The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-06-16
the GREAT YACHT RACE.
Weather and Wind DO Not Prevent
an Exciting Contest.
The Priscilla Reaches the Home
Line First,
And Gains the First Place Among
the Flyers.

NEW YORK, June 15-The twentieth an
nual regatta of the Atlantic Yacht Club,
which occurred today off New York, is of
special interest owing to the fact that
three of the four boats from among which
the defender of the America cup against the
Galatea will be chosen, took part For the
first time in the history of these races a
special class was made up to include such
sloops as the Puritan. In this class the Pur-
itan, Priscilla, Atlantic and Mayfower were
to sail. But owing to the late arrival Of
the Mayfower last evening, she withdrew
this morning, her captain saying that she
was in no condition to race. This left the
Puritan. Priscilla and Atlantic in the special
class. and in Glass A about forty Of the best
schooners, sloops and cutters of the Atlantic
Club.
The time allowances in the special class
are as follows: The Puritan allows the At
lantic So seconds, and the Puritan minutes,
IL seconds. The Atlantic allows the Puritan
1 minute, 30 seconds. Mr.. j. Malcolm
Fobes. the owner of the Puritan. sails her in
the race. Capt. Joe Ellsworth sails the At
lantic and Capt. George Cooley the Priscilla.
The course for the large boats was from
the anchorage off Bay Bidge down through
the Narrows and around stakeboat near
buoy No. s, thence around the Scotland
lightship, then to and around the Sandy
Hook lightship, thence home. For the boats
under 40 feet in length the turn was made at
the Scotland Lightship. Ii one yacht OF any
class made the course prescribed for it in
ten hours, it would be race for all.
Ats O'Clock this morning the wind at
Sandy Hook was blowing from the north
east at the rate of 16 miles an hour. The
weather was cloudy and hazy. Outside the
Hook the swell was pretty regular and not
very high. The prospects were good Tor
race, and as the tide would help the yachts
both ways, it was expected that the race
would be sailed in quick time, unless the
wind should go down.
The yachts started at exactly 1913 O'Clock
with the Puritan in the lead. The scene
was most exciting one OFF Bay Ridge as
the white winged yachts dashed through the
blue waves and hundreds of all kinds Of
water craft assembled at the starting point
of the regatta. A fine breeze was blowing
and there was every indication that the
days sport would be most exciting. The
shores of the Bay were lined with specta-,
tors The wind held steadily from the east
and gave every evidence that 1t was blowing
lively breeze outside. On board the Prls-
ella, Atlantic and Puritan all was hurry and
hustle. The decks were cleared and every
LulIlR llduc StCulC lUl bilO ldOCs hC DlCOAOs
which had been steady all the morning,
shortly after 10 o'clock shifted a little to the
north and blew at the rate OF IL miles an
hour. 1t was then noticed that 1t was fall
ing a trifle. There was few minutes delay
in starting the races at the advertised time;
The Puritan got away first, closely followed
by the Priscilla and Atlantic. Fort Rich
mond was passed in the following order:
Puritan HOO; Priscilla, HOS; Atlantic,
11.12. The other yachts were all punched,
A 4hn ind 1voi from
southeast had dropped to 10 miles an hour.
AT 1906 the Thetis was leading the
fleet closely followed by the Puritan. They
were then near the stakeb0at, with the other
yachts little astern in the haze: The Ihetis
carried a spinnaker but the Puritan did not.
The Thetis rounded the stake boat at 1S.0S-
She was closely followed by the Puritan,
who turned the stake boat 80 seconds later.
The Puritan passed the Thetis near Sandy
Hook and passed buoy No. 5 at 1241, the
T6etis at 1241, the Atlantic at 1912, and the
Priscilla at 12.4s, The Grayling was close
astern of the Priscilla, and the Montauk fol-
lowed, with the Agnes in her wake
The Puritan round Scotland Llghtshlp at
The Atlantic turned Scotland Lightship at
116. the Priscilla at LIS, the Grayling at
1.20.30, and the Montank at 1H.
At 2.05 p. M. the Priscilla, Atlantic and
half mile to the leeward of Sandy Hook
Lightship. The wind was east-northeast,
very light and dead ahead.
AT 1.35 the yachts rounded Sandy Hook
Lightship, homeward bound; the Priscilla
first at 22S. the Atlantic second at 2.31, and
the Puritan third The Grayling still leads
the schooners, with the Montauk second
At 245 the Puritan has passed the Atlantic
and was gaining on the Priscilla. The
Grayling was then turning Sandy Hook
LIghtship.
At 3.02 the yachts were off Sandy Hook.
The Puritan was one-eighth of mile ahead
of the Priscilla and to the windward.
AT 3.45 the Puritan had fallen behind the
Priscilla.
The dimensions of the four yachts that are
soon to race to decide which should defend
the America cup this summer against the