The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-27

The Yacht Rcgattas and the Boat Clubs.
The regattas of the yacht clubs now taking
place have an interest outside of the imme-
date circle Of the yachtsmen which cannot
fall to be exceedingly salutary This interest
is more generally felt among boating men than
any other class of muscular Christians but
with them it amounts almost to a passion. In
the success of the yachtsmen they see the
growth Of the boating interest and whatever
stimulates the development of their favorite
sport is to them worthy of their utmost enthu-
siasm
1t is little more than forty years since the
boat clubs of Cambridge and Oxford began
their annual races on the Thames. Before
Thackeray died he recorded in one of his
novels--it was in 'Pendennis"-that the inte-
rest in these contests was a furore. Now all
the world reads the story Of this annual race
with as much avidity as tiat which people
once evinced in tales of travel and adventure.
America is as impatient as England, New York
as anxious as London, for the details of each
trial of nerve and skill between the University
men. The contests between our own Univer-
sity crews-Harvard and Yale-are waited for
with only less interest and impotence, and
both the races at home and In England serve
to stimulate the progress of amateur boating.
The international race between Harvard and
Oxford in which the American crew came out,
if beaten, yet not without honor, more than any
single event fostered new spirit among the
young men of this country, and especially Of
this city.
A few years ago the North, East and Harlem
rivers were in possession of set of rough
handed and rough tongued men, many of whom
were constantly objects of interest to the
harbor police. Now young gentlemen from
the offices and stores and counting-rooms down
town have formed themselves into clubs for
athletic exercises and 60 out on the water
for their favorite sport. Among the best
known clubs are the Gulicks, Atlantic, CO.
lumbia and Nassau on the North River, and
the Gramercy, Nautilus and Athletic, and the
Free College Rowing Association ON the East
and Harlem rivers, besides those In Brooklyn
and at Newtown Creek, Astoria, Hoboken,
Jersey City, Staten Island, Bergen Point,
Yonkers, Newburg and other places on the
Hudson. Additions are constantly made to
their numbers and though more clubs have
been formed aud out Of better material ia the
last two or three years than during the eight
or ten years previously, yet there is no dimi-
mutton either in the interest felt by the men,
bers of the old clubs or the desire for athletic
sport which prompts the formation of new
ones. The business suit Of the morning
yields place to the boating shirt in the after
noon, and this again gives place to the dress
coat In the evening but the river sport never
pals and the devotee of the water gains ten
proselytes from society where society carries
off one faint-hearted champion of his club.
While nothing can impair the interest felt
among our young men in boating matters the
yachting season ought to give new impulse
to this favorite sport. 1t is time that the
clubs cultivated closer relations toward each
other, and filed more important place in the
public eye than they have yet aspred to occupy.
In this respect they have much to learn from
the yachtsmen, and we hope the present
yachting season will not be allowed to 60 by
without the lesson being fully taken to heart
by the boat clubs. A system Of prizes SINH
lar to those of the yacht clubs, and a season set
apart for trials of skill on the rivers, would do
more to preserve and promote genuine
interest in boating than can be attained By
any other course which may be adopted by
boating men.