The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-05

An Ocean Yacht Race.
By the cable we had from London yester-
day somewhat contradictory despatch In re-
gard to the recent note Of Mr.. Douglass, the
owner Of the Sappho. The Lndon despatch is
evidently given on the authority Of Mr.. Ash
bury, the owner Of the Cambria. 1t informs
US that Mr.. Ashbury has received Mr.. Doug
lass note proposing an ocean yacat race be-
tween their respective vessels" and that he
accepts the challenge" This is direct and
clear, but the next sentence Indicates . little
confusion of ideas. Therein Mr.. Ashbury sug-
gests the course best fitted to test fairly s'the
seagoing qualities" Of the yachts. His course is
as follows :-s'From Cowes sastwardly through
Spithead, around the Isle Of Wight; thence
westwardly to and around the Eddystone
Lighthouse; thence southeasterly to Cher
bourg, France; thence nOrtherly to Cowes,
the place Of beginning, through the Solent. /"
Now, we venture to wonder whether Mr.. Ash
bury has an idea that this would be an ocean
yacht race. By what stretch of land-loving
fancy does he see an ocean in the English
Channel? And how does he propose to himself
that 'seagoing qualities" shall be tested in that
land-locked water that never had even the
name of sea from any one but the musty old
writer's on maritime law? Anocean yacht race
between Cowes, the Eddystone and Cher
bourg! In what rivulets, then, do they stretch
their races that they do not call ocean races?
We take Mr.. Ashbury, Of course, according
to what he says. He expressly accepts the
challenge of Mr.. Douglass as challenge for
s'an ocean yacht race" and he no doubt
understood Mr.. Douglass as proposing such
race. We understood the note in the same
way, although in going over it we see that the
proposition is not made in those very words.
Mr.. Douglass mentions that his yacht is
''rigged for ocean and winter cruising" and
intimates that, not meaning to change her
rig, he would like race to suit her IN that
respect This is clear cali to the ocean,
with an implication Of the owners thought
that the Sappho WILL perhaps, do better there
than in such waters as those in which she was
formerly beaten by the Cambria-the waters,
namely, of that same English Channel Mr..
Douglass only says in regard to course that
he would like IAN open one" and one Stree
from the influence Of light land breezes, cur
rents, &c. !; yet in view of these expressions,
which it seems to US ought TO make i very
clear what the owner Of the Sappho means,
Mr.. Ashbury accepts the challenge for course
to suit himself-a course all in the English
Channel and one on which the yachtmen will
hardly be for an hour where they cannot hear
the cocks crow from the shore. Is that
course free from the influence of land breezes
Again, Mr.. Ashbury in calling this an ocean
race puts himself in an odd attitude with
regard to the Dauntless. He refused an ocean
race with the Dauntless because of her size
she was too big according to the Thames
measurement for his boat. But the Sappho Is
bigger than the Dauntless, and before the sport
from accepting challenge for the ocean from
boat Of her tons-for, of course, we cannot for
moment suppose that he was Influenced by the
unsportsmanlike thought that, having once
beaten the Sappho and knowing what she
could do, he would not let size rule her out.
Or can it be that English yaehtmen like to
make what are called s'soft Matches"
and object to size only as against
yachts OF whose powers they know
nothing? 1.-THE race inquestion is accepted in
this spirit there will be great disappointment,
for the Sappho will, to an absolute certainty,
beat the Cambria in the very course proposed.
She is a splendid sailer and win be better
one when this race occurs. We are glad that
there is finally chance for race to come
out of all this chatter, though, Of course, we
cannot assent that it is worthy the name Of an
ocean race. It may be good piece of sport,
nevertheless, and is sure to score for us an
other victory.