Savannah morning news., 1885-09-09
A FOUL BY THE PURITAN.
RACING DELAYED TILL FRIDAY
AND POSSIBLY FOR \ WEEK.

was as full OF yachts this morning as YES
teTday when the Puritan and Geuesta
drifted over the course, but not within the
prescribed seven hours and so failed 70
make a race for the American cup Ihe
Puritan at $50 O'Clock this morning an
chOred near the Sandy Hook dock. The
Genesta was anchored further in. The
signal service Office at the hour reported
light sOutherly winds under nYe niles an
hour. Brisk east winds were predicted
towards evening with increasing cloudi-
ress and local rain.
The Puritan Was at anchor all night
nesr the government wharf. She and the
Genesta got under way shortly after 10
O'Clock this morning, when the judges
boat. Luckenbach, and the stake boat,
Ocean KING, came near their anchorage.
There was quite a number of yachts
anchored and under sail around the Hook
some Of them were beating out towards the
Ightship. The wind was very light from
the east. 1t was also very hazy, the same
as yesterday. The wind, however, in
creased little later on, and the weather
cleared OF The yachts soon got under
sail. Both passed outside the Hook near
together at OBS O'Clock
THE YACHTS N COLLISION.
When the yachts came in view at the
Highlands from sandy Hook, the Genesta
and Puritan were IN close company and
making sail for Scotland lightship. The
red, white and blue pennant of the Puri-
tan was first seen. Tne yachts were less
than 80 yards apart when of the High
lands. AT II 20 o'ol0ck the skipper OF the
Genesta pointed right toward the Puritan
IN an endeaVOr to take the latter's wind
awav. The Captain Of the Puritan be-
Iieved that be could cross the Genesta's
bow. and tried TO do so. The result was
foul, in which the Genesta's bOwsprit was
carried away, and the majnsail OF the
Puritan was badly torn.
CoNsTERNATION IN THE FLEET
CONSERVATION on the judges boat and
on tire yachts was great. and those who
were not near enough to see were afraid
that the yachts were injured below the
water line. 1t was q foul, pure and
simple, upon the part OF the Puritan, and
was due to the fact that her skipprr
thought he could bring her before the
wind faster than he did. The hole in the
Puritan's mainsail is In the after leech, in
the lower corner, and of course renders
her useless. 1t was only by luck that
further Rccidents were aVerted, for after
the collision all the visiting and attend
ant yachts ran up close 10 the Puritan
and Genesta aud several fouls occurred.
The race was, Of course, postponed for
q future day.
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.
AS far as can be learned the Puritan
was at fault in fOuling, but it might have
been avoided by the Genesta if she had
acted differently Both yachts had no.
tced the preparatory signal of the judges
boat and were close together. The
Genesta was near the lightship and the
Puritan was close astern of her. The
follow suit, and the bowsprit of the
Genesta went into the mainsail of the
Puritan, lust over the boom, near the
leech. The next moment the Genesta's
bOwsprit was broken of close TO the stem
and took with it the jib, leaving only the
forestaysail standing.
EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE.
The hole in the Puritan's sail was not
Sery large and could easily have been re-
pared. but the Genesta set a signal pro-
testing against a race, and as they had
not yet been started her protesteEas noted
ana the yachts were tOwed back 10 New
York. 1t was pity, as there was Just
wind enough 10 have made a. splendid
race. The damage to the Genesta will
take some time TO repair, ana probably
the Puritan may have suffered some dam
age which was not observed from here.
BRITISH GALLANTRY.
The committee ruled the Puritan out
and told Sir Richard Sutton that he might
sail over the course If he wished. The
latter promptly declined to accept the
offer with thanks. No one was injured.
Both boats were towed to Staten Island,
and will probably race on Friday.
YACHTsMEN DISAPPOINTED
NEW YORK, Sept. S.-New York is full
Of disappointed yachtmen tonight, and
none are more 50 than those who came
on from tho East three days ago TO see
the first of the series of yacht races IN the
great contest for the Americas cup, and
have not seen it yet. The most serious
or delays was caused to-day by the
collision Just as the yachts were
about 10 start under the most favorable
conditions IN their first real struggle for
the trophy. A light fog which hung over
the bay during the early morning hours
was cleared away soon after o'clock by
the warm rays Of the sun, and pie SAINT
breeze from the southeast of moderate
strength, which came from the leeward
with short, ugly swells that told of more
wind behind them.
READY FOR AN EARLY START.
The change was hailed with pleasure
BY the crews Of both competing yachts.
WMlCu lay AT ANcuOF IN the horseshoe
west Of Sandy Hook, and by 10 O'Clock the
sails Of both were h0isted and the anchors
hove short, ready for an early start.
They were under weigh at 1918 o'clock,
when the regatta COMMITTEES, Messrs
Hams, Stebbins, and Schuyler, arrived in
the tug LuekenbRcb. Mr.. Forbes, Gen.
Paine, Mr.. Burgess, and the crew OF the
Puritan were feeling elated over their
victory OF Yesterdays 2O-mile contest,
while Sir Richard sutton, Sir William
Levinge, and Beaver Webb were CORE
spOndingly gum. No time was lost in
preliminary arrangements, as both were
eager TO start in the splendid breeze,
which freshened every moment.
UNDER SAIL.
After Lloyd Pb@nix had been put on
board the Genesta as representative of
the Puritan, the judges boat steamed 20
the Scotland lightship, anchoring at il.l5
O'clock, bearing east northeast from il,
aud distant about an eighth OF mile
When the preparatory whistle was blown
at i 80 O'Clock the accompanying steam
ers ali lay TO the westward or the light
ship, while the Puritan and Genesta were
both on The port tack close hauled, stand
Ing towards the judges boat and the light
ship. Their course was south southeast.
the same, within two points. as Yesterday
and the tug Ocean King had started
about five minutes 70 loe cut she course
when the first signal was given.