The New York herald., 1871-10-29
| THE SiPPHOy Old TRICK.
Match Race Between the Yachts
Dreadnaught and Sappho.
The Latter Beats Her Antagonist in the Ocean
Race from Sandy Hook LightShip
Twenty Miles and Return.
Fresh Breezes, Splendid Sailing, Cross
ChOpping Seas, and Free
qucnt Squalls.

The challenge race between Vice Commodore
Douglas famous yacht Sappno and Captain.
Samueis Dreadnaught took place yesterday over
the ocean course, twenty miles from Sandy Uooxi
lghtship and return, and though the latter YACHT
was beaten by her stately antagonist the race vast
more even contest than tnn with the Dauntless
on Friday, and OF the finest OF the many
splendid struggles OF the passing remarkable yacht
ing season. Just before six o'clock In the morning
the good little seaboat Leon. Captain Joe ReacK let
pier No. 4. North River for the yachts of Quaran-
tine, and while the stiffness OF death almost regned
over all on shore they were communicated with fon
the arrangement Of the necessary preliminary de-
tails. The Dreadnaugnt. Notwithstanding ner con-
test of the day before, was ready and In splendlH
order, with nothing out OF order and no repalrst
requisite; and all was activity board the Sappho,
and soon as the Leon exchanged the greetings Of the
| morning the latter weighed anchor and went tanning
along In the light west-southwest wind tnat prevailed
toward the lightsnip The Dreadnaught was taken
in tow by the Leon, but in the lower bay the breeze
veerlng to the west-southwesu and freshening, heE
hawser was dropped and assistance then given the
Sappho. The morning was full OF promise ana when
the sun shOne upon these racers the picture wass
beautiful In the extreme. At ten O'Clock 1t was ap~
parent that there would be all the wind that the
yachts required, and Captain Martin F. LYONS, Of
the Dauntless, on the markboat Leon, acting as
judge gave orders to the men on board the loatng
beacon note the time of starting and ARRIVAL and
everything was in readiness Tor the boats TO bd
away. At this juncture the Dreadnaught was hove
too one mile westward OF the ghtship. and awaiting
the Sappho to come up. She accepted this time tn
set her balloon maingar topsail The breeze was
freshening every minute and now was from tne
west-nortnwest. AS agreed upon the Leon steamed
pt nncn In m w n
course east by south. A heavy swell was running
In from the eastward In consequence OF the gale OF
two or three days previous. The start was to be
fving one and the yachts were to turn the mark.
boat from either side, and 1t had also been cour-
teously agreed upon that the Sappho should allow
her antagonist double the time allowance due under
the club measurement.
THE ENTRIES.
sappho .......yice Commodore Douglas s6l
Dreadnaught. IS. Samusls lSo4
RACE.
At twenty minutes past ten the Sappho had ar
rived near the Drcadnaughts position, and now set
her large balloon maingan topSail. Everything was
IN preparation for the initial movement but 1t was
evident that eaCn commanding Ofllcer was waiting
for chances and endeavoring TO outmanteuvre ms
opponent. They were lying-to on the starbOard
tack heading west southwest, and at TWENTY-FIVE
minutes past ten The wind died away and there
was more ODstinacy than before demonstrated, 0S
1t was well known that under the circumstances
the boat last to pass the lightship would be the
better of. Finally the Vice Commodore became
tired .Of waiting and the word was to be away,
when his opponent almost Immediately followed
his example, the racers passing the line OF tho
PASSING THE LIGHTsHIr.
sannso. IS ic 4 Is pre.dnauch.. Is 4 81
| the race now commenced In earnest, and the con-
testants had their booms on the starboard SIDE ana
| were wing and wing soon after passing the nlid
the Sappho set her working fore ana aft topsa, and
the Dreadnaugnt was dressed In balloon maingax
tOpsa and balloon malntopmasC StaySall. IL was
thought tnat the Sappno would increase her lead
every moment, but she did not, ana The Dread
boat on the way her anchorage 1t was not then
a foregone conclusion that the famous SapphO
balloon ib this dd not materially aid her. as the
DreadnauQht would not be > AIKEN oil and she hung
every instant. and on and on went raKing the
yachts in gallant style, the slgnt being OF the most
Highlands from the Leon stl steaming to her posi-
tion, were bearing west by south and Heamstead'a
Hills north by west AT IL :35 the Highlands were out
OF slgnt and the swell from the ocean became more
disagreeable. encouDierng which the racers speed
was somewhat diminished, but they still came
bowling on In grand style towards the markDoat,
which was now anchored on the Cholera Banks,
where with fifty fatnoms OF caolc, she would hardly
and frequent squalls Of wind. At In lam 15s,
half mlle from the markDoat, the SapphO took in
al her ga, sails and after nsr
20s. tue Dreadaught TOOK IN ner balloon maingan
topsail and set her working one. TWO minutes
thereafter her foresai was Jibbed, and, not nall
mile apart they as follows were
TURNING THE MARK.
sappho. il 70 10 Dreadnaught.... Il II. 81
Both went by the Leon on the port hand, from the
the on the staKeboat sent up voclferous cheer
In their honor. The wind was getting iresher every
minute. and now the yachts were reaching IN on the
port tack 10 the northward, going like struck
dolphns. At l2h. 25m los. the Dreadnaught sent
down her main gan iopsall, and at l2:26 It was ap-
parent that the latter did not lay up so well as the
SapphO, but yet the distance between them did not
become any greater. At los the Dreadnaught
tackled to the sOuthward and westward and TOOK In
her flying Jlb Al Ills both yachts housed their top
masts, and more than ever the sea looked Wild aud
the yachts lad down to Their W, work with their gun.
beautiful and insplriting scene was made more
lively by the steamboat Il v Arrowsmith and yscns
grandest part OF the struggle. At $3.50 the
sappho was but ee,quarlers Of a mile
ward a cracking breeze. me Sappho at 1896
set her nying no, but twenty minutes after
westward and at the same time the wind backed TO
the northwest and blew great guns. she could now
the Sappho began to drop her .plucky antago-
mist astern. II was fortunate for the gentlemen
TN they "s had arrived in u time % to witness % sns
portion OF the struggle. With only two yachts.
It Is safe 70 say such spectacle as they
IL viii never be forgotten. At 2:l5 The Dread
naught went ABOUT but the Sappho since her Lass
AnG now the end was drawing near as 1t was evi-
dent that yachts could fetch the gntship with
out again tacklng, and they were coming through
the water at a terrible rate. The Enchantress at
TINS time had housed her foretopmast ana taken
reef in her maInsal She was a long way astern
OF the Dreadnaught Gathered around the llghtshlp
to the passing vessels were the steamboats,
Leon the judges boat; Arrowsmih excursion
boat and pilot boat No. ~, and though The noise
the guests and crews OF these could make was
not sufficiently loud to be heard above the howl
ing wind, the inlense satisl slacu0n OF all was none
the less. The yachts passed the lighsnip with the
following sais;-sappho, tore and man sails, fore
sail and jib; Dreadnaught, fore and main sails
aud Jlb, having taken in her dying jlb quarter Of
mile from the floating beacon.
PASSING THE LlGHTSHIP.
H. NJ s. IT, M s.
sappho .......s rs IS Dreadnaught. ....... 23 N
1t may be here remarked that IN the twenty miles
to the Sappho did not gain buC thirty three
seconds ON her antagonist, and her actual time OF
beating her is but 13m. JOS, and with the double
allowance OF time extended the Dreadnaught, but
Tm $751;; yet this victory Is all the more gratifying,
as It was achieved In the fairest manner possible.