The New York herald., 1870-04-18
YACHTING.
>>~~>~~~~~~>~>>N~~~->~~~
THE GREAT SEASON OF 1870.
Twelve Yacht Clubs. $1,000 Tons,
100000 Square Feet Of Canvas and
$500 Seamen- The Hardest and
Healthiest Of ALI Pastimes.
Science in Construction, Invention in Design
and Expsrtness in Seamanship hip-MCdel-
ling, Sparring, Canvasing, Dal-
lasting and Measuring.
The Patrons, Pioneers and ycrretI.itv
The Patrons, Pioneers and gerpetuity
OF American Yachting.
Owners, Officers and 0rganizations-Ra Races,
Matches and Regattas.

Yachting In 1870 s the king OF sports. IL is not
only their monarch III outward dignity, but in
wolves all the loltiest purest and nobest attributes
OF man. Its superemlnent title is recognized ana
those of the highest condition, people of quality in
every land, dispensers OF place. arbters OF power;
those who SIT upon thrones, aud are yet men, have
n0s thought 1t demeaning descend from their
high estates and participate in the hardy duties or
the seaman Peter the Great 1t VINO travelled
the sea coast OF Europe IN an humble garb ana
boarded the ships, now exploring the mysteries
OF the hold, and again carrying his imperial
ooay to tne truck. Napoleon III. has his
elegant yacht, ana The British peefage contri
butes many illustrous names identified with
the rehnements OF amateur seamanshlp. There
Is the Prince or Wales, the iuture King Of Great
Britain and Ireland; the Earl or Mount Charles and
Lord Dufferin, who has not only been a yacntman,
but has contributed TO yachting literature Were
these the only foundations upon which to claim
that this marine paslime is superior to all others the
possio olliiy of establishing the proposition would be
poor indeed. From sphemera power let US turn to
brilliant intellect. Read the career of Smollett:
pause over the mastery stanzas Of
THE GREAT BYRON
who, IN his hour o lotest INSPIRATION painted those
delicious pictures and sung those thrilling melodies
OF The time when he first sailed from England to
begin that aimless and nOmadic life commence
rated in the pilgrimage of Chlde Harold.
Byron was great yachtman, ana his peers
IN English learning have In many instances
been promoters Of the scence-for iu is science as
well as pastirne In England perhaps yachting
has been popularized more than in America; not in
its patronage by the lower classes but because on
the little patch OF the British isles every man lives
near the water. Nautical information Is abundant,
and nautical skill is as common as the air. In
America, along the 5000 miles OF seacoast the same
aptitude for the water is apparent; but as the
country stretches away into the interior the general
public knows as little OF ship as OF Neptune's
speech, and cares as little as 1t Knows But on the
Atlantic seaboard the unGercurrent from the ocean
is TOO strong for the seduc.ons of the land and thou
sands have been drawn TO a following of the deep.
The poetic power that the vast solitude OF the ocean
has over men Of culture and re6nement the perls
and dangers tDat hang upon ominous clouds and
stormy Seas, from their very terror possessing
strange fascination to encounter them the con-
sciOus feeling OF Independence; the knowledge that
when abroad upon the water not going tres
pass upon the ample acres OF A. or infringe upon
sanctied soil OF B.. The bold. careless attitude OF the
old salI-these and thousand other considerations
determine a man Of nerve toward q nautical lie.
Influences like these first gave birth to
YACHTING IN THIS COUNTRY,
and since then 1t has steadily matured,
that, apart from what may be called
professional seamen, very valuable class
has grown up who are amateur seamen. In
them Is united age, experience theory and practice
education ana available nautical know ledge and
these all for the well being OF the State ana they
have proceeded from the manifest Incentives ro-
mantle attachment to the sea and an enthusiastic
and fearless following OF Its dangers. Ii any one
supposes we are looking at yachting as mere con-
smooth harbors he s mistaken. That hour is past.
Yachting OF to-day Is on
THE BOUNDLEss OCEAN,
among It's foul winds and subtle currents, beneath
Its mountain waves ana upon its crested blllows IN
storm, upon lee Shores ugly cliffs, chopping treach-
erous seas, Ii icy climates and under the hot suns
OF the tropics. Hence 1t Is the king OF sports.
Ocean yachting began with the passage or the yacht
America to Cowes In 1851 and this initial enterprise
was soon followed by the intrepid Depau, owner OF
the sloOp Silvle LOG TONS which brdged the Atlantic
and entered the lists OF the Royal Squadron Com
modore Vanderbilt followed in his steam yacht, the
North Star. In 1858, and since then have had the
adventures OF the Wanderer the Edith, the exciting
contest between the Feetwing, Vesa and Henrietta;
the passage OF the soop Alice IN 1885, the cruises of
the Sappho and the Dauntless, now In English
waters; the melancholy fate of the Meteor, bound
White and Blue and the incidents OF that anomalous
institution the inflated Nonpareil which was buoyed
to Cowes in forty three days and afterwards put on
exhibition at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, as a
marine curiosity, These instances prove that yacht
ingis
NO LONGER A GENTLE pAsTTME
for unripped ponds, but profession demanding
the closest knowledge and genuine taste for the
sea. Besides its romance there its utility ana none
Of the nslpdiy Of other sports can be seen In It's
domain. To follow the life OF sportsmen in the vul-
gar sense. health is sacrificed and often decency;
but In yachting is the germ of physical perfection.
The invig oratlng solution saturatlng the afr,
absence OF mephitic vapOrs and fetid atmOspheres
anu fresh WINDS generate healthy respiration feed
ana stimulate. without preylng upon the lungs
bring the glow OF freshness to the check develop
the frame and drive away the effects OF vice and
dissipation. There are no colds at sea. No well
CONDITIONED stomach will stagger under dyspepsia
or become lmpotent from brlousness. The over
taxed and weary gather vgor ana energy, and the
morbid and maudlin are forced to gayety ana good
cheer Yachting advances.
MARINE ARCHITECTURE
goes into all the suDteties OF rigging, sparTing and
building. aud Is furthered by men OF under
standing and sense No more may be SAID
to prove Its lofty mission, It's gratifying
achievement its glorious progress It's aIlspicious
venture. All we ask, watch the season OF 1870.
Il win be unparalleled In exciting interest," Already
the enthusiasm is intense Thousands are beginnng
to have their yachts placed in condition. looking
with lispatence TO the dawning day. AS an old
VIII be continued regatts.'' The desire to meet
the celebrated Englshnan, and give the Cambria
tral, IL widespread. and his competitors WILL form
large squadron There 10 nut regarding
his arrival on these shores and tnat Is echoed every
where He will be CORDIALLY welcomed and treated
WIN true american hospitality. III he cal win, no
Que WIN sooner acknowledge his superiority than
the American yachtmen; and II he lose, every oppor
tnnify VIII he ms TO retrieve his faen fortunes.
MIR. ASHBURY
can iooG forward to brilliant visit to this country,
Wnere we need only 10 point TO the contests be-
Magic, the tleetwlng and Henrietta, tho Widgeon
ana Vesta, the I'Hirondelle and vesta, the Henri
eta and Restless and countless Others to exempiy
tie general truth that we have 1eet vessels and able
seamen Our yachting navy is organized in New
York and vicinity INTO
TWELVE YACHT CLUBS
comprising in the aggregate 600 tons 600 900
square feet or canvas 900 seamen, and squadron
valued at SO 600 900. In yachting circles there
al accurate knowedge Of the movements OF vessels
ald al the mIDuti1 OF rigging building and racing
that wound astonsn novice. 1t IS easy enough 10
~ u H.