Year: 1872

~V~s HSechn8 I'm Juno.


The sport which spreads white canvas for
the breath Of the salt sea wind has, during the
past three weeks, attracted the eneroies Of its
votaries The several clubs have each IN.
augurated the season with regattas under tha
bluest of skies, the brightest Of suns and tha
lghtest Of winds. The ladies are charmed
with their excursions down the bay, and VOW
that they have enjoyed most delightful time.
as the yachts looked beautiful and picturesque
floating lazily on the water. This is, no
doubt true; but, strange to say, with
the perversity of the male sex, the yacht
owners have come to the conclusion that
for real sport it was very unsatisfactory.
For man who owns fast boat to see
rival competitor who is drifting about
couple of miles to leeward catch puff Of air
sufficient to carry her home while he lies be-
calmed, with his sails hanging idly to the
masss is irritating, to say the least
On the day of the New York Yacht Club
regatta some of the racing yachts lay be-
oalmed inside the Hook, and did not move q
cables length, while the rest Of the fleet sailed
from the Hook to the Lightship and returned
Again, on the Brooklyn regatta there was very
light breeze; and, although on this occasion
those yachts generally credited as the fastest
never be claimed by them as any criterion
of speed except as light weather yachts.
On the Wallack Cup day the yachts
were started with what may be cop
sidered quite fresh breeze for this
season of the year; but then it never held
steady from any one quarter, but veered
round, SO favoring the yachts that stood to
the eastward as to give them decided adj
vantage over the rest of the feet. All this has
q very disheartening effect, especially to yachts
men who have spent thousands Of dollars in
equipping and improving their boats in the
hopes of making them sufficiently fast to beat
all others and carry off the much-coveted
prizes. t~


The New York Yacht Club fleet has been re-
inforced this season by the new schooner yacht
Viking and the new sloop yacht Vision. The


schooners Madeleine and Tidal Wave may
also be called new yachts, as they have each
been heightened some eight or ten feet, and
exhibited lately qualities of sailing which en-
title them to be classed as fast sailers. The
annual cruise will be carried out this year with
the usual spirit and energy. Several of the
largest yachts, such as the Sappho, Enchan-
tress and Rambler, being on cruises abroad,
their absence is certainly to be regretted;
but as the feet has received several additions
since last season, there will be quite large
muster, including the Alarm, Resolute Fleet
wing, Wanderer, Tidal Wave, Madeleine. Foam,
Eva, Columbia, Alice, Fleur de Lis, Viking and
others. Rear Commodore Franklin Osgood, it
is understood, will take command of the
squadron this year, and will fly his pennant
upon the Fleetwing vessel celebrated in
yachting history as one of the participants Of
the famous ocean race of 1865. The Rear Com
modore Is one Of the most able and energetic
yachtsmen in the New York Yacht Club, and
during the past few years his career has been
marked by series of triumphs in the yachts
Widgeon, Magic and Columbia, including the
famous race for the Queens Cup in 1870.
The yachts, it is supposed, will, as is GUS
tomary rendezvous at Glen Cove and visit New
London, Newport and Martha's Vineyard in
succession. On the return the regular autumn
race will probably be sailed on the Newport
course, round Block Island and return A
visit to Portland has been discussed, but no
definite arrangements have been concluded.


The regattas sailed during the past month
have plainly shown the fallacy of yacht racing
in June for test Of speed and sea worthi-
ness. In fact, holding regatta in June has
resulted in the actual exclusion of all the
larger yachts from taking any part in the
contest, but, although rather lightly esti.
mated by yacht owners, it has always been
looked forward to with the most pleasurable
anticipations by the other members and their
ladies as one 9f the pleasantest excursions of
the season. By way Of comprofnise Q sug-
gestion has been made which appears to give
general satisfaction to all interested, and that
is to have an ''opening day" in the month of
June and the true yacht racing in September
and October.


The opening day. might be held on some
date in June that would not interfere with the
Jerome Park races and before the annual
exodus to the summer resorts The club
might take this occasion to throw the
schooner yachts open to the inspection
of the members and their lady friends.
The programme should comprise cruise Of
the entire feet Of the club, sailing in squad
ron, to the Horseshoe, or outside Sandy Hook,
and return. This would enable the
yacht owners each to invite from ten to
thirty guests, according to the capacity
Of their boat, and indulge them with pleasant
sail. 1t would also give the ladies chance
Of witnessing the working Of yacht, and, if
the vessels maneuvred by signal from the flag
yacht like fleet of men of war; it would