The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-09-12
THE YACHT RACE.

We in inland Utah are not familiar
with Yachting as they are on the sea-
shore. where the sailing of yacht has
become high science as well as a plea
sure. Nor can we feel the interest in the
result Of. the internationalr race now being
sailed in New York bay, that is felt by
the people of the East. Yet national
pride, the ambition to have ''our side
win, compels US to entertain keen de-
sire that the Puritan will come out
ahead in the international race,
thus retaining the cup which was
won from the British thirty-four
years ago. Yachting is rapidly de-
veloping into the fashionable sport OF
the wealthy, first, because from Its cost
il must be limited to the rich, and
second, because it is one of the most
healthfuI and most pleasurable amuse-
ments. To own and be able to sail a
yacht is the thing for wealthy man
within reach of the coast, and all summer
long many of these beautiful crafts
may be seen in the bays and near the
shores of the Atlantic from Maine to
Florida. At times New York bay is
fairly alive with them. But as yet Anne
RIGA is far behind the English in the
number of her yachts. twenty-five
years ago there were over seven hundred
English pleasure yachts of over forty
tons burden, and the number has been
annually increased. Not only in num-
Der but in speed did the English beat
the world, until 1851, when the New
York Yacht Clubs America captured
the Queens cup, at Cowes, and brought
the international trophy to this country,
where it has since been held, though
many times have the British tried to
win it back. That was the first race in
which the Americans had had the i'm
pudence to appear, and doubtless the
English smiled that their cousins on
this side of the Atlantic should presume
to contest with a nation that considered
it had reached a state of perfection in
both build and rig. 1t must
AbNC GSlODASnCA liz COl4AACAI O1AlOLS
quite as much as 1t pleased the impu-
dent Yankees, when the latter, in a
fair race, walked squarely away from
their competitors, demonstrating the
superiority Of their vessel to the salts
faction of all beholders, and letting the
English understand that they no longer
were masters of the sea in the art of
yachting. Il is worthy of note that
the America, the winner OF the race on
that occasion. was prominent among
the craft in New York bay on Friday. |
She is the property of Ben Butler, who
is skilled Skipper" and manages
her to his own great delight and the
admiration of others; she makes her
twelve miles an hour in far breeze,
and can hold her own in a race with |
any but the modern crack yachts,
such as the GeaestG and Puritan.
Americans claim superiority for |!
their yachts, both in construction and |
rigging. They are shallower and |
broader than the British yachts, and |
their sails are arranged so as to give a
hatter surface; the English yachts are
what are termed" cutter" built, and are |
narrow and deep, and though Ameri.
cans invariably beat them, the British
stubbornly refuse to change their build,
although they are adopting the Ameri-
can style of rigging.
The Genesta. which is eontesting with
the Puritan for the cup, is new craft.
having been launched in May, 1884, on
the Clyde. She has steel frame. with
elm and teak planking. She is
owned by Sir Richard Sutton.
a member of an old English
family, always interested in sports. He
sailed her in thirty-four races in Eng
fish waters last season, of which he
won seven, took second sprize in eight
and third prize in two-the prizes
amounting to upwards of 81 ,0O0-a and he
has now brought her to this country to
try for the Anserica's cup. She is
admirably manned, and so far
has been most skillfully sailed.
The American yacht Puritan is new
eentre-board boat. While both
arc of about the same length,
there is considerable difference
in depth and breadth, and the
draft of the Genesta is 1917 feet, while
that OF the Puritan is only 81 feet.
Whatever may be the result of the con-
test, her shallow build will be retained
on this side as best adapted to our shall
lower and smoother waters.
At this writing the first of the three
days racing has not been decided, and
a bulletin says that there will probably
be no race. neither yacht having COW
cred the course within the seven hours.
ri III Is n 81 ~ j