Year: 1879




feet lay ut anchor in the harbor of New London en-
veloped in fog thick that you could almost cut
it with knife. AS the sun the mist gradually
broke away and relieved the minds of the ANXIOUS
yachtsmen who wero afraid that they were doomed
to an idle day in New London harbor. There was u
rush on shore during the morning. as many
OF the small boats had to take in fresh
stores. fill their water barrels and ice
boxes and make general provision for the
next forty-cight hours. The yachtsmen availed
themselves Of the opportunity to visit the city of
New London. and strolled around the quaint old
fashioned streets for hour so. taking look at
everything worth seeing. The New York papers
obtained of the previous day. and then it
concluded wait until eleven A. NJ. In order to get
their letters and Tuesdays papers The city looked
quite lively. anu picnic party from the Pequot
House dashed through the streets in a couple of
wagons. with Mr.. Mcvysa. OF New York. acting
guard in charge of the fish horn.


LEAVING NEW LONDON.


The first gun fred from the flagship Agnes at
eleven A. NJ, and shortly afterward the second class
sloops started. There good breeze from
the south-southwest, and the tide about tho
first Of the food The Winsome got away first and
stood on the starboard tack. close under the east
shore. The Stella had the weather position, and
when the winsome tackled crossed her bows The
I
Loper. of stonngton. started with the Sec
ond class sloops. Keeping off to windward
of the Stella. the Orion the next to
pass Fort Trumbull, with the Daisy Dolphin
and Agnes to leeward. Tho eloop Mantle. OF tho
New York Yacht Club. followed in the wake Of the
Orion, with the schooner Vision her lee quarter.
The schooner Peerless got under way off Fort
Trumbull as the Vision passed to leeward,
and headed up toward the Edgecombe House
the starboard tack. passing under the stern
Of the Agnes, which stretching the river
on the port tack. The wind was dead ahead beating
out Of the river and the weather looked thick and
dirty outside. The Stella was getting away from
the Winsome very fast and led the fleet The Orion
was doing we'll in this short work and closing up
rapidly on the second class sloops. The Peerless
tackled under the east shore. and stretching
across the Agnes. tackled under her lee bow,
and the pair stood over to the west shore. The
Vision followed after the Peerless, and about
when the latter tackled. with the Agnes off her
the river, coming III occasional puffs of the
land. The sun came out as the yachts were passing
the Pequot House, and gave some hopes Of o clear
day, although the fog horns in the distance
far from encouraging. The breeze died away when
about the river i'll rather aimless manner. While
the schooners were laying becamed the Oron's club
topsail was catching light air that kept that small
q light breeze came on the river and, catching the
Stella and Orion. started them off at lively gait.
The breeze did not appear to reach i'll past tho
Pequot House. and the rest of the fleet wers kept
few minutes in suspense. watching the two sloops
get away.


The air presently reached the Peerless and then
set the Agnes and Vision going. They gathered
strength every minute, and outside the yachts APP
peared to have a cracking breeze. Tho Peerless
tackled off the fequot House. and standing the
comb House. The Agnes tackled of the weather
quarter Of the ~, Peerless with the Vision
side the river. leading the fleet with tho
Orion In second position. The Atalanta had been ut
following after the Agnes and tackled right ahead Of
the Vision, which was stretching across on the port
tack. The Peerless doing well with the schooners
in their short tcks in light air. aud gained slightly
on the Agnes. The -Atalanta was out-ponting the
Vision but the latter was going faster through the
water. Shortly alter the yachts had got clear of
harbor the breeze began to die away and the sailing
became rather monotonous. The Vision held very
close to the Peerless and tack after tack came out in
about the same position. At one time the
Vision tackled of the weather quarter of the
Peerless. and slowly closing up. looked il
she would 20 by, but q little puff came the
water aud the Peerless again worked ahead. The
Vision got away with tie Ataianta in this light air
Stella and took the lead OF the Atlantic fleet but did
not appear to gain much on the JOSIE. which
tacking across with the yachts. At hafpast one Z.
Nj. welcome breeze came across from tho
southward and gladdcned the hearts of those who
had been roasting with the heat for the past hour.
The feet were now well scattered across the Sound.
The Orion led. and was heading up to tho
windward of Plum Island. on the port tack, with
the Stella next, trihe to leaward. The Dolphin was
the next. followed by the Daisy and Pirate On the
same line followed the Agnes leading the Winsome
and the Sadie. The Peerless on tho same tack
was half q mile to windward of the Agnes
and about tho same distance ahead OF the
Vision The sioop Mantle followed the Vision.
and the schooner Atalanta was away OF to windward
OF tho lot, but several miles behind. The breeze
no. of long duration. as ut half past two o'clock
1t had tapercd out into very light air from tho south
southeast The Orion tackled and made stretch
to the eastward. and the Dolphin also made


the sa Saxs in on the Thsrs
couple OF working schooners coming down with
cracking breeze to the eastward of Gull Island
light, and the Dolphin headed OF in that direction
with view of meeting the wind. Tho Peerless
concluded to adopt the same tactics. and was fol-
lowed by the Daisy, Pirate. Agnes and Winsome.
Tho Orion still held the port tack between GuIl
and Plum islands, but appeared to have very little
wind


The Atalanta, way back in the rear of the fleet.
heading tor Fishers sound. after the southeast
erly breeze that appeared to be coming from that
direction. The Dolphin presently ran into breeze,
and shortly afterward the Peerless began to feel
tho roar. The Agnes aud the Pirate were In
dulging in lufing match, the sloop declining
TO permit the schooner to pass to windward; Iho
started for the Daisy. In the meanwhile the Dol
phin and the Peerless had into cracking breeze
and were standing OH to the eastward of Gull Island.
evidently determined to stick to the wind
they had got it. The Orion and Stella were
trying to beat through the channel between
Gull and Plum islands The Agnes presently
captured the Daisy and followed after the Peer
less with the Vision ON the salno tack ahead Half

tide rip, passing Gull Island light that carried them
of to lceward ns II they were In u milirace. The
Daisy Agnes and Pirate adopted the tactics with
the same result. In the meantime tho Orion and
Stella had passed to the westward OF Gull Island and
miles ahead of the fleet. having the run all to
themselves There was hendsh sort of satsfac-
tion visible on the faces of the mariners OH board
the Dolphin and the Peerless as thcy watched the
Bportvc tide play its antics round the Agnes, Daisy
and Pirate IL is always pleasant to see others in the
scrape that we have just passed through and the sight
OF the Little Daisy tossing about like india rubber
ball, the Pirate performing kind Of heel and toe
step and the Agnes sliding OF rapidly to the east
ward was like balm poured upon troubled foulings.
| Those on the schooner Vision evidently knew
something about the tide. They ran to the east
ward of Gnll Island, and preferred to take her
| chances through the channel between Gull and Plum
| islands The Dolphin led the way to the eastward.
followed by the Peerless, Agnes Pirate aud Daisy.
with the Atalanta on the same tack couple of miles
to the Toward. The Dolphin tackled to the south
ward at 3h. 4Om ana crossed the bows OF
the Peerless, still inching up to the eastward At
| 3h 4Sin. the Atalanta made stretch to the west
ward, and. crossing the bows of the Agnes. tackled
OIL her weather quarter. The Pirate and Daisy were