The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-09-08
OURS.
The First Heat Won by the Swift
Mayflower.
The Yankee Yacht Shows Her Heels
to the British Cutter.
An Immense Crowd of People Wit
ness a Remarkable Race.
The caIatea Beaten by IL Minutes
and 40 Seconds.
Cheers Given for the Gallant Lieut..
Hem and His Charming Wife.

Cheers Given for the Gallant Lieut..
Hem and His Charming Wife.
NEW YORK, Sept. This has been the
greatest yachting day New York has ever
seen, and another day of glory for Boston
for the yacht Mayfiower has won the first
race of the international series against the
British cutter Galatea. with steady whole
sale breeze from the southwark permitting
each to carry all their light sails. The
Galatea was beaten - minutes and 40
seconds, actual time, or 10 minutes and 2
saconds corrected time, the Mayfower hav-
ing given her 38 seconds time allowance ac-
cording to the New FORK Yacht Club rules,
under which the races are sailed. The con-
test was eminently fair for both yachts mas
most windward work, while the other half
was with free sheets. Although the cutter
was defeated she has shown herself to be
faster yacht than the Genesta in a light
breeze, and enc that may be very hard to de-
feat in strong breeze and seaway 1t has
been day of excitement such as is seldom
seen liz New York. From dawn till dark
afiOat or ashore, in hotel, club or on Change
the yacht race was the leading topic OF con-
yersatiOn.
who were going to witness the race had en-
barked, and were steaming down to the rem
devious off Bay Bidge, L. I. There lay two
types of the clipper class ready for the grand
contest. A hundred sails of yachts surround
ed them. Ten o'clock was the time set for
the start, but up till that hour heavy haze
hung over the city and harbor. There was
not breath of wind, while the sun shone
iercely. The regatta committee, on board
of the tug Luckenback,. who was passing
sailing orders to Genera Paine and Lieut..
Hem, ON board their respective yachts, in
structed both to get under weigh and get in
position for prompt start when a breeze
came, then steaming to the starting point the
tug was anchored.
At 1880 o'clock breeze sprang up from
little east of south, clearing away the haze.
Quickly the two contestants and steamers of
all sizes clustered about the starting point
The preparatory whistle screached at 10.45
o'clock and 10 minutes later came one for
The mainsail, club topsail, jib and forestay-
sail had been manouvered into good posi-
tions and down they came for the imaginary
line between theIuckenback and bouy No.
away, at a five knot gait, the Maytlower ap-
parently ahead and close to the judges boat
not close enough however, for with a twist
of her long tiller Capt. Bradford shot hand
Somely the Galeata into the windward, be-
tween the Luckenback's bow and her rival,
and crossed the line second ahead amid the
widest applause.
Mrs. Hem, in yachting costume, with
scarlet "Tam O'Shanter' cap, stood in the
companion hatchway, her husband standing
on deck, cool and confident. Capt. Strong
steered the Mayfower, with "Joe" Ellsworth
at his elbow and Gen. Paine near the wheel.
The official start was, Galatea, 10. 56.11; May
flower, 10.5612.
Both yachts stood across the channel on
America cup. Lying close under Long
Island shore at 1870, they made a stretch
over for Staten Island. The Mayfower had
secured the windward position, and with the
last of the ebb tide under her lee bow, man
aged to keep it and began "outfooting' the
cutter at once.
At HOP the Galatea set her jib topsail and
at Hop the Mayflower tackled under her
quarter, the cutter following suit minute
later. The breeze was freshening every mo-
ment, and prospects for a fine race were en-
couraging. A large feet of accompanying
steamers made trouble for the yachts at
times, and they had to be chased away by
the judges boat
When the Mayfiower tackled to port at
11.21, she had Fort Lafayette under her lee
quarter, while the Galatea was yet under
Fort Wadsworth. The Boston sloop crossed
her bow fully quarter of mile to wind
ward three minutes later, and kept steadily
increasing her lead. At 11.59 when the Gal
was leading her by, fully three-quarters of a
and Capt. Joe" Ellsworth, who piloted the
Mayower was working it for al ne nf was tSs
Galatea, was also doing his best in this di-
rection, but the cutter was not equal to the
occasion. He finally ''split tacks" with the
sloop, and going about at 1920 held the port
tack, while the Mayfower made two and
Both then made short boards for buoy 81, the
first turning point, the Maytower fetching
around first, at 1.O1.51, and the, cutter at
1.07.07. They were greeted with perfect
ovation of whistles from the attending
started, for buoy 5. The Mayiower passed
it at is, and the Galatea at 1.25. To buoy
81 the Mayflower had already beaten the cut
ter 5m. It's. From here to the ''outer mark,
Sandy Hook lightship, the contest was very
pretty. There was a splendid breeze, clear
Sky, and just slight easterly swell rolling
in, which were excellent conditions. Both
yachts were close-hauled on the starbo ard
tack, almost laying their course for the light
ship. The Mayflower slowly, but surely.
ssout-footed" the cutter, and tacking for the
outer mark at 2.27.30, she came grandly
along for it on the port tack. Immediately
after turning the Mayfiower set her balloon
jib-topsail. The official time of turning was:
mayaower ..... ............a z s5 M 81 5;
Gaiatea. ..........................2 A 13
Both made a splendid picture as they
rounded the lightShip. To this point the
Mayflower had beaten the Galatea minutes
II seconds, and she was fully two miles away
when the latter squared away, The May
flower, with her big balloon jb topsail belly
ing out in the now strong breeze, came
''horsing' by buoy 81, now on the home
stretch, at 3.34, just as the Galatea was pass
ing the point of Sandy Hook. The latter
passed the buoy at SAG, and both jibing over
TO port, came grandly down to the finish on
food tide. Finding that spinnaker would
draw, Lieut.. HEM ordered it set to star
board. At Alb Capt. Stone, finding the
cutter was overhauling him, followed suit
with spinnaker set five minutes later. 1t
was the grandest marine spectacle ever seen
in New York Bay. Surrounded by nearly
500 steam and sailing craft, the Mayflower
came tearing along through the marrow. path
of water and crossed the finish line amid the
firing of guns, blowing of whistles, and
waving of acres of bunting and handker-
chiefs. The Galatea received as hearty a
welcome when she arrived, and when the
Judges told Lieut.. HEM he was beaten II
minutes seconds, he laughed and shouted
back
II thought it was half an hour"
Three cheers and tiger were given by the
yachtsmen for the gallant little Irishman and
his charming wife, Both yachts proceeded
after the race at once to their anchorage off
Bay Ridge.
The following table shows the actual result
| of the famous race:
Elapsed Cor'ct'd
Start. Finish. Time. Time.
| Mayf1ower. .10.56 IL 4.22.53 5.26.41 5.2641
| Galatea. .....10.5611 4.35.32 5.39.21 5.3S43
| The next contest will be Thursday, over a
course 20 miles to the windward OF. leeward,
| starting from Sandy Hook Lightship.
The Mayflower's total gain from the start
| to the finish was IL min. 40 sec.
POLITICS IN ST. LOUIS.