The New Orleans crescent., 1868-09-18
THE REGATTA.
AN ExCITING RAC H
1RE xIPHIAs VICTORIOUS.

Yesterday morning dawned bright and clear,
while the brscing atmosphere, perceptibly cooler
than that OF the day before, aud the breeze,
which even in the city blew hard enough to be
very refreshing, gave to every lover Of yachting
promise of such a days sport as would long be
remembered, and the event for once verified the
most favorable prognostics. Passing over the
ride to the lake, the manner Of which varied from
car TO buggy and pair, as the tastes or more fire.
quently the pockets Of the various pleasure seek
ers dictated, we come to the pier head, on which,
under the ample awning which BY wise fore
sight had been spread overhead, were on the
arrival of our reporter collected goodly crowd
of yschtsmen and yacht lovers many citizens of
our town, others hsiling from the Gulf City,
while each of the villages on the coast from here
to there had its representative.
The occasion which brought these gentlemen
together was an unusual one. II was to witness
the contest for the challenge cup of the Crescent
City Yacht Club, q contest which in former years
took place annually, but which has been entirely
suspended since the commencement of the late
war. This, then, being the first opportunity in
many years for any boat to win such trophy, and
the fact that in the late contests the difference be-
tween the Gladiols and the Xiphias has been
proved to be so little as to warrant the expecta.
ton of an interesting race, the event drew to.
gether not only the best craft on our Southern
waters, but the best boatmen to sail them, and
the most enthusiastic and oldest yachtsmen to be-
hold the trial.
While awaiting the commencement OF the race,
snufiDg ard enjoying the splendid breeze which
swept tie water into small white caps" and
criticisirg and commenting upon the points of the
various boats which were, preparatory to the
start sailing hither and thither around the wharf,
like race horses csntering before the drum tap, the
crowd upon the wharf were startled by the sight of
the XphiGs suddenly csreening, and in spite Of the
best efforts of her crew, falling heavily into the
water, completely cspsizing. Loud were the ex-
Carnations on all sides as the chances Of the fsvo
rite of New Orleans were thus apparently re-
duced to zero. But without superhuous word
her inaomitable commander, Johnny Clements
sent out boat, towsd her into the pier, righted
her, baled her out, hoisted her sails, and
stood out ready for the race in
| less than half an hour after the accident oc-
Cured. Before we go any further we wish to
compliment the opponents of the Xiphiss on
| their courtesy towards their adversary. Before
| Clements could get his boat in trim the time to
! start arrived, and had the rest of the feet so
| PSoAsASA9
and started, regardless of the mishap which had
befalen their competitor. Instead of this however
they fingered and sailed about and misunderstood
the Judges direc tons, and delayed the start until
| the Xphias, once more ready for work, took her
place in line. Such courtesy and chivalry need
no comment. At last. however, the boats were
arranged in position as follows The GladioId, 81
| feet inches, commanded by B. Chamberlain, to
windward; the 1iphias, 2l feet IL inches, with
Johnny Clements at the tiller, next to her, and
the Domino, 2l feet inches, Alex. Brsws-
ter controlling, to leewsrd. OF the second
class boats, the Myrtle II feet II inches, Martin
Green, captain, drew the first place; the Annie
c., II feet 2 inches, Lyman Dudley, captain, the
second; and the Hazard, formerly the C. T
| Howard IL feet IL inches, II. Knapp, captain
the third. OF the third class, only the Harlequin
and the Nettie Chandler were entered. The
boats thus placed, 8 good breeze blowing, q
clear sky overhead, and fair sea before, the
| iudQes-Msssrs. Austin, Tobn and Witherspoon-
gave the word, crack went the gun, up came the
anchors, the jibs were flung to the breeze, ant
slowly swinging around, the boats were Oh. The
Domino led OF well at the start sudden change
of wind, however, when the boats were not on'
hundred yards from the wharf, throwing them al
back. This got over. the feet, variously steeret
as the Judgment of their separate pilots dictated
directed their course to the first stake boat, which
like q skeleton ship, loomed up far OF il
the horizon. The first to get there was the gal
lsnt Myrtle, second class boat, recently built b.
John Mahoney, who made her debut yesterda,
and made it gloriously. Then came the Xiphias
two minutes behind, and then, two minutes later
the Domino with the Gladiols ons minute behin
her. As the boats cane in to the home stak
boat the excitement grew higher, bets accumu
lated, coDjectures multiplied, until, when th
Xiphiss came in first, in l hour Is minutes
the enthusiasm eliminated in hearty cheers
next came the little Myrtle, II minu'
7 behind, then the Domino and the Gladioli
} TIE Annie c. came next with the Hazard
seconds behind her. just after the Annie
passed the boat and while getting on the ne
tack for the next boat, she got too much wind
her sail, leaned lower and lower. and finally mac
a complete cspsize of it--doing, happily, no dan
| age further than the wetting other crew. boz
was socn got out and the unlucky yacht and b.
, woeful sailors were towed in for repairs. II
, manner and order of sailing around the ne
/ two stake boats it is unnecessary to chronicl
{ Two more accidents, however, have
e be recorded. The Nettie Chandler brOl
Il her rudder irons, and was compelled to cor
s in 10 the wharf and ithe Myrtle, the new a
}. gallant little second.elsss boat who behaved
!. tplenddly tore her b out Of its upper fastening
n and was obliged to anchor for nearly ten minuI
e to repair dsmsges, thus losing all chance of
e place among the frst.class boats.
!; run home now demands our attention. I
" three fret class boats, having rounded the !
b. stake boat pretty much in the order in which To
ID teTmInsted the race, came running magnificent
e close together, and forming a sight whose beat
n. must have been seen to be thoroughly appre
ID aied As they got near the wharf tae res
g could well be anticipated, and when, 10 2h' 81
ne from the time of starting. the Mphias came
~ first, the ardor of her hackers broke iorth
as hearty shouts The Domino came next, I'm. 81 q
er then the GIadiola heartily cheered as she pas
Us Us the wbarf l min 81 sec. behind the DomirO.
nv the second -class boats the Myrtle, which nad M
TO- good use of her time since her misaap, came
to frst, with the hazard 80 seconds behind her;
81 81 as the Myrtle from her greater length was c.
= l n her cQLanctltOr