The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-19
The Yacht Race between the America and
Maria.

10 THE EDITOR or THE HERALD.
In the Coarir aud Enquirer Of this morning there
is rpcrt Of tie trial Of speed between the yacht
America and the Maria. Of the truth and fairness Of
which you VIII he enabled to judge from the following
statement. Fer is accuracy may appeal to Mr.
schuyler, any Of the gentlemen board the
America -
The yachts Ccrnelia America and Maria. left the
harbor On Tuesday afternoon to meet at Sandy Hook
The experienced pilot of the Cornelia liking the
looks Of the weather came TO at the Quarantine aud
thereby escaped ugly night in the open roadstead,
and squall that reduced the America to her jib and
mainsa and Iit the jib Of the Maria from the lu to
within ten feet Of the leach.
On Wednesday morning there little sr wind In
the afternoon stiff breeze sprung up from the north
ward and westward and started to beat hours
windward and -eturn-the Cornelia half mile ahead
the America about two hundred yards ahead and fifty
sixty yards to leeward Of the Maria We filed away
to the westward ard stood for tive aud half three
miles. At this time the Maria had gradually gained
the America, to bring her abeam nearly 80, of
the America, when unlucky for us, pilot
hard and fast aground Before could get her OF and
under way again the America far ahead put
any attempt at trial of speed between two vessels
nearly matched cut Of the question. We, however fol-
lowed, and to at the Quarantine long distance
behind her. Here waited for the Cornelia (whose
foresai carried away the day beore) to bend
suit Of sails ard for the America to send for and put
board, eight tons Of additional ballast.
On Thursday evening, left the Quarantine, with
a Light breeze from the southwark, to beat down to
the Hook. When about half way between Fort Haml-
ton and the tail of The West Bank the America up
and passed the Maria to eeward and uifed out from un
der her bows thirty forty yards ahead and ten
fifteen yards to wndward Of the Marias wake. As no
vessel had served the Maria before, looked
round for the 1t turned that Of the gen.
tlemen board had been making some experiments
with the centre beard and had lessened her draft Of
ter Eve feet We restored the centre board to its place
and drew out from under her lee to weather her
the next tack At this time the wind had increased TO
fresh sailing breeze We continued to gain upon her.
and arrived seven minutes-by Mr.. Schuyler's watch
bcore her at the anchorage at the Hook Mr. Schuyler
had given directions to both pilots of which
ware) to keep the ship channel and to the west
ward Of the buoy Of the spit. Neither did
On Friday morning. We met outside the bar to sail to
wndward fifteen to twenty miles at At the request
of Mr. Schuyler, We gave her position to windgard, of
$50 10 go yards abreast weather beam In sailing
seventeen minutes, by Mr.. Schuyer's time, had
brought her two points abaft BEAM Here she ucd
10. having sprung the head OF her foremost In return
ing she carried away her main gait. We followed
the cornelia some sixteen or eighteen miles to sea,
and returned TO the Hook in the afternoon.
No Ct the gentlemen interested in the Of the
America would sincerely rejoice at the proofs of
her good sailing qualities than myself. But as do not
believe will the interests Of the builder accord
with the wishes her owner to sanction an account 30
wide # the truth, send you this statement.
viii only further remark, that the Maria not in
tended constructed to encounter a gale Of wind at
sea- with Loom ninetyfve feet leng, and and
half feet in eirc umfeience he would be apt get into
trouble. which would rather avoid and think it will
turn joke for he America keep the site
o0L sticks (nly fixed they are by the very
reporter Of the Couio and EnqurG) in their proper
s4Trrp.s, May IL, 1851. JOHN STEVENS