The morning call., 1890-08-10

not milionaires, but clerks and book-keep-
ers the rich members of the two elder clubs
are pleased to dub their vessels the Mos
quito Fleet" and decry the abilities, from
a seaman's point of view, OF their respective
crews. As a large proportion OF the conf
munity worship Mammon, this. to a great
extent, has tended TO kill the interest Of the
public in these races.
In the palmy days of the San francisco
Yacht Club, when the fleet was composed
of such vessels as the Emerald, Startled
Fawn, sehooners Pearl, Peerless, Sappho,
Ariel and Lively, popular feeling ran high,
and on the days when the clubs annual re-
gatta was held three or four excursion
steamers were crowded, While Telegraph
Hill was invariably black with that portion
OF the pOpulace which possessed not the
requisite half-dollar to pay their way on
the steamers.
Things are different now, and unless the
sporting element can see an opportunity to
bet on a safe thing any aquatic event ex-
cites but little interest This is not as it
should be. There is no more noble or ele-
waiting sport than that of yachting. The
hoodlum element takes no stock in it, and
the field is therefore left open to the repu-
table members of the community. Atioat
they can always find eongenial company.
This noble sport strengthens the muscles,
fills the lungs with ozone, and above all
gives young man nerve and confidence IN
constant motion and change of scene always
lend interest Yachting is rarely Gull
sport except in case of n dead calm, when is
seldom had ON San Francisco Bay during
the yachting months, from March 10 Sep
TENDER.
The old-timers still hold out to certain
extent, but death and matrimOny have
thinned their ranks materially, and the
peculiar feature of the sport Is that the
younger men do not seem to manifest any
interest in it. The craze for, pugllism that
has overrun this city is largely responsible
for this state OF affairs.
The Young men, who have seen all
this brutality, have become Satlated and
blase, and consider themselves too
speedy " for any honest sport; yet if they
would only become interested in yachting
they can find all the excitement necessary.
What is more exhilarting than to stand at
the helm of small yacht on breezy day
in the channel, with the sheets hauled Hat
aft, the little boat plunging into sea after
sea, with the white spume running along
the lee cockpit-rail, the spray flying into
clouds over the forward wiudward deck, the
"cheep" of the water as it rushes by and
forms little whirlpOolS in your wake, the
rhythm of the wind through the taut weather
rigging making sweet music, While all TINS
time you realize that you are an actual par
ticipant in this glorious freedom, instead o1
being an inauimate spectator.
The Coriuthian Club has done great
deal to foster and encourage the sailing OF
snail boats, and has now as many menu
bers rs it can comfortably accommodate;
but $50 members. be they ever so enthu-
sastic, cut but small figure in cOmmu-
nitv as large as this, and it seems as though
the sentiment Of the youth OF San fTall-
cisco is to dodge exercise and not to par
ticipate in any manly spoft. and more's the
pity.
The Freda, with Messrs. Lyons, Howard,
-. / ~ oil la M q
weeks cruise up the Sacramento River.
K. II. Cations challenge to a. Emerson
of the Pilgrim 20 race him with the taWn,
single-handed, has not been accepted. Cap
tain Emerson declines TO race without ms
German crew on board.
OF all the enthusiastic members of the
enthusiastic Corinthians James johnson OF
the Rambler is the one out OF sight. rOr
two months every evening, blow high, blow
low or blow not at all, he has taken MS
little boat out for sail. He prefers COM
pany when he can have it, but if none is
forthcoming he goes out slngle-handed ana
enjoys himself.
Every one acquainted with yachting
matters here must remember the intense
rivalry that existed between the owners oil
the Spray and the Thetis for years. The
question of supremacy was never actually
settled, although the Thetis had little the
best of it.
About eighteen months ago the Spray was
sold and sent to Honolulu, since when,
until the beginning Of this season, the
Thetis has been without a competitor in her
class, and her owners have, like Alexander,
been signing for more worlds to conquer A
new Richmond appeared in the held this
spring.
The Freda was built by her former owner
for the use of himself and family, and was
consequently lightly spared. When she
changed hands she had about 100 pounds
OF lead put OH her keel and her spar plan
altered, until she carries as much canvas as
the ThetiS, aud now il is nip and tuck be-
tween them whenever the TWO yachts come
together, which is frequently, for scrub
race always results.
The writer was on the Thetis not long
since; light breeze was blowing, and
'dolee far niente" prevailed for the time
being. Some one exclaimed, There comes
the treda." Bobby Efert few TO his feet,
pushed Sid Robinson away from the tiiler,
gave critical look at the set of the sails,
gazed around the horizon for wind, and
ordered the main-sheet haltened att
Horace Locke, who was partaklng OF
glass Of St Louis, and who generally lm-
bibes il diletantte sort OF way (he being
an expert and a g0urmand) gulped II down
and stood by" while Charley Ballage's
bald plate throbbed with excitement and
grew red, and a general air Ot expectancy
pervaded all hands. Thus 1t Is always
when these boats meet.
SOmeWH nat Similar cONulllOHS DItfdll W loll
Pilgrim and Fawn, Ceres. Cyretta and
Cisne. Lark and Rambler meet. no effort
being spared to beat the other yacht in
their respective classes, which keeps up the
interest.
William n. McCarthy's new yacht. the
Ramona, is in the hands of the joiners, and
was expected 10 be finished last Saturday
night. Her owner aud friends will go MP
to Benicia to-day with the expectation oil
sailing down to Sausalito.
The fourth race of classes and G of the
Corinthian Club for the Orca and O'kell
cups will take place next Sunday. The
course has not yet been selected, but will
be made known by the Regatta Committee
on the morning Of the race.
Every lover of yachting should throw
himself into the breeeh" and do his utmost
to make the regatta on September 9th a
success. Every yacht-owner, whether his
craft be large or small, fast or slow. should
enter his vessel, and do his best. There is
no disgrace in defeat ana large fleet Will
undoubtedly enthuse the public and make
the sport popular.
Yachtsmen should not allow this season
of promise to pass away without at least
one good event With the assistance of the
n. S. G. w. the conditions are most ausplc-
ious for IA successful competition.
THE OARSMEN.
Admission Dav Regatta-A Good Field
of Starters Expected.