Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-29
AREMARKAeLE YACHT RACE.
Al No Time We're the Navshos and the
Britsnnia q Minute Apart.
New: York Tlmes)

printed the IOnOWlnk account OF tHt raw
for the Brentons Reef Cup between Royal
Phelps Carrolrs Navahoe and the Prince
OF Wales's Britannia. which was won by
the Navahoe, over a course OF I'D miles
The distance was covered In ten hours
thirty-seven minutes and thirty-hve Sc
conds.
Nothing In yacht-racing annals says
The Times, can compare with the extra
ordinary close sailing OF the two vessels.
for, as a matter OF fact. neither was AT
any time more than a minute ahead OF
the other, and for fully half the distance
It may be said that there was not more
than a couple OF lengths between them.
Altogether, IL was race beating far anu
away in every particular anything YET
recorded in yachting history. There nave
perhaps been matches sailed over snort
courses quite as exciting. but nothing 10
compare with the wonderful speed main
taincd through such a trying sea. Ihere
was not a carry away worthy OF note
TO be recorded, although the masls Oh
both when the wind laid on caused some
anxiety. The match proved most conclu-
stvely that the racing yacht OF the present
season Is as far ahead OF the old type IN
regard TO seagoing qualities as In speed
The Navahoe was on her best point IN
having n broad reach over the ehtlie
course while. on the other hand the
Britannia does not so much excel IN thaI
,or,,culor Doint as she does sailing to
tyindward and to leeward 50 heavy was
the sea that for upward Of 100 miles the
two Yachts were under two sails only
vet even then they were reaching II Knots,
rounding the water In a wonderful way
and II is not too much TO say the drlit
was 0ving twenty feet up the mast. MT.
Carroll made an objection that the start
ing vessel was not in the same
posltion at the finish that she
was at the start. The answer
TO this was that n vessel may not anchor
in n fair way at nighttime. inc ZINES
were taken directly each OF the vessels
came in line with the stream OF the
Needles Lighthouse. and this was better
than being obtained in passing a noauhg
mark.
The wind was blowing of full single
reef strength from the eastward when Inc
two vessels got TO the rendezvous anu
both had the first caring hardened down
in mainsais third iibs out, and Jib-heaucd
tooesUs aloft. The Navahoe set her big
working staysail, and the Britannia her
reaching one. According 10 conditions
five minutes were allowed TO cross the
line. the time Ia be corrected at the
finish. The britannia was the hrst 10
keep away. and the Navahoe soon fol-
lowed the official timing OF the start
being:
II. MS IL NJ. 5.
Rritannia......12 Of O6 Navahoe......E " 70
With the wind about two points free
they set their course across channel'
little having TO be allowed for the epp
stream. which was lust beginning TO soak
nj Y,tafa a
line had the Navahoe on the lee quarter
and thus they ran in a rising breeze. on
opening St GATHERINGS. the fun weight
of the wind was felt and the sea began to
got heavy. A slight pull was taken at
main sheets and with every prospect
Of worse weather big staysails were were
shifted for working ones and jib-headed
topsalls got on deck, but topmasts were
kent on end Both the vessele were soon
tearing along at a great speed ana
making 4 close match, the britannia
early start being somewhat discounted.
When about % miles from the tnglish
coast. the Navahoe's jib topsail got adrift
and she had four hands out to gather In
the sail. which was badly torn. The yes
sells got off in mid-channcl about go
and tho wind was then blowing half a
gale with a heavy run Of sea, which the
hard blow Of the preceding hours had
helped 10 get up. The NavahOe. however
began TO travel the faster and got close
up under the lee quarter Of her rival
In running off and coming up she was
first pointing for lee side and then the
weather of her opponent, but at last
she was given sharp intentional luf
across the Britannia's stern. and on
keeping away drew up and eventually
passed by to windward into first place.
Topmasts were housed when they got
within about two miles Of the land. and
on drawing near the brealtwater sheets
were ratified IN with the weight Of the
wind The NavahOe was not more than n
clear length ahead when the pair began
to draw up for the bouy at the western
end of the brcakwater Here the last pull
at sheets was Geing taken. and the
britannia, luffing sharp. made a clever
inside turn ana had her bowsprit over
tapping the Navahoe, the latter at this
time having to alter her helm a little to
clear a French steamer.
The times the buoy at the western en-
trance was lufred round were as follows:
Navahoe, 3 hours l minute: Britannia. )
hours | minute 10 seconds Both were
sharp 10y the wind but were just able
20 lay through Cherbourg Roads on port
taCis. ON the way the Britannia got her
jib tOpsail i'm OF the bowsprit end and
both were got III for the coming sea fight.
The Britannia held her reach until she
could just fetch TO windward OF the buoy
lying off the pitch OF the breakwatcr. and
on coming round on starboard tack the
Navahoe was a few lengths distant on
the weather quarter OF the leader The
western tide was running when a look
out in the open was made, and before
getting anything of an oiting an ugly sea
was met; indeed, the sea was 20 bad and
the wind so heavy that 1t became com
pulsOry to ease both vessels Of their fore
sails
The Britannia was beautifully nursed
In regard to helmsmanship. the heaviest
of the seas being met on the beam, while
the Navahoe was also nicely sailed TO
shoulder the Combers. Darkness closed
in. and the same close fight was kept up,
the Britannia sailing about four cables
length distant of the Navahoe. which was
almost broad on the lea beam. The wind
was furious about twenty miles out. and
the laboring OF the vessels was terribly
trying. but as they got OFF into mid
channel things improved. When about
five miles from the Needles. the Navahoe
drew i'm the Britannia's wake. but she was
not more than two lengths astern. In a
lighter breeze the speed dropped little,
but both were tearing along foaming, and
they now had foresails on TO help them
along As the land was closed In. the
wind shortened. and sheets were drawn
little aft
Half mile from the Needles the Britain
MIA was quite on a wind, while the Nava-
hoe was being sailed hard along. The
Britannia was pinched up so as only to
give the Goose Rock q clear berth, while
the Navahoe was half a mile to the west
ward. Thus the two vessels. crossed the
line and finished a memorable race. The
official timing of the finish was:
II. Nj. S. II. NJ. 8.
Britannia (winner) 10 81 30 Navahoel0 IS 81
The Prince of Waless cutter was thus
81 seconds ahead. and from this 5ii2
seconds had to be deducted for the diff
ference at the start. the balance on the
winners favor accordingly being only ga
seconds.
After the race had been awarded to the
Britannia by 2i9 seconds. as stated in the
above account. Mr.. Carroll protested on
the ground that the stakeboat at the
finish had been removed, and that when
the yachts passed the point where It
had been located at the start. the Nava-
hoe was so close up that by time allow
ance she really won the race. This pro-
test was sustained. and the next day the
committee announced that the Navahoe
had really won, and Mr.. Carroll was
given the cup. ..--.4L.