Year: 1871

4 ----~
| Yachting Prospects for 1871.


There is every indication at present that the
yachting season of this year will be well up
to the average; but 1t will be very difficult
| matter to excel that of 1870, under the able
leadership Of Commodore Stebbins, which
was pregnant with excitement and interest
from the commencement to the close. The
numerous additions that have been made to
the different squadrons since the pennants
were hauled down at the end of the. last sea-
son will, for the first time, be brought into
competition with their sister yachts and 1t
remains to be seen what improvements, if any,
have been mado over the renowned vessels
that have already established for themselves
the reputation of being the fcetest of their
class aaoat. The centreboard versus keel
question will receive q large share of atten-
tion, and the fitness Of the former plan of
construction for heavy weather at sea will be,
doubtless, given fair test by its advocates,
who have their champion vessel--the new and
beautiful schooner Wanderer-wherewith to
make the necessary experiments There can
be no doubt that the display of pleasure ves-
sells in our waters this summer will excel
anything we have yet seen. The spirit of
rivalry existing among our yachtsmen has in
cited them to have the largest, the best and
the feetest vessels that money can procure;
and. as this feeling grows upon them year
after year, it will lead to our being ahead of
the world in everything appertaining TO yachts
and yachting


Again, Mr.. Ashbury has announced his in
tentiou of coming to our waters this season with
his new schooner yacht Livonia, for the purpose
of endeavoring once more to carry back the
Queens Cup. Without discussing his form
of challenge, or by what means he hopes to
gain possession of the much-coveted prize, we
can only say that every fair and just oppor-
tunity will be afforded him to carry out his
desires. His advent, however, with the new
yacht that has been so highly spoken of by
many in England will serve to increase the
excitement Of the approaching season. The
Livonia must be wonder if she is able to ac-
complish everything promised by those who
have gone into ecstacies over her model, and
we wait with impatience to hear the result Of
her first performances afoat. 1t is more than
probable that other English yachtsmen, wish
ing to take part in the great contest that
Mr. Ashbury is determined to bring about, will
be present with their yachts on the occasion.
Indeed, we hope to have . number of their
vessels with us this summer and should such
be the case it will readily be seen how much
i will odd fo fho ,,1a
season. They will, without doubt, be given the
opportunity 10 test the powers of their vessels,
and races will be inaugurated that at present
are not thought Of


Ofour seagoing yachts two are now in foreign
seas-the Euchantress, on her cruise to the
Mediterranean and English waters, and the
Josephine, cruising among the West India
| islands, where she has received much attention,
The latter vessel, as we learn from her owner
Mr.. Durfee, made the passage from New York
to Barbados very comfortably in eleven days.
Cruising abroad will now become very popular
with our yachtsmen, and at the close of the
season at home, instead Of being laid up for
the winter, they will be of for the warmer cline
and bright scenes Of the tropics, for a cruise
among the Windward and Leeward islands of
the Caribbean Sea-a locality that is destined to
become as popular with US as the Medterra-
mean is with Englishmen. And now while
upon the subject Of visiting other than our own
waters, it will be well to suggest the policy of our
| yachts in squadron visiting the European seas
It would make an attractive picture, and it
would entirely dispel the idea still entertained
by many that our pleasure vessels are only in
tended for smooth water work, with port
under their lee to run into in the event of bad
weather coming on. That such an event
will occur we have no doubt; it will not, pro-
badly, be this year, by reason of the engage
ments at home, but before another summer
passes away we hope to hear of feet of our
yachts in European waters that will totally
eclipse anything that has yet been produced
| abroad.