New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-05-12
TIE INTERNATIONAL YACHT RACE
FIRST OF TIE SERIES OF RACES BETWEEN THE
AMERICAN YACHT SAPPIlO AND THE EN-
GIIsH YACHT CAMBRIA-A COMPLETE VIC
TORY EOR TILE AMERICAN.

FIRST OF THE SERIES OF RACES BETWEEN THE
AMERICAN YACHT sAPPIIO AND THE EN-
GLIsH YACHT CAMBRIA-A COMPLETE VIC
TORY FOR THE AMERICAN.
LONDON, May 1.-THE first of the series Of
three races between the American yacht sappho owned
by Mr. Douglass and the English yacht Cambria owned
by Mr. Ashbury, miles to wndward and return, com
mcnced yesterday morning and terminated this m In
complete victory OF the Sappho which out'aed the
Cambria from the start and that too, at the laters best
point OF sailing, namely, close-hauled to windward.
The yachts lowed very early on the morning Of
the 10th to point miles southeast OF COwes Roads.
As strong eascrly wind was blowing, the course lay
up the channel
The American yacht Dauntless, and the English yacht
Peiad with number of other English sailing craft and
steamers accompanied the contestng yachts The
at the exciting one, and really beautiful.
1t in the agreement that flying start be given on
the port tack by which the yachts would gain greater
ofng toward mid channel in of change of wind
The Cambria having the toss, took tho weather posi-
tion and thus had all the advantage.
The Sappho carried 80 hands and cloud OF canvas in
cuding vii her regular fore and aft sails, maintop
mast staysa and flying jb while the Cambria only set
one lib addition her foresa and other racing sails,
and carried &c hands.
The signal TO go was given at s:2s a. m, the sappho
Immediately taking the lead. BY the time the Sappho
was off Beachy Head and about so miles from the start
ing point she fully 10 miles to the windward of the
Cambria The latter, believing it impossible to win,
gave up the race and, without rounding the Umpres
steamer, returned to Cowes, where she arrived at
o'clock this morning, accompanied by the Dauntless
The sappho which at times out of sight Of the Cam
bria returned to Cowes about two hours later.
Mr. AshbuIy frankly admits his defeat. The second
race will be sailed on Friday.
During the Summer OF the yacht sappho sent
to England by her builder in speculative spirit Her
model was an approved one, but her fitting out de-
in sGifi thp
trimmed and extensively gotten up English vessels
However she entered IN a race against the four
fastest yachts Of England, VIZ. the Cambria, Anne,
The course was around the Isle Of Wight the date OF
the regatta Aug %, $685. and the sappho was beaten
readily by ALL the Cambria coming IN first Thereupon,
English yachtmen declared that the American model
had at length proved itself inferior in racing qualities TO
English, and MIR. Ashbury, owner of the Cambria,
Immediately put himself in correspondence with the
New-York Yacht Club regarding a race in New-fork
Bay with his yacht, to regain the Queens cup won ny
sappho returned to New-York was purchased by Mr..
william Douglass Of this city put upon the ways, altered
triHe, and rigging reset.
In August 1862 Mr. Douglass sailed the sappho to En-.
gland there challenged the Cambria to another and
equitable test. TIE extraordinary quick passage
OF the sappho the Atlantic alarmed Mr. Ashbury
who would not consent to the proposition of Mr. Doug
lass for free but named new course, with cond
lions to wind and also alued time allowance ms
Clubs system OF measurement made the sappho 400 tuns
measurement and the Cambria but 1873.
The correspondence following Mr. Ashbury's terms was
as indefinite as il was long, the result beng that no
terms reached during the Summer of ls69 With
characteristic perseverance, Mr. Douglass kept his vessel
in England the whole of last winter, and early TINS
year renewed his offer for To the Azores ana back
across the Atlantic 10 New-York, or around the
Isle OF Wight the course over which the Cambria had
won such signal victory the sappho. still he was
met by refsals AT length Mr. Ashbury offered series
of races, in which marked No 4, and this he
would race upon best suited TO the sailing qualities
Of his yacht-a co mile wndward run to sea- to DO
repeated twice and back .
This Mr. Douglass pied and the above Is the result
Of first match In this race there was no tIne allow
ance hut vessel against vessel As Mr. Ashbury claimed,
and as all that his vessel was by far the quicker
sailcr to windward he has nothing to hnd fault wlth
The tunnagc respective yachts according to Gus
tom House measurement s-Sappho. $50 Cambria, 2iO