The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-10
rdCHTSMEN ~ A BIG BLOW.
Four sioops OF the senwnnhnka club scud-
ding over the Biiiows on the Sound.


Four crack sloops Of the Scawanhaka
Yacht Club lay at anchor yesterday morning in
Oyster Bay. Long Island. With mainsas set.
and cables hove short. they awaited the steam
er Black Bird. on her way from New York. and
the judges boat for the seventh annual races Of
the club which were about to be sailed. These
sloops were the Midge, 297.ss feet area. Mr.. W.
l.. Iselin: the Pctrcl. 2ll12 feet area. Mr.. J.
Hyslop. and the open sloops Clara. NJ. J. II.
Wood. Jr.. an1 the Waif. Mr.. 7. S. Young. Jr.
Oyster Bay harbor is one Of the most pic
turesque on tho north shore Of Long Island. 1t
S almost landlockcd. having only one en-
trance-that between Hog Island and Lloyd's
Neck.
The judges steamer arrived ut IL &, o'clock
and was made fast to the long wharf At IL: 40
the blowing Of whistle and the lowering Of the
burgee at the fore were signals to the yachts TO
get ready. Then anchors were peaked stand
ing iibs flying ibis. and jib topsails were set.
and Ms ten minutes later the starting signal was
given. sheets were deity handled and tho
imaginary line between the judges boat and
Hog Island buoy was passed in the following
order:
waif ........... 70 m 10 ......... IL 10 ~
clara Il OI In Petrcl ..........i3 10 81
fresh southerly breeze was blowing. and
the last quarter Of the ebb tide running Tho
wind was fair TO and around the red spar buoy
No. 2. on the middle ground. thence to and
around Hog Island buoy. and from there to
Lloyd's Neck. This was the first part 81 the
course, and up 70 this point the Wqif and Clara
heit we'll together. and tho Petrol was on tho
heels ~ the MidEe. The times Of turning these
buoys were us follows:
E,p sr,R nvor so :,
cara............ u i5 ii rctrcl".........il a. 4.
Hos lsiAND Buoy
Tsirfi....,-.. sri - .. - :, EF,,;S........ Ft,fs = Z,
ttoYp's NEcs stor
WAR ........-.... 99s go, Masc ............. 81 -
The course then was hAck again 10 the buoy
on the middle ground and repeat Tho wind
which had fr"-h"nod considerably. was now
deal ahead. and notwithstanding that the tide
lad changed 10 Hood. which hero sets 10 the
westward. tn" positions Of the vessels were al
most instantly changed. On rounding Lloyd,s
and with starboard tacks aboard all made
short stretch toward the Neck, and then squared
away lPr ne middle groTnnd: The Wst in
showed her heels TO the Petrol. which had stood
too far TO tho westward.
Before reaching the buoy the wind hauled
nearly two points westerly. and the little yachts
careened 81 81 That their lee @ee-scuppers were sub
truck. had a bad time A flaw coming down
between two, ot the great hills. with which the
bay + encircled, struck her and tore her tgpsail
clean from the spar. She did not heed this
how .yer. and would undoubtedly have made "a
been trimmed too Nat. AS il was she was kept
too close 10 the winds eye and was soon So far
ds'an ed that her owner withdrew her from
On thc way TO Hog Island buoy after leaving
bdy No 10. the Clara got knock down. and
WAS IL Nt'rOusly brought VI into the wind 10y
Cait. wood. Then the ilb WAS taken in and tho
top-all clewed down, and she continued plucki-
Is pu hor course When of Plum Island how
eyer The wind. which ilnd now Increased 10 q
,.Y troyed go NM i.r a ag' 9nd s..e %As
INK her rival Nc Wall, s'cing this. took warn
Ing. au3 ,dr.od his working ilb.
AZ , o'clock tho SKY became overcast. Masses
! ~ dark lowering clouds scudllng across the
heAN ems showed coming storm. The yachts.
mon lowered their sheets and close reeied
them. expecting Il squall from the northwest.
whence they usually come in these latltudcs.
Ihey didn't got the sguall. but they got plenty
q rain instead. and II began to blow great guns
Tho fierce wind, ascending by degrees blew the
whit crosts from the waves in the open bay.
tide. suIsei 10 the shore. tne wavrs behind roll,
INK on IN" waves before. There they thundered
over tlr rocks.
The sloop Mldge sailed by Rear Commodore
Oliver Cromwell. kept steadily on her course
regardless of the storm. Every precautOn WIS
When IN the weather side Of Hog Island she
was momentarlly brought up into the wind.
Then the peak OF the mainsail. which was to
windWard of the topping-lift. WAS lowered and
hoisted again 10 leeward. SO that IL struck hy a
squal. it could be- cast on without fouling the
A. follows: Midge, 3iOi:27 .waif 10000. The
little Waif sailed by Commodore Swan although
far to leeward oi the Midge, doing very we'll,
Although Other vessels IN the bay were making
hnrnOrs she speetel away on the honest retch.
The huge waves made q clean breach
over her weather bow. while her lee rail
WIS completely submerged, and her crew had
| o. cling To- the weather rigging. The Nudge ar
| rived at the an chOrage al 4.i9:2O having made
| the run Of tWenty-threc niles. Ql which over
| one-hnlf WAS 10 windward. in hours - min
| utes and 81 seconds The time vi the Maii was
| not taken.
To-Day the feet with the yacht Eddie as the
flagship, Is to start on it, Eastern cruise. Thin
| bic Island. New LONDON, Newport aud other
| places are ~ be visited.