The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-08-24
The Races-FlyIng start-Its Introduce
tIon and Merits.


The New York Tribune publishes the follow
Ing letter, dated Newport, August 30:
The races which are to occupy the attention
of the New York Yacht Club for the next ten
days will attract interest throughout the coun-
sport, were there congregated at one point OF
entered for any series Of regattas so many
large schooner yachts. All the regattas during
the week will begin with what Is now known
as the "fying start" This start owes its con
ception to Commodore John Stevens, of the
New York Yacht Club. who, In this harbor, In
the summer of 1854, instituted regatta in
which the yachts for the h first time began the
race in that manner. The mode Of procedure
is sufficiently well known at the present time,
but 1t was then great novelty. The race was
for the possession of golden bowl, valued Of
$1,000, over what has since been adopted as the
usual regatta course, namely: southwest from
the entrance of the harbor to the buoy Oh
Block Island and return.
The superior advantages of the flying start,
as compared with the old form Of beginning q
line from an achor, much trouble was tre'
quently experienced in slipping the cable
when the wind was blowing very strong, or ]
heavy tide was setting In against the feet. II
it was desired to get the anchor on board,
much delay and the necessity OF using men
for the work who should have been employed
with the sails, was often the means Of defeat.
Ing yacht. The danger Of fouling where the
feet is large and the start is made in line, Is
by no means small. The Cambria suffered
some little delay. and her saillng-master con.
siderable ve1ation, by an event Of this kind
at the beginning Of the memorable Queen
cup race, August 8, 1870 When the wind Is OF
such strength as to compel tie sailing-mas-
tiers of yachts to keep the sails down on deck
= tbao tor O1upn IL
sion of men compelled by the taking In of the
anchor renders the labor of hosting the sails
very tedious and fatigulng to the crew. A
good captain of q racing yacht dtsltkes very
much to tire his men before the beginning OF
O race, as their full strength may be needed IN
an emergency, which Is liable to come at any
time. The new system OF allowing twenty
minutes for the start, after the firing OF gun.
does away with all these annoyances. new
feature, which has developed with time, is the
belief that the chances Of winning the race
are bettered BY being the last boat across the
line. From this fact it frequently happens
that 80 many manHuyres are resorted to by
the sailing master for OBTAINING his yacht that
he barely crosses the line at the sound OF the
last gun. The Phantom, In the race for the
Ashbury Cup in Newport harbor last year, by
passing the line half minute too late, lost
claim to place among the first yachts arriy-
ing at the home stake. Her time over the
coast was remarkably fast.
The event of tomorrow will be the race for
the Challenge Cup, presented by Commodore
James Gordon Bennett, Jr.. and won by the
schooner Tidal Wave last June In the annual
regatta off New York harbor. The course will
be from an imaginary line between Fort Adams
and the Dumping Fort. at the entrance of the
bay. southward to and around black can
buoy on the northeastern end of Block Island,
thence returning to the starting point. The
entries are the Dauntless, Dreadnaught, Sap
pho. Ider. Tidal Wave, Wanderer, Halcyon,
Palmer, Madgc. Magic, Rambler, America,
Caprice, Alarm and Tarolinta. The Columbia
and Feetwg are nNf ms
weather prove favorable, the race will be a
great event. The harbor to-day swarms with
pleasure boats, and gay parties of ladies and
gentlemen are enjoying the mimlcry Of sailor
life Without any OF its hardshlps.