New-York tribune., 1890-06-06
THE SCOTCH CUTTER WINS.
BETTER DRErER THAN HER RIVALS
LACK OF BREEZE DErRAcrs FROM THE INTER-
EST OF THE YACHT RACE IN THE
LOWER BAY.

The Scotch cutter Minerva won a victory In the
lower bay yesterday four thoroughly good Amer-
boats. In her own class, Of which, the
Choctaw, designed by Burgess. II the first Of
the spring of the seawanhaka Cornthian Yacht
Club, and it was special for the forty foot ana
thirty foot classes in which the entries were:
Minerva, Choctaw, Liris, Helen. Marquta and Toma-
hawk, in the forty foot class and the Kathleen I'M
the thirty foot class.
1t not a good race. There not wind
enough, and the contest throughout a series Of
drifting and lufhng matches nterspersed with
succession Of strokes OF luck in the way of catching
variable breezes tides and currents. The race does
not settle the question Of superiority Of the Scotch
over the broader type Of American keel sloops. There
were times when the Minerva outpointed and out
footed the American boats, but the other hand
there were stretches in which the Yankee craft gained
upon the foreigner under all sorts OF conditions.
1t was disappointing that there so little wind
At IL O'Clock, when the boats were manoeuvrng for
start of Craven Shoa buoy, there slight breeze
from the southwest, but it was unsteady and alto
gethcr unsatisfactory, for II gave promise at any
time OF providing the yachts with whole sailful In
fact, at times there appeared to be a dead calm
the Bay. Occasional blue rpples showed where
nuctuating breezes passed over the water, and ad-
vantage OF them was taken by every helmsman.
According to the rules IT 70 be one-guns
start by which the vessels to be sgnalled
the line at exactly IL o'clock every boat not crossing
on time to be handicapped by the number OF minutes
elapsing after the signal The for the 40
fooers was from imaginary line drawn between
the committees steamer and Craven shoal Buoy No.
10, on the southwest spit, keeping it the port
hand; then to and around Scotland Lghtship keeping
it on the starboard hand and return over the same
course 10 the starting ne keeping 10 the eastward Of
Buoys Nos o. IL and 13 on the west bank and outside
Of Buoy No. on the point at Sandy Hook going and
returning
4 blast the whistle Of the committce's steamer
at 10 80 O'Clock was the preparatory signal with a
white ball raised TO the head Of the flagstaff. Ten
minutes later the starting signal sounded. and a
red ball was raised under the white one and from
this moment the time Of the yachts taken. They
all crossed the line on the starbOard tack. with main
sail, jib, hyingjib ib-topsatl and club-topsail.
The first reach 10 Buoy 10. during which
the Minerva outsaied her opponents easily, the
Chocaw aonc showing any signs of real competition
After iibing around the buoy they all set their spin
makers, and then the Minerva contrary to the Gus
tom Of cutters, began 70 fall back. In fact. tho
Choctaw, Lilis and Helen all ran better before the
wind than the scotch cutter. shortly after rounding
BuOy TO- the Mariquita and Tomanawk, being so far
behind that they could into the breeze taken
advantage of by the others, turncd their prows
toward home and gave up the contest. Between
Buoy 10 and the Scotland Light ship the Choctaw.
Lirls and Helen had scr.e, oi luiy matches and
the Minerva, hoping take advantage OF their
amateur science stood far away to the northern
shore to escape the tide. Her penny wisdom was a
pound foolish affair." for she got under the lee Of
the shore. where she had lracze. and the others
by simply drifting managed 20 get 10 the wind
war! oi her The Minerva rOui.ded the lightship
first four minutes and twenty isc seconds ahead II
the Ch0ctaw. eight minutes ah,af Of the Lirls and
fifteen minutes ancad Of the Helen
After rounding the light ship, The Liris did tho
best sailing Of tn, day. On thr 10 Buoy ) she
gained the Minerva and ChOcttw in the most
a MOmanal fashion. ClD,.l lJi,d she cslugb a
iary good breeze. which Of the others
ialt AT all, and she went up into
the wind with rush that made her
competitors appear if anchored. she not only
went to the wndward, but actually took lead Of az
least half mile. The Liri, admirably handled
by her MASTER Mr.. LovcIoy. who certainly would have
the had he not been caught IN Just as bad
luck on the run home in the way Of calms AS the
Others had previously experienced. After passing
uoy the Lris into OF those peculiar squalls
iu which the wind blows straight up and down,
and the Others striking 10 the shore escaped the
heavy cbb tide and found generous breeze.
Tile Minerva directly cOntradct.ng her behavior
on the second leg Of the Like grey hound
OF the sea before the wind for home with splnnaker
drawing every inch. After alternate calms and ukes
the boats, curiousv enough, finished in exactly rho
same order that in which they started. The
achievements of the four leaders will appear from
the following table: