The New York herald., 1874-08-15
CHTIN @.
Scrub Race of the New York Yacht
Club TO Vineyard Haven.
END OF THE CRUISE.
The pannlle@ Wins the Sci Of ColOrS for
Srhooners and the IIndeX for Sleeps.
OAK BLUFFS, August IA. 1874.


instead OF twenty or thirty vessels only eight took
mart IN the contest--siX schooners ana two soops.
True the annual cruise OF the club had almost
mlBated and most OF the yachts had separated
rom tue heet, but as lll-luck would have 1t some
oi our most sanguine yachtsmen missed
-are opportunity OF thoroughly testing their much
prized craft. Despite the absence OF many of the
lamous yachts, however, the race to-day was re-
olete with interest and excitement for apart from
be prizes onered-a set OF colors for each class
ali the elements contributed TO render the event
~ enjoyable so far good sailinr was concerned,
70 any since the cruise commenced There be
no doubt that during his matutinal devotions the
average yachtsman usually adds petition Tor a
good breeze Indeed, the yacht owner who does
not think MS vessel Is at her best in heavy weather
Is about as hard 10 hnd as the ''oldest inhabit-
ant''-a proverbla as well as a convenient party
III times when comparisons are in order. Yachts
men, then. want plenty OF wind, and when lhe
competitors weighed anchor In Newport harbor
This morning the most reckless traverser OF the
ieep had nothing TO complain Of There was
spanking breeze rom the southwark and the in
hcatlons were that it would ireshen as the day
progressed. At meeting held on BOARD the nag
ship, 1t was decided TO wind up the cruise with
A ScRUB RACE
20 Vineyard Haven, distance OF about 1orty miles
rom Brentons Reef hgntship; all sails allowed,
and the first yacht in to be declared the winner in
her class An early start had been contemplate
bat lt not until after ten O'Clock that the
testants cleared the harbor.
The iron sloop VindeX was the first vessel to trip
anchor. and doubtless anticipating o good blow
outside housed her topmast, SUD, with reef In her
malnsall, beat up the channel She was followed
by the sloop Coming, OF the Eastern Yacht CLUB,
which also looked prepared Tor all emergencies.
The Dauntess was the next vessel to get
under way, and, leaving the harbor by
the Breakwater light beat up the channel
In the wake OF the soops. The Alarm was the
next schooner TO appear, then the Wanderer, and
after her the Foam, the Josephine making :he
fourth schooner that entered the list OF compete
tors. Reefng was in order. as there promised to
be Lively time outside the channel The breeze
resnened considerably, and the prospects for
sterling contest were very encouraging. In fact,
sne silent prayer of every interested yachtsman
was that tue wind would hold, so that for once all
the contestants would be put on their mettle,
20 TO speak. and. besides, 1t was hoped
that the anchorage ground on the Bluffs
the channel the yachts barrled with the head
wind, and alter tacking towards the Narragan.
Brenton Reel hgntsaip. from which the competing
vessels were TO saI Tor the coors. Il ever yachts.
noihlng being wanting 10 inspire the feeling on
every vessel tnat nrltl liant contest was at hand.
U
when sne Is rushing through a cnopping sea ut
sWelve or thirteen knots, with the wind abeam, ls
w.atasr sesss
y as tickle as fascinating :, heiress
made IN sssp way % sns
windward OF the hghtship IN good shape. lee ralls
ws,sr The aagsap oistsa sSna Tor sne
70 get into line, and when they lay TO previous TO
THEIR POSITIONS WERE AS FOLLOWS
Schooners Daunress, Josephine. Wanderer,
Alarm and Foam; the sloops vindex and Coming
Seing 10 eeward OF tne neet. AT precisely I'm o.
xnicn was now vowipg steadily rom a. the south:
ward and westward. the competitors started for
The Idler was the first to show her heels to her
competitors, and setting ner huge tlbtopsaii
rushed ahead in good style. She mad not pro-
ceeaed lar, however, on her prosperous career
mast, and, luning up IN the wind, lost nearly two
miles oy the accident. But this mishap did nos
seem to nave much effect on the others, lor up
went their JDtopSais, and. later on, the main top
mast stay sails OF the schooners. The Foam then
TOOK the ne Leading position 10 leeward. while TO
ana following in her wake was the Josephine,
the Alarm being on her leeward quarter.
Nindex. with topmast housed. closely pursuing
her. The Dauntless was somewhat tardy IN getting
away, ner position shortly alter the start being
about quarter OF mile on the eeward quarter
Of the Josephine. In this order the Contestants
proceeded with iree wind toward their desttlia.
aon The yacht Aice, by the way. joined the reet
st this stage and sailed Well during the race.
Snortly alter the accident to the ldler the Wan
1erer worked wei up to windward. while tho
Foam maintained the extreme leeward position,
the Alarm being In the centre the josephine IN the
wake oil the Wanderer and the Dauntess last. No
important change took place for ten or fifteen
minutes, when The Dauntless, coming up the lee
quarter OF the Josephine, finally passed hex and
getting to wIndward OF her, crept up on the Wan
terer, which now LED the neet having got ahead
nan an hour after the start Balloon maintopmast
staysails were soon substituted for the ordinary
working malntopmast staysails, and what with
balloon ibis and balloon maintopsails the foremost
canvas. Passing West Island, near the mouth OF
seconet River, about quarter past one O'Clock,
THE ORDER OF THE VESSELS
vas as follows:-W anderer, Dauntless Foum
Alarm, Josephine, Vindex and Coming, the
ar had osn m Up Of ne rea bp pne pow aye tss s
oreeze moderatlng, aDprehensons were enter
tanned that It might die out and thus spoi
It had been gradually tightening, though there
was, nevertheless, sufficient to send the vessels
Along In good style. the balloon sails especially
drawing well Approaching tue Sow and Pigs
Lightshp she Dauntess began TO head-reach the
Wanderer, which continued TO be the leading yes
rsl. Tue VindeA had meanwhile sent up her top
East and hoisted her topsaIl, ana between her
and the Coming some lively brushes occurred
rney kept III company most OF the ume, neither
having much advantage. But OF the
Alarm, which rom the start to tue fnish held a
very good position, aud during the race showed
,%ome % excellent qualities when running. rhe
roam, without Inucn canvas spread, stil
kept D-ay TO ,eeward untIl she was near
Cutty -dnk. when she crossed over and obtained
poSisiou
Al In. 45nl r. NJ the Dauntless drew up TO
seward OF the Wanaerer, ana alter passing her
vent to wfndward or the feet, the wind ireshen.
ing u little from sou uth-southwest.
THE FOLLOWING TIME
was recorded as the vessels sailed by the SOW and
Pigs Ughtship:-
II. NJ S. H. ~ S.
oauntless.. 2 Foam.......... 2 40
Handerer......... . = 80 Alarm. 10
The time OF the Alice was taken as 2n. SIN. p. NJ.
and that Of the last working schooner Van Name,
which started rom the narUUr with the yacht ami
accompanied them as 2h. en- l.. NJ IL win be seen
W the foregoing table that the race far was
ceedingy close, aud that under the circumstances
no one could with certainty predict the result.
Lne ldler, however, owing to her mishap, was TOO
lar asern to enter into any speculatlons as to the
winning yacht. After leaving the lightsnip the
competing yachts
, ENTERED THE VINEYARD SOUND
~ tne following order:-Dauntless, Wanderer,
roam, Alarm. Josephine Coming vlndex and
taier. IL was an extremely pretty sight now that
the leading yachts had got wei together. with