The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-10-05
THE GREAT YACHT RACE.
The Puritan OutsaIIs the Genesta


There was no time lost on the prepare I
tions to-day. When the Judges boat ar
rived off Sandy Hook the GeEesta and Puri-
tan were seen under way close up under the
Scotland Light ship, the starting point. As
soon as Mr.. II. r. Schuyler, representing
the Genesta on the Puritan, was put on
board the latter yacht, and Fleet Captain
Robert Center boarded TIE Gene5ta to do
similar duty for the Puritan, the tug Sean
dinavian, in charge Of S. T. Lippincott and
Mr.. Olsen, was sent away to log out the
twenty-miIe course east-south-east TO lee
ward, and at 1915 O'Clock the committee
boat anchored with the lightship, bearing
south-sou th-west, distant $50 yards. This
for the imaginary line over which the yachts
were to pass. At this time the steam-yachts
Electra, Stranger, COrsair Vision, Sentinel,
Polynia and Skylark bad gathered to the
southwark Of the judges boat. The steam
ers Grand Republic, Taurus, Sirius, II. T
Bay and the old Dominion line steamship
Richmond, their decks fairly black with en-
tlusiastic spectators, lay closely by with
enough flags flying to supply couple of
circuses. The breeze was freshening every
leeward, where the yachts could carry their
spinnakers, was sufficient to create the ut
most excitement.
THE START.
When the preparatory whistle was given,
at exactly II o'clock, the Puritan lay about
quarter of mile astern Of the judges
boat headed southwest, with her spinnaker
boom down to starboard, the main sheet
hauled aft and the jib sheet to windward.
One minute before the starting whistle was
blown the Genesta came tearing across the
tugs stern and the Puritan's bow on the
port track, heading parallel with the line.
Those who were watching the movements of
both were fearful that she would cross the
line before the signal was given, and breath
lessly awaited the result. Just then the
Puritan's main sheet was paid, Captain
Croker put her helm down, and she came
for the line. SO finely had the cutters skip
per calculated the time that while the start
ing whistle was blowing she shot across, her
crew running her immense spinnaker aloft
as she went over and breaking it out in just
thirty seconds. Away she flew to leeward,
leaving the Boston sloop forty-five seconds.
The latter broke out her balloon jib as she
crossed the line, and her spinnaker in a
minute after. A grand picture was pre-
sented by these two clipper yachts as they
dashed away with their pyramids of snow
white canvas towering above their narrow
bulls. All the steam yachts kept well to
leeward of the twin racers, and were puzzled
to keep pace with them. The official time
~ o4o
11:06:01.
OUT TO THE STAKE BOAT.
The Puritan soon began 70 close the gap
made at the start. She kept directly in her
antagonists wake until nearly up with her,
when she hauled out to the eastward, so
shat the Genesta could not keep off and pre-
vent her passing without jibing. At 1885
o'clock she took in her balloon iib topsail
and staysail, and at 11:45 o'clock she had
passed out ahead of the Genesta about half a
length. The Genesta's spinnaker was not
drawing we'll at this time, neither was her
mainsail for the wind was at the main
boom, and Captain Carter, recogni zing this
fact, took in his spinnaker at II O'Clock,
jibed her main boom, dipped her spinnaker
boom and set sail on the port side, all in
five minutes. She Immediately drew ahead
of the sloop, and in half an hour had passed
her. This was a surprise, but what was
coming was a greater one. Fifteen minutes
later the cutter good quarter of mile
in the lead, with her great white spinnaker
bellying out in tie stiffening breeze. The
Puritan would not jibe, although their spin
maker was not drawing, and she was steadily
n eft ms q q
club topsail at 1880 O'Clock, the Puritan's
coming in a moment later. The cutter set
working topsail, but the sloop set no other.
At 1 p. m. the Genesta's spinnaker boom
was lowered on deck, and everything made
snug for the long beat to windward. All the
passenger boats and steam yachts had
gathered off the outer mark, and all eyes
were upon the two boats as they came
bounding along. All thought then that the
Genesta was the winner The official time
of rounding was as follows: Genesta,
1:O5:3O; Puritan, 1:07:36.
HoAIEwARD BOUND.
The Genesta, with her mansheets hauled
fiat aft, jibed as she rounded, and in a
minute after she was close hauled on the
starboard tack, standing to southwark. The
Puritan made a wide turn, which placed
her further to lceward; and now COM
menced the grand struggle for the finish,
twenty miles to windward. Black, threat
ening clouds appeared in the northwest, pre-
saying more wind for the boats. The Puri-
tan went about first at 1928 and the Genesta
minute later. Captain Croker thought it
prudent to house the Puritan's topmast at
lbs, as the wind was coming fast and heavy,
while an ugly sea was fast rising, into
which the yachts plunged. Three light
leech lines on the Puritan's jib were led aft
and when hauled taut by General Paine and
the crew much improved the set of the sail.
Out from the northwest at / 40 p. m. came
a spiteful squall of wind, whistling through
the shrouds OF the boats, Iashing the green
waves into foam and sending the spray i'll
sheets high over the yachts to windward
Those on the small tugs were drenched with
the heavy seas that boarded them. Every
one thought the cutters topsail must come
down. She went kneeling over as she felt
the force Of the squall till Ler lee sail was
lost sight of in the g!ittorins foam; over yet,
till the water was washing up to her sky
lights amidships and there the limit.
Captain Carter held her 10 her course, then
about north bv east. one-uuarter east, for