New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-13
RACING IN A STIFF BREEZE.
THE NETWORK YACHT RACING AssoCIA-
TON.
GLORIOUS DAY FOR THE MANY BOATS THAT
SAILED THE SEA.

GLORIOUS DAY FOR THE MANY BOATS THAT
SAILED THE SEA-
| When autumns gales and angry seas end this years
yachting and the days Of summer and skies are
memories not the least pleasant among them Will be
| the thought Of that Monday, on September ., wheh
he NewYok Yacht Racing Association held its annual
regatta Seldom have fthe green shores Of staten
Island and Bay Ridge formed frame for a loyeller
or more inspiriting picture. The day itself seemed
TO rejoice In the delight Of life. September weather
and september skies combined to add a wondrous
beauty to the scene. Look where one would. all was
exhilarating motion and llfe Smoke flying in tatered
clouds from half hundred tunnels sails bellying and
bursting from masts in great billowy folds ocean
steamers gliding through the pitching fleet Of sails in
dignhed calmness, here and there the mahogany ana
brasses Of petted steam yachts glnting and burning
IN tho sunlight, and then the white excursion steamers
rocking slowly and unwilHngly In the seaway with
tiers of black. where spectators were grouped In APP
parently solid masses it was sight that made even
the Statue of Liberty look less grotesque ard clumsy
And then the SUM- Only the yachtsman, who has
seen shifting sunlight change the scenes on wind
swept sea, imagine the beauty Of It's altering
moods. Now the white parapets Of Fort Wadsworth
stood out against wondrous burst OF light shining
and dazzling. Anon. they were left gray and cold
while far beyond them the beams struck across the
open and shOne through deep green pillows, arch
Ing and rolling, with their white spray caps torn of
and blown away by the whip Of the wind. And
gallant wind IL that blew from the northwest
During the night II had awakened suddenly, and be-
fore 10 went the driving clouds and the rain. Just
before the begun the last demorzed troops
OF rain-clOuds fed seward and left sky with only
white, tiny clouds that lent an added beauty to the
day. Stronger and stronger blew the wind as tho
morning grew on the east; and when the rolling
noisy little tugboa which carried the judges got to
the starting point there heavy weather, indeed
for the smaller boats They the most picturesque
aud interesting Of the feet partly because there were
more of them and partly because they seemed so
utterly at the mercy OF the waves and wind.
One catboat, with huge racing sail, particularly
attracted attention. As she bore down with the wind
her hull hidden in the waves and all that coud
be seen was that roaring spread Of canvas; 1t looked
for all tbeswOrld like puff Of smoke hurled from the
muzzle of great gun. Though the strong wind foq'
babe the breaking ont Of big sails, the number Of the
boats made up for this. There were not less than
seventy four and besides them were msry other yachts
which did not belong to the feet and which carried
only spectators.
In all directions were sailing craft, Of all sizes,
models rigs and cOlors. Bath, Gravesend Bay, staten
Island Newark Bay, the North River the Harlem the
East River Bay Ridge Fort Hamilton, all surrounding
shores were represented. There was an endless
passing and repassng OF yachts From windward they
came rushing TO the mark with the fair wind drum
ming in the strainng sails. From leewUrd yachts came
laborously water dahng aboard necessarily, with the
wind bearing on them heavily that the sails
seemed living fat the water at times Among the
larger yachts the Nous and Smugser stood up proudly
as their shippers made them dart from place to place
awaiting the SINAI for the start When that signal
came the boats few over tho line we'll punched, some
times four and five abreast with canvas booming and
spray hying high as the masthead. BY the time the
last one had crossed the line the leaders were Wen
beyond the Narrows, and long straight line OF
white sails marked the path Of the racers. As the
start so was the finish. The wind had the rather
lnfreqlent quality of remaining strong throughout
and II made the end of the race good and Inter
esting
Az the boats came MP the Lower Bay they got q
truly martial though unattended, salute from Fort
Hamilton where target practice was gong on. houhu
shot won't screaming over the masts to stfKe miles
beyond raising great dancing waterspouts as inc
balls leapcd in the water Some Of the shippers 1eiV
rather uncomfortable, though there was no reason Tor
fear as the artillery officers at the fort have reduced
firing to great accuracy, and know almost eAac1y
where their shot Will strike.
Several points were brought out during the course
of tho REGATTA. one was that the sklfnlness and
practical knowledge of yachtsmen In New
York waters are almost perfect With such
iarrc feet. ard under such trying conditions
many accidents were confidently looked for. But
instead there were only one capsize, only one IN
stance OF fOulnR, ana lew eFrurS VI !uuS"40"O ."
coming over the line The rigging and strength Oh
construction Of most OF the yachts also proved hgny
satisfactory The few ib-sheets that blew out ana
the swapping Of one mauboom and one or two top
masts comprised tho extent Of the damage and tat
is certainly not much in the case Of SO many yaohts
all carrying big sails.
The way In which the regatta committee had TO
work was something to make the thoushtfuly selhsh
man wonder why men allow themselves TO be
npUoiuied on such committee, which rarely geu
cr dt for successes, while liberal abuse Is shO"ereu
an II for failures and accidents. ~
William Cagger, Charles e. SmTs, 1r:, ana Heorse
+ Garland who composed The years committees
were more successful tnan any one VINO saw tle
large list OF entries dared to hope but tieir yicOIS
was won By hard work from the time the Jug sitFteu
nm long after they landed In the evening lheg Ge
serve credit for tho careful arrangements, winch endeu
IN making the regatta successful
Tho Vamoose that new Herreshoh steam yacht
buiit for William r. Hearst, came down the bay VIII
1ueste In see the racers, but Mr. MunrOs -NorWOou
5d NOT aupear. Mr. Munro is trying hard 70 scC up
n rnco between his boat and Mr.. Hearsts nySI. nc
wants 10 prove the comparative speed OF Cue wv
Loats rs they have both beaten the monmouth. ~
I. 10 he hoped that race will take place OeloIe Uc
Vamoose Gcparts for san Francisco. BGt no" Snc
Ie IN 90 there is somewhat doubtful she Is ohH
100 fest over all, and it will not be comiortaDie
trim for those aboard If she attempts 70 go atouho
The Horn on her own bottom.