The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-09-07
THE RIVAL YACHTS.
Gossip Concerning To-day's Contest
Between the Puritan and Cenesta.
The First Race to be Twenty Miles to
WindWard and Return.

NEW YORK, Sept. 5.-Every arrangement that
viii in any way tend to make the memorable con
tests Tor the Americas cup successful has been
ATTENDED TO BY committee of the New York
Yacht Club MeSsrs. j. Frederick Tams, Chas. H.
StebbinS and Jules A. Mantaut Official sailing
directions were given to the rival yachts this
morning. The course for the first day will be 20
miles TO WlndWard and return. The start will be
made at the outside Of Sandy Hook. The direc-
Ion ana force Of the wind will decide whether it
will be down to Scotland lightship or to the one
stationed off Sandy Hook. The signal to start
viii be given .punctually at 11,30 O'Clock. All the
squadron OF the New York club and outside yes
sells that intend accompanying the yachts will
rendezvous tomorrow evening at the Horseshoe
Off Sandy Hook. All boats that do not desire to
remain at the latter place will be given an an
chorage off Staten Island or Bay Ridge
:, Ihe judges boat, Luckenbach, will leave pier
East river, at $50 a. M. going direct to Staten
weather is favorable for speaking the navigators
OF the contestants, the judges will do So if not
system of signals will be used to denote at what
point the start will be made. The blue and white
code pennant -" win signify Sandy Hook light
ship, and red flag ''B' will mean the Scotland
llghtShlp. The competing yachts, when given
the signal to go, must pass between the Lucken-
bach and whichever lightship is selected.
;, Time VIII be taken as they pass an imaginary
line. The buoys to mark the course will be laid
to-day or early Monday morning. The two Yachts
must round the buoyS and the outer mark must
be kept on the starboard hand. The preparation
signal for starting Will be one long blast of the
steam whistle on the Luckenbaeh, with the low
ering OF the ensign of the America from her bow
Ilc OF the blue Peter its
place. After the sounding of the whistle, lower
ing of the blue Peter the hoisting of the New
York yacht club signal will notify the two yachts
to start. The Puritan's crew will be augmented
by that of the Grayling. Ex-Commodore Latham
A. Fish will have entire charge of the craft If
victory IS at all within her grasp, yachtsmen say
bringing her into the van at the finish. The Ge-
nestas crew IS the same when she first came
mere. The fleet OF yachts that will steam and
sail around the contestants is enormOus eyerv
boat that could be had being secured weeks ago.
Inc steamboat Empire State will leave Boston at
4oclock this afternoon with nearly 500 BostO-
mans, accompanied by at least 20 tug boats
which have been chartered by private parties
Inc Fall River line will run the steamer Provi-
LONDON, Sept. 5.-Th9 Telegram devotes near
" whole column to preliminary sketch on the
rial Approximations. The event is creating great
eXeltement here. Two morning papers expect
about it, ''''
This mornings Field in an article on the Ameri-
cas- cup refers to the great interest in the coming
race, and concludes; 'Never since the ocean race
between the Cambria and the Dauntless from
Queenstown to New York has any event excited
such interest in yachting circles, as the contest
winch Is about to take place between the English
cutter GeneSta and an American yacht"
NEW YORK, Sept. 6.-The Puritan was towed
at O'Clock this forenoon from the dry dock on
which she had been cleaned and pot-leaded to
the American docks at TOmkinsVie, S. L. where
shortly after 10 O'Clock John NJ. Wilson the
New YORK Yacht Club measurer, took her accu-
OihCllO OuO WdS lOunu 10 De o0 SO-lOO
feet sailing length and 81 feet 10 inches on the
water line This measurement makes her allow
the Genesta exactly 81 seconds over the courses
she Will sail. Fifty sail of yachts including many
OF the Eastern and Boston clubs, accompanied the
Puritan from their anchorages to the Horseshoe
of Sandy Hook. The wind was light at the start
but on the run out when a fresh breeze came from
the WeStWardthe Puritan slipped past the Genesta
and held her advantage to the anchorage. The
start will be made tomorrow at half-past 10
Two hundred sail of yachts are lying at the rem
devious and over 300 vessels will accompany the
contestants over the course.