The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-16

TIE RACE
1t being ebb tide and almost calm, the contest
ants slowly approached the line, and with difficulty
crossed 1t. 1t was flying start. and the time OF
each yacht was taken as she passed the stakeboat,
to be calculated on their return. At six minutes to
one O'Clock the flrst gun to prepare was fired from
the steamboat Pioneer, and five minutes later the
signal to depart was given. Hotter, fpossble, than
many OF the days that preceded 1t, there wei.
come breeze to counteract the burning rays OF the
sun, and the very faint pun from the northward was
scarcely felt. The Madge prior to the signal had
crept forward to the 'front.' and accordingly took the
lead. Next came the Halcyon, then the Tidal Wave.
the Palmer and Idler. Tie Madge kept In the
centre OF the channel. the Hacyon close TO the
shore, the Tidal Wave OH her starboard quarter,
the Palmer closely following, the Madeline more
on the Dumping SIDE aud the Idler on
her lee. For fully half hour the vessels scarcely
moved through the water, and dull, tedious race
was generally anticipated. Indeed, many yacht
owners were pleased at not having entered the con-
test and several vessels tnat had lef, their anchor
age for the purpose OF accompanying the competi-
tors put back INTO harbor. When three-quarters OF
the way up the channel the Madgie stood towards
the Beaver Light, the Iacyon Sill hugging the
Shore the Tidal Wave In the centre, tic Palmer
on her lee quarter. almost bow and bow with the
Madeleine, and the Idler slightly Tie yachts
did little more than drift and between Batemans
Point and the Beaver Tail Light courses were inn
medateIy taken; out the progress Of the contestants
was extremely slow. Suddenly slight breeze rom
the southwest hlled the sails. and the yachts at
once began to make way. The Madgie rounded
the Narraganset shore, the Ider keeping close TO
Batemans Point and the others In the same posi-
lions in which they had lett the line. The breeze
fresheneo a little more, and now the was fairly
commenced under pretty favorable auspices. Alter
clearing the channel the HalcyOn which had Rugged
the shore near Bateman's Point, went anead, and
the breeze still lreshenlng from the SOUTH more al.
rectly for the Brenton's Reef lghtship she rushed
by It near O'Clock, the Madgie standing straight
on her course To the eeward along the Narraganset
Shore
The Tidal Wave was on the lee quarter of the Hal.
cyon, about 800 yards astern almost IN line with
Palmer, which stood 10 wlndward, and the Made
lelne In the centre, coming up beautifully the
WIND strengthened ana passed Brenton's Reef light.
ship, the ldler following In the wake OF the Palmer.
Fortunately the breeze began to freshen stlll
up TO this stage characterized the race
were soon dspelled There was long roll on the
sea at this time. and some OF the yachts pitched
pretty heavily. Immediately after passing the light
ship the Palmers sails filled beautifully ana she
moved rapidly through the water. The same lucky
blast struck the Madeleine and she quickly came
ahead OF both the Halcyon and Palmer. The Made
lene then stood on and came up on the eward quar-
ter OF the Tidal Wave.
Tidal wave to windward, almost bow and bow;
both the Madeleine and the NIadge hugging Nara
galset shore, the Halycon 10 the windward OF the
Madeleine, The Palmer and the idler astern, close
hauled to the wind. At this stage the
SCHOONER YACHT sAPPHo
hove In sight aud winged ont and sailed through the
racers. The Madeleine headed close to the shore
following in the wake OF the Madgie, which was the
stern OF the Tidal Wave. The Halycon. when by
the way, sailed well throughout now came M on
me Wlndward quarter OF the Tidal Wave. The
pie being quickly followed by the Tidal Wave. Far
or to the wlndward stood the Idler The Palmer con.
tinung her course on the wind and lacking soon
after the Halcvon The tide was setting out, and az
the wind blew strong there was but lltre advan-
tage TO be gained from standing into land. IDe
Madgie was now far of to ieeward, the Madeleine
Tidal Wave and Hacyon almost bow ana bow
the last mentioned vessel to wIndward and the
Palmer astern OF her. The Tidal Wave and Iaicyon
had subsequently quite an exciting little brush
and, being TO the windward, the latter went ahead
The first to 40 about again was the Madgle winch
tackled for Point Judith but at this stage the strength
of the wind began gradually to diminish The Tidal
Wave and the Halcyon continued on their course
followed by the Palmer, the Idler being aslern on
her windward quarter.
The Hacyon was, perhaps, the leading vessel at
three O'Clock. Ebb tide and wind from the south
ward The Halcyon stood far OF for the purpose or
making long stretch for the buoy. The Madeleine
tackled after the Madgle and wlnded ner, both head
Ing for Point Judith. Ahead OF these were the Tidal
Wave. with the Palmer on her lee quarter
In this manner the contestants proeeeded
for considerable distance without much alteration
Before lacking tue Tidal Wave lay quite close TO the
Madgle astern OF her, Whine the Idler, further up
headed near Point Judith before going about. The
angles 10 the Halcyon, which now stretching
across the Tidal wave The Palmer and Madpie
saiied with foretopsa down, all the other
lore and art sails being set At
quarter TO four O'Clock the Halcyon crossed the bow
OF the Madeleine and moved over 70 w,ndward be-
yOnd Point Judith The Madeleine went about lmme.
Jiatey afierward the positions OF the other yachts
being The idler TO windward, Tidal Wave next,
then the Palmer and Madgie--all quitting the land
The Tidal Wave followed In the wake or the HalcyOn
closely pursued by the Madeleine while the idler
tackled straight out from Point Judith the Palmer IN
her wake and the Madgie far or to leeward. The
Tidal wave here crossed the Madeleine and followed
the course pursued by the Idler. which was now the
leading yacht and heading direct for the buoy.
Up TO this time the contest was marked by some
excellent manUuvres and as the wind now stood a
great deaf seemed TO depend on the manner IN which
the yachts were handled. II was dead beat Of the
first order, and had IL Blown little reShcr more
excellent opportunity for testing the capabilities OF
the yachts could not nave occurred. IL was never
theess very interesting squirt, some OF the vessels
being over five miles apart, lacking IN diiierent
dLrnc..u,ls ~ Gar tac mimi The