Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-15

itan and the keel cutter Genesta-haye met
and fought one round in the marine hattie
which is to decide the future ownership of
that pecious trophy, Auierics's cup.
In the race of 3s miles over the inside
course of the New York Yacht Club today,
in extremely light weather, the centre-board
defeated the cutter l6 min. A sec, actual
time, or with the 2S Sec. time allowed the
cutter BY the Puritan, l6 min. 10 Sec, cor
rected time.
The course was from an imaginary line be-
tween buoy Is, of Owls Head, L. l., and
the committee boat, anchored one-eighth OF
a mile to the westward, to and around buoys
10 and 81 in the lower bay. thence to and
around Sandy Hook lightship and return, to
finish of at buoy 10, one-eighth OF a mile
south of Fl. Wadsworth.
The wind at the start was light from south
by west, which made il a dead beat to the
first mark; from here to the lightship the
wind freshened and permitted the yachts to
start their sheets at intervals. From the
outer mark back TO buoy 8, off Sandy Hook,
the wind was about four points free Two
tacks were made in the Horseshoe to weather
buoy 10, and from there to the finish the
wind was well on the port quarter An anal
ysis of the race shows that in the windward
work to buoy 10, the Puritan beat by m. s.,
and from there to the lightship | min., 10
secs. From buoy s. of the point of Sandy
Hook, to the lightship, about four miles, in .
fresh breeze with the lee rails to the water,
the Puritan only gained 90 secs. on the Ge-
nesta, and only Is secs. on the same distance
coming back to buoy 5. In the entire run
from the outer mark to the finish the Puri-
tan beat the Genesta IL min. and 25 secs.
Long before half past ten this forenoon the
upper bay was dotted with pleasure craft, all
heading for the starting point in the great
contest, which all felt would come of at last.
Pier |, North river, was thronged with
people by 8 o'clock, eager to get on board
the iron steamers Cyngus, Sirius and Taurus,
while at West 23d street, pier g. North river,
and at JEWELS wharf, Brooklyn, the great
three deck steamers Grand Republic and
Columbus, with scores of gay flags flving,
took on board hundreds of passengers to see
the race. very light breeze from the south
barely ruffled the water of the bay when the
Judges boat, Luckenbach, having on board
the regatta committee with Rear Commodore
F. c. Laurence; Davis Appleton. secretary
of the Eastern Yacht Club; John Harvey
Cutter, yacht designer; S. T. Lippincott and
other prominent yachtsmen, arrived at Tomp-
kinsville, S. l., at $50. where VIM. Krebs,
representing the New York Yacht Club on
the Genesta, and Louis p. Bayard, S. Y. c.,
were taken on board. Both the Genesta and
Puritan had Already tripped anchors and were
standing out on the starboard tack for the
mid channel. Handsome indeed did these
twin ocean gladiators look as they slipped
along over the almost CLASSY surface of the
bay, wooing the wind aloft with their snowy
white club topsails, cleaning in the morning
sunlight Mr.. Forbes and his muscular crew,
augmented by Mate Richman and three sailors
from the schooner yacht Crawling, looked
confident and earnest, while Sir Richard
Sutton, Capt Carter and his white iacketed
tars appeared slightly uneasy when they saw
the light weather.
A long blast of the whistle at 10. 25 on the
Judges boat was the preparatory signal. At
that time an immense fleet of steamers aud
sailing craft mad gathered to the north and
east of the starting line. The Genesta and
Puritan were lying to within 300 yards of the
judges boat. The tide was running strong
flood when the starting signal was given at
1870. Both yachts came down for the line
almost together. The Puritan was to the
windward and crossed first at 1882, ,O2, with
the Genesta two seconds later. As the time
limit was 1882 both yachts were handicapped,
their official time being 10 32. Standing
across to the Long Island shore they both
tackled close under Owls Head al l0,37 30
The Genesta feeling puff of wind which
struck her just as she filled away on the port
tack shot ahead of the Puritan, who was to
the windward; but the gain was only mo-
mentary, for when both tackled Is minutes
later the Genesta was good 500 yards in
Puritans wake. AS the rival craft passed
through the narrows hundreds of spectators
standing on the high sloping green bluffs
cheered the contestants on. The Puritan
catching puff of wind passed out first,
while the Genesta lay almost motioness
under the lee of the fort. When she finally
got the breeze the Puritan was nearly mile
ahead. Tacking to the westward off buoy
Is at IL 0s the Puritan fetched to the quar-
antine anchorage. The wind was very light
and neither yacht made much speed against
the tide.
When both went about at H. 80, the Puri
tan to the port and the Genesta to the star
board, the former was fully half a mile to
the windward. After five tedious stretches
to the windward the buoy was weathered and
rounded as follows: Puritan l,l6,22; Genes
ia 1925. They were here saluted by the
attendant steamers.
The Puritan passed buoy at 1872 and
started her sheets for the lghtship. The
Genesfa passed the buoy at l.35. Both were
carrying the same sail msinsail, club top.
sail, foretopsai, jib and jb topsail. From
here to the outer mark was the most exciting
part of the contest. Travelling at a ten knot
rate in fresh breeze and heeling until their
lee rails were "awash," they made a pretty
picture. Quite heavy breeze came rolling
in from the eastward and soon the wave
crests were covered with white caps, while
an immense lotilla of steamers supplement-
ed every moment by others from the city,
chased each other for the lightship, to wit
ness the turn which was made by the yachts,
as follows: Puritan 2, IA, "a; Genesta l9, ,16.
Both yachts were given perfect
ovation of applause from the
steam Whistles, guns, and hundreds of throats
as they luffed grandly round the mark and
kept away with sheets started for the point of
Sandy Hook. The Puritan held her lead
well and both. with booms of to the starboard,
came to the westward like race horses, oniy
to strike into a calm streak and head wind off
the Hook. The Puritan went about at "a,
and stood into the Horseshoe for three miles,
when she was able to weather buoys 81 and
10. The Genesta made the same ,acks later
and both rounded buoy 10 as follows: Puri-
tan. 3, IS, 05; Genesta, 8, 46. O5. Setting
her balloon Jib topssil at once, aud starting
her sheet broad off to starboard she soon in.
creased her lead on the Geuesta, although
both had TO stem the ebb tide in light air
The Genesta's spinnaker was sent out to
port in Ii minutes after rounding the buoy.