Year: 1875




schooner yachts Resoute and Comet BY mutual
agreement yachts 10 start from of the New
York Yacht Club House at to A. NJ and sail the
regular course. The morning not favorable for
yacht racing there hardly breath of wind and
the chances appeared in favor OF drift The guests
invited TO sail in the competing yachts arrived from
the city shortly before ten A. NJ and were met the
club house by Messrs Hatch and Langley the respec
tive owners OF the Resoute and Comet Some discus
sion ensued as TO whether there any making
start when there was only prospect of a drift. Mr
Hatch said he willing TO order


DINNERS


and thought II would be more amusing to remain
shore than drift about all day Mr. Langley, however
was perfectly satisfied with the weather. and proposed
to race anyway. He then asked Mr.. Hatch II he had
any objection to waive the rule compelling the
be sailed in eight hours and Mr. Hatch said he did
care If they TO he would give way any sug
gestions Mr.. Langley had to Offer It then agreed
10 start soon there was sufficient wind to give
steerage way, and Mr.. j. D. Smith agreed to act as
judge for Mr.. Hatch on board the Comet while Mr. G.
l. Haigh ofciated tor Mr.. Langley, board the Reso
Lutte All hands then went board their respective
yachts and prepared for the The by





making tho course 6h Am. I2s according to the
time taken by the members OF the press the yachts
arrived in the dark close together that tho judges
were unable to decide which came in first The
weather unsatisfactory, the wind not steady
throughout the day. and Mr.. Hatch, not feeling satis
fed with the result, has issued the following


CHALLENGE


on BOARD REsoLUTE Oct. 8, 1875
AS the Estello and the Comet declared the challenge
of the Resolute to be not practicable, the Resoue
cepted their challenges sailed and lost the The
Resolute now challenges the Comet and Estelle BOTH
together singly sail for dinners the best three
five, the New York Club course and subject
to the New York Yacht Club rules excepting that the
Resolute will allow the Estellc fifteen minutes and the
Comet twenty minutes The to be sailed in
eight knot breeze better and judged by the Regatta
Committee. The challenge remains open during tho
month Of October, but the date conflict with


RUFUS HATCH
When the yachts returned they both passed the club
house close together and II quite dark the judges
unable TO the poplar on the Long Island
shore that formed the end OF the line con-
sequenty had TO guess when they abreast Of the
club house As both Mr.. Hatch and Mr.. Langley
claimed the honor of arriving home first the judges
concluded to give decision that point but the
Comet had to receive allowance of I'm. 3ss they
awarded her the


THE RACE on BOARD THE REsoLUTE.


Tho weather not quite what Mr.. Hatch desired
and after he had made his large party OF guests thor
oughly comfortable he weighed anchor and let the ibs
draw. The tide however was stronger than the
breeze, and, finding there probability OF floating
the line before he ready the anchor lot
20. The breeze freshenng little from the eastward
the Resolute got under way once more, and crossing
10 westward of the line, fired gun starting signal
After little preliminary dodgng they up tho
line the


FORT TACK


the Comet to vindward and a trihe ahead The breeze
was freshening slightly and with the tide the lee
bow the two yachts crossed the line at lOh 4qm ass
almost on line. The water was smooth a duck
pond and the Comet, with everything just she
wanted slipped slowly by the Resolute and took the
Head pnfh off I'm Al hfrA Iandfv
Comet about hundred yards to windward. The latter
had club topsal to the main a working one
forward, but both set like board and did good
vice As the, boats approached the Narrows the
breeze appeared to freshen, and the Comet tackled
evidently determined to hang to the


STATEN ISLAND sHoRR


The Resolutc stood on, hoping TO be able to get suf
hcienty to windward SO as to weather Fort Wads
worth Short acks with the corner was not her play,
and Captain Dennis determined to avoid 1t much
possible The Resolute tackled under the Long Island
shore and crossed the wake OF the Comet about q
quarter of mile astern. The latter making great
play in the light breeze and smooth water and
The Clio was to lecward OF the Resolute
and, judging from the glistening coat OF pot
60 feel her way with tho Comet The latter tackled
under the Long Island shore and reached the
Narrows fetching TO leeward OF Fort Wadsworth The
kesoute reached over until pretty Fort Lafayette
and then standing across the Comet crossed her bow
about half mile ahead The breeze was now holding
pretty steady, and il looked like dead heat to tho


SOUTHWEST


The Comet forging steadily ahead as there just





enough to give the Resoute steeragc way
The latter made long bound toward
Coney Island and when they crossed again the
Comet still about two miles ahead. Things now be
gan to look very blue for the Resoute the breeze ap
peared to be dying away instead of holding fresh The
Clio was doing very well and standing toward Coney
island came out on the next tack well TO windward Of
the Resolute. of the hospital snip the Comet
nearly miles ahead OF the Resolue also some
distance windward and the Clio doing we'll in the
wake Of the Comet The breeze presently headed tho
Comet of and the Resolute ufIed up in her wake Tho
nONc l0upu nm and uuha fbQ n
Ter tackled near the buoy on the Southwest Spit the
wind all died away and the sails hung idly to the mast





was down 10 the westward, in the dodrums and
waiting, Micawber like, for something to turn up
Taking advantage of the moment, Mr. Hatch asked his
guests down 10 lunch in the cabin. breeze
presently sprung up from the westward and all hands
on the Resolute went to work getting ready for the
windfaL The Comet and Clio were of the Southwest
Spit buoy becalmed, and the Resolute catching the
breeze let her main boom run out to port
up her jibtopsa and carrying the breeze
along passed between the Comet and Clio which
still drifting helplessly around At 2h. 43m the
Comet Resoiute and Clio we're nrasiy In a nc with
The buoy the Southwest Spit bearing due north
The Resoue carrying the breeze slipped past the Clio
caught ght arr There was good deal Of lively ex
ercse each of the yachts at this time, the wind
was so light and shitty that %was impossible to say
from what quarter IL would Settle The Resolute and
Comet came up to the point OF


HOOK,


bow and bow within easy hailing distance Staysails
were set both yachts and the Resolsto jibed her
main boom, man@uyre which was imme.
outside appeared 70 be stil from the south,
ward and, tho westerly breeze
dying away both yachts straning every point to
catch the frst Of the southery air The Resoute finally
passed the Comet and, she went by Mr. Hatch pro-
posed to Mr. Langley to postpone the race until next
week and sail IL in eghtknot breeze as he did not
desire to drift Mr. Langley, however, appeared salts
Ned with the condition Of affairs, and answered. "Hod
on; you are not out of the woods yet" The Resolue
passed buoy 81 at 3m. los, with the Comet coming up
on her weather quarter The latter presently passed
- windward of the Resoute, and, rounding





breeze, skipped away very fast through the
smooth water. The wind was iresheuing and both
yachts were heading we'll up windward Of the Digit
ship. The Clio to leeward Of the Resolute, coming
along very steadily and closing up the gap The Comet
was of the weather bow of the Resoute and keeping
well up to windward. The breeze began TO freshen
md hauled little more TO tho eastward The Comet
took IN her jibiopsail and staysai and the Resolue
followed suit The breeze still Kept freshenng and tho
LnmnL ha1 10 luI and laLn iu hnIh Lnn.aiIs Iha