The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-09
Yachting - The sappho and Tidal Wave
Contest.

r Contest.
ror some time past there has been published
Hood Of correspondence relative to the merits
OF the schooner yacht Tidal Wave. Her
owner, Commodore William Veorhis. whose
enterprise Is highly commendablc, has taken
great pains to explain the capacities Of his
vessel and the honors she has already won
But thematter was not allowed TO rest tbe-,-
Exception was taken by another writer to soms
OF the Commodore's opinions, as well as to his
statements in connection with The questions a.
public, need not now be reviewed. Suffice IL
that Commodore Voorhis claimed distinguished
honors for his yacht, which his adversary was
not altogether willing to concede. The wordy
contest has been waged with vigor ON both
sides, each strenuously endeavoring to main
tain and substantiate his points. Where or
how the discussion might terminate it is indeed
difficult to conjecture. The perfect dcluge Of
correspondence which preceded the compile
ton OF the final arrangements for the Cambria
and Dauntless ocean race would never have
attracted such attention had it not been for tho
anticipations and hopes it created After
scores of long-winded letters had been care
fully perused and studied-if was no easy task
to make head or tail Of some Of them--after
the public mind had been sufficiently
Toasted with the subject, what pity
and waste of time it would have
been II the negotiations" had fallen
through! There was race, however, and SO
the heightened correspondence was, after all,
fruitful In its results. Since then one IL
inclined to believe that an appropriate argu-
mcntative skirmish is not only the order of the
day, but almost necessary to stir up excite
ment and arouse such public interest as the
noble sport so well deserves.
In connection with this we might observe
that the preliminary fire which has marked
the recent correspondence relative to the quail
ties Of the Tidal Wave will not go for naught.
Where there is smoke there is fire, and we are
far from believing that the excellent letters,
which have doubtless been read with pleasure,
are only full of sound and fury. signifying
nothing" Indeed, there is substantial proof
to the contrary, as witness the spirited chal-
lenge Of Commodore Voorhis to the owner OF
the famous yacht Sappho and published in the
HERALD of Sunday. This at once dispels all
doubt, and as Mr.. Douglas will in all proba-
biity accept the offer another fine ocean race
may in few days be added to the brilliant
record of the glorious season Of 1870.
The contest, to which we look forward with
interest, was suggested by the correspondence
ali oft Of q oh TIM had hap
attracted to the articles from Mr.. Voorhs and
others, and he wisely thought that the short
est way to end the controversy would
be for Mr.. Voorhis to challenge Mr..
Douglas to sail race outside the
Hook. To this invitation the owner
of the Tidal Wave promptly replied, offering
to sail her against the Sappho twenty miles to
windward and return, both yachts to sail with
four lower sails, New York Yacht Club rules
time allowance, each yacht to tack every
fifteen minutes, for prize cup Of the value OF
five hundred dollars, Mr.. Douglas to name the
day and hour Of the race. 1t is plain, there
fore, that il Mr.. Voorhis is not willing to allow
the merits of his vessel to be questioned he is
certainly not disposed to show the white
feather. Such race as this will unquestion-
ably be one Of Importance, and its issue will
be awaited with great pleasure. There is
every indication that it will not be postponed
by reason of Gains, and we think that the
much desired breeze will favor the fullest dis
play Of both vessels seagong qualities. The
Sappho, Mr.. Voorhis will admit, is formula
BILE opponent, and, should victory crown his
courageous efforts, his triumph win be the
more glorious and decisive. And even should
he fail, the defeat Of the Tidal Wave will
hardly detract from her reputation, since the
Sappho, at present the fastest yacht in the
world, has already beaten the Cambria,
Dauntless and Others In case the Tidal
Wave should meet similar fate her owner
will have the grim satisfaction Of knowing
that he will have been the cause OF adding one
more laurel to the many which the Sappho has
already won.