The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-18
AC n T IN Q .
A Splendid Dead to Windward
Race Between the Cambria
and the Palmer.
The Palmer the Victor After q
Close Contest.
Another Race to Come
Or To-Day.

NEWPORT. r. l.. August II, 1870.
match race between the Cambria and Palmer
for cup valued at atty guneas took place to-day
and resulted In the defeat OF the British craft by ten
minutes ana hall. actual time, over O course OF
twenty miles to windward and back. 1t was one OF
the prettiost contests since the commence
ment OF the cruise. as indeed it was one
OF the closest on the wind. The victory
Of the Palmer created universal surprise, since few
imagined that she could compete to advantage with
such formidable opponent as the Cambria. In
deed the race was not looked forward to with much
interest, for the Palmers defeat foregone
cuson, she having been beaten by the Cambria both
on Monday and yesterday. When 1t was known,
therefore, that the Palmer had proved triumphant the
announcement was received with general wonder.
ment But better race could not have been wilt
messed; and while the Cambria failed to carry or
the prize, she nevertheless showed her powers on
the wind, the gain made by her adversary being be
fore 1t. on the homestretch. From the start the
contestants kept close together, the Cambria
ON the weather side, until within about
three miles from the buoy, when the wind decreased
somewhat, and the Palmer outsalled her, rounding
the buoy four minutes In advance.
AS previously stated the best point in the Palmer's
sailing Is before the wind, and the buoy once
Guilty. The Palmer. moreover, was better sailed
than on any previous occasion In which
she has contested. A considerable amount
OF money must have changed hands
the result for at oil the hotels yesterday evening
the odds were offered on the Cambria and this
morning that vessel was the favorite at two
to one, without many takers. AS matters
turned out the race was very Interesting one,
and for the first sixteen miles OF very ex-
citing character; for once out Of the channel
neither yacht appeared to gain much. Had
the wind been stronger the result might have been
different. AS 1t was, however, the Palmer won the
race with honor while IL also demonstrated that abe
Is yacht Of excellent capacities
CONDITIONS OF TIE RACE
According to the terms or the contest the vessels
the Dumping, and proceed to and around the buoy
of Block Island on the starboard side and return. TO
Yacht Club, by which the Palmer allowed the Cambria
about three minutes and, nineteen seconds. The
Phantom was stationed the fort as stakebOat,
Commodore H. $. Stebbins and Messrs. q. Fl. Steb-
bins and Sheppard Romans officiating as judges:
appeared to be In splendid trim. The Cam
SAIL mainsa ana Working fore and main ' top
resa ana $ saE Te sasass
activity was observed on board both vessels and q
70 @ s
measurements were as follOws:-
Name. Entered on Tonnage area.
Cambria. go. james Ashbury w 2276. 2, 1850
Pa r...-....R. StuyveSant 1910 2371.0
The wind was fresh from the southwest and the
tide at the irst Of the ebb Precisely at fifty;
the line, and each Immediately tackled ln-shore
The Palmer was the first to 60 about, her exam
Palmer stood over on the DUMPING side the Cam.
breeze freshening, the contestants went away beau
tifuliy: They We're almost bow and bow the entire
near the shore the Palmer again tackled towards
Beaver TAN light the Cambria SILL holding to her
bow and bow about wo hnndIeS ysras
apart. Once clear OF the channel the Palmer
beaded towards the Naagsnset shore the Cambria
llghtship ana Beaver Tai Light about half-past
Bay the racers were hailed with s santss
and the appearance OF the schooner yacht America
opposite Narraganset at quarter to one O'Clock
the yacht America accompanied the racers under
Of the he race. The Palmer and s " Cambria HbHa
continued in In company. the e,, latter stl to
about, the Cambria immediately following, Still on
the weather tack
The contestants were now on long stretch to the
southwark and kept bow and bow. The next tack
was made by the Palmer at ten minutes past one
weather SIDE. They made directly towards the
snore again. both In the same relative positions as
| when they cleared the channel The Palmer tackled
at thTty-hve minutes past one O'Clock and the tam-
bria lew seconds later, still keeping to the wind.
ward. On this tack, however, the Palmer began to
head reach the CAMBRIA when about three miles Off
Shore and kept gradually going ahead, though very
little. The wind moderated somewhat, the speed
OF The vessels was checked. At eight minutes past
two O'Clock the Palmer made another tack followed
| by the Cambria; but this time the Palmer, being
| very rapid In her movements and well handled,
gained lfttle and finally OatSaed the Cambria
| and got on her weather side. The wind con-
| tinued sOuthsouthwest. Gradually the Palmer
| widened the distance be ween her and the
| south southwest. while the Palmer shaped
| towards the north of Block Island, Intending to
weather the buoy on the nexttack. The wind fresh.
ened as the yachts neared the island. and the con-
| testants bowied along in beautiful style.
| At half-past three O'Clock the Palmer was over
quarter OF mile to windward, and made straight
tack for the buoy, the tide setting to the northeast
She was unable to weather IL, and mad to make an
other tack. The Cambria continued on her
course, and tackled at thirty-nine minutes past
tack for The buoy On the part Of the Palmer
was successful, and she rounded 1t in good STYLE
The Cambria had made good calculation and
weathered the buoy In one tack, after parting with
the Palmer Tour minutes astern, as under:-
II. N. s.
TIE RETURN.
After rounding the buoy the breeze fresllened still
more, and there was now splendid race before
| great rapidity, and as her best powers were
| now brought into requistiOn the prospects of
| the Cambria were considered slim. But The Cam.
bria was by no means dilatOry and Just after out.
ting the buoy doomed out her lug Ioresai and fore
| staysail and hOsted an American staysall when
wonderfully Increased her sDpaI. anvfhipr tho