The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-24
Opening of the Yachting Season-Our Plea
sure Fleets UnGer Weigh.

sure Fleets UnGer Weigh.
II is only few years since yachting in our
waters was fair weather pastime. The
feet then restricted its cruises to the placid
waters of the Sound, and confined its races to
the lghtship off Sandy Hook and return.
Now, however, the programme has changed;
our pleasure vessels go everywhere. gale
of wind and heavy sea have no terrors for
them, and our yachtsmen venture across the
briny deep with all the bodness of veteran
mariners-as witness the Enchantress, now in
European waters, after stormy voyage across
the Atlantic; the Josephine, just returned
from her West India trip, and the Wanderer,
now on an ocean cruise to the southwark.
The yacht racing season Of the present time is
looked forward to with as much excitement
as any popular amusement can create. A
great interest in ii has grown up among all
classes, and the tims is not far distant when
great yacht race will command as much at
tenton among our own people as a similar
occurrence does among the people of England.
We are destined to have our marine Derby
days, when all will flock to see the races and
to welcome home the winners. Every clique
will have its favorite, whose merits and
dement's will be fully discussed. Tar and
anchors and sails will be fully discussed;
length and breadth of beam will be in every
ones mouth. In fact, the races afloat will be
as popular during their season as races ashore,
and the regatta course will be as well and as
fashionably attended as the course at Jerome
Park and other places of similar character.
The excitement that attended last years yacht
ing season bids fair to be equalled this year.
There are many new vessels to be tried for the
first time, and no expense or trouble is being
spared to make them put their best foot fore
most in the hope of gaining reputation for
great speed and weatherly qualities. We
shall probably have some foreign yachts
among us, which will come in the hope of car
rying off some of the prizes that will be
offered to the yachts of all nations, without
excepting any, and this will serve to enhance
the interest that all will feel in the success of
our own vessels.
In former years our yachts made but one
short cruise together; this year the case will
be different. Besides the regular squadron
cruise of the New York Yacht Club, an invi-
tation has been accepted to take part in the
regatta that is to come off on the 4th of July
at Cape May. This will afford another inter-
esting cruise in squadron and at sea, wherein
our magnificent fleet will show to great advan-
tage. Again, when the Russian Grand Duke
Alexis arrives he will be received by our
yachts in squadron, and the attention thus
shown him by our feet of pleasure vessels
will be, doubtless, as fully appreciated as if
the same consisted of national ships. The
latter would be government formality, while
the former will indicate a hearty welcome on
the part of the people, which will be, no doubt,
very gratifying to him. The prizes that are
to be sailed for this season are numerous.
In addition to the regular prize given
by the club there will be eight or ten cups
offered from other sources, oil of which will be
most eagerly sought after by our yachtsmen.
Consequently we may expect race that will
be scarcely inferior, in the number Of yachts
of last season for the Queens Cup. The yacht
ing season, as now adopted by the New York
Yacht Club-viz, from the 1st of May until
the LIST of observation-disclosures ample opportu-
nifty for the most enthusiastic, and gives all
foreign yacht clubs an opening for sending q
challenge in time to have it accepted and the
race to come off within the yachting period.
Seven months is long enough for the home
season, beginning, as it does, on the 1st of
May and ending with the first month of win
ter, when yachts not going abroad are CON-
PEELED to be laid up. All the good and all the
bad weather necessary can be had in that
time, and no one will care, unless bound to
warmer cline, to continue in commission
longer than the allotted period.
The probabilities are that during the present
season the cruising ground Of the yacht feet
may be more extended than heretofore. AS
far south as the capes of the Chesapeake or
even further may be the southern limit,
while to the northward and eastward of Bos-
ton Bay will not be too far for the seagoing
vessels. The more our yachts are exhibited
the better it will be for the yachting interests,
and the more the yacht squadron is carried
into our home ports the more excitement will
be created. Crowds will flock to see them;
they will be visited by those who only know
what a yacht is by hearsay and in this way
the season will be passed not only pleasantly,
but proftably for all concerned. Yachtsmen
are sure Of hearty welcome wherever
they go, and we have no doubt that
the annual visit of our yacht squadrons will
be looked forward to as the event of the year
heretofore been strangers. Already the diff
ferent yachts are being fully prepared for the
coming season. Their white sails are to be
seen in every direction, and it is very evident
that none will be hehindhand in getting ready