Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-24
THE RACE POSTPONED.
Owing to smooth Water and a Light
summer Breeze the Yacht Race is
Postponed Until Wednesday-The At.
lantic Disabled.
New YoRY, Aug. 23.

New YoRY, Aug. %.
After nearly FIVE hours of slow sailing in
smooth water, and with a light summer
breeze, the second triol contest between the
sloop yachts Msyiower, Puritan, Priscilla,
Atlantic and Priscilla today was postponed by
the judges ex-Commodore James. ID. Smith
sAd fleet Captain kreba When the signal
was given at 4.43 p. NJ the yachts were
about Is miles southeast of the highland of
Nsvesink, with the "outer mark" fully six
miles to the windward and nor more than a
four kno. b,eeze blowing.
The Puritan had the windwsrd position
and with fresh blowing would have been
almost sure TO have been the winner. The
Msyfower held the second place, the Pris.
ella third, and the Atlantic fourth. Not u
breath of wind stirred the foliage on Gov
ernor's Island, when, at $50 A. NJ, the
judges tug, the E G. Burgess, left Pier No.
8, East River, with the New York yacht club
guests and reporters on board. A veil of
haze hung over the bav, and the prospect OF
q racing breeze seemed slight. Down at Bay
Ridge the Mayhower, Puritan and Atlantic
lay with anchors hove short, and after greet
ings had been exchanged with 1t. Hem and
his wife, who had accep ed Commodore
Gerry's invitation to view the race
from the Electra's deck, the Puritan
and Atlantic were taken in tow by
the tug Scandinavian, while the judges
boat steamed over TO Staten Island with the
Msyfiower in tow and picked up the Priscilla,
leaving for Scotland lightship where the
yachts were to start, at 9.S5, of the lower
quarantine. The judges left the tug and
boarded the Electra, intending to time the
start from that yacht. Nearly two hours
were consumed in towing the four great
sloops out to the starting point.
At l2.0S p. NJ. the preparatory signal was
given. At this time there were large num-
ber of steamers and sailing vessels in the
vicinity, all laden with spectators, making a
beautiful picture
Tne starting signal was given at IL. Is and
45 seconds later the Atlantic came sweeping
across between the flagship and lightship,
"blanketing" the Priscilla, whose time was
only two seconds later. Then came the Pur-
itan, with Commander Forbes at the wheel,
at 1919, and the Msyfiower last at ~ 2l. All
crossed on the port tack.
The wind was very light from SIS f. and
the course was 20 miles to the windward and
return. The tug Scandinavian had started
at the preparatory signal with red buoy on
board to lay out the course and was now well
on the way. Five minutes after the start
the Puritan held to the windward position
with the Atlantic 100 feet on her lee beam
and the Priscilla so feet to the leeward of
the Brooklyn sloop. They were heading
southwest by south on the port tack. Capt.
Joe Ellsworth was sailing the Atlantic SPLEEN
didly along when, at 1882. her topmast sud
denly snapped of about five feet from the
cap. As the wreck fell to the leeward it
broke the club of the topsail and split the
sail badly. The crew cleared the wreck and
and Capt. Ellsworth put the Atlantic on
another tack at l.03, determined to sail the
race if possible In three tacks all the yachts
had fetched Long Branch pear and in four
more they were off Elberon. They tackled
here as follows; Mayfower, IA 30; Pri.-
ella, 2 l5; Puritan, 2 is. They remained
on this tack till ordered to stop.
The yachts were towed back to Bay Ridge.
arriving between 9 and 10 The Atlantic
will be fitted with new topmsst and the
race will be resaled Wednesday over course
of 10 miles in length instead OF 20, the COM
mittee believing that fair test can be had
in that distance.