The New York herald., 1868-08-17
THE YACHT SQUADRON.

THE YACHT SQUADRON.
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Details of the Great Ocean Race--Departure
of the Fleet from Newport.
= -g NEWPORT, August Is, 1865.
Yesterday che grand ocean race OF the New York
Yacht Club took place. with the result already an
nounced by you, me sioop White Wing winning the
prize of that class and the Eva that OF the
1t was over Q course second TO none In America FOR
yacht racing and at times when the WIND was blow
ing at all fresh 30 brilliant was 1t that little addi-
tonal reference to the race of the and to the
cruise is necessary The prizes presented by Captain
Thomas c. Durant, OF the yacht Idler, being TWO
pieces OF silver one for each class OF vessels sloops
and schooners, were superb in style and artsticay
0rnamented.
PRoPHEoIEs.
As the yachtmen soJourned awhile on shore. "'nlid
pleasures and palaces pr0menading the grand nails
OF the hotels driving the avenue the previous
day and evening, the confidence each had tn certain
OF the yachts subsequently resolved itself into pool
selling on shore ana board Of many OF the yachts
From selection Of several the following viii give
an idea what the rowing boys thought of the different
vessels. In one Of $780, for sloops the sales were:-
Clytie, $780, White Wing s1cO; Addie w. $780, Oracle.
sos; Kate $5o--the remainder being divided among
the balance In one OF $1,000 for schooners,
the following ruled:-Eva $500; Phantom, $500;
Fleetwing $1t0; Palmer Slo0-the balance among
the remainder. Beside these the gentlemen OF the
feet whose business life Is amid speculation in
dulged freely with those Of similar mind in wagers
OF magnitude, and It has been roughly estimated that
in this pleasant way friends Of the squadron have
exchanged checks and money to the amount OF
$4,000.
THE RACING MORNING
was unequalled in beauty as night took to its wings
and m oh
Bay were tipped with golden hue, and the thin film
Of fog resting around the grim walls OF Fort Adams
and on the coast beyond suddenly divided under its
influence and became nothingncss. As this tra ns-
1guraton went on tho yachtmen hurried from their
berths and staterooms, and looking out upon the
scene were dlsheartened at the calm aspect OF the
opening day. stirring breeze they wanted;
grand, glorious. spanking wind for the race was de-
sired and, perhaps the want OF breeze stirred to
bilious feeling many that owned the huge clipper
Ike schooners that show their speed when a
stiff steady wind Is surgtng along the course
The hour Of departurc-ten A. M-noted no change
and the crowd, the elite of Newport, that gathered
on the wharves, shedding the rays Of the burning
sun by neat umbrellas, became sick at the seeming
want of alacrity in the fleet. The little steam yacht
Minnehaha designed for the committee and certain
wandering soas ay qdlet ~ on% ao tns
exqulstes who had left q hurried BREAKFAST Ct the
Atlantic and Ocean Houses to witness the aquatic
sceno Of the year. For moment they had forgotten
abort the dsarrangeinent OF the dress and discom-
posing of the person In view OF the glorious spec
tace before them; but their weaker nature and silly
customs OBJ tanned the mastery, and they began TO
AS the morning advanced six knot breeze was
still stranger to the anxious 1eet, despite the
usual "jolly boys IN blue" whstllng, singing cho-
ruses, scratching masts," and even indulgng in
life OF the squadron. and who has crossed the ocean
in a pleasure vessel ut mid-winter: The little god
who Sits aloft would not be supplicated and even
the .'bg Jokerr felt desDondent At eleven O'Clock,
when some OF the farer portion OF the visitors had
eibat their i number being replaced BY more suTdy T
pretty glg, came on board bis tender with ON eX-
preston OF hope, assuring oil that within fifteen
minutes there will be wind enough" and as
he spoke the gentle ripping Of the water from
q southery breeze made his prophecy correct one,
and soon all anchors were % up and soao9nes ana ina
the wind continued so light that 1t was fully quarter
past twelve O'Clock before any success attended their
efforts. The scene then was one OF exquisite beauty
The sun shot down its rays OF fabulous nerceness.
and opposite the line OF starting old Fort dumping
In its remarkable ruins, with Goat Island, Castle
Hill and Rose Island in their emerald hue looking
like mirrors Of gigantic magnitude, with here anu
there on their knobs anxious spectators made up a
scene, with pcarly, clOudlesS Italian sky unsur-
| passed in the annals of yachting races
The wind shifted to the southwest as the Judges,
Messrs. Rowland, Candy and Hone, together with
Commodore Stebbns left the jaunty steam tender to
take their position on shore to note the departing
! yachts Again the w.nd shifted and II blew with in
creased visor from the east southeast; and as the
| signal from the Judges let fall handkerchief the
curling smoke OF tue first gun from the yacht Ider
| sent the word to the manpuvring vessels to be
ready, another signal and another gun at thrtyfour
minutes past twelve and ~ II by the work OF fairies
sped the vessels. The entrles-twenty -two--nave
already been published, with their time OF starting
nom an imaginary line drawn across the
pay between the naqstaf OF Fort Adams
and the T1S 1 OF Fort @ @puppng h OPPOSITE Il, Gaan M o
inclination selected It's course but arriving ut the
first objective point, Benton's Reef lightsnlp the
sloop Julia on the starboard tack was seen towing
her boat, evidence OF her retiring nom the race
which afterwards was found To be correct The
Magic, Fleetwing, Restless, Dauntless and Palmer,
laying the same tack passed IL inely, While the
Phantom to leeward and in advance was sailing
nnely Here the yachts looked to the spectators ON
the Minnehaha Ike banks OF snow on the ocean. and
the emerald water now turning into an inky black
ness were surrnounted with white caps while
thrown from the bow OF the little yacht
gave them the appearance or revolving circle
or fire, each partcle burning star. Soon the
cOntendlng boats became hull down, and Point
judith Pond and Squid's Ledge were reached by the
jsunty huIls OF the sioops white Wing and Gracie
With Tie Clytie her blind owner ut the tilier not far
10 lceward, with splendid contest between the
Phantom and her white ribbed opponent Palmer, and
the 0lack huucd Rambler fighting for the advance
wne she iva, making good headway and iirst in
position, the Daunsess laying her course well up 10
nortnward. the scene was inspirting. some were
with scppers under the water, and all sail being set
made them have the appearance of winged Dlesson-
gers. There were more struggles than these, the
EdflUicr iStrlcss al Dciuy
tests, while the Alice and Magic fought for
several minutes the advantage, their sailing mns
tiers endeiyorng by every possible manGuyre 70 out
strip the other AT last the wind freshenIng the
bic little waite Wing, owned BY sheppard H0mans,
passed the stakeboat--which had boon placed little
north ward OF Groves Point on Block island instead
ol the northeast point or Clay Head as intended-at
twenty eight minutes past four O'Clock followed by
the sloop Oracle az taty minutes and threequarter
seconds past four O'Clock, when the schooner Eva,
winch had maintained her advanced position passed
the 6rst Of her class al forty minutes past four
O'Clock. Then they came iD sweet confusion, the
Phantom and Palmer next tugging for the mastery.
with the Josephine shooting after her ghostiko SIS
ter. and the Fleetwing Magic, Alice. Daantless
Widgeon and Restless, sandwiched between tue re-
fnaining sloops. passed the outer goal.
Then came q scene OF grandeur al they struggled
up from the irate Of the SEA. The Phantom stood
away wing and wing. the Palmer following closely her
fleet hees but the Eva was far ia advance Oh the TWO
jauuty crafts. Tue sloops were speeding splendiuly
~ ibe wind when again approaching Point judith
died away somewhat, and wnere this circumstance
helped thum it sent dsmay TO their larger con.end.
g sisters the schooners. win pufs here and there
that made the anxious sailors hope tbat q hir