Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-17

THE YACHT REGATTA.

Day on monday, between the New York
and Eastern yacht squadrons. The New
York squadron consisted of fourteen
schooners and three sloops; the Eastern
OF thirteen schooners and eight sloops.
The race was won by the schooner Co
lumbia and the sloop Oracle of New York.
The race is described as follows in the
Journal:
AT fifteen minutes before twelve O'Clock
three short whistles, preparatory to the
start, were responded to throughout the
squadron by the rafting of the gear and
ratlines OF thirty windlasses, as the sailors
brought their anchors to the catheads and
set all sail preparatory to starting. A
prolonged scream from the tugboat signal
"a the departure, and the Rebecea stood
but on the starboard tack, followed by
most OF the light craft members of the
Eastern Club, whose sloops and schooners
careened to the gentle breeze which was
waited across Massachusetts, Bay.
The leading yachts of the New York
Club, ranged ahead and in line, the Sap
pho lying dead to leeward, while her COM
peers the Wanderer, Rambler, Tarolinta,
Idler, Dreadnaught, and other smaller
ships filled the space and completed the
animating picture witnessed by thousands
who, by this time had grouped themselves
upon the weed fringed pedestals along the
shore of Phillips point to Ocean street.
The yachts lying to leeward stood out on
the port tack, and were later in passing
the stake boat than others who showed
conspicuously at the outset; but once un-
der way the big yachts, buried under
their clouds of canvass, careened gently
to the light battling wind, and stood away
confidently for Minot's.
Many of the New York yachts, out of
respect to the flag officer, laid their course
so as to give the Dauntless the advance,
and as she passed the stake-boat on either
hand was stretched a line of excursion
steamers, beyond which sailed smaller
crafts, which appeared diminutive against
the dark headlands of Nahant and the
Swampscott shore. On the starbOard
course once away the order was given to
lie down, and along the weather rail were
instantly stretched out score or more
of men, whose attitudes suggested the
thought OF bucaneering and privateer-
ing cruisers, in which the forefathers Of
some of those Marbleheaders took part in
1912 and 1918. The same orders were
issued on other ships, but it was noticed
that on the Junior yachts the men and
guests stood up and held the winds, to the
detriment OF the race. The Dauntless
passes the Dawn and the Juniata and a
score of vessels scattered over half the
width of Massachusetts, Bay The Colum-
bia, as graceful as swan, holds her own
from the start, and defies her more for
midable competitors. Vicc-C Commodore
Douglass crawls up to windwardr and
passes the Rambler The Columbia steals
a march in the same direction, but, before
half way to Minot's the Dauntless has
passed the Mahogany, and has left the
Sappho so far astern that she will not be
able to overtake the flagship.
As soon as the excursionists were fairly
out of the bay, the large steamers-Es-
cort, with a select party of members of
the Eastern Yacht Club and their ladies'
on board the Stamford, crowded fore and
aft, above and below. with more inclu-
sive freight of spectators; the Matte Sar-
gent and f. Nj. Gates, the Curlew, Grace
Irving, Cochituate, and divers sorts of
water craft, under steam and sail-all fol.
low in eager pursuit of the yacht squad
ron. Some recklessly run athwart the
bows of the racers, throwing their -swash
uader the lee bow. and riling the temper
of the old sailors, while others, more cir
cumspect (ntended for the Government
boat from the Navy Yard bearing the flag
of Rear Admiral Steadman), bear away
to the leeward, giving their sailor friends
plenty of sea-room.
The second exciting point in the race
was when the yachts rounded the buoy off
Minot's. The steamers, some twenty in
number. being faster than the breezes,
reached the buoy in advance, and lay head
on, whistling and trumpeting and cheer
ing as one yacht after another rounded the
buoy and stood over towards Halfway
Rock. The sloop Oracle, from New
York, charged with being great prize
hunter and cup taker, was the first to wear
round and set her bonnet jib for free run
across the bay, and she did it to the admi-
ration of every beholder, going, as We all
said to SwampscOtt to get the prizes,
which were subsequently awarded to her.
The schooner Columbia, whose centre
board, light draft and broad bearings
enabled her to accomplish wonders,
rounded The buoy at two o'clock and fifty
minutes, and crowding on all the sail that
the rules would allow, with mainsail, fore
sail, balloon jib, flying jib, glib topsail,
fore and main gaff topsail and stay sail,
left the rest of the fleet to take care Of
themselves, while she carried Commodore
Osgood TO the anchorage ground. The
Tidal Wave, which sailed beautifully, was
on the point of tacking in order to clear
Minots Ledge, and compelled the Daunt.
less to do the same. She gave way grace.
fully, however, but too late to save Fleet
Captain Schuyler from making two tacks.
while the little sloop Vixen shot ahead
and rounded the buoy just under the star.
board bow Of the Dauntless. The Tidal
Wave followed in the wake of the Dannt.
less. and the Sappho, running within the
shadow of the monument of the great
''engineering skill of the age, made des-
perate attempts to overhaul the Flagship,
but without success.
The wind was free and the yachts flew
gracefully over the slightly rniiied bosom
Of the bay, rounding Hallway Rock in
the same order as before named, followed
by the birds of passage which filed up the
background, making picturesque and