Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-09-17
The Puritan and Genesta.
RESULT OF THE FIRST RACE.
HURRAH FOR THE LITTLE YANKEE sLooP

AT last the representative yachts of Eng
land and America-the centre board sloop
Puritan and keel cutter Genesta, have
met and fought one round in the marine
battle which is to decide the future owner.
ship Of that trophy, the Americas cup. In
the race of IS miles over the inside course of
the New York Yacht Club Monday, in ex-
tremely light weather, the centre board de-
feated the cutter l6 minutes Al seconds
actual time, or with rs seconds time allowed
the cutter by the Puritan, l6 minutes 10
seconds corrected time.
The course was from an imaginary line
between buoy is, off Owls Head. l.. l.. and
the committees boat, anchored an eighth Of
a mile to westward, and around buoys 10
and s l-2 in the lower bay, thence to and
around Sandy Hook lightship and return to
finish off buoy Is, one-eighth of mile
south of Fort Wadsworth. The wind at
the start was light from the south bv west,
which made it dead beat to the first mark.
From here to the lightship the wind fresh
ened and permitted the yachts to start their
sheets at intervals. From the outer mark
back TO buoy 5, off Sandy Hook, the wind
was about four points free.
Two tscks were made in the Horseshoe
to weather buoy 10 and from there to the
finish the wind was we'll on the port quarter.
An analysis Of the race shows in windward
work, to buoy 10, the Puritan beat the
Genesta three minutes and one second, and
from there to the lightship one minute and
nineteen seconds. From buoy ), off the
point of Sandy Hook, to the lightship, about
nine miles, in a fresh breeze, with lee rails
to the water, the Puritan only gained TWEEN
tv-two seconds on the Genesta and only
eighteen seconds on the same distance COM
ing back to buoy ). On the entire run
from the outer mark TO the finish the Puri-
tan beat the Genesta twelve minutes and
twenty-five seconds.
The Genesta and Puritan we're lying TO
within 800 feet of the Judges boat the tide
running strong food when the starting
signal was given at 1890. Both yachts
came down for the line almost together. the
Puritan 10 windward, and crossed al
1892 OF, with the Genesia two seconds later.
As the time limit was 1882 both yachts
were handicapped, the official time being
1882. Standing across to Long Island
shore both tackled close under Owls Head
at l0.31.l0 The Genesta feeling" a puff
the port tack shot ahead Of the Puritan which
was to windward. but the gain was only
momentsry. for when both tackled. - min
utes later, the Genesta was a good 500 yards
in the Puritan's wake
As the rival crafts passed through the
Narrows hundreds of spectators. standing
on the high sloping green bluffs, cheered The
contestants. The Puritan. catching puff
Of wind, passed out first while the Genesta
lay almost mo,ionless under the lee OF the
fort. When she finally got the breeze the
Puritan was nearly mile ahead. lacking
TO westward off buoy II, at l2.0S. the Pun
tan fetched to quarantine anchorage. The
wind was very hight and neither yacht made
much speed agains, the tide When both
went about at 1882, the Puritan to port aud
the Genests to s;srboard, the former vas
fully half mile to windward. Ahcr FIVE
tedious stretches TO windwar buo, 10 vas
weathered and rounded as follows Puritan,
! 10 - Genesta, ~ -. They were here
saluted by the attendant steamers.
The Puritan passed the buoy and started
her sheets for the lightship. The GenestA
passed the buoy at 1856. Both were carry
ing the same sa.l-mainsali, club iup-.a.i.
iore>tay-sail, jib and jib top-sai!. From
here 10 the outer mark wa, the mos, exciting
part of the contest. Travelling at ten knot
rate and heel.ng Ill their lee rails we're
"avAsh" they made pretty picture. Both
were given perfect ovation Of applause
from steam whistles, gun, and hundred. o:
throais. As they luifcd grandy round the
mark the Puritan held the lead We, and
both, with booms oft starboard. came to
the westward ike race horses. only 10 strike
into calm streak and head wind of the
hook
The Puritan vent about al 1924 and stood
into the Horseshoe for three minutes. When
she was able to weather buovs 5, l. and 10.
The Genesta made the same tacks and both
rounded buoy 10 as follows: Puritan.
32s0j; Genesta, 3.36.0j. Setting her
Balloon iib topsaIl at once aud starting her
sheet broad off to starboard, she soon in
creased her lead on the Genesta, although
both had 10 stem the ebb tide in very light
air. The Genes,a's spinnaker was sent out
to port in one and one-haf minutes after
rounding the buoy. The Puritan crossed
the finish line al ABS 0j, amid the widest
enthusiasm.
The Genesta arrived al 4.ji - and was
greeted with 4 similar reception. A. the
yachts passed in BY Fort wad,~orth, a
gun from the fort was fired in salute TO
each, and when the yachts came alongside
of each other the crew of the Grnes,a, stand
ing at the rail facing the Paritans crew,
gave three rousing cheers, led by SIR Rich
ard Sutton, for the winning yacht. Mr.
Forbes, waving his cap N the air, led his
crew in three times three for the English
I men. Mr. Tams, Of the committee, in an
interview after the race said Il am salts
fed that the Puritan has fairly out-sailed
the Genesta, but think when they meet in
a good breeze il will be nip and tuck"