The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-09-08
NO RACE.
The Puritan and GeneSta Succeed in
Sailing Over Only Half the Course
On Account of Lateness in Starting and
Lack Of Wind.
The English Cutter Fairly Outsailed by
the Yankee SlOOp,
Who Has a Lead Of Two Miles in the
Twenty Sailed Over.
Interesting Details Of the Trial for the
Americas Cup.


ness of the start OF the initial race between
the Genesta and the Puritan and to the lack
of wind afterwards the yachts succeeded to-
day in making only half the course or 20
miles. In this twenty mile beat to wind
ward the Puritan squarely outsailed the
Genesta one mile in 10 and nearly two miles
in the 20. A haze settled upon the bay all
the morning, and there was no wind from
any quarter until nearly noon. A hundred
sail of yachts lay in the Horseshoe at Sandy
Hook this morning when the judges boat
the Luckenback arrived from New York
with the judges, Messrs. j. F. lamar, Chas
Stebbins and Philip Schuyler. There were
also aboard John Harvey, A. Carey Smith
and Henry Steers, yacht designers. At 9.45
a. m. Jay Gould's steam yacht Atalanta
minutes by the tug Luther G. Ward towing
the Puritan. She was saluted by guns from
nearly every steam yacht in the fleet while
on her way to the Scotland Light ship, the
starting point. The Genesta remained in the
Horseshoe while NJ. Krebs of the New York
yacht club, representing the Puritan, was
put on board from the judges boat. She
then proceeded under sail to the light ship.
The English cutter was also saluted by a
large fleet of yachts now under weigh. The
tide was rnnning at flood during the forenoon.
OF the 217 vessels of all sizes and rigs
which were assembled within a mile of
Scotland lightship the following were noted :
Steam Yachts-Atalanta, Jay Gould's; Electra
Elbridge 7. Gerry's; Magnolia, Fairman Rogers
Polinla, w. L. Douglass; Stranger, f. S. Jaf-
trays; Utowana, Washington Connor; Stiletto
Ruth Falcon, Orienta, Adeta, Sakonnet, Wunda
Aimee, Skylark, Cora, Viola, Clean, Aida, and
others.
Schooner Yachts-Fortuna, Commodore H. S.
lHoyey's; America 3: F. Buffers; Nqrseman; ;
SperT SSperanza maye dpesu ~andffer G kesohte
Albatross, Mohican, Clio, Sylvie and Tempest
Sloops and CuttersZzGrace, Truant, Thetis,
Athleon, Vixen, Fanny, Widgeon. Muriel Stran-
ger, Bedoun Ileen, Isis, Clara and Maggie.
Steamboats-Gra Republic, Columbia, En-
pire State with 500 Bostonians on boardl; j. B.
Schuyler, Cygnus; also the eastern tugs Leader
and Gertrude, in addition to about SO from this
city.
After tedious wait of two hours after the
arrival of the contestants at the lightship
the preparatory signal was given from the
judges boat at 1.30 and it was followed five
minutes later by the starting signal. The
most of the attendant fleet were then lying
to the southwest of the lightShip to give the
Genesta and Puritan clear water to start in.
The wind had come in from the southeast at
a moderate breeze shortly after O'Clock and
it was hailed with delight by the thousands
of enthusiastic spectators on the steamers
who had paid from 81 to $3 a head to see the
great contest. By skilful man9uyres the
shippers of both the yachts brought them
close enough to the imaginary line between
the judges boat and the lightship on the
port track to cross in few seconds of the
starting signal. The Puritan slipped across
the line close up to the judges boat at 1.35.-
80, but for some reason Captain Carter of
the Genesta tackled to the starboard just be-
fore reaching it, thus losing l minute and 40
seconds and being handicapped 81 seconds
thereby. She crossed at 1.37.37 official time.
Capt Crocker, of the Puritan, which boat
looked very handsome, with her mainsail,
spirit topsail, fore-stay-sail jib and lib top
sail set, meant fight from the start. At the
moment the Genesta crossed the line, the
Puritan came about, and in thirty seconds
had filled away on the starboard tack. with
the Genesta a hundred yards on her lee
beam. The course was right ''in the winds
eye" and the tug Luther G. Ward, in charge
of Niels Olsen and S. t. Lippincott of the
New York Yacht Club, had started ten min
utes previously to lay out 20 miles to wind
ward and place the stake buoy for the yachts
to round.
Cheered by the shouts from hundreds of
spectators, and followed by an immense flo
tilla of pleasure craft, the two contestants
headed due east on their first reach. Find
ing she could neither pass the Puritan to lee
ward nor outpoint,her, Capt. Carter, after %
minutes, suddenly put the Genesta about to
cross the Puritan's stern, but Capt Croker
put his helm down at once, bringing the
handsome white Sloop round 40 seconds
later. The Genesta was full of tricks, for
round she came again in less than minute,
followed by the Puritan again in so seconds.
Both yachts were carrying exactly the same
canvas. Mr.. ]. NJ. Forbes, Gen. Pain, DR..
Bryant and W. Burgess were on board the
Boston sloop, with Joe Ellsworth as pilot,
and Mr.. r. Schuyler, representing the Ge-
nesta Instead of gaining by the little skir-
mish which he inaugurated, Capt. Carter
had lost, and the Puritan had gained de-
cided advantage.
Both yachts went about at 307 and
reached to the southwark, having made
about eight miles of casting on the starboard
track. Now the Puritan began rapidly tC
open the gap between herself and the Genes
ia and when they next tackled to the east
ward at All she was fully three-quarters of a
mile to the windward of her antagonist and
an eighth Of mile ahead. At 515 both
tackled to the southwark again and now the
Genesta was over a mile ON the Puritan's
| lee quarter. The way both the yachts
walked through the feet of schooners, in.
Guiding the Montauk Fleetwing, America
Gitana and Columbia aStonished the Specta-
tors and proved the superior speed of these
boats as compared with the old models. Al
$50 when the judges boat arrived at the
outer mark it was sundown, the wind was
growing lighter and the yachts being two
codnd 4HI If6C Zoe safItu within the required
| time of seven hours and the regatta commit
| tee decided it postponed till tomorrow Wher
| the boats will start at the same hour over the
same course.
All the accompanying yachts turned bacl
before dark and the Genesta and Puritan
were towed back to the Horseshoe by the
| Luckenbaek and Ward.
The result of today's contest is thought b,
experienced yachtsmen to be a convincins
proof that the Puritan can beat the cuttel
under any conditions.