May 6, 1905.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
S69 
The Great Ocean Race of J 887. 
Between Coronet ard Diontless. 
The following account of the ocean race between 
Coronet and Dauntless by Mr. W. N. King was taken 
from the New York Herald: 
QUEENSTOWN. Ireland, Sunday, March 27, 1887.— The 
schooner yacht Coronet crossed the line of¥ Roche's Point, 
Cork Harbor, Ireland, at forty minutes past noon, local 
mean time, to-day, winner of the great ocean race. 
On March 12, at fourteen minutes and forty-six sec- 
onds past noon, local mean time, the Coronet passed the 
mark off Owl's Head. New York Bay, thus making the 
run from start to finish in fourteen days, twenty-three 
hours, thirty-three minutes and forty-six seconds, ap- 
parent time. 
A great race, this, and a gallant one. 
Well done. Coronet ; well done everybody, from cabin 
boy to captain, who helped to gain this victory. 
With a full press of canvas alow and aloft, and with 
all racin<T sails tiies^insf at their straining gear, the Coro- 
net left behind her sturdy competitor, the Dauntless, on 
^he afternoon of the start at the rate of about one mile 
an hour. 
Cantain Samuels is said to have intentionally crossed 
the line five hmid'-ed yards astern of the Coronet on a 
waeer that he would overtake and p^ss her before reach- 
ing Sandy Hook. How well his calculations were made 
was shown by our relative position at sunset, when the 
Dauntless was hull down and nearly six miles astern 
of us. 
The wind freshened considerably about 4 o'clock, and 
when the Dauntless was last seen by us she was heeling 
over almost on her beamsends and hanging to her topsails 
till the last moment. 
We took our departure at 2h. 49m., New York mean 
time, when Sandy Hook Lightship bore south soulhwest, 
distant three and one-half miles. From that time until 
midnight we made a fine run under all plain sail, and 
then the wind having freshened to a moderate gale the 
mainsail was closely reefed and the bonnet of the fore- 
sail was taken oS. 
In discussing around our mess table the possible dan- 
gers of crossing the Atlantic during the stormy month 
of March, we gathered the cheering information that all 
the reporters had been requested to write their own 
obituaries before sailing, and upon further comparing 
notes found that we had all been refused policies by dif- 
ferent life insurance companies. 
Sunday, our second day at sea, opened with a dull, 
overcast sky, occasional showers of rain and a heavy 
swell setting from the northward, the wmd still blowing 
fresh from north by west. At 9:30 A. M. duplicate mes- 
sages were sent to the Herald by carrier pigeons. To- 
ward mid-day the sea began to pile up, knocking about 
the crockery, chairs, table and, indeed, everything mov- 
able in the cabin. 
At noon the position was found to be latitude 39deg. 
55min. north, longitude 68deg. 4imin. west. A course 
south 8ideg. east had been run, and the distance made 
was 246 miles. The actual elapsed time from the start 
was 22h. 33m. 37s. 
At 4 A. M. Monday the wind hauled to the westward 
and the sea began to go down so the reef was shaken out 
of the mainsail, the bonnet was put on the foresail and 
the vessel was placed under light racing canvas, giving 
her a speed of thirteen knots. The 3'acht began to roll 
heavily, straining her beams, and jumping her main boom 
to such an extent that Captain Crosby was forced to take 
in the mainsail and set the main storm trysail. 
Toward night the wind moderated and the sea went 
down sufficiently to let all racing canvas be set, so as to 
take advantage of the westerly wind, which was soon 
driving her through the waler like a frightened fish, with 
her lee cal:head and rail under water, throwing the sea 
in clouds of spray as high as the masthead. We sent a 
dispatch to the Herald by carrier pigeon at 9 A. M. 
At 10 P. M. we carried away the maintopmast staysail. 
The position at noon was latitude 4odeg. 4min. north, 
longitude 63deg. 23min. west; course, north 86deg. 57min. 
east and distance 244.3 niiles. The actual elapsed time 
was 23h. 38m. 31s. 
. Tuesday . morning opened with damp, disagreeable 
weather, and passing squalls of rain. At 2 A. M. the 
wind hauled to the northeast, and began to blow with 
such increased force as to necessitate close reefing the 
foresail and mainsail and stowing the forestaysail. 
Toward noon the barometer began falling rapidly, and 
the wind canted to the southward; a half hour later it 
shifted to the southwest, and in hurricane force gave us 
a taste of what is known to all sailors as "a smoky 
sou'wester." 
Coronet scudded tinder fore and main storm trysail, jib 
and forestaysail, the wind all the time increasing so much 
that finally the main storm trysail and jib had to be taken 
in, the schooner during the blow being driven through 
the water with such velocity that she could scarcely 
catch herself in time to ride the seas ahead. She plunged 
into them like a porpoise, often sticking her nose right 
under, while heavy green seas rolled over her decks to 
.the depth of several feet. 
The captain gave us the consoling information that 
under ordinary circumstances it would have been safer 
to, heave to, but the yessel that hove to this tim,e would 
lose the race. At sunset the mate reported that there 
was a schooner supposed to be the Dauntless off the lee 
quarter hove to under a fore storm trysail. 
The position at noon of March 15 was latitude 4odeg. 
Simin. north, longitude 59deg. 28min. 4Ssec. west; course 
north 75deg. i7min. east; distance 185 miles, and actual 
elapsed time 23h. 44m. 3s. 
Wednesday morning the weather continued cold, with 
a sombre, overcast sky and passing squalls of rain, the 
wind still blowing fresh from the southwest, with a very 
heavy sea. We ran all day before the gale under jib and 
close reefed fore and main storm trysails. At 8 P. M. 
the wind moderating a little, the squaresail was set and 
helped to lift Coronet's head from the seas and to give 
her a more regular motion, .though she still continued to 
roll her lee cathead and rail under the seas, which had 
now become long and heavy and were breaking over 
her weather quarter. 
At II P. M. the squaresail was lowered, in order to 
put on the bonnet. Although this left us nothing but 
. a close reefed foresail to run under, it was not sufficient 
canvas to give her a velocity greater than that of the 
waves, and consequently at 11 :i5 P. M. a heavy sea came 
over the stern, falling on top of the man at the wheel 
and nearly washing overboard Mate Wliittier and the 
Herald correspondent. Fortunately, as we were being 
swept to leeward we managed to get a grip on the main 
sheet. 
During the night a nasty cross sea was kicked up, ren- 
dering the management of a light boat so hazardous that 
unless skillfully handled there was danger of being 
tripped. However, Coronet is so heavily ballasted and 
her meta centric height is so great that in a seaway her 
recovery is almost instantaneous. To stand aft or on her 
quarter and watch the roll of the rail, now climbing 
mountain high to the crest of one wave only to be buried 
in the hollow of the next, is enough to make one's hair 
almost stand on end. 
A bright lookout for icebergs and field ice had to be 
kept, as the southwest gales drove us so much fur. her to 
the northward than was intended that we were compelled 
to cross the Banks in latitude 42deg. 
Our position at noon of March 16 was latitude 4ideg. 
2Smin. north, longitude 54deg. 45min. west; course, north 
Sodeg. 4-2min, east; distance, 216 miles. The actual time 
elapsed was 23h. 40m. 50s. 
Cloudy, damp and disagreeable weather ushered in 
Thursday with a fresh breeze from the southeast, the 
yacht running free under reefed forestaysails, fore storm 
trysail and squaresail. By 11:30 A. M. the wind had in- 
creased to a moderate gale, and the squaresail had been 
split from head to foot. 
Though the sky remained overcast and the barometer 
continued falling rapidly the wind decreased sufficiently 
to permit us to drive her under a full press of racing 
canvas before a heavy sea. 
By I P. M., as the wind began to freshen and the 
barometer continued to fall, all plain sail and main storm 
trysail were taken in. The veering and hauling of the 
wind and the barometer's fluctuations, however, soon left 
no doubt that we were approaching the center of a re- 
volving cyclone, so sail was reduced to fore storm trysail 
and reefed fore staysail. 
Under these the schooner scudded the waves, which, 
without any exaggeration, began to run so high that one 
was almost afraid to look astern and see the mountains 
of water that seemed at every moment as if they would 
engulf our tiny craft; at times the ocean seemed to open 
and the yacht reeled about as if snared in a whirlpool, 
while the whole surface of the sea looked like an immense 
snow drift. 
^ Under the force of the wind, which was traveling with 
lightning like velocity, the water would be snapped up 
from the surface in spoondrifts and be driven in clouds 
of smoke oyer the vessel and crew, cutting like a knife 
everything it came in contact with. We were moving 
through the water with such velocity that our little ves- 
sel seemed scarcely to touch the surface, and it was 
impossible to form an idea how long the gale would con- 
tinue; darkness, too, was coming on and we were being 
driven up into the region, of icebergs and field ice. 
Having run so long before the wind, to round to in a 
sea as high as that then running is an evolution that has 
caused many large ships either to be swamped or to have 
tlieir sides stove in; but as we had the chance either of 
being driven among the icebergs in the darkness or of 
heaving to until the blow subsided, the latter alternative 
was chosen. 
Preparations were made. Extra sheets were secured 
to the fore storm trysail, the forestaysail was hauled 
down and_ the main storm trysail bent, so that it might 
be ready in case the fore was. blown away. Perforated 
canvas bags filled with oil were also put over both bows 
and quarters. The captain and mate took their places 
at the helm and the boatswain thundered throughout the 
length of the vessel: "Look out, everybody; now hang 
on for your_ lives !" Hard down went the helm, and 
as the trembling boat came up we stood with bated breath 
awaiting the dreadful moment when she must pass 
through the trough of the sea. 
It was an anxious moment, for we did not know 
whether it would roll completely over us or if we would 
ride upon the crest. As she came up she paused a ino- 
ment in the trough, and then with the wind well on the 
weather bow passed the crisis and rode each wave like a 
seabird. _We lay all night drifting about at the mercy 
of the wind and waves, everything in the cabin a con- 
fused mass, the sea pouring through the skylight-; fires 
and lights out. Ever and anon htige seas beat against 
our weather bow with the force of a battering ram. At 
midnight the wind moderated sufficiently for us to con- 
tinue on our course. 
■ The position at noon on March 17' was latitude 4ideg. 
27sec. north, longitude 5odeg. 3111111, west; course, north 
87deg. 34min. east; distance, 211.2 miles, and actual 
elapsed time 23h. 41m. 
The sun came out on Friday for the first time, and, 
the wind being much lighter. Captain Crosby was able 
to drive her all day under a full press of canvas; toward 
night the wind freshened and rain squalls were frequent, 
and when darkness fell the mainsail was reefed and the 
bonnet taken off the foresail. Under this disposition of 
canvas the yacht ran all night with the wind fresh from 
the southwest. 
The position of Coronet at noon of March 18 was lati- 
tude 44deg. 56min. north, longitude 47deg. 4min. west ; 
the course, north 8ideg. imin. east; the distance, 133.5 
miles, and the actual time elapsed, 23h. 47m. 43s. 
Saturday found us running before the wind under the 
squaresail, foretopsail, reefed jib and forestaysail. A 
Spanish merchantman bound to the eastward ran close 
down upon us and inquired about our passage ; we an- 
swered and asked him by signals if he had seen the 
Dauntless and received in reply "No." 
Toward night the wind and sea increased, accompanied 
by passing squalls of rain, and the vessel was, as usual, 
got under easy canvas for the night. 
The position at noon of March 19 was latitude 43deg. 
47min. -north, longitude 42deg. 35min. west ; course, north 
6odeg. 27min. ; distance, 225 iniles, and the actual time 
elapsed, 23h. 41m. 58s. 
Sunday morning opened with a gale still blowing from 
the southeast before which we ran until the seas began to 
rise dangerously high and the captain decided to heave to. 
Suddenly the wind died away to a flat calm and in a few 
minutes shifted to the northwest and blew with increased 
fury. As this indicated a cyclone, we continued to run 
before it under close reefed fore storm trysail and square- 
sail and the seas breaking nastily over our weather quar- 
ter. Toward midnight it began to grow thick to wind- 
ward and several rain squalls passed over. 
Our position at noon of March 20 was latitude 4Sdeg. 
25min. north, longitude 39deg. 4min. west ; the course, 
north S6deg. 3omin. east; the distance, 179.4 miles, and 
the actual elapsed time 23h. 45m. 28s. 
We ran close hauled Monday under a full press of can- 
vas ; the wind was northeast, and we tacked ship at 4 
P. M. Toward night the wind increased in force to a 
heavy gale, and as no headway could be made Coronet 
was hove to under a close reefed fore storm trysail. 
The position at noon of March 21 was latitude 46deg. 
i8min. north, longitude 34deg. 24min. west ; the course, 
north 75deg. east; the dis.ance, 202 miles, and the actual 
elapsed time 23h. 39m. 2s. 
Tuesday opened with a heavy northeast gale still blow- 
ing, and the yacht remained hove to all day. An at- 
tempt m the afternoon to tack ship to southward and - 
eastward was unsuccessful. The sea was very heavy, 
lurching the vessel's head off as she came up and causing 
her to ship a heavy sea, which nearly washed overboard 
five or six men. Finally we wore ship to the northward, 
and getting her on the port' tack, she managed to forge 
ahead about three knots. Toward midnight the wind 
moderated and we made sail, running under the foresail, 
close refed mainsail and jib. 
The position at noon of March 22 was latitude 46deg. 
38min. north, longitude 33deg. 49min. west ; the course, 
north 38 deg. I2min. east ; the distance, 38.8 miles, and 
the actual time elapsed 23h. 57ni. 4s. 
Wednesday we had a fine run under a cloud of canvas, 
the wind being gentle and abeam. Indeed, it became al- 
most calm toward night. 
The position at noon of March 23 was latitude 47deg. 
6min. north, longitude 32deg. 47min. 30s. west ; the 
course, north 56deg. 3imin. east; the distance, 50.8 miles; 
and the actual elapsed time 23h. 57m. 17s. 
The weather was cool and pleasant on Thursday with 
an overcast sky, the vessel rolling very heavily on top 
of a strong northwest swell, which forced us to take in 
the mainsail and to set squaresail. Quite an excitement 
was caused by the report that a steamer had been sighted 
to leeward having a schooner in tow. As this rig is not 
very common in mid-ocean at this time of the year, bets 
were freely exchanged as to whether it was the Dauntless 
or not. 
The position at noon of March 24 was latitude 48deg. 
4min. north, longitude 28deg. i2min. west ; the course, 
northeast 7odeg. east ; the distance, 218.6 miles, and the 
actual elapsed time 23h. 41m. 34s. 
Friday we were able to drive the stanch craft all day 
under a full press of canvas, the breeze blowing stiff from 
the south southwest. About noon, however, the yacht 
was so much pressed that the topsails were spared and 
the mainsail was close reefed. Toward and throughout 
the niffht the wind blew a moderate gale, and in the mid- 
dle watch a heavy sea was shipped. 
The position at noon Q,f March 25 was latitude 49deg. 
48min. north, longitude. 22deg. 32min. west; the course, 
north 78deg. .45min. east; the distance, 225.5 miles, and 
the actual elapsed time 23h. 36m. 46s. 
Cloudy weather and an overcast sky came in with Sat- 
urday daybreak, the wind still blowing fresh from the 
southwest. There was a fine run all this day under close 
reefed mainsail, foresail and jib. Toward midnight the 
wind freshened, and, drawing aft, the mainsail was taken 
in and the squaresail set. 
The position at noon of March 26 was latitude 5odeg. 
5imin. north, longitude isdeg. omin. 6sec. west; the 
course was north 79deg. 3imin. east; the distance, 291.5 
miles, and the actual elapsed time Avas 23h. 29m. 5gs. 
Sunday morning the sun burst forth in all ^s slory for 
the first time in a week as if to welcome our first sight 
of the Irish coast. At 6h. 27m. Mizzen Point bore north 
northea.st distant twelve miles. At loh. 8m. the pilot boat 
Columbine hove to and sent us a pilot, from whom the 
cheering information reached us that we had won the 
race. There was, it is needless to say, great- excitement 
And joy on board. 
