The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-17
YACHTING NOTES.


lations for the Annual Cruise-Driiilans
Prospects.
The fourth general meeting OF the New York
Yacht Club was held at the club house, STATEN
Island, on Thursday evening. The Commodore
OF the club Mr.. II. c. Stebbins, presided,
Mr.. II. Morton. the Secretary, being also pre-.
sent and ofilcating. There was o numerous ate
tendance Of members and nearly all the principal
yachts in the club were represented. Some fifteen
or twenty new members were ball0ted for and
elected, and some routine business having been
quickly disposed Of the following resolution In rela.
ton to the annual cruise OF the squadron pro-
posed and unanimously adopted.
Cove Hem psead harbor ON Saturday the in day OF A
10 neh % e g:
senior officer In command may ISSUE
Commodore SrEBBINs announoedto the meeting
the appointment Of Mr.. 9. II. Stebbins as his Flag
Oficer during the cruise.
The secretary was then instructed to cOmmuni
cate, by circular, to the yacht owners the above
resolution.
All the preliminary arrangements having been
completed and the regular business Of the meeting
having been disposed or, the members adjourned to
the festive board with all the invigoratng stimulus,
that cooling and refreshing breeze from the ocean
could AFFORD. II Is needless to observe the pleasant
topics discussed referred chiefly to nautical subjects
Among Others the recent performance OF the Vice
Commodore's yacht "the Dauniless," was favor
ably referred to, and 1t generally observed that
II in her ''sea rg' and adapted to encounter the
toughest weather she could render so good an ac-
count 0i herself what might not De expected OF net
Rear Commodore Douglass yacht Sappho, abOue
which, by the way, the most hopeful auguries were
made, likewise came IN for O full share OF cOmmens
dalton. Indeed, an lnbounded confidence was ex.
pressed In her approaching display and it was gen.
orally observed that her recent Improvements, az
already satisfactorily tested, Sufficient to place
her among the first yachts OF the squadron. Yacht
men OF no lite experience not slow to observe
that the Sappho yet destined to add honor the
yachting fame of This country. In regard to the
nautical capabilities had not yet been fairly tested,
but the most sanguine hopes were entertained that
the Me,eor would realize the brightest expectations
was freely and very ably discussed, and 1t seemed to
be the general feeling OF the club that nothing would
be spared-tndustry, expense or cOurage-tO render
good Uncle sam FIRST among the yachting circles Of
the world. The meeting throughout was Of the most
predominant over ali ctHerstae most s I rapid and
efficient architectural construction OF the pleasure
fleet Of the country; WIN sIca grand and praise:
OF their deliberations will be triumphant success.
1t Is almost unnecessary to add that the annual
anticipated with the greatest pleasure, win AFFORD
fine opportunity for the yachts and their respective
latter and the weathery qualities Of the former for
instead Of formulated race, under certain restric-
port on the sound while The length Of the race viii
be regulated BY the existing prospective wind at
canvas Is allowed the largest freedom Of choice a
to the best course and chances for wind IN reaching
the assigned port ahead Of her competitors. More.
over the frequent individual contests between tho
different yachts occurring through the day form
most exciting feature during the annual cruise Of
cruise are Brilliant in the extreme and in order tnas
the event may fail short Of effect it is sincerely
hoped that the gallant squadron win be largely rep.
the summer cruise Of the Atlantic Yacht Club
w amen ~ nex and the yachts
stone. The Oracle win, OF course, carry the pen.
nant Of Commodore WORMS, while the deck win %
yachts will yist Glen Cove, New London, stoning.
ton and Newport, and Altogether the yachlmen OF the
The schooner yacht Alice, Commodore Kidd, will
leave her anchorage and set sail for this after.
noon for q cruise Of some days She Will have
large pleasure party on board Commodore Kidd
VIII join the excursion.
The Rambler left the screw dock on Thursday.
having been newly coppered and carrying alOft
new maintopmast The Rambler Is now thoroughly
fitted out and is one OF the most elegant yachtG
anOat. After leaving the screw dock the Rambler
proceeded TO her anchorage on Hoboken.
The Challenge of MIR. Ashbury-The Ameri-
cas- International Challenge Cup-Proba.
biIitics of the Contest.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALp:-
The very unequivocal manifestation OF Mr.. Ash
bury's desire and settled determination to sail a
match for the Americas cup, as contained in his
impressive, spirited and courteous letter to Com.
mod0re Steb5ins, dated october g. 1858, excited
among few Of the older members OF the New York
Yacht Club surprise that no recognition was mace
therein OF the conditions upon which the cup must
be competed for, conditions imposed upon tho
club by the donors and former owners OF
the America on its presentation to the club.
From q recent and reilabe source satis-
factory solution Is afforded OF the noticeable
feature OF OMISSION In the fact that when the above
mentioned gallant letter OF challenge was written
conditions In question, and, in truth, most Of our
club members were quite obivious upon the subject.
The race Of the America was many years before Mr..
Ashbury's appearance Ia the Yachting arena and
the presentation of the cup to the New York Yacnt
Club, with conditions" was not until some seven
published in any nautical periodical until some seven
years more bad passed, and singular enough. OK.
among the yachting brotherhood
The decided discOmfture indicted by the America
seemed to parayze English yachtmen, and craft anu
c csSs %S her ssppho race oN3s em q vn ins
was published In the NEW YORK HERALD most most
OF the older members Of the New YORK Yacht Club
appeared to have retained but hazy recollection OF
some conditions connected with the Americas cup
being published, as was the letter Of Mr. Ashburyi
to BE- So%s are eHy
Magazine. Following Mir. Ashburys challenge were
apparent responsive communications from TWO OF
our comm0dores, and not noticing any inaccuracy in
the chaiienger's proposed match for the Americas
cup oil OF which, gong into the foggy atmosphere
that had settled over that almost forgotten yet sig
nifcant emblem" seemed somehow join contest
for that nautical trophy with the prOnered
races and accounts, without any stretch Of courtesy
or probability, for the continued msapprehension-
rather urgently commented upon by the press-and
without invoking aid from the pheasant theory" Of
either ''canfni'd or ri,uoi p,'a,idt,Nm-
Whether the Cambria viii be the representative OF
some British yacht clup Us a competitor for the
Americas International Challenge Cup yet remains to
be determined Should the alterations to that spen-
did yacht have impaired her sailing qualities TO the
extent rumored her owner, under the existing posi-
ton OF the challenge preliminaries, would not, OF
course, be called upon TO put her forward, nor any
yacht club expected TO adopt her as the champion
Competitor for the International prize and trophy.
IL Is hoped, however, that oil rumors derogat0ry
TO the Cambria are without serious foundation, and
that she will present herself in former