The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-04
VAC TIN G..


SCHOONER YACHT GAMBIA. Oct. 8, Is7o
To TIM EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERAED:-
sIR-in your publication OF the isr inst = notfce
on the above proposed race SAYS
Az there no prospect OF the stakeboat arriving
MI. osuood proposed that the yachts should san
rom Sandy Hook 10 the lightship and back TO the
viuo House at staten Island. Mr.. Ashbury declined
ship three tunes; but as Il was apparent that such
leat could not possibly be accomplished within
donsd; still the Magic was evidently anxious "a
nave brush with the Cambria ut ali hazards.
Atow me 10 state that this paragraph does noe
convey the facts OF the case
To ensure beyond ali doubt a suitable steamer
being engaged entirely left the selection to Mr..
osgood, ana as the managers OF the steambosS
company knew stin ten Knot breeze must create =
rough sea beyond the gntshp, 1t certainly appears
to me mconceivablc why the Josephine should have
been selected and only at the last moment 10 ina II
would be dangerous to send her lay the course
rs intended. On returning to Clifton l sent nv
captain on board the Josephine TO ascertain why sho
did not keep her engagement to act as u stakebOas
The mate replied that even II she had gone GO thu
Hook 1t was not intended she should go to sea to
enable the race to take place, Mr.. Osgood person
ally stated his intention not to go out In such wind
and sea. Possibly this point there may have beon
some misunderstanding between the spirited owner
OF the Magic and the mate referred to.
Failing to get the IN Just CaWbria's weather
WINS equally anxious with Mr.. OSgood 70 SECURE .
race; but declined SCRUB as suggested By the
owner OF the Magic. | required bona zoe course
ana proper match. The distance from the Hook
7" the Iightshlp thrice round ana back Is about the
length OF the match course-viz.: twenty miles =
windward and back from sandy Hook lightship-
ana formally offered 10 race the Magic from th0
Hook round the lightsnip ana back three timessi0r
= nity guinea cup q race which Cambria would have
dent. THIS was declined. then suggested thas
sail round the lgntshlp and back for twenty
five guinea cup, or twice round for nrty
guinea ,Ss cup p,, which hcn were 10th declined
rough and broken for the Magic, as compared with
beyond the lightship, where, he said, there would
DC long trticr sea. MY object In STIMULATING u
minimum breeze OF ten knots was specially 10 So
cure the weather so objected to by the owner OF
lightshp was looked upon beng q rougher COURSE
thus would have been the one should have liked In
contradistlnctlon 10 windward race from the
nghtsnp, more promptly accepted by the Magic anT
al later period by the Sappho aud Dauntless.
would stand 40 chance In turning to wind ward
against American centre-board yachts and having
knowingly entered In every smooth inland
waters and iigt winds, 10 disadvantage think
II Is not unreasonable 10 again hope and expect that
ut least two or three centrcboard vessels VIII
against the Cambria IN strong winds and broken
waters, ana thereby the better compare the sys-
tcms-Engiish kees versus American ccntre-boards
When had the pleasure OF recently issuing mr.
challenge through your Journal II was intended
more particularly 10 apply 10 vessels on the Ameri-
cun principle and OF about the Carnbiia's SIZE BY
the New York Yacht Club rule. TO and yacht
men generally ~ VIII he a matter OF regret Ii the
smart little Magic rs TO be the only centre-bOard
sci pttted against the Cambria out such spien-
ola neei rs have rom time TO time sailed against
the heavily spared ocean going Cambria In inland
smooth waters.
fhc three forthcoming raccs--Magic, Sappho and
Dauntless-I DO not look upon in all respects
satisfactory, as no credit can accrue 10 the Cambria
by beating small a vessel the Magic; and the
IN g with the two Keel boats inyolve special
principle al issue. hui may simply demonstrate thai
size and power Will tell.
From Monday morning, the 10th INST. the Cambria
VIII remain at anchor on he Hook waiting for the
required ten Knot breeze for the above three races,
and ut hc same time ready 10 sail every centre boat
yacht III America 10 u minimum ten Knot breeze,
the To he from Oh the Hook round the sandy
Hook hghtship ana back three umes--New YORK
Yacht Club rulc-proyi,iing the wind IS such AZ to
be dead beat otherwise the start To be from tho
| llXhship twenty miles To windward amt back. I
leave this challenge open until eight A. ~, Friday
the sth inst and, on receipt OF any acceptances by
telegraph or letter addressed 10 the Brcvoort Hotel
wiil arrange for the Cambria 10 remain for
deIniLc period, AMI race II required, every centrc
board Yacht Ia America for GIy guI,iea cup.
In Mr.. Osgoods letter to me or the 1sL published
In your journal OF tins day he states IL would have
been 1mp0sst DE to make the race In the allotted
tliGe. 81 hours. Permit me TO say time was no ele
Inent In the case, there beng no question ttera
beng ten knot breeze the -. hours suggested BY
Mr. OsgOod was intended simply TO make II q race.
IN case OF dispute as 10 there being wind enough
knot breeze but that strength or more. Whatever
force the wind might he ten knots the raoo
was 10 take place ana can still do Yours truly,
JAMES AShBUkf.