Year: 1875

them to agree They simply awarded the TO tho
Comet through her allowance there was NO doubt
about hor having won


THE RACE AS SEEN FROM THE COMET.


ON BOARD COMET Oct s, 1875.


In the early morning it became question as to
whether the race which had beon appointed to take
place to-day between the Comet and Resolute would
occur owing the absence of anything like the eight
knot stipulated for of the conditions OF tho
match. However. in order to be roAdy for any and
every emergency everything got in readiness for
start AS the day wore the question became still
moro difficult, for the little wind that
there had been entirely died away, and
1t became apparent TO the merest
in sailing matters that unless the provision
calling for breeze OF the character already referred
foregonc there probability OF start say
nothing OF race. Captain W. H. Langley the owner
of the Comet shortly after nine O'Clock ashore
and to the Club House, where, after waiting little
time, IL agreed after consultation with Mr. Hatch
owner Of the Resolute, that the should come OF
under any circumstances, both consonting that the
stipulation provided In the rules that the should
be sailed within eight hours should be abrogated
further that any sails might be carried according TO
the rules of the New York Yacht Club Accordingly
for the yachts made and the final preparations
perfected Anchors hove apeak head sails
everything made ready 10 get under way as soon





should be fred This signal was doomed forth from the
Resolute's gun at 1oh. s2m, when the Comet at
lifted her mud hook and got under weigh the Resoute
following suit minute later Both crused around
for while order get into position for crossing
imaginary line which had been set from the club house
to a range with point the Long Island shore Both
boats crossed at the tme at 10h 49n ass the
port tack, heading for he Staten Island ehora The
Comet had just previous TO her going the line
her fore working topsail and had, besides, all
fore and aft sails SET with main club
topsai and jb topsail Tho Resolute
had all ber working up together with fore stay
sail ib topsa and main working topsaiL The wind at
the very light from the stsouthwest and
battling and tho tide about quarter food The Comet
as the line was passed, began to forge ahead,
the light wind telling with great force upon her smaller
size. Both boats stood away on the port tack The
Resolue the first to make tack which she did at
1oh 53m, at the time spreading her fore gaf top
sail The Comet followed suit the tack a few
seconds later but minute after again went about and
stood the Staten Island shore From this point
it was simply tack and tack all the way down to


THE SOUTHWEST SPIT,


the Comet gradually outootng the Resolute which, by
the the former reached the buoy No 10 least
twenty minutes astorn The Comet passed tho buoy
Oh sm. o5s, when tho wind suddenly died away and she
laid around in the ''doldrums'' without making the
slightest Roadway whatever. The Resouto, however
which had stood we'll TO the westward caught blow Of
wind from that quarter, which she brought along with
her. coming up 70 the Comet Just the edge Of it All
on board the latter were it readily be understood
not little chagrined at seeing their adversary thus
favored while they lay bccamed and all the ad-
vantage gained previously slipping gradually, but
sureR away from them. There, however, was nothing
70 be done but TO wait patiently until the Resoute
up In the meantime the mantopmast saysail was
and the mansail gbed TO catch the frst puT
OF wind that was seen coming along with the Rcsoute
The latter finally came up, passing buoy No 10 at Oh
45m 45s. Both boats then sailed along TO the


BUOY No. 5k,


which was passed as folows:-Comet, sh lin. 52s
Resolute, 3h l1m sos The Resolute FOR the first
the start went to the front at Oh 05m but did
not hold her lead long The breeze here showed
signs OF freshoning and coming out from the
southwark and the sailing master OF the Comet
TO the southwark and finally caught it. whereas the
Resoute lost the first chance at this by bearing away
of such character TO fully satisfy the exactng
sailor and gave the yachts for a while all they wanted
Resolutes breeze, overhaued her and gave her
the go-by. The Comet then sent down her jib topsa
and mantopmast staysa and the Resoute her jb top
sail Shortly after this, at Sh 3Sm. the Comet sent
her big club topsa on deck and clewed up her fore ga
topsa running along calamity under her fore and
sails The Resoiute was still carrying both working
topsais but for all about mile astern, with the
Clio which had followed the yachts over the course
following in her wake some distance of, and laying
well over under the breeze.


THE LIGHrSHp


was passed as follows


INNS HR s
Comet t............ 4 OF 40 Resolute. :. 4 "a
both uflng round with the Clio following minutes
after the Resoue Both the Comet and her adversary
set their kites after rounding the Lghtship and stood
away for home with the wind free Shortly after this
the Resoute sent up her staysail and began TO gain
somewhat the Comet Seven minutes after how
ever, the Comet set her lib topsa and after that her
mantopmast staysail which allowed her to recover all
the lost distance The Resoute afterwards lowered her
jb topsail, which doing her good The Comet
at The same time set her immense club topsail, whom,
with all drawing she sailed over the waters
like thing Of life The Resolute vainy
endeavored 10 creep up, but IL
use, for the Comet outfooted her, she had done
since the start on every occasion whenever wind
was felt at all The yachts timed passing tho
buoy No, 5@ in the following ORDER


Comet 40 IS Resolute. ........ 81 80
only having made one tack From here to


THE SOUTHWEST SPIT


no change In the relative positions occurred II being
rounded by the Comet at Oh 20m 35s and the Resoue
at Oh 52m DDS, the yachts after passing on the star
board tack, squared away for homo on the opposite
one From this point there remained scarcely uues-
ton as 70 which yacht would be the first 70 pass the
home line, tor barring accidents nothing could hinder
the Comet from beating her antagonist as tho
first boat IN without taking into consideration tho
time allowance 70 be given her by the Resolute Of
l1m. 3Ss.. Az oh. Bonn the Comet set her immense
balloon Jlb and lowered away her jib and iib topsal
and few minutes later her foreclub topsall The
change had telling effect and enabled her onco more
TO increase her lead, which the Resoute for some time
had been gradually eating up on Approaching Fort
Wadsworth, the wind again dicd away and the Comet
lost way but the kosolute, holding her wind which she
Comet until within hall cables length when as the
point Of the fort passed the latter caurht nun