Year: 1867

The Approaching Yachting Season.


The sporting world is on the qui vips IN
regard to the programme Of the New York
Yacht Club for the coming season. Satishc-
tory as have been the performances Of the Club
in the past they bid fair 70 be eclipsed by IL
doings in the present First we are to have
the usual June regatta, with several new fea-
lures, the most important Of which is the
equalization Of the disparity between ths
larger and smaller yachts in point Of Tina
This will bring into the contest not only >
greater number of vessels, but the largest and
finest Of the Club.


The ocean sweepstake which is to come or On
the 11th Of July will, however, be the grand
affair Of the season. 1t win offer, perhaps, -
fair test of the sea-going qualities Of tho
vessels entered as the Atlantic race, the only
difference being that the one will be . c0urss
Of two hundred, while the other was run Of
hree thousand miles. 1t will test the speed
Of the different classes Of yachts equally with


The longer race, such vessels as the Widgeon
and Phantom having as fair chance in it -
their larger competitors. As the English
yachts will be allowed to compete, we shall,
in all probability, have fair number d
foreign eutries This, in addition to the
crowd Of American yachts which will bs
entered, will make up list such as no Other
contest Of the same kind either here or abroad
has perhaps presented.


We are glad Of the introduction of foreigs
rivalry in these races. We have always beatan
the English yachts whenever we have been
brought into competition with them in their
own waters. Latterly, they claim that they
build vessels which can whip ours, and We
should like to have the thing tried. We shall
give them every opportunity that hospitality
and fair play call tor, and we shall be ready
to embrace the same chances when they ofbr
them to us. There is nothing that We should
more desire to establish than . frequent inter-
change Of these visits and couresies beiweeA
the yachtmen Of different countries. Why
should not the English yachtmen, who make
voyages up the Mediterranean and even to
points in the Arctic Ocean, make the trip across
the Atlantic as q matter OF regular summer
enjoymenti We have demonstrated how


safely it can be done at the worst period Of tAs


year. Surely they viii initiate our example,
now that they see that there ID 20 little Eisk
attending 1t
| We should like to see Yachting become with


us not merely national sport, but as Win
the English, means Of family enjoyment We
see no reason why those who patronise such
places as Newport and Saratoga should nos
prefer spending the money which they sqdandeF


there, at the expense Of health and comfort
on the waters of the Sound or in coast
| ing our shores. We can promise them


that they will not only pass their time more


healthfulIy, but in regard to actual comfort


more to their taste. Our yachts are not what


they were dozen years ago. Instead Of sixty
tons, which was then considered large size,
| they are now built of tonnage which would


almost enable them to mike voyage round
| the world. A family on board one of thess


boats will find itself as comfortably, nay.


almost as luxuriously accommod odated as in its
own home. The first disagreable ordeal Of


sickness passed, they will acquire taste fox


the sea which will endure while they live and


which will unquestionably conduce to prolong


their lives.


In anticipating the arrival Of English
yachtmen during the summer 1t viii be said


we are over sanguine, seeing that our challenge
cup, which has been 30 long offered to


foreign competition, has not as yet excited
their ambition. Last year this would have


been q sufficient reason for discouraging the
expectation, but circumstances have changed
greatly since then. Englishmen, no more than


Americans, like to be beaten on their own


element They viii not forgive Us the ocsan
| yacht race until they have demonstrated tAat


they can DO as well If not better. This ID our


guarantee that they will come. Let us unite 10


give them right royal-no, right repuhlh


can reception.