The Republican journal., 1885-09-24
Puritan Wins.

TIC.
"The cup stays in America" These words
were spoken by eX-Commodore James D.
Smith, as the Puritan's main boom passed the
finish line, off Scotland light ship Sept. 10th,
after the closest contest ever sailed over any
forty mile course. The Genesta was beaten
one minute 80 seconds. The course was 20
miles to leeward and return from Scotland
Light-ship, the wind being w. N. W. The
yachts were sent away on an K. S. Z. course,
dead before the wind. In this run the cutter
beat the sloop ore minute q seconds; from
there to the finish they made but one short tack
and two long legs of 8 and 10 miles, respective
ly, In half gale of wind which changed to N.
n. w. soon after the outer mark was turned
In this work the Puritan gained minutes 80
seconds from point to point.
THE START.
When the preparatory whistle was given at
ii O'Clock, the Puritan lay about a quarter of a
mile astern the judges boat, heading southeast,
with the spinnaker boom to starboard, the
main sheet hauled off and the jib sheet to wind
ward. One minute before the starting whistle
was blown the GeneSta came tearing across the
tugs stern and the Puritans bow on the port
tack, beading parallel with the line. Those
who We're watching the movements of both
were positive they would cross the line before
the signal was given and breathiessly awaited
the result Just then the Puritan's main sail
paid out, Capt. Croker put her helm down and
she came for the line. So finely had the cutters
skipper calculated the time that while the start
ing whistle was blowing she shot across, her
crew running up her immense spnnaker as she
went over and breaking it out in 30 seconds
away she flew to leeward. leading the Boston
sl0op 40 seconds. The latter broke out her big
balloon llb as she crossed and set her spinnaker
il Il minute after. What grand picture these
TWO clipper yachts presented as they dashed
away with their pyramids of snow white can
vas towering above their narrow hulls. The
official time of the start was Genesta, u.05-16 ;
Puritan, 11.06-01.
THE CUTTER LEADS AT THE OUTER MARK.
| The Puritan soon closed the gap and kept
directly in her antagonists wake until nearly up
with her, when she hauled out to the eastward
so the Genesta could not keep off and to prevent
her passing with jibing. At 11.35 she took in
her balloon lib to port and staysail and at AS
she had passed out ahead of the Genesta about
half length, her spinnaker not drawing at this
| time, neither was her mainsail, for the wind as
an Old sailor remarked was AT the main boom
end. Capt Carter recognizing this fact took in
| the spinnaker at u O'Clock, jibed his main BOOM
dipped his spinnaker boom and set his sail on
| the port side, all in i've minutes. She imme-
dlatelI drew ahead of the sloop and in half an
hour passed her. This was a surprise, bat what
was coming was greater one. Fifteen minutes
later the cutter was good quarter of a mile in
the lead, with her great spnnaker bellying out
in the stitfening breeze. The Puritan's people
would not jibe, although their spinnaker was
not drawing and she WAS steadily dropping
astern. Down came the Genesta's club topsail
at 1890, the Puritan's coming in a moment
later. The cutter set her working topsail, but
the sloop made no other change. At / P NJ the
Genesta's spinnaker boom was lowered on deck
and every thing was made snug for a long beat
TO windward. The large passenger boats and
steam yachts had gathered off the outer mark
and all eyes We're upon the two boats as they
came bounding along. All thought that the
Genesta was the winner.
The official time of rounding was: Genesta
l.0530; Puritan, 1.01.36. The latter jibed as She
rounded and in a minute after was close hauled
on the starboard tack, standing to the south
ward. The Puritan made wide turn which
placed her farther to leeward, and now com
menced the
GRAND STRUGGLE FOR THE FINISH.
twenty miles to windward Black clouds ap-
| peared in the northwest, presaging more wind
for the boats. The Puritan went about first at
LIB and the Genesta minute later. Capt.
Crocker thought it proper to house the Puritan's
topmast at 1.25, as the wind was coming fast
and heavy, while an ugly sea was fast rising.
into which the yachts plunged.
| The light leech lines on the Puritan's jib
were led aft and when hauled taut by Gen
Paine much improved the set of the sail. From
the northwest. at Lao, came spiteful squa
of wind, whsting through the shrouds of the
| boats and flashing the green waves into foam
and sending the spray in sheets over the yachts
| TO wlndward Those on the small tugs We're
drenched with the heavy seas that boarded
them. Every one thought the cutters topsai
must come in. Down She went, keeling over
as she beat in face of the squall, till her lee rail
was lost TO sight in the smother of the glitter
ing foam. Over yet, till the water was wash
ing up to her skyghts amidships, and which
was the limit. Captain Carter held her to her
course, then about \. by E. E., for the wind
had hauled to n n. W., and she seemed 10
spring through the cheppy seas which were
'lpped with sSetning white caps as far to
Vineyard as the eye could reach
/ The Puritan was making excellent weather
at this time and steadily ''eating" up through
the Genesta's lee. just before she tackled she
was fully a mile on the Genesta's lee bow. in
stead of lacking. where she could have crossed
the Genesta's bow, she kept on, thereby, the
| Committee say, losing much valuable ground
| The Genesta went about at 2.1S. This stretch
TO westward proved to be the last one. as the
WIND favored the yachts so that they We're able
| to fetch the finish. When Capt. Croker found
he could easily fetch the light-ship he started
he >loop's sheets and gave her good full"
| She was then about half mile Oh the Genesta's
weather quarter. who also bad his main sheet
started tritle, but was pointing very high
| At 80 the Puritan kept broad off and came
boiling" down for the Genesta's weather
| quarter, evidently intending to blanket her
| Capt. Carter seeing this put the cutters helm
! down and shot the Gene>ta INTO the wind
| across bis rivals stern and took the Windward
| position himself, although he lost three min
| match for few moments until The Puritan got
! enough ahead. They Were then, at 353. about
3. miles from the finish. the water getting
! smoother every moment while the breeze con-
| tinued strong. The Puritan increased her lead
| and
CROSSED THE FINISH LINE
ut 4.0@l5, while the heet of steamboats, gave
! how
| responding heartily.
! The Gnnesta crossed the line at 4. 1899, only
| ! minute and n seconds behind her. The
| yachts looked grand they dashed across the
| line. Both were taken in tow by tugs and cast
of at Staten Island anchorage at & p. NJ. The
race was over and the
AMERICA CUP STILL RETAINED
on this side the Atlantic. In speaking of the
| race, eX-COmmodore Smith, who has seen
every important race for the last 30 years. said !:
'tlt was the grandest race ever seen in the
world. and if the Puritan had been properly
handled she would have beaten the cutter more
| yet"
of this interesting race:
Name Start. Finish. Elapsed. Time
Pepitaa !" o. % 4 t,Sa5 "5 S3 i
There was great rejoicing over the victory in
| 4NCW LII N anu tIscWutTc. anu the Ge0eSta
| people took their defeat in good part. As to
the criticisms on the handling of the Puritan it
| is well said that they are in bad taste and not
only throw discredit upon her but on her
plucky opponent as well.
AN ENGLISHMAN ON THE RACE
Said an Englishman who witnessed the race ::
1--WE were fairly and squarely beaten. The
Genesta had just the weather in that beat to
windward in which she has proved herself
superior to any other English cutter, and now
the Puritan has shown herself a little better
than the Genesta in bowling breeze. That
proves the unquestionabe superiority of the
| Puritan, as an all round boat. Possibly, |
think probably, the Genesta would beat her in
a stiff breeze with heavy sea, but the Puritan
would still remain the best all round boat |
hope the Puritan's victory will teach us in
England to make such changes in our system
OF measurement and time allowance as will not
| necessitate such sacrifice of beam. The Puritan
is compromise soop. If we are wise We'll
take advantage of the hint by turning out
compromise cutter"
NEWSPAPER COMMENT.
Boston may have her faults, but the building
of slow boats isn't one of them. [Chicago Mail,
Gen. Butler, in the America, followed the
Puritan and the Genesta in Fridays yacht race,
but his time was not taken. 1t was lust SO in
the presidential race last year. Thus does his
tory repeat itself. Boston Traveller.
| The Puritan proves to be legitimate off,
spring of Boston couture" Her designer,