The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-18
ICE YACHTING.

FINE WEATHER, FRESH WIND AND SMOOTH
HAMBURG CLUB RAcE-DIsTINGUIsHED PAS
sENGERs ENJOY THE SPORT.
PoUGHKEEpsIE. Feb II, 1879.
This has been another lively day for ice yachting,
and two important events have TRANSFERRED. The wind
has blown fresh from the northeast all day. and the
sailing has been very fne This morning the first class
boats of the New Hamburg Club had their annual
race over the New Hamburg course. and among the
starters the Quickstep, Zephyr. Phantom. Fly
ing Dutchman. Cloud, Zero and Zig-Zag.
1t was thought before the yachts got the word that
the Zephyr would be the winner. but the fates
decreed it otherwise In consequence Of the head
wind the time of the race was not fast. but there
were tacks made from shore to shore at speed
that made the hair of old sailing masters stand on
end At the start the Quickstep dashed ahead and
opened a wide gap which and then di-
unfinished somewhat but the breeze was steady and
strong her runners were in first class condition and
she got away with them all handily winning the
prize much to the astonishment Of many OF the
knowing ones.
ut work to-day, and. Notwithstanding that binding
snow set in this afternoon the sport went on
without abatement.
Among those who came up from New York
were Charles Harris Phelps, of the Union
League Club. and wife. They were taken
by Mr. Floy VI. Johnston. of the yacht Ella, who To-
Gated them each on runner plank and put his craft
before the wind. She sped away over the glib sur
face like hurricane and the ordinations delight
from the New Workers showed how we'll they en-
joyed the novel situation. On the Haze were Rev. A.
p Van Gresen and daughters. and other yachts also
contained pleasure seekers.
During the afternoon the sailing master of the
Buckhout boat challenged the Athens ice yacht
Sappho to race, which challenge was
copied and the two yachts started, tho greatest
interest being manifested In the result again and
again it had been given out by Upper. Hudson
yachtsmen that the Sappho could beat any ice
boat in the world sailing close to the wind.
The members Of the Poughkespsie Club gave up
their sport for the time and watched the
Going south the wind after them, and the
Buckhout boat led the spritsail from Athens. but
the atter's friends claimed that the Sappho would
20 to the front when the yachts turned to come
north, as the wind would then be dead ahead
But they reckoned wrongly. for soon as they
turned the Buckhout boat with sails trimmed as
close as was the sapphos. opened the gap between
her and her rival still wider and came in awinner by
a minute and twenty-eight seconds over three-mile
course. This the first opportunity aPoughkeepsie
yacht had to test the merits OF Upper Hudson yachts
aud as the Sappho is considered to be the fastest Of
them all the victory of the Buckhout boat is in
portant one, and completely demoiishes the theory
that boat with spirit sail sail closer to the wind
Three other yachts came down from Athens to-day
but all went home again this afternoon the Sappho
accompanying them. II the present snow storm con-
tinues through tonight ice yachting will be ended
for awhile, but the sport OF to-day is brilliant wind