The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-17
YACH TIN G..
Annual Regatta of the New
York Yacht Club.
The SchOOners Palmer, Wanderer and Comet,
and the Shops Vision and Mad
cap the Winners.
NARROW ESCAPE OF THE ALARM
The First Steam Yacht Race
Won by the Lurline.
TEN THOUSAND SPECTATORS AFLoAT.

TEN THOUSAND SPECTATORS AFL0AT.
the annual regatta of the New YORK Yacht Grub
the great aquatic event OF the year. was sailed
yesterday over the regular club course. For years
gone by New YorK and the suburbs have sent
their thousands TO witness this magnificent nau-
tical spectacle, and yesterday Notwithstanding
the rather doubtful appearance OF the weather,
The docks were crowded at an early hour
with eager excurslontsts waiting Tor the
steamers that were to carry them down the Bay.
The New York Yacht Club on this occasion
has always two steamers chartered Tor the
day, and at q quarter OF nine yesterday morn
ing both were lying alongside the dock at the
foot OF Twenty-tnrd street, North River The
william Cook was engaged 10 carry the members
OF the club and their lady friends, and before nine
p NJ the large and commodlous steamer was
crowded with representatives OF the first and old
est families Of the city. Everybody was rather
doubtful TO how the day would turn out at that
time the weather was thick and hazy, but CLEANS
OF sunshine came every now and then geam-
ing through the mist, giving some few bright
hopes to those whose lvicipations OF clear SKY
ana lively breeze had been under cloud. The
william Fletcher lay alongside the adjoining dock,
and as soon as tho Regatta Committee and mem
bers OF the press had jumped on board she
steamed away for Staten Island In order 20 get the
yachts In readiness Tor the days regatta On board
the Fletcher everybody appeared to Drognosticate
favorably about the day, as the weather-wise pre-
dlcted that Old Sol would make mincemeaE Of the
log before 1t was an hour higher IN the heavens.
or Stapleton the scene was one Of decided activ-
ity, as already the racers were preparing Tor the
coming contests, white sheets were being
stretched from boom to gan balloon club topsalls
scared aloft and snowy staysalls lay about
the decks. ready Tor the time when with
free sheet and lowing breeze they would dance
before the wind. As eleven O'Clock A. NJ. APP
preached the plot began to thtcken and denseiy
crowded steamers came pufnng from the city.
The Plymouth Rock, decked In fancy colored nags.
was black with human beings, and soft notes from
the Madrgal Boys were waited across the water.
The steamers Magenta, Neversink, Long Branch,
Arrowsmitn, Thomas Collier and josephine and
Union ferryboa Winona, were also floating around
awaiting the starting signal.
THE FLETCHER
dashed around from yacht to yacht distributing
the orders OF the day and devoted some little
time TO the arrangements for the steam yacht
race, which was TO form OF the features OF the
programme. For the past TWO years the owners
OF steam yachts have been anxious to test tae
Bpectlve speed OF their craft and OF last the
New York Yacht Club consented TO crafty
their wishes. but 50 mooined the resric-
any starting catastrophe. The club was not an K
ious that any their members should steal the
20. or that the demand Tor small gentlemen or
color should be increased by the sacrifice OF TOO
peared 70 be very mucn interested In the result or
Inc steam yacht race. and the three contestants,
tns IDEAL. Lurline aud Lookout, were closely in
ypectel BY thousands OF eyes. other steam achts
were cruising around, all q little curious 10 see
skipped through tue 1est, followed BY the Julia,
once tae property OF William y. Tweed. lhs
though not candidate for any OF the silver,
was cruising around, and the handsome schooner
il was past eleven a. f. before the Fletcher
took up her position aud let the coursers OF the
SSe Drster start Sy tas time the haze ass
melted away, the sky was bright above ana
sananwrd WIN sas sne,sbp up rom ,o NINE one
the neet In graceful procession. They came one
alter the ss other the saucy little .loOp and !ns
DAY and eager for tue post OF nonor.
Passing tnro ign the Narrows, closely attended
by the neeE OF steamers, they tacKed about from
SIDE 10 side beating up against the tide and
moving swiftly along, aided BY the rushing tide
that was sweepinR out TO sea. The United States
steamer Powhattan passed majestllaly through
their midst bound on 2 TN ee years. cruise, and
ter Grant, from on board OF which the
President and family were said TO be watch.
the Narrows the yachts spread out. each select
ing heg iavorite course and the steamers congre-
gated around the southwest spit 70 salute tnem
as they went by. At tnat point of the race an
event occurred deserving OF the strongest con-
peare, Of Bremen, coming DOWN before the wind,
bore straight for The schooner yacht Alarm that
Tor the southwest spit buoy rne ship,
handled by some ignoranus not worthy OF a cap
yacht in half II the Regatta Comraittee on board
the Fletcher mad not scared HIM into common
sense. As IL was, the Alarm Just succeeded in
clearing the DOW OF the unwleidy craft.
AT THE LIGHTsHIP
the excitement was intense, and Captain Co.'S
grove, the mucn respected Captain OF
Inat marilers' guide, cannot have witnessed
similar spectacle since the memorable
PowRatan, tue Grant, the nanusome new tug
Ionn Mitchell the W. ) Gladwlth, the Nelson K.
Virginia Seymour, WITH Tommy Ryan's party on
board; the Arrewsmith NeversinK and All the rest
beat Of the meet they, one ana ali, let 20
their whistles and with triumphal music hailed
the steamers were very polite ana kept wen out
OF ne way OF the yachts, giving them plenty OF
Hook under a cloud OF canvas. and then turning
the spit relaxed their speed as they turned dead
mar the pleasures OF the day, with sne exception,
perhaps, OF the breakdown or the steam yacht
Lookout, mlsnap that upset her chances Tor the
race.
was perhaps the prettiest picture or the day. with
the New YORK Yacht Csuo House standing out
boldly rom the shore anu packed with gayly at
tired ladies, while on the otner side Of the lane.
through wllch the yachts returned, some twenty
steamers lying side by side waiting 70 open
their whistles as tue racers dew across the line.
hublC HuM tue D1uuA was uilLu2 tue
air with pleasant sounus, aud when the Palmer
dashed between the cluO nouse aud the Fletcher,
the winner OF the first class schooner race, tue
excitement knew no bounds. II would nave per-
haps been more interesting II there mad been
more vino, a. the neet would nave returned
closer together; but as it was. tne SPECTATORS
were pleased and everybody returned 70 the CITY
delighted with their summer outing.
THE RACE.
the judges steamer, W. Fletcher. arrived on che
CLUB house at stapeon, staten Island. about half.
past nine aao AZ hat time the prospects OF race
were very moor "a the ann had not cut tnronIh