Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-09-09
The Puritan Was 10 blame.

" ~ HI
OF NAUTICAL SHARP PRACTICE.
The blame of yesterdays deplorable collision
between the yachts Puritan and Genesta, Just
as they were about 10 start on their race or
sandy Hook, seems, unquestionably, 20 have
been with the Yankee yacht. AT 11:30 am.
the first signal TO get ready for the start was
given. Both yachts made for the leeward OF
the space between the tug and the lightship,
whence the start was 10 he made. The wind
was from the south-southeast, just varying two
points from the breeze OF Monday. The
Genesta was nearer the point which both
sought TO reach. As the two ran across above
the starting point the moments advantage lay
with the Genesta. She took IL and came about.
The head sails fluttered the mainsail swung,
and, turning in on her keel a top spins, she
Tell on close hauled on a starboard tack,
which laid her across the Puritans path
by the rule of the road the broad seas over this
deft turn had given the cutter the right OF way
over, the Puritan still making on the port tack.
BY law and 10y court, sy the Puritan was bound
TO fall off astern OF the cutter, and come round
behind her. But III the Puritan could get
across the bows of her rival, she would come
about on her weather-bow, take the wind out OF
her sails and slip by, crossing the line ahead.
1t was chance which stirred the pulse TO see
as the Yankee, pointed q shade closer TO the
wind, ran into the Genestas course, and made
straight shot across the Englishman's bows.
There Vas a moment OF breathless suspense,
the daring move seemed rewarded with success,
and then came a loud tearing sound and the
bowsprit of the Genesta showed through the
mainsail of the Puritan, making a great ragged
rent, three feet long. Then there was q great
crdckl1g anu "A loud report ike a
musket shot, and all OF the Genesta's canvas
seemed To be tumbling about her deck. The
great sixteen-inch jibboom had been torn OF
short and was splashing about In the water.
Current opinion on the judges boat was all
against the Puritan. There is some reason TO
believe that the Genesta luffed a trine Just
| enough to poke her nose through the Puritan's
sail. The Genesta side of the steering Is that
the cutter was held off as far as she could be
without falling off before the wind, TO avoid
cutting the sloop i'm two. The Puritan's owners
showed their belief that the Genesta luffed by
| running back under the lee OF the Judges boss
and Offering TO sail the course alone and claim
the race. 1t was not a pretty thing to do, and
Mr.. Tams, the chairman OF the regatta COM
mittee, told Mr.. Forbes he could not, not by q
great deal, with an indignation thoroughly be-
fitting the occasion. Then the regatta commit
tee held a brief meeting, and disallowed the
Puritan, and offered Sir Richard sutton the
privilege of sailing over the course and claim
ing the race.
After few minutes Sir Richard answered:
1--WE are much obliged, but we can't do IL. We
don't want II that way. We don want a walk
over; We want a race"
No protest was entered by the Englshman as
Mr.. Forbes and Gen. Paine, OF the Puritan,
after a consultation with the committee at
Staten Island, agreed TO send q letter 10 Sir
Richard Sutton acknowledging their mistake
and agreeing to pay whatever the damage
amounted TO- Eastern yachtsmen were ex-
tremely indignant that their pet sloop should
be the cause of the delay.
The committee will officially declare the date
OF the next race 1t will probably be on FRI
day, TO be followed by the others on Monday
and Wednesday.