The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-08-24
THE BIG sLooPs.
The Second Trial of the Yachts
Postponed Until Wednesday.
The MayfIower Shows Superior Sail
ing in a Light Breeze.
An Accident to the AtIantic-She
Loses Her Topmast.

NEW YORK, Aug. 23.-After nearly five
hours of slow sailing in smooth water and
with light summer breeze, the second trial
contest between the sloop yachts Mayfiower,
Puritan, Atlantic and Priscilla today, was
postponed by the judges-ex- Commodore
When the signal was given at 4.43 p. NJ, the
yachts were about Is miles southeast of the
Highlands Of Navesink, with the outer mark
fully six miles to windward, and not more
than four-knot breeze blowing. The Puri-
tan had the windward position, and with
fresh breeze would have been an almost sure
winner. The Mayfower held second place,
the Priscilla third and the Atlantic fourth.
A mile separated the first three and the At
lantic, who lost her topmast early in the
contest, and was far to leeward. Not a
breath Of wind stirred the foliage on Cover
nor's Island when, at $40 a. m. the judges
tug, e. G. Burgess, left Pier 3, East river,
with the New York Yacht Club guests and
reporters on board. A veil Of haze hung
bres breeze ss seemed s I Slight % Down at B Bay Ridge
the Mayfiower, Puritan and Atlantic lay
with anchors hove short, and after greetings
were exchanged with Lieut., HEM and his
wife, who had accepted Commodore Gerry's
tra's deck, the Puritan and Atlantic were
taken in tow by the tug Scandinavian, while
the judges boat steamed over to Staten ISL
and with the Mayf1ower in tow, and picked
up the Priscilla, leaving for Scotland light
ship. where the yachts were to start at 9.455,
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 12.0S o'clock the preparatory signal was
given. At this time there was large num-
Der of steamers and sailing vessels in the
vicinity, all laden with spectators, making
a beautiful picture. The starting signal was
given at 12.18 and 43 seconds later the At
lantlc came sweeping across the line between eel
Priscilla, whose time was only two seconds
later. Then came the Puritan with Commo-
dore Forbes at the wheel, at 1918, and the
MayfiOwer last at 1921. All crossed on the
port tack. The wind was very light from
the SSE, and the course was 90 miles to
windward and return. The tug Scandin-
avian had started at the preparatory signal
with red buoy on board to log out the
course, and was now we'll on its way. Five
minutes after the start the Puritan had the
feet on her lee beam, and the Priscilla SO feet
to leeward of the Brooklyn sloop. They
were heading SW by 5 on the port tack.
Capt Joe Ellsworth was sailing the Atlantic
splendidly along, when at 1852 her topmast
suddenly snapped off about five feet from
the top. As the wreck fell to leeward it
broke the club topsail and split the sail
badly. The crew cleared away the wreck
and Capt. Ellsworth put the Atlantic on the
other tack at 1.03. 1t was determined to sail
the race if possible. In three tacks all the
yachts had fetched Long Branch Pier, and
in four more they were off Elberon. They
tackled here as follows: Mayflower, at
2. 1870; Priscilla, at 2.15, and the Puritan at
ZIG, with light breeze, and they remained
ON this tack till ordered to stop. The yachts
were towed back to Bay Ridge, arriving
there between and 10 o'clock.
The Atlantic will be fitted with a new top
mast and the race will be resailed Wednes-
day over course of 10 miles in length
instead of 20, believing fair test can be had
in that distance.