New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-08
HURPAH FOR THE MAYFLOWER.
SHE BEATS THE GALATEA BY OVER TWELVE
MINUTES.

SHE BEATS THE GALATEA BY OVER TWELVE
MINUTES.
THE YANKEE sLoOP AHEAD THROUGHOUT THE
RACE, EXCEPT AT THE sTART-wIND ENOUGH
TO MAKE A SATISFACTORY CONTEST
LIEUTENANT HEM GOOD
NATURED, ALTHOUGH
BADLY BEATEN.
Two of the fastest yachts that ever raced sailed
for the Americas Cup over the New-York Yacht
Club course yesterday and, as has happened every
time tho cup has been contested for, victory
remained with the Stars and Stripes. Thei day
was perfect one for a marine pageant and good
one for hight weather yachting. The Maytower
took the lead Immediately after the start and for
over five hours and half the racing flag of Lieu
tenant Hem hopelessly chased the signal oil the
Yankee soop over the blue and sunlt water
gentle wind from the sonth rippled the Bay and
ocean and tempered the heat of the sun, and the
thousands who viewed the race from tugs,
yachts and excursion steamers saw the most
beautiful sight that was ever presented on these
waters. The English yacht sailel well. She
showed that she was feet yacht at least as
the challenger of last year, Sir Richard Sutton's
Genesta. But that flying Yankee from Boston
could no more be caught by her than tho sunbeams
that danced on the waves before her sharp bows.
Tie May6ower was we'll handled and she slid along
to certain victory easily and gracefully as bird
skimming along the waves. Her victory over the
Galatea was not great as that OF the Puritan
over the Genesta the same course last year,
but is was enough to show conclusively that in
light weather certainly in all weathers probably,
she is able to keep the cup from gong over to
Cowes in the locker of the Galatea.
The only thing that marred the race was the
culpabe careessness of the tugs and steamers IN
getting in the way of the racing yachts. In spite
of all that has been said and written on the subject
steam vessels would insist keeping close TO the
racers and seemed to think it a matter Of little
Importance if they ran across the yachts hows and
sent swash of water against them. 1t was with
difficulty that the regatta committee could get
clear place for the yachts to start and finish and
round the buoys and the lightship. Now and then
a crowd of steamers and tugs would get around
one of the racing yachts. taking from her what
little wind there WAS and seriously interfering with
the race. One of the most offensive tugs was that
chartered by the New Haven Yacht Club, which
would cling close to the lee quarter OF the Galatea
in spite Of the warnings of the regatta committee.
As rule tho steamers and tugs bothered the
Galatea more than they did the Mayfower. thus
adding discourtesy to ignorance and stupidity.
At 10 o'clock, when the judges boat Luckenbach
was then making preparations to get under way
From the city larger feet of tugs and steamers,
all crowded with people, came steaming down.
Sailing directions, regularly signed and sealed by
the regatta committee were put aboard the yachts
And then the Luckenbach dropped her anchor oil
Owls Head and waited for a breeze. There was
scarcely any air stirring at the time. but the msts
and clouds were rolling away in great sunht
masses and to the southwark there was the
promise of a wind. The rival yachts under main
sail forestaysal cubtopsail and 1ib, moved
leisurely ever toward the Staten Island shore. On
the Mayfower were General Paine, her owner;
Edward Burgess her designer; T.. A. Willard, DR..
Bryant, Nathaniel Herreshof and j. Frederick
Tams Her sailing g-master. Captain Stone, was
at the wheel, and "Joe" Ellsworth, looking
unusually solemn. stood near him. On the Galaea
were Lloyd Ptenix, who represented the New-fork
Yacht Club Frederick May, j. BeavorWebh and
Lieutenant and Mrs HEM. The Lieutenant OF the
Royal Navy looked as good-natured and jolly as
ever and SO perfectly happy at the prospect Oh
race that he did not seem to care how 1T resulted
80 long as it was a race.
The breeze that came creeping out of the south
freshened, and as it became evident that the
Judges boat would soon give the preparatory
signal the English and American yachts lay
almost motion less with their sheets trimmed flat
IL.
her lib topsail run up in stops aud blue-shirted
sailor was perched in her crosstrees like thst
sweet little cherub that sits up aloft," and VINO
has become in the course of years and yacht races
something Of chestnut The crew OF the
Galatea, in suits of spick-and-span white, with
their Geordie caps" OF red and white on their
heads, looked like sailors out Of picture-book.
The most prominent thing on the deck of the May
flower was pair of flaming red suspenders which
adorned General Paine Those suspenders were
cleaning and fiery. There were defiance and
victory in them. All day long they cleaned over
the waters like rich ruby in o sapphire setting.
but the Galatea never could get near enough for
Lieutenant Hem to study their cut.
After some trouble the judges boat succeeded in
clearing open space between itself aud the buoy
oil Owls Head and blew the preparatory signal
The yachts cautiously approached the line and the
Mayhower broke out her jib-topsa They were
both close on to the line when the starting whistle
WAS blown at 1896 o'clock. Then took place one
of the prettest starts ever seen at yacht race.
The MsynoweI was almost on tho line with the
Galatea on her weather quarter when the Engiish
yacht sudd suly shot ahead aud blanketed her rival