was but eleven miles out 
from the straight line from start to finish ; she passed the 
Lizards at 3 o'clock on Christmas morning, picked up a 
Cowes pilot at noon, and at 3:45 P. M. the two judges 
on board timed her as she passed the Needles. Vesta was 
less fortunate, her landfall bringing her a few miles to 
leeward of Henrietta at the Scilly Islands, and when she 
finally picked up a pilot late on Christmas evening he 
went astray in a light fog, so that she did not finish until 
forty minutes after midnight. Fleetwing made a better 
course up Channel, and finished at midnight. The brief 
record of the race is as follows : 
-Time- 
— I Distance Average 
Days. Hours. Minutes. Sailed. Per Hour. 
Henrietta 13 21 55 3106 9.39 
Fleetwing 14 6 10 3135 9.16 
Vesta 14 6 50 3144 9.14 
D. H.M.S. 
Henrietta started December U 1 00 00 P. M. 
Henrietta finished December 25 3 45 00 P. M. 
14 
2 45 GO 
5 00 00 
Hours. 
9 
15 
21 
21 
20 
Minutes. 
45 
6 
36 
36 
Dif. long ■ 
13 21 45 00 from buoy off the Hook 
(Passed Sandy Hook Lightship 1:39 P.M.) 
Days. 
Henrietta's time to Lizards 13 
Yampa's time from Montauk Point 15 
Henrietta's time to the Needles (1866) 13 
Henrietta's time from Sandy Hook L.S. 
to the Needles (1866) 13 
Endymion's time to the Needles (1900).. 13 
Sappho's time to Cowes (1868) 14 
Sappho's time from Sandy Hook L.V. to 
Queenstown (1869) 12 ., 
The distance was 2,875 miles, and Sappho's best run was 315 miles, 
averaging 13.10 knots, or an hourly average for the whole distance 
of 9.664 knots. 
In 1887 Coronet was 14 days 19 hours 23 minutes 4 
seconds going from Bay Ridge to Queenstown m her 
race with the Dauntless. 
In 1894 the sloop Vigilant made the trip from bandy 
Hook to Tory Island, Ireland, in 14 days 8 hours, and to 
Gourock, Scotland in 15 days 9 hours. 
Lasca covered the same course to Gourock, Scotland, 
in 17 days 6 hours, and Valkyrie II. also made a 17-day 
trip. 
Henrietta, 1866, hourly average for whole distance, 9.36 knots 
Fleetwing, 1866, 
Vesta, 1866, 
Sappho, 1869, 
Yampa, 1897, 
Endymion, 1900, 
Ingomar, 1904, 
Vigilant, 1894, 
Coronet, 1887, 
Dauntless, 1887, 
9.66 
8.00 
9.66 
8.25 
8.52 
8.08 
7.67 
The Story of the Race. 
The London Times of Thursday, December 27, 1866, 
published the following report of the ocean race between 
Henrietta, Fleetwing and Vesta: _ 
The ocean race is ended. The Henrietta passed the 
Needles at 3:46 P. M. yesterday, winning the race and 
the amount of £18,000 stakes. 
The Fleetwing arrived at i A. M. to-day, the Vesta at 
4 A. M. V 
The three yachts are now- lying at anchor in this harbor 
[Cowes], and crowds of people are visiting them and ad- 
miring their sharp lines and natty rig. The citizens of 
ihis town vie with each other in courtesies to the Ameri- 
can yachtsmen, ' and the hospitality of the Royal Yacht 
Club has been tendered by the secretary, Captain Brown, 
Royal Navy. . , • , , 
The Vesta reports no special incident during her long 
voyage. The Fleetwing had rather a rouch passage, and 
six of her seamen were unfortunately washed overboard 
from the cockpit. 
Of the trip of the Henrietta, with which yacht my for- 
tunes were linked during the race, I am able to give more 
detailed account. The logs of the other boats will be sent 
to you for publication as soon as possible. 
We left New York city on Tuesday, the nth inst. The 
excitement about the race, which had been gradually in- 
creasing during the fortnight before the start, seemed 
most intense when the day of departure arrived. All the 
vessels in the harbor and boats upon the river were gaily 
decked with flags. Numerous excursion steamers were 
chartered to escort the contestants to Sandy Hook. At 
the docks, where lay the tugs which were to convey the 
yachtsmen on board their crafts, great crowds had col- 
lected, and cheered heartily as the tugs steamed off. The 
day was clear, cool and bright, and the westerly wind 
was just what was desired. The yachts were anchored 
off Staten Island, and there the scene was even more 
animated than in the harbor ; steamers full of cheering 
spectators sailed around the little vessels ; the music from 
the band upon the River Queen, chartered by the New 
York Yacht Club, was echoed by the bands upon the ex- 
cursion steamers ; the United States revenue cutter fired 
a salute, the hills of Staten Island were dotted with 
observers, and flags flew from every villa ; a fleet of pilot 
boats clustered off West Bank to accompany the yachts 
to sea ; the forts which line the entrance to the harbor 
dipped their colors. As the New York Yacht Club 
steamer passed the Henrietta, the distinguished officers 
and gentlemen on board gave three hearty cheers for "the 
only man who goes in his own boat." The enthusiasm 
was as marked as the good wishes loudly expressed by 
every lip were hearty and sincere. It required an ex- 
perienced eye to detect any important dift'erence between 
the three, yachts as they lay at anchor. All are of nearly 
the same build and burden — the Henrietta registering 
205 tons, the Vesta 201, and the Fleetwing 212, American 
measurement. The Henrietta and Fleetwing are keel 
boats. The Vesta has what is termed a "centerboard," or 
false keel, like the celebrated yacht America. Of course 
the three yachts had been carefully equipped, carrying 
spare sails and spars, wire rigging and extra tillers. 
In the Henrietta sailed Mr. Bennett, the owner; 
Messrs. Jerome, Knapp and Fisk, judges and guests; 
Captain Samuels, Sailing Master Lyons, and a crew of 
twenty-four men, including Mr. Jones, first officer, Mr. 
Corels, second m.ate, a carpenter, sailmaker and two 
stewards. 
The Fleetwing, owned by Mr. George Osgood, was 
commanded by Captain Thomas, with a crew of twenty- 
two men ; and Messrs. Centre and Staples, of the New 
York Yacht Club, went in her as judges. 
The Vesta, owned by Mr. Pierre Lorillard, carried 
Messrs. George Lorillard and Taylor as judges, Captain 
Dayton, and a crew of twenty-three, petty officers and 
judges. 
Each of the yachts had previously won several closely 
contested matches, and only the popular prejudice against 
the "centerboard" vessels in rough weather gave the 
other boats an advantage over the Vesta in the heavy 
wagers staked upon the race. 
At II o'clock the racing signal of the Henrietta was 
displayed, and the yachts were taken in tow by the tugs 
for the starting point off Sandy Hook, accompanied by 
innumerable steamers, propellers, yachts and pilot boats, 
and, amid renewed cheering and excitement, they were 
hauled down through the Narrows and assigned their 
respective stations. 
Precisely af one o'clock Mr. Fearing, the starter, gave 
the signal for the race to begin. In a moment the tugs 
were cast off and sails hoisted, the Fleetwing occupying 
the most northerly position; first fresh breeze, and 
danced away before the wind, the Vesta following closely. 
The Henrietta, lying nearer the shore, had decidedly the 
worst of the start, but regained her position as she 
dropped away from the land. The tugs and steamers 
sailed in line after the yachts, and presented a most pic- 
turesque sight. The wreck of . the Scotland was in full 
view; grimly reminding the yachtsmen of the dangers 
they were about to brave; the strains of "Auld L^ng 
Syne" from the steamer recalled to the adventurers the 
friendships they were leaving. Then a cloud obscured 
the sun, the wind gradually rose, the yachts increased 
their speed, the good-bys to each were faintly heard, the 
lightship off Sandy Flook was passed, the open sea was 
before us, and the voyage had commenced in earnest. At 
2 :45 P. M. the "Neversink Highlands" sunk out of sight. 
The yachts were then abeam of each other. The Hen- 
rietta having caught the ten-knot breeze, all canvas was 
set, and the Vesta sailed wing and wing. Daylight now 
rapidly faded, and the sun disappeared in a glory of 
crimson and gold. The tug Philip, which had been char- 
tered by Mr. Lorillard to accompany the Vesta until 
nightfall, turned homeward with a farewell hurrah, and 
the crews of the yachts bade good-by to the United States 
with answering cheers. Each captain now chose his own 
course, the Fleetwing keeping to the northward, the 
Henrietta holding the European steamer track, cUid the 
Vesta evidently making for the northern ' passage. 
At six P. M. wind blowing steadily from the W.N.W., 
we lost sight of the Fleetwing in the darkness; but the 
Vesta was still abreast, looking like a phantom in the 
dim starlight. The Henrietta now increased her speed, 
rocking over the waves as gently as a cradle, and at 
eight o'clock the Vesta had disappeared; we saw neither 
of our rivals again until they came to Cowes. Songs and 
stories in the cabin and heavy 'snow squalls on deck 
marked our first night at sea. . ■ 
The next day was bright and cokl; we carried all sail, 
making eleven knots an hour until noon, when the Hen- 
rietta was struck by a heavy snow squall, sM the top- 
sails had to be taken in. During the twenty-three hours 
we had made 235 knots by observation and 237 by log, 
and found ourselves in lat. 40.70, and long. 68.52; the 
wind was northerly, and came in strong gusts; at ten 
minutes to four we passed the steamer Cuba and an- 
other steamer, to both of which we showed our racing 
signals, receiving prompt replies. Several sailing vessels 
were sighted, but they all kept away from us as soon as 
we showed our dark blue flag, as if believing the canard 
that the yachts were Fenian privateers. The weather 
grew more stormy toward night, and our little boat was 
at times half under water, but behaving most admirably. 
The mainsails were reefed before midnight, but as the 
weather moderated the reefs were shaken out, and both 
jibs set. Messrs. Lipus and Jones who headed the two 
watches into which the crew was divided, vied with each 
other in handling the yacht carefully, and through this 
storm, as throughout the entire voyage, the Henrietta had 
all the canvas she could safely carry, but not an inch 
more. Consequently her speed was steadily maintained, 
but nothing was strained and nothing carried away. At 
noon on the second nautical day, we scored two hundred 
and ten miles by observation and two hundred and thirty 
by log, the discrepancy being accounted for by a current 
which had drifted the yacht over twenty miles to the 
southwest. Clear, sunshiny weather during the day, and 
bright moonlight, with occasional snow squalls at night, ■ 
closed the record for the 13th of December. 
The next morning the weather was cloudy and warm, 
ancl the sea had fallen; some of the guests enjoyed their 
siesta on deck ; the servants unexpectedly appearing in 
white trousers, seemed like ghosts from the long departed 
summer. Nothing was in sight upon the ocean except 
flocks of gulls and Mother Gary's chickens. At noon we 
had made two hundred and four miles. By a fine observa- 
tion in the evening the placid moon showed silvery upon 
a sea as smooth as the Thames. Reclining in the com- 
fortable cabin, the Chateau Margaux and cigars within 
easy reach, the guests listened to the Captain's stories 
of haunted ships and suicides at sea and dismal wrecks of 
the Southern Ocean. Toward midnight, however, the 
scene changed and repeated squalls with rain and hail 
struck the tiny craft, and bowled her along at the rate of 
eleven, twelve and thirteen knots an hour. At sunrise the 
next morning a snowstorm began ; the sea and sky 
seemed one, and both were a deep slate color; the men, 
half white with new snow, moved slowly at their work; 
the dark horizon was noticeably narrowed ; as the snow 
drifted down the Henrietta passed through the water that 
foamed upon the deck; to leeward a spar from some 
wreck lifted itself to the, view like a great skeleton finger 
indicative of ruin ; all our surroundings were mournful 
and depressing. No observations could be taken but by 
dead reckoning. We had gained two hundred and twenty- 
five miles during the past twenty-four hours. As night 
fell the yacht sailed faster and faster, until as we looked 
over the side where the waves came cascading over the 
diminutive bulwarks, we seemed to be fairly flving along. 
The sky cleared, but the wind freshened at sunset, and 
the light sails were hauled down and the mainsail reefed. 
The yacht quivered like a racehorse over-driven, and the 
pumps, which were tested every hour, sounded dismally, 
but showed no leakage. Sea after sea boarded the stag- 
gering craft. A wave came bursting through the sky- 
light into the cabin. All night long this heavy weather 
continued : but the yacht ran so easily before the free 
wind that everybody slept as quietly as if the Henrietta 
was the Great Eastern. 
In the gray of the following morning, Sunday, Decem- 
ber 16, we passed a brig bound to Newfoundland, and her 
crew, who had evidently heard nothing of the yacht race, 
climbed up the rigging to stare at us as we dashed swiftly 
and silently by like the Flying Dutchman. We were now 
crossing the (jrand Banks, and at noon we had sailed 246 
miles', for the da}', and over one-third the distance to 
Cowes. The wind still remained northerly, and the 
yacht kept her course without variation. At 2 o'clock 
the captain, officers and yachtsmen assembled in the j 
cabin for divine worship, while the winds whistled shrilly J 
without, and the waves splashed across the deck lights 
overhead. The prayers for the day were repeated, and 
a chapter from the Bible and one of Jay's brief sermons 
were read. At 10 P. M. we were off the Grand Banks 
and off soundings, going at the rate of twelve knots an 
hour. Heavy seas still boarded the vessel, washing over- 
board one of the crew; the wind still held from the 
northward, and all hands were not too sensible to credit . 
the captain's superstitious stories and refrain from 
changing their attire, lest they should bring a change of . 
wind. The night passed quietly, and the ship averaged . 
eleven knots, in spite of the seas that constantly ham- ■ 
mered her like marine Vulcans. 
The next day found us in "the roaring forties," which 
we had been taught to dread the character of. The ocean. 
had entirely changed; instead of dancing over short,: 
chopping waves like those of the English Channel, we 
appeared to be passing between ranges of water hills. 
Running thus in the trough of the sea, there seemed tO| 
be no horizon. The water, glazed by the snow that fell' 
almost constantly, had the consistency of oil; the sky was[ 
filled with dull leaden clouds; but the barometer rosej 
steadily; the wind, which had been rather doubtful dur-j 
ing the morning, blew from the north once more. A fine- 
observation gave us two hundred and eighty miles fori 
the yacht's progress during the preceding twenty-foufj 
hours. In six days and fourteen hours we had sailed' 
half way across the Atlantic. In the afternoon a beauti- 
ful rainbow brightened the horizon; but this "bow of; 
promise" proved most deceitful, and brought us renewed] 
. hail and snow squalls instead of pleasant weather. Dur-i 
■ ing the night the wind shifted to W.S.W. We gybed ship, 
and hoisted the -.squaresail, but were forced to lower it 
again in a few hours, a.s 'the signs of dirty weather^ 
i 
