Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-09-15
THE AMERICAN YACHT WINS.
Result OF the Race I'm New York Bny
Yesterday-A Close Shave and q short
Tack - The Englishman Gracefully
Submits to Defeat.


The first race in the contest for the cup in
the greatinternational yacht contest was sailed
yesterday over the course out New York bay to
seward around Sandy Hook, and was won by
the American vessel, the Puritan. The race of
thirty-eight miles was sailed by the boats well
up to eight knots in Oh. 6m. 5s. for the Puritan.
and Oh. 22m. 24s., corrected time, for the
Genesta, the Puritan winning by 16m and l9s.
At no point was the fiat floor of the Puritan
or the nat side Of its center board struck by the
cross seas, whose effect and discomfort are the
strongest practical arguments against the
american model. Nor at any time was the
Genesta speeded by the heavy breeze and boil
weather.
THE START.
The Puritan, for the third time in these races
entered the race to windward, and brushing
the wind from the Genesta's sails, the Yankee
sloop swung past the English cutter, ahead on
the nrst tack to starboard of the three which
are to clear the Narrows Each of the boats had
raised Jlb topsafl at start and crossed the line
under mainsail, topsail, forestaysail and tib at
Genesta OF four seconds, making like handi-
cap on each. Four minutes later the two boats
We're close up to the Long Island shore, hung
Ior an instant in the gray light, and turned on
O port tack, with the Puritan we'll to wndward,
nor IN the SIX hours to follow was there
Yankee soop aid not a clear In which the
weather to the fore of her English opponent
Az the weather Buoy 10, the corner of the race
barely three PSnses at En- 1Sm and
dw1ndled, at Ill.,, 19m., 25s. came the Genesti
Inc Genesta's men were then busy lowering
balloon sail. The change brought "A moments
9elay, and when the next corner was turned at
Buoy the Puritan's time was H., 31m., 3Os.,
ana the Genesta H., 36m., Sos.
LEAVING THE STEAMBOATS, BEHIND.
The steam craft that lined the course in their
attempts to keep up with the racers began to
fall behind. Steam yachts, like Jay Gould's
Atlanta, Kept pace with the feetfooted pair;
little else did: a chorus Of whistles, faint
gray waste as the Puritan turned the stake boat
al 2:l4:54, to be followed by the Genesta at
Z:I9:l6 There was little to choose in this time;
NJ Buoy at 3:i34 and 3:9:13 respectively
They closed as they had begun the gap of five
mn shortened; some records said widened,
by few seconds. The great fleet massed itself
In the corner and angle of the course behind
Buoy 1O to see the return.
CLOSE SHAVE.
Barely three minutes apart, the two boats
successfully came about and reached over to-
ward the sand spit for the leeway to pass about
the corner 5uoys The Puritan risked a close
reach and stood for the buoy she had to mass
Few that knew the channel but felt certain that
the boat would miss her mark and be forced to
tlck again. This seemed so probable as the tide
set the boat out and the breeze died away that
the GeneSta made twice the reach along the
shore. But the Puritan is no ordinary boat. In
close pointing she Is in her element, and the
buoy was passed, and as the Puritan went on
her way, her jib topsail going up in stops the
band on the steamboat broke out with "Colum-
bia, Gem of the Ocean,"
The race was hers. The close shave the
shortened tack, and the chance of q rising
breeze; which came with the advanced position,
Rushed the Puritan along, and she rounded
Buoy 10 at 3:3S:O5, against 3:46:O5 for the Ge-
nesta.
THE FINISH.
The waiting multitudes along the course rang
out with cheers as the boat glided along. and
the whistles of the boats added to the din which
announced the triumph of the Puritan. The
finish came at 4:3S:05. The race was over and
the plucky English cutter followed on to find at
the line the same cheers and the same enthu-
slaSm, and as the GeneSta passed on to her an
chOrage steamboat after steamboat paused to
add It's cheers. But the most graceful compll-
ment OF the day came when the Genesta paused
opposite the Puritan to cheer her rival, and the
crew opposite returned cheer for cheer
The following gives the official time of the
race:
Start. Finish. Actual Corrected.
Puritan Puritan .1G32 4:3s15 6:0605 6:O6:O5
The outside race will be sailed tomorrow.
BRITONs PHILosOPHIzING
The London NeaCS, in its leader on the race
to-day says: "The outcome OF the contest of yes
terday cannot be considered as absolutely con.
elusive with regard to the comparative sailing
capacities OF the Puritan and the Genesta The
Puritan, 1t seems likely, prOfiIed not only by
the accidents of the day, but had the advan-
tage of her own wrong in the injury inflicted
Oh the Gehesta by the foul of an earlier day
which compelled the English vessel to refit
under conditions affecting her unfavorably as
To speed. These things, however, are among
the chances of war, aud they must be accepted
with good humOr by the losing side though
they may fairly temper the exultation Of the