Year: 1876

THE YACHT RACE.


THE FRoL1C BEATS THE INA.


The Canadian yacht had come from Toronto
to test the sailing qualities Of the Fro1ic, and
each yacht, which made matters even. There
were errors from strictly artistic sailing points
OF view, one on the part Of each, SO neither
gained any advantage therefrom. The race was
lost and won on its merits.


The match was for $1,000 side, between two
Of the best yachts, sailed by two Of the best
crews that ever fought the wind on Lake Mich
igan. The vessels had raced before and the Ina
had won. This fact put the crew Of the Frolic
on their mettle. TO man who had never seen
them race, or knew nothing of their records, it
would be difficult to make choice between
them. The Fro1c is long and low, carrying an
immense amount Of cut-up canvas The Ina is
stiff and trim, setting an enormous mainsail,
and trusting to but little else. On the wind,
the Ina sails closer than the Frolic, and the lat
ter works up easier than the former. Taken all
in all, it is IN even match, much dependent up
on skill.


Ten O'Clock WIS the time fixed for


THE START.


The Fro1ic cana down to the starting point
Twelfth street) first, closely followed by the
Ina Along the front there was over LOCO peo-
pie watching for the start. The Yacht Club
was out in force with its boats, and squadron
was in readiness to follow the1ace- At8:45 the
tug Tom Brown went out and fixed the stake
boat, seven miles and half north Of Twelfth
street, at point just above the Marine Hos
pita1, about two miles and half of shore. At
10:15 the competing yachts came side by side,
and at the signal stretched away on the port
tack, the Ina having trit1e advantage, running
to windward, and starting at 1925, with the
Frolic to leeward and starting at 10:27. As they
got away on long leg to eastward, the fleet Of
yachts and steamers followed The Michigan
Omitted States Navy, the Ben Drake
Excursion tug), the sheboygan Goodrich
Line), the Bret Harte pleasure tug),
the Tom Brown Gudges' boat, the
Tarrant (tug) and half dozen others we're in
close pursuit. The Michigan was crowded with
invited guests, who joined in complimenting
the courteous officers for their attention during
the trip. The Ben Drake sporteo band, and
afforded the best opportunity for careful
scrutiny Of the race. The George Dunbar, the
Sheboygan, and the Bret Harte, and the others
kept close behind the competitors, following
them throughout


Five miles out from the starting point


THE SCENE WAS EXCITING.


The wind was from northward and westward,
ncurly northwest By north. At this point the
sailing qualities OF the boats were open to
criticism. The Ina WAS quarter Of q mile to
windward, flying along under mainsal and
forestaysai AS she went about on the star
board tack she let 60 her flying gaff topsail.
The Fro1ic had set jb topsail, lib, forestay
SAIL mainsail, and gaff topsan at the start, and
held this press during the stretch to wind
ward. It looked like long and short
leg race for the first stretch, hut the wind
hauled around to the northward and eastward,
blowing half fresh and sometimes In putfs. The
Ina crcpt slowly ahead, sailing closer on the
wind than her opponent, and on each tack max
ing foot or two by her readiness in stays.
The Frolic vas well handled, and what she lost
in stays she gathered in taking advantage of
each swell Of wind. Two miles from the stake
boat it looked as if the Ina had the race in her
hands, With every puff she hugged up closer,
while the Frolic was compelled to fall off
to take the full benefit. Not only WAS the
Ina forging ahead, but she was creeping to- wind
ward as well, and, though the distance between
the two boats was from an eighth to q quarter
OF mile when they hauled the starboara tacks
on board for the third stretch in shore, 1t was
plain as they stood away on the port tack that
the Ina was outsailing her competitor and rap
idly increasing the distance. Then came


THE FIRST ACCIDENT.


The Ina went about, and while In stays the
throat halyard block broke, and down came her
mainsal By the run. But her crew we're quick,
and caught it, aud she held her course, then to
uorthward, with the peak Of her main sheet. top
sail, and lib. The Frolic overhauled her rapid
ly, working to windward, and finally tapping the
Ina's weather quarter. Two men were on the
cap OF the Ina working like beavers to repair
the damage. The Ben Drake run alongside,
aud to encourage the Kanucks the Ben's band


"GoD SAVE THE QUEEN"
There was no excitement On the Ina. The only
heads in sight we're those OF the men on the
cap and that OF the sailing-master. The rest OF
the crew lay fiat on their faces under the belly
ing sheet. On the Frolic everything was as
quiet as death. On the steamers the most in
tense excitement prevailed The Michigan
stood way of to eastward The rest, except
the Drake, which ran alongside the dis
ablcd boat, hung off to southwark, their
passengers eagerly watching the struggle,
The Frolic, working to windward, came
on hand over hand, pitching head first
into the heavy sea, and shaking the water from
her nose as she came up. Lufing up, she closed
rapidly, and slung ahead, until the two boats
stood foot and foot, when the sheet Of the Ina
went back into its place, amid the ye1ls and cheers
OF thousand people who had watched her ef- |
forts. The yachts were then bow and bow, the