GIFT OF
DUG de LOUBAT, PARIS
OF TKX
UNIVERSITY
Captain ROBERT FISH
YACHTSMAN'S SCRAP BOOK,
OR THE
Ups and Downs of Yacht Racing.
EDITED BY
J. F. LOUBAT
NEW YORK :
BRENTANO BROTHERS.
1887.
Entered according to Act of Congress,
1887,
by J. F. Loubat.
77377
This Scrap Book of my cruises and races in the
Enchantress, I dedicate to the memory of her designer and
sailing master, the late Captain 'Robert Fish.
Ncio York, April, 1887.
J. F. LOUBAT.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB.
The Evening Post, New York, July 1, 1874. . . . PAGE!
CHAPTER II.
i
THE AMERICA.
The Illustrated London News, London, March 15, 1851. . . .12
" " August 9, 1851. . 13
" August 30, 1851. . . 16
CHAPTER III.
THE ENCHANTRESS.
Land and Water, London, July 1, 1871. . . . .25
The Daily Telegraph, St. John's, New Brunswick, July 25, 1873. . 29
CHAPTER IV.
THE OCEAN RACES.
The New York Herald, New York, September 25, 1873 . 32
; ' " " " " October 8, 1873. . 36
Vlll.
CONTENTS.
The New York Times, New York, October 9, 1873.
The New York Herald, New York, October 10, 1873.
The World, New York, October 10, 1873.
The New York Herald, New York. October 11, 1873.
The Evening Telegram, New York, October 11, 1873.
The New York Herald, New York, October 12, 1873.
The World, New York, October 12, 1873.
The New York Herald, New York, October 13, 1873. '
The Sun, New York, October 13, 1873.
The New York Times, New York, October 13, 1873.
The New York Daily Tribune, New York, October 13, 1873.
The World, New York, October 13, 1873.
The Commercial Advertiser, New York, October 13, 1873.
The New York Herald. New York, October 15, 1873.
October 18, 1873.
October 23, 1873.
43
45
52
58
60
62
73
78
86
92
96
98
100
102
103
106
CHAPTER V.
THE CAPE MAY CHALLENGE CUP RACE.
The New York Herald, New York, September 23, 1873.
September 25, 1873.
The Field, London, October 11, 1873.
The New York Herald, New York, October 14, 1873.
Tne Sun, New York, October 14, 1873,
The World, New York, October 14, 1873.
The Evening Mail, New York, October 14, 1873.
The Sun, New York, October 15, 1873.
The New York Times, New York, October 15, 1873.
The World, New York, October, 15,*1873.
The New York Times, New York, October 17, 1873.
The World, New York, October 20, 1873.
The Sun, New York, October 21, 1873.
The New York Times, New York, October 21, 1873.
The World, New York, October 21, 1873.
The Evening Mail, New York, October a 21, 1873.
The New York Herald, New York, October 24, 1873.
The New York Times, New York, October^24, 1873.
The World, New York, October 24, 1873.
133
CONTENTS. IX.
CHAPTER VI.
MB. J. F. LOUBAT'S GIFT TO THE PILOTS.
The New York Herald, New York, October 26, 1873. . . 136
October 29, 1873. . . 137
Letter from the New York and New Jersey Pilots, New York,
November 11, 1873. . . . . .138
CHAPTER VII.
THE ENCHANTRESS GOES TO COWES.
Letter from the New York Pilots, New York, October 29, 1873. . 140
The New York Times, New York, November 2, 1873. . . 140
The New York Herald, New York, November 9, 1873. . . 140
The Spirit of the Times, New York, December 27, 1873. . 141
The Field, London, February 28, 1874. . 141
Bell's Life in London, London, May 2, 1874. . 142
May 30, 1874. . 142
The Field, London, July 4, 1874. 145
CHAPTER VIII.
AN INTERNATIONAL YACHT RACE.
SOCIETE DES REGATES DU HAVRE.
Official Circular, Havre, March 15, 1874. . . 146
Official Circular, Havre, le 25 Juillet, 1874. . .148
Bell's Life in London, London, August, 1, 1874. . . 150
The Field, London, August 1, 1874. . . . .156
CHAPTER IX.
THE INTERNATIONAL CHANNEL MATCH.
YACHT CLUB DE FRANCE.
Official Circular of the Yacht Club de France and of the Royal
Albert Yacht Club 161
CONTENTS.
The Commercial Advertiser, New York, July 29, 1874. . 163
The New York Times, New York, July 31, 1874. . . 164
Bell's Life in London, London, August 1, 1874. . . . 164
The Field, London, August 1, 1874 171
Hunt's Yachting Magazine, London, September, 1874 . . . 180
CHAPTER X.
THE PKINCE OF WALES'S CHALLENGE CUP BAGS.
Boyal Yacht Squadron Official Programs. ,
Bell's Life in London, London, August 8, 1874.
The Field, London, August 8, 1874.
The Daily News, London, August 10, 1874.
The Field, London, August 15, 1876.
Hunt's Yachting Magazine, London, September 1874.
CHAPTER XI.
MK. LOUBAT'S FIRST EUROPEAN CHALLENGE.
The Times, London, August 14, 1874. . . " .
Bell's Life in London, London, August 15, 1874. . . 190
The Field, London, August 15, 1874. 191
The Evening Express, New York, August 15, 1874, . . 191
CHAPTER XII.
THE ENCHANTRESS IN ENGLAND.
The Fly Away, ....... 193
The Yankee Boat. ...... 194
The Field, London, October 10, 1874. .... 195
The Evening Post, New York, November 24, 1874. . 195
The Field, London, October 17, 1874. .... 199
The Hampshire Advertiser, Southampton, October 17, 1874. 199
The Field, London, October 31, 1874. 200
CONTENTS. XI.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE ENCHANTRESS IN M RussiA AND IN SWEDEN.
The Times, London. July, 1875 ..... 201
Brentano's Aquatic Monthly, New York, April, 1879. . 204
The New York Times, New York, August 9, 1875. . . 206
The American Eegister, Paris, September 25, 1875. . 217
The Commonwealth, Boston, November 6, 1875. . . . 218
CHAPTER XIV.
MR. LOUBAT'S CUP TO THE ROYAL ALBERT YACHT CLUB.
The Evening Post, New York, July 7, 1875. ... 223
Hunt's Yachting Magazine, London, September, 1875. . 224
Letter of Thanks from the Royal Albert Yacht Club. . . 227
CHAPTER XV.
THE YACHT RACING ASSOCIATION.
Sailing Rules, 1876 ...... 228
CHAPTER XVI.
THE RULE OF THE ROAD AT SEA.
The Field, London, April 8, 1876. . . . 239
" September, 1876. . . .240
May 27, 1876. . . . . 241
The Rule of the Road at Sea. ... . . .242
CHAPTER XVII.
MR. LOUBAT'S SECOND EUROPEAN CHALLENGE.
The American Register, Paris, April 15, 1876. . . . 243
Bell's Life in London, London, April 15, 1876. . . 244
Xll.
CONTENTS.
The Field, London, April 15, 187G.
Land and Water, London, April 15, 1876.
Hunt's Yachting Magazine, London, May 1876.
The New York Herald, New York, April 16, 1876.
Galignanis Messenger, Paris, April 18, 1876.
The American Eegister, Paris, June 27, 1876.
245
245
246
246
247
247
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE LOUBAT CAPE MAY CUP RACE.
The New York, Herald, New York, March 26, 1875.
The New York Times, New York, August 23, 1876.
The New York Herald, New York, October 15, 1876.
249
250
251
CHAPTER XIX.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Field, London, October 6, 1877 258
The Illustrated Sporting Dramatic Times, New York, June 12, 1878. 258
Sunday Times & Noah's Weekly Messenger, New York, July 14, 1878. 263
CHAPTER XX.
THE NEW YOBK PILOT BOAT JOSEPH F. LOUBAT, No. 16.
The Pilot's Invitation, New York, December 14, 1880.
The New York Herald, New York December 19, 1880.
The New York Times, New York, December 19, 1880.
The World, New York, December 19, 1880.
267
268
269
270
CHAPTER XXI.
THE DEATH or CAPTAIN ROBERT FISH.
The Sun, New York, January 18, 1883.
" January 20, 1883.
The World, New York, January 20, 1883.
The World, New York, March 24, 1887.
LIST OF PLATES.
1. CAPTAIN ROBERT FISH, frontispiece.
2. THE AMERICA, . . . . Page, 16
3. THE INTERNATIONAL CHANNEL MATCH, . . . 161
3. THE ENCHANTRESS, ...... . 193
4. THE NEW YORK PILOT BOAT JOSEPH F. LOUBAT, No. 16, 267
A YACHTSMAN'S SCRAP BOOK.
CHAPTER 1.
THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB
The Evening Post, New York, July 1, 1874.
THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB.
THE ORIGINAL MEETING.
On the afternoon of the 30th of July, 1844, a number of
gentlemen, in pursuance of a previous notice, assembled on board
the yacht Gimcrack, then lying off the Battery, for the purpose
of organizing a yacht club. There were present John C. Stevens,
Hamilton Wilkes, John C. Jay, George L. Schuyler, Louis A.
Depau, George B. Rollins, James M. Waterbury and James
Rogers. At that meeting it was resolved that the title of the
club be the New York Yacht Club; that the gentlemen present
be the original members of the club ; that John C. Stevens be
commodore thereof ; and that a committee of five be appointed by
the commodore to report rules and regulations for the government
of the club. The following gentlemen were appointed, namely :
John C. Stevens, George L. Schuyler, John C. Jay, Hamilton
Wilkes, Captain Rogers. It was further resolved that the club
2 A Yacht smans Scrap Book.
should make a cruise to Newport, Rhode Island, under command
of the commodore, and Friday, August 2, at 9 o'clock A. M., was
the time appointed for starting. At this meeting the following
yachts were represented :
Gimcrack John C. Stevens
Spray Hamilton Fish
Cygnet William Edgar
La Coquille John C. Jay
Dream George L. Schuyler
Mist Louis A. Depau
Minna James M. Waterbury
Petrel George B. Kollins
Ida Captain Kogers
THE FIRST CRUISE.
On the 2d of August the foregoing yachts, with the exceptioi
of the Ida, sailed on the first cruise of the New York Yacht
Club. The fleet stopped at Huntington, on Long Island, New
Haven, Gardiner's Bay and Oyster Pond Point, arriving at New-
port on Monday afternoon, August 5, and leaving again for New
York on the llth. From these modest beginnings thirty years
ago, has grown the present magnificent fleet composing the New
York Yacht Squadron, numbering thirty-eight schooners, twenty
two sloops and nine steamers.
THE FIRST DINNER AND THE FLAG.
The next meeting of the club was held at Windust's, in thi
city on the 17th of March, 1845. Some routine business w
transacted ; new members were elected, and the secretary was
requested to have a flag ready for exhibition at the next meet-
ing. The first Yacht Club dinner took place at the Astor House
on the 9th of April, 1845. At a meeting at Delmonico's on
June 3, 1845, a flag was adopted.
THE FIRST RACE.
The first trial of speed between the yachts took place on the 5
17th of July, 1845, from off the Elysian Fields, under the di-
H
The New York Yacht Club. 3
rection of the Committee of the Regatta, the following yachts
entering for the race : Cygnet, 45 tons ; Sibyl, 42 tons ; Spray,
37 tons ; La Coquille, 27 tons ; Minna, 30 tons; Gimcrack, 25
tons ; Newburgh, 33 tons ; Addy, 17 tons ; The Lancet, 20 tons.
THE OLD CLUB HOUSE AT HOBOKEN.
At that time the Yacht Club House was at the Ely si an
Fields, Hoboken. Old members will remember its charming lo-
cation and the pleasant dinners which were had there in early
spring, and during the yachting season. On the 18th of Febru-
ary, 1846, a first appropriation of $500 was made to furnish this
cottage Club House. On the 24th of June following, a further
sum of $250 was appropriated for the same purpose. In those
early days economy was more necessary, and more widely prac-
tised than in the present age of greenbacks and " inflation."
William Edgar, treasurer, in February, 1846, read his report of
the receipts and expenses of the club since its formation, showing
a balance in his hands of $881.13.
THE MAKIA.
Commodore Stevens's yacht, the Maria, modelled by himself,
embodied at that time all the latest improvements in naval archi-
tecture. She was built entirely for speed, and was for many
years the crack boat of the squadron. But she was not destined
to carry the flag of the New York Yacht Club abroad to achieve
the great triumph over our English cousins at the Royal Yacht
Squadron regatta at Cowes, in 1851.
THE AMERICA.
The America, whose name has since become famous among
nautical men the world over, was built and modelled by George
Steers for John C. Stevens, Hamilton Wilkes, George L. Schuy-
ler, James Hamilton, J. Beekman Finlay and Edwin A. Stevens,
who were jointly interested as her owners. She was launched
in 1851 in this city from the yard of W. H. Brown. She was
94 feet on deck from stem to stern, and measured 170 tons, cus-
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
torn house old tonnage. She was built with a stipulation that
she should beat any vessel in the country, and any one of her
size in England. In this event the builder was to receive
$30,000 for her. But before she crossed the ocean she had four
or five trials with the Maria by the wind, with the wind free,
and before the wind and the Maria proved the faster craft in
every trial. The America was accordingly purchased for
$20,000, and sent over to test her speed with the English yachts
in compliance with an invitation from the members of the Royal
Yacht Club at Cowes.
THE VOYAGE TO EUROPE.
She saiied from New York on the 21st of June, 1851, with
a crew of thirteen, all told ; and arrived at Havre on the 12th of
July, after an excellent passage of twenty-one days, during which
she was under the reduced canvas of a temporary suit of sails.
At Havre she was painted and refitted before sailing for Cowes>
where she arrived on the 31st of July. She excited considerable
interest among the members of the Royal Yacht Squadron and
other yacht clubs at Cowes, and was visited by a great number
of persons interested in nautical affairs.
THE CHALLENGE.
On arriving at Cowes, Commodore Stevens issued the follow-
ing challenge : " The New York Yacht Club, in order to test
the relative merits of the different models of the schooners of
the Old and New Worlds, propose through Commodore Stevens
to the Royal Yacht Squadron to run the America against any
number of schooners belonging to any of the yacht squadrons of
the kingdom, to be selected by the commodore of the Royal
Yacht Squadron. The course to be in some part of the English
Channel outside of the Isle of Wight, with at least a six-knot
breeze. This trial of speed to be made at an early day, to be se-
lected by the commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron. The
fact whether there be such a breeze on the appointed day to be
decided by the commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron. And
The New York Ypeht Club. 5
if on that day there shall not be at least a six-knot breeze, then
on the first day thereafter that such a breeze shall blow." Here
was a gage thrown down to the whole kingdom, the only stipu-
lation being that the America should be matched with schooners,
and that she should at least have a six-knot breeze. This was
bold language for a stranger in a strange land. But the
Englishmen were shy, very shy, in taking up the gauntlet.
Finally Mr. Stevenson, of the Titania accepted the challenge.
THE ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON REGATTA.
Meanwhile the America was entered for the Royal Yacht
Squadron regatta, which came off on the 22d of August, 1851,
at Cowes. The race was for the Royal Yacht Squadron Cup of
100. There were eighteen entries. It is needless to repeat
here the thrice-told tale of the victory of the America. Suffice
to say that, starting at 10 o'clock A. M., she went around the
Isle of Wight and passed the flagship as winner at 8 h., 34 m.;
the Aurora was announced at 8 h., 58 m. ; the Bacchante
at 9 h. 30 m. ; the Eclipse at 9 li. 45 min. ; the Bril-
liant at 1 h. 20 min. ; no account of the rest. The cup was
awarded to the owners of the America. At a dinner given at the
Astor House on October 1, 1851, by the New York Yacht Club
to Commodore John C. Stevens, Edwin A. Stevens, and Colonel
J. A. Hamilton, on their return home from their triumphal cruise
in the America, the Commodore spoke of the race as the race
for the " Queen's Cup"; and the cup won by the America has
been misnamed the " Queen's Cup." It was, as before stated,
the Royal Yacht Squadron Cup.
THE RACE FOR THE QUEEN'S CUP.
The America entered for the Queen's Cup with nine
other yachts ; but as there was but a six-knot breeze she did not
start with the squadron. She went out, however, as far as the
Nab Light, and it is said she made one reach with the most ex-
traordinary movement from the Nab to Stokes Bay, and by
another tack rounded the Brilliant in gallant style. To accom-
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
plish the same feat the Alarm took ten tacks and the Volante
made about twenty. The America did not leave the starting
point for an hour and five minutes after the yachts had started to
compete for the prize, but she accomplished the distance, up-
wards of seventy-two miles, within ten minutes of the Wildfire,
and gained in rounding forty-five minutes. If, therefore, the
" Yankee," as she was called, had proceeded with the match,
would have won a second prize.
THE RACE WITH THE TITANIA.
The match between the America and Titania came off on
28th of August, 1851. The course appointed for the trial was
that they should proceed outside the island to a distance
of twenty miles southeast of the Nab Light, where a station vessel
was to be placed, and the yachts, having rounded the same, were
to make their way back to the Nab Light. The America Was
an easy winner. She received no more challenges.
\ re-
SUBSEQUENT HISTORY OF THE AMERICA.
It may not be uninteresting to follow the fortunes of this
markable vessel. Before leaving England, Commodore Stevens
sold her for 5,000 to John de Blaquire, captain in the Indian
army, who sold her to Lord Templeton, from whom she was
bought by Mr. Pritchard, a shipbuilder at Northfleet, England,
and rebuilt by him in 1859 and sold to H. E. Decie, who made a
cruise in her to the Mediterranean. After that time nothing
was heard of her until, during the late Rebellion, she was found
by the United States frigate Wabash, scuttled in the St. John's
River, in Florida. She was raised, brought north, repaired >
rigged, and used as a practice-ship for the cadets at the United
States Naval Academy at Newport, in Rhode Island, and after-
wards at Annapolis, in Maryland. On August 8, 1870, she was
entered for the regatta against the British yacht Cambria, and
came in fourth, making the race over the New York Yacht Club
course in 4 h., 23 m., 51 s. Mr. Decie, during his owner-
ship, changed her name to Camilla, under which name he
The New York Yacht Club. 7
made the cruise to the Mediterranean, and arrived thence at
Savannah, in Georgia, by way of Porto Grande, Cape de Yerd,
in April, 1861, where he, no doubt, sold her, which accounts for
her being on the American coast at the time of the Rebellion.
THE WANDERER.
The members of the New York Yacht Club have ever been
prompt to preserve untarnished the fame and honor of the organ-
ization. We find many instances of this in looking over the
annals of their proceedings, and cite a notable instance of their
action in such matters, had at a general meeting held February
3, 1859. In a communication to the Senate from the President
of the United States, January 12, 1859, the fact having been
officially stated that a cargo of more than three hundred negros
from the coast of Africa had been landed in Georgia, from the
schooner Wanderer, and the vessel thus designated being on the
list of yachts forming the New York Yacht Squadron, it was
unanimously " resolved, that the name of the v^acht Wanderer
be erased from the list, and that William C. Corrie, proprietor
of said yacht and a member of this club, primarily for his
deliberate violation of the laws of the United States, but more
especially for being engaged in a traffic repugnant to humanity
and to the moral sense of the members of this association, be
and he hereby is expelled from the New York Yacht Club."
PATRIOTISM OF MESSRS. BENNETT AND IVES.
During the first year of the Rebellion, Messrs. Bennett and
Ives offered their yachts the Henrietta and the Hope to the
United States government. They were duly accepted and com-
missioned as revenue cutters, in which capacity they did efficient
coast service from the port of New York down to Florida.
THE HENRIETTA, FLEETWING AND VESTA.
We next hear of the Henrietta in September, 1865, as beaten
by the Fleetwing in a race around Cape May lightship. In
October of the same year she was beaten by the Vesta over the
8
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
same course. Nothing daunted, the Henrietta in 1866 entered
the lists against her victors for the great Ocean Yacht Race and
a purse of $90,000, each competitor putting up $30,000. This
contest was at the time a subject of the deepest interest, both
here and abroad.
THEIR OCEAN RACE.
On the llth of December, 1866, these three schooners, of
little more than two hundred tons each, assembled at Sandy
Hook to start across the Atlantic Ocean, having chosen that in-
clement season, as most likely to afford a quick passage. The
Vesta, built by David Caril, and launched in 1866, was supposed
to embody the most recent improvements in the way of speed.
The Fleetwing, built by J. B. Yan Dusen, and launched in 1865,
was one year older. The Henrietta, modelled by William
Tooker, and built by Henry Steers, was launched in June, 1861,
and was therefore at the time of the race five years old. There
had been wonderful improvements in naval architecture since
August 2, 1492, when Columbus set sail from the little port of
Palos with three frail vessels to cross the same ocean in search of
the Spice Islands, the mythical kingdom of Cathay and the
Great Kahn. Could we but see a model of the Nina or the
Santa Maria alongside that of the Sappho, how interesting
would be the study ! Columbus was seventy-one days at sea be-
fore landing at St. Salvador at sunrise on the morning of Octo-
ber 12, 1492. The three schooners of the New York Yacht
Club from Sandy Hook were not so long in reaching Cowes.
The Henrietta arrived in 13 days, 21 hours, 55 minutes.
The Fleetwing " " 14 " 6 " 10
The Vesta " " 14 " 6 " 50
SUBSEQUENT HISTORY OF THE HENRIETTA.
In preparing for the Ocean Race, the Henrietta had
spars considerably reduced, and her bowsprit shortened. After
returning home, she was laid up, and subsequently sold to R. H.
The New York Yacht Club. 9
Hnrrington, for the fruit trade, made several successful voyages,
and was lost on the coast of Honduras, December 16, 1872, on
a voyage to New York.
THE SAPPHO AND THE DAUNTLESS.
In 1869 the Sappho, W. P. Douglas, owner, made the
shortest trip across the Atlantic, which has yet been accom-
plished by a yacht, sailing from New York to Queenstown in
12 d., 9 h., 36 m. The Dauntless, J. G. Bennett, owner, made the
same trip the same year in 12 d., 17 h., 6 m.
INCORPORATION OF THE CLUB.
In 1865, an act incorporating the New York Yacht Club was
passed by the New York Legislature. By it " Edwin A. Stevens,
Ambrose C. Kingsland, Alexander Major, Robert S. Hone,
William H. McYickar, Anson Livingston, Hamilton Morton and
such other persons as are now associated as a yacht club in the
city of New York and may hereafter become associated with them,"
were constituted a body corporate by the name of the New York
Yacht Club, to be located in the city of New York, for the purpose
of encouraging yacht building and naval architecture, and the cul-
tivation of naval science, with authority to purchase and hold
any real or personal estate to an extent not exceeding one
hundred thousand dollars. The motto of the club on its corpo-
rate seal is, Nos Agimur Tumidis Velis.
THE CLUB HOUSE ON STATEN ISLAND.
In the spring of 1868 the club purchased from Mrs. N. H.
Wolfe, for a Club House, a property on Staten Island, near the
lower landing, for the sum ot $24,000, paying $9,000 cash and
the balance remaining on mortgage. It contained two acres of
land, sloping down to a road which separated it from the shore,
about one mile this side of the narrows. Sitting on the wide
piazza of the Club House a large roomy cottage in the English
style one sees every vessel coming into the port of New York.
With a good glass we can distinguish the features of those on
io A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
deck. Until 1868 the site and Club House at the Elysian Fields,
Hoboken, had been gratuitously furnished for the use of the club
by John C. Stevens, Robert Stevens, and Edwin A. Stevens. On
the occasion of moving to their new abode, the club, in an en-
grossed letter to Mr. Edwin A. Stevens, expressed their high ap-
preciation of such courtesy and liberality. The Staten Islan<
property was subsequently sold.
sland
THE PRESENT CLUB HOUSE IN THE CITY.
In November, 1872, the club took possession of its present
commodious rooms, over the American Jockey Club, in the hand-
some building on the southwest corner of Madison Avenue and
Twenty-seventh Street. This house was originally built for club
purposes, and is admirably adapted to its present uses. The
Yacht Club occupy the whole of the second story, consisting of
three rooms, comfortably and luxuriously furnished. The walls
are covered with models of yachts. There are at least a hundred
and twenty different models. The front room, looking u^on
Madison Avenue, contains magazines, newspapers and other
periodicals. The walls are covered with nautical engravings.
Over the mantelpiece, and above a beautiful model of the Sap-
pho, which stands thereon, hangs a portrait of Commodore
Stevens. The middle room contains large and comfortable sofas
and writing tables. The bar-room occupies a portion of the third
room. There are four hundred and sixty-three members. The
entrance fee is fifty dollars. The yearly dues are twenty-five
dollars.
THE MODELS OF THE YACHTS.
The model of every yacht entered for a regatta is the prop
erty of the club, and is retained in its possession ; and no person
other than a United States naval constructor shall be permitted
to copy it, unless he shall have obtained written authority from
the owner or builder of the yacht.
THE ENCHANTRESS.
The New York Yacht Club will not be formally represented
The New York Yacht Club. n
in English waters this season ; but Mr. J. F. Loubat, an Ameri-
can gentleman, who makes his home abroad, while on a visit to
this country last year bought from George S. Lorillard the yacht
Enchantress. During the past winter he has had her lengthened
and altered in England, under the direction of her original mod-
eller, Eobert Fish, at an expense of some fifteen or twenty thou-
sand dollars. Mr. Fish went abroad not only to superintend the
lengthening of the Enchantress, but likewise to act as sailing
master for Mr. Loubat. We wish Mr. Loubat success, and we
have no doubt that when the Enchantress is next heard from she
will give a good account of herself.
THE PRESENT OFFICERS OF THE CLUB.
The officers of the club for the year 1874 are as follows :
Commodore James Gordon Bennett.
Vice-Commodore William P. Douglas.
Rear- Commodore George L. Kingsland.
Secretary Charles A. Minton.
Treasurer Sheppard Homans.
Measurer A. Gary Smith.
Fleet Surgeon L. De Forest Woodruff, M.D.
Regatta Committee William. Krebs, Edward E.
Chase, William B. Bend.
House Committee Fletcher Westray, George W.
Kidd, John G. Beresford, Thomas T. Law-
rence, N. D. White the secretary, ex-officio.
CHAPTER II.
THE AMERICA.
The Illustrated London News, London, Saturday, May 15, 1851.
NEW AMERICAN YACHT.
A yacht is now building at New York, to complete with tl
English yachts, next summer at Cowes.
The builder, Mr. "W. H. Brown, is to receive about one-third
more than her value (say 24 a ton) if she succeeds in outsailing
any competitors of the same tonnage in England. Her con-
struction is on a novel principle; drawing 10 feet, aft, she tapers
away forward to about half that draught, and is totally without
any gripe. Aft, her keel is about 30 inches deep, diminishing
in depth forward, and gradually ascending in a graceful curve
into cutwater and stem. Her tonnage, 175 tons; length, 94ft
extreme breadth, 23 ft., 6 in.; depth of hold, 9 ft. Her timb<
are a foot apart, filled in on both sides with eighteen pigs 01
bars of iron, which weigh 12 cwt. each, and have small projec-
tions or shoulders, which let into the timbers, and prevent any
contact with outside planking. In addition, eighteen square
pigs, each 1J cwt., are placed on the main keel, fitting exacth
between the timbers. She has, therefore, upwards of 21 tons
ballast, built and tightly wedged into her sides. As she onJ
requires about as much more ballast, it is calculated that sh<
will be able to stow it with great ease, and have room to spare.
The America. 13
She is cross-braced inside with long iron bands, well secured to
the timbers. The intelligent foreman, Mr. Steers, as well as the
American gentlemen who are to own her, if she succeeds, are
very sanguine of success.
This is an original and spirited undertaking, and will, if suc-
cessful, completely alter the present system of yacht architec-
ture. We do not, however, think she can compete with the
sharp and deep English yachts. Whatever the result may be,
it cannot fail of being extremely interesting and valuable to both
countries. As a model, she is artistic, although rather a viola-
tion of the old established ideas of naval architecture.
The Illustrated London News, London, Saturday, August 9, 1851.
ARRIVAL OF THE AMERICAN CLIPPER YACHT AMERICA, OF THE
NEW YORK YACHT CLUB.
Accustomed as we have been to witness the symmetrical
models of our own yacht clubs, we confess our opinion falters
when a model of an entirely different construction, so contrary
in every respect, both in build and rig, is presented to us. In
our former remarks we termed the America to be "rather a vio-
lation of the old established ideas of naval architecture," which
all must candidly confess to be the case. In lieu of "straight
lines," we have curved and hollow lines; instead of spars loaded
with rigging, top hamper, and numberless small sails, we have
stately masts with scarcely a rope to support them; the propel-
ling power being in substance, and not in sum. In fact, in-
stead of the "phantom ship," we have before us a " rakish pirati-
cal-looking craft," whose appearance yi by-gone days in the
Southern Atlantic would have struck terror into the soul of
many a " homeward-bounder." But this yacht has traversed the
Atlantic on a _ different mission; and opportunely in the year
1851, the citizen of the States brings her for fraternal compe-
tition with the aristocracy of our own island.
14 A Yachts mans Scrap Book.
mem-
Since her arrival she has been visited by nearly every mem-
ber of the Squadron, and by several scientific and naval gentle-
men, and all appear to be gratified with the inspection. As
some discrepancy has already appeared in the accounts of the
America we have taken some pains to verify the following.
She was solely designed and constructed by Mr. George
Steers, of the firm of Messrs. George and James R. Steers, of
New York, who are now on a visit to this country in the yacht.
To the talents of the builder, the New York Yacht Club is in-
debted for several of the specimens which grace their list ; among
which we may name the sloop Syren, of 85 tons ; the schooner
Cornelia 90 tons; Sybil, 58 tons ; Cygnet, 52 ; Coquille, 37;
several of the celebrated New York pilot boats; the W. G. Wag-
staff, 104 tons, supposed to be the fastest vessel of her time ;
and subsequently the well-known Mary Taylor, of 75 tons, the
smartest vessel in the States. As it has been whispered that the
yacht, after all, has been designed and constructed by one of
our own countrymen, we have authority for stating that Mr.
George Steers was born in New York, and is the son of the late
Mr. Henry Steers, a native of Dartmouth, England, and once
connected with our naval establishment, at Plymouth, but emi-
grated to the United States, and established himself in that
country.
The America belongs to the New York Yacht Club, and is,
according to American register, 171 tons ; she is owned by
J. C. Stevens, Esq., the commodore of the N. Y. Y. C., and
by Messrs. C. A. Stevens, H. Wilkes, and J. B. Finlay. Her
dimensions are:
Feet. In.
Length over all 94
, Length of keel 82
Extreme breadth 22 6
Breadth moulded 22
The dimensions of spars Foremast, 79 ft. 6 in.; mainmast,
81 ft., with 2| in. to a foot rake to both masts; bowsprit (hollow),
The America. i5
32 ft., 17 of which only is outboard ; fore gaff, 24 ft. ; main gaff,
28 ft.; main boom, 56 feet.
She carries three standing sails, viz.: jib, foresail, and
mainsail; the foot of the latter as well as of the jib laces to the
boom ; she also sets a main gaff-topsail. Her f orestay is very
heavy, and is the principal supporter of the foremast. The in-
ternal arrangements of the America are in chaste style, with a
due regard to comfort. The fore-cabin is 21 ft. by 8 ft., with 14
berths (seven on either side) for the crew, besides state-cabins for
the master and mate. The galley, or cook's department, is apart,
between the fore and after cabins, a great desideratum in warm
climates, which comfort, as regards the men, has been overlooked
in our yachts. The fore-cabin is ventilated by a .circular sky-
light, 3 ft. in diameter. Between the galley and main cabin
there are two large state-rooms; there are also two other state-
rooms, a pantry and wash-room.
The cock-pit, as it is termed, is a circular opening abaft, of 30 ft.
circumference, from which is the entrance to the main cabin. On
the starboard side is the bath-room, and on the opposite is a
clothes and wine-room ; and under the cock-pit is the sail-room.
The main cabin, or saloon, is fitted with sofas, of mahogany and
velvet, corresponding furniture, with a splendid carpet. Lockers
extend the whole length of the cabin, with plate-glass panels.
The internal decorations are Chinese, white and gold, with
mahogany reliefs. On deck, by the mainmast, there is a break,
which gives the appearance of a raised quarter-deck ; the bul-
warks are only fourteen inches. She has a plain raking stern-
post, and a large gilt eagle, etc., on the stern, which is elliptical.
The workmanship of the whole is perfection. She is all smooth
outside, and would be taken for an iron vessel by a keen eye.
The shrouds under the line, about two-thirds down, are covered
with white canvas, which gives her a light appearance.
Her crew consists of seven hands before the mast, two mates,
cook, steward, boy and master in all, thirteen hands.
Whatever may be the result in her trials with some of our
fast yachts, we trust that the introduction of this novel specimen
1 6 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
nrV>f
will be the means of cultivating that good feeling which ought
to prevail among all who contend for the palm in a fair spirit of
rivalry. The owners are far beyond any mercenary ideas or
speculative purposes, and, we understand, are ready to allow her
sailing qualities to be tested with any yacht that may be selected
for the purpose ; and, as the gain of " a cup," or a pecuniary
prize, is not their object, we have no doubt, ere long, we shall be
able to record something definite on the subject.
The Illustrated London News, London, Saturday, August 30, 1851.
THE CHALLENGE MATCH BETWEEN THE AMERICA AND THE
TITANIA.
This exciting contest, in which all the yachting world has
evinced such deep interest, took place on Thursday off the Isle
of Wight. The America was undocked at Portsmouth dock-
yard at half -past nine on .Wednesday night, and went out of
harbor at half-past five on Thursday morning, and at 10 A. M.
she started from Cowes, and ran down to the Nab, which she
left at eleven, in competition with the Titania iron schooner, 100
tons, the property of Mr. R. Stephenson, M. P., for a race of
twenty miles out and twenty miles in. They started, steering
S. E., with a strong wind from the W. N. W. At five o'clock
the America returned in sight from Portsmouth, when about ten
miles outside the Nab, but nothing could be seen of the Titania
at that time. Ultimately the America completed her course
became the winner by 52 minutes.
ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON REGATTA.
VICTORY OF THE AMERICA.
The race at Cowes, on Friday se'night, for the Royal Y
Squadron Cup of 100, furnished our yachtsmen with an op-
portunity of "realising," as our trans-atlantic brethren would say,
The Illustrated London .V> ?//>-, August ?o, 1851,
The America. 1 7
what those same dwellers beyond the ocean can do afloat in com-
petition with ourselves. None doubted that the America was a
very fast sailer, but her powers had not been measured by
the test of an actual contest. Therefore, when it became known
that she was entered amongst the yachts to run for the cup on
Friday, the most intense interest was manifested by all classes,
from the highest to the humblest, who have thronged in such
masses this season to the Isle of Wight ; and even her Majesty
and the Court felt the influence of the universal curiosity which
was excited to see how the stranger, of whom such great things
were said, should acquit herself on this occasion. The race was,
in fact, regarded as a sort of trial heat, from which some antici-
pation might be formed of the result of the great international
contest, to which the owners of the America have challenged
the yachtsmen of England, and which Mr. R. Stephenson, the
eminent engineer has accepted, by backing his own schooner, the
Titania, against the America.
Among the visitors on Friday were many strangers French-
men en route for Havre, Germans in quiet wonderment at the
excitement around them, and Americans already triumphing in
the anticipated success of their countrymen. The cards contain-
ing the names and colours of the yachts described the course
merely as being " round the Isle of Wight ;" the printed pro-
gramme stated that it was to be "round the Isle of Wight, inside
Noman's Buoy and Sandhead Buoy, and outside the Nab." The
distinction gave rise, at the close of the race, to questioning the
America's right to the Cup, as she did not sail outside the Nab
Light ; but this objection was not persisted in, and the Messrs.
Stevens were presented with the Cup. The following yachts
were entered. They were moored in a double line. No time al-
lowed for tonnage :-
Tona. Owners.
Beatrice, schooner . . 161 . . Sir W. P. Carew.
Volante, cutter . . . . 48 . . Mr. J. L. Craigle.
Arrow, cutter . . . . 84 . . Mr. T. Chamberlayne.
Wyvern, schooner . . . . 205 . . The Duke of Marlborough.
lone, schooner . . . . 75 . . Mr. A. Hill.
1 8 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
Tons. Owners.
Constance, schooner . . 218 . . The Marquis of Conyngham.
Titania, schooner . . . . 100 . . Mr. R. Stephenson.
Gipsy Queen, schooner . . 160 . . Sir H. B. Hoghton.
Alarm, cutter . . . . 193 . . Mr. J. Weld.
Mona, cutter . . . . 82 . . Lord A. Paget.
America, schooner . . . . 170 . . Mr. J. B. Stevens, &c.
Brilliant, 3-mast schooner 392 . . Mr. G. H. Ackers.
Bacchante, cutter . . 80 . . Mr. B. H. Jones.
Freak, cutter . . . . 60 . . Mr. W. Curling.
Stella, cutter . . . . 65 . . Mr. B. Frankland.
Eclipse, cutter . . . . 50 .. Mr. H. S. Fearon.
Fernande, schooner . . 127 . . Major Martyn.
Aurora, cutter . . . . 84 . . Mr. T. Le Merchant.
At 9.55 the preparatory gun was fired from the club house
battery, and the yachts were soon sheeted from deck to topmast
with clouds of canvas, huge gaff-topsails and balloon-jibs being
greatly in vogue, and the America evincing her disposition to
take advantage of her new jib by hoisting it with all alacrity.
The whole flotilla not in the race were already in motion, many
of them stretching down towards Osborne and Hyde to get good
start of the clippers. Of the list above given the Titania and
the Stella did not start, and the Fernande did not take her
station (the latter was twice winner in 1850, and once this year ;
the Stella won once last year). Thus, only fifteen started of
which seven were schooners, including the Brilliant (three
masted schooner), and eight were cutters. At 10 o'clock the
signal gun for sailing was fired, and before the smoke had well
cleared away the whole of the beautiful fleet was under weigh
moving steadily to the east with the tide and a gentle breeze.
The start was effected splendidly, the yachts breaking away like
a field of race horses ; the only laggard was the America, which
did not move for a second or so after the others. Steamers,
shore-boats, and yachts of all sizes buzzed along on each side of
the course, and spread away for miles over the rippling sea a
sight such as the Adriatic never beheld in all the pride of
Venice ; such, beaten though we are, as no other country in the
world could exhibit ; while it is confessed that anything like it
The America. 19
was never seen, even here, in the annals of yachting. Soon after
they started a steamer went off from the roads, with the mem-
bers of the sailing committee, Sir B. Graham, Bart., Commodore
.Royal Yacht Squaldron, and the following gentlemen : Lord
Exmouth, Capt. Lyou, Mr. A. Fontaine, Captain Ponsonby,
Capt. Corry, Messrs. Harvey, Leslie, Greg, and Reynolds. The
American Minister, Mr. Abbott Lawrence, and his son, Col.
Lawrence, attache to the American legation, arrived too late for
the sailing of the America, but were accommodated on board
the steamer, and went round the island in her ; and several
steamers, chartered by private gentlemen or for excursion trips,
also accompanied the match.
The Gipsy Queen, with all her canvas set, and in the
strength of the tide, took the lead after starting, with the Bea-
trice next, and then, with little difference in order, the Yolante,
Constance, Arrow, and a flock of others. The America went
easily for some time under mainsail (with a small gaff-topsail of
a triangular shape, braced up to the truck of the short and slen-
der stick which serves as her maintopmast), foresail, fore-staysail
and jib; while her opponents had every cloth set that the Club
regulations allow. She soon began to creep upon them, passing
some of the cutters to windward. In a quarter of an hour she
had left them all behind, except the Constance, Beatrice, and
Gipsy Queen, which were well together, and went along smartly
with the light breeze. The yachts were timed off Neman's Land
buoy, and the character of the race at this moment may be
guessed from the result:
H. M. S. H. M. S.
Volaute 11 7 Beatrice 11 9 15
Freak 11 8 20 Alarm 11 9 20
Aurora 11 8 30 Arrow 11 10
Gipsy Queen 11 8 45 Bacchante 11 10 15
America 11 9
The other six were staggering about in the rear, and the Wy-
vern soon afterwards hauled her wind and went back towards
Clowes.
2O A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
The America speedily advanced to the the front and got clear
away from the rest. Off Sandown Bay, the wind freshening,
she carried away her jibboorn ; but as she was well handled, the
mishap produced no ill effect, and during a lull which came on
in the breeze for some time subsequently, her competitors gained
a trifling advantage, but did not approach her. Off Yentnor the
America was more than a mile ahead of the Aurora, then the
nearest of the racing squadron; and hereabouts the number of
her competitors were lessened by three cutters, the Yolante hav-
ing sprung her bowsprit, the Arrow having gone ashore, and the
Alarm having staid by the Arrow to assist in getting her off
But from the moment the America had rounded St. Catherine's
point, with a moderate breeze at S. S. W., the chances of coming
up with her again were over. The Wildfire, which, though not
in the match, kept up with the Stranger for some time, was soon
shaken off, and of the vessels in the match, the Aurora was the
last that kept her in sight, until, the weather thickening, even
that small comfort was lost to her. As the America approached
the Needles, the wind fell, and a haze came on, not thick enough
however, to be very dangerous ; and here she met and passed
(saluting with her flag) the Victoria and Albert Royal yacht,
with her Majesty on board. Her Majesty waited for the Aurora
and then returned to Osborne, passing the America again in the
Solent. About six o'clock, the Aurora, being some five or six
miles astern, and the result of the race inevitable, the steamers
that had accompanied the yachts bore away for Cowes, where
they landed their passengers. The evening fell darkly, heavy
clouds being piled along the northern shore of the strait ; and
the thousands who had for hours lined the southern shore, from
West Cowes long past the Castle, awaiting anxiously the appear-
ance of the winner, and eagerly drinking in every rumor as to
the progress of the match, were beginning to disperse, when the
peculiar rig of the clipper was discerned through the gloom, and
at 8 h. 34 m. o'clock (railway time, 8 h. 37m., according to the
Secretary of the Royal Yacht Squadron) a gun from the flag-ship
announced her arrival as the winner of the cup. The Aurora was
ear
The America. 2 1
announced at 8 h. 58 m.; the Bacchnnte at 9 h. 30 m. ; the Eclipse
at9h. 45 m. ; the Brilliant at 1 h. 20 m. (Saturday morning). No
account of the rest.
On the evening after the race there was a very brilliant and
effective display of fireworks by land and water along the Club
House Esplanade, at which 6000 or 7000 persons were present. A
reunion took place at the club house ; and the occasion was taken
of Mr. Abbott Lawrence's presence to compliment him on the
success of his countrymen. His Excellency acknowledged the
kindness in suitable terms, and said that, though he could not but
be proud of the triumph of his fellow-citizens, he still felt it was
buc the children giving a lesson to the father.
On Saturday evening the America sailed from Cowes to Os-
borne, in consequence of the intimation that the Queen wished
to inspect her. The Victoria and Albert also dropped down to
Osborne. At a quarter to six, the Queen embarked in the State
barge, accompanied by his Royal Highness Prince Albert and
suite, and on nearing the America, the national colors of that
vessel were dipped, out of respect to her Majesty, and raised
again when her Majesty had proceeded on board. Her Majesty
made a close inspection of the America, attended by Commodore
Stevens, Colonel Hamilton, and the officers of the yacht. The
Queen remained on board half an hour, and expressed great ad-
miration of the general arrangements and character of this fam-
ous schooner. On her Majesty leaving, the American colors
were again dipped, and her Majesty proceeded in the barge to
Osborne, where she arrived at half -past six o'clock.
On Monday the contest was for the splendid cup presented
by her Majesty, and took place at Eyde. Up to the hour of
starting it had been fully expected that the American clipper
would give another proof of her extraordinary powers, and great
was the disappointment when the announcement was made that
she would not start. The following were the entries for the
Queen's Cup, the course being round the Isle of Wight :
22 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
YACHTS. TONS. OWNEKS. FLAGS.
Volante 48 J. L. Craigie, Esq White.
FernanCe 127 Major Martyn Purple and orange.
Surprise 15 W. H. Woodhouse, Esq. .White, black Maltese.
America 170 Commodore Stevens Blue, with stars.
Alarm 193 J. Weld, Esq Eed and white.
Wildfire 42 F. Thynne, Esq Blue and white chequered
Fanny 92 H. Young, Esq
Bacchante 80 B. H. Jones, Esq Blue and white cross.
Constance. . . .218 Marquis of Con ynghain. . Blue, with red hand.
Destiny 107 C. P. Leslie, Esq
At ten o'clock the yachts took their station off Hyde pier,
when, in consequence of there not being the desideratum for the
America viz.: a six-knot breeze, she declined starting with the
squadron, and the Fernande and the Constance were also with-
drawn.
At five minutes after ten o'clock the starting gun was fired
from the commodore's yacht, the Brilliant, when the Wildfire,
belonging to the Cork Regatta Club (which, though not in the
race on Friday, headed the American clipper for a considerable
distance on that occasion), was the first to get under weigh
towards the westward with a light breeze from the W. S. W.,
with a strong ebb tide, followed by the Bacchante, and close in
her lee by the Yolante and Alarm.
The Needles were rounded as follows :
Wildfire
H. M. S.
1 15
Bacchante
1 18
Volante
1 23
Alarm . .
1 23
In making up to the starting point off Ryde, the Yolante,
who appeared to have been rather badly handled, made a series
of short tacks, and the Alarm taking advantage of this, made a
long tack, and succeeded in first arriving off the Brilliant
schooner, when the signal gun proclaimed her victorious. The
following is the time of arrival :
The America. 23
H. M. S.
Alarm 5 26
Bacchante 5 30
Volante 5 30
Wildfire 5 31
Just before the vessels above-named had got in, the raking
America was seen making her way round the Nab Light, and,
with a most extraordinary movement, made one reach from the
light to Stroke Bay, and by another tack rounded the Brilliant
in gallant style. To accomplish the same feat that the America
had performed, the Alarm took ten tacks, and the Yolante made
at least twenty for the same distance. Although not in the
match, and not leaving the starting point, as has been stated, for
sixty-five minutes after the rest, the " Yankee " clipper, now be-
come the wonder of the south, rounded the Brilliant at 5:41, there-
by accomplishing the distance within ten minutes of the "Wildfire,
and gaining in round numbers, forty- five minutes. Had the
America, therefore, proceeded into the match at the appointed
hour, there can be no doubt that the same fortunate result would
here have greeted the " flying stranger," as she succeeded in
obtaining last week at Cowes against the entire Royal Yacht
Squadron.
At about six o'clock, the visitors on the pier were much sat-
isfied on observing the Fairy steam-yacht approaching from the
direction of Osborne, with the Royal standard flying from the
main; and it was soon made known that Her Majesty, Prince
Albert, and the Royal children were on board, who had come
down to witness the yachts which had contended for the prize
which it is Her Majesty's intention to confer annually upon the
club. After coming opposite the pier, and receiving the hearty
plaudits of the spectators, the Fairy proceeded on her return to
Osborne.
The day being the birthday of His Royal Highness Prince Al-
bert, a Royal salute was fired from the club-house in honor of
that day and a similar demonstration was made by the Yen-
geance, 90, lying at Spithead, which was gaily dressed with
24 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
colors of all nations from stem to stern. There were also sev-
eral sailing and rowing matches among the small craft of that
place, the funds for which were provided by Her Majesty.
The America was fully described in our journal for August
9. As many of our readers may not be conversant with the
technicalities of ship-building terms, we have endeavored in the
accompanying diagram, to give the relative position of the beam
(or extreme breadth), as it occurs in the old style of yacht, and in
the America.
Fig. 1. respresents the shape of vessels on the old plan the
dotted line being the position of the beam.
Fig. 2. Plan of the America.
CHAPTER III.
THE ENCHANTRESS.
Land and Water -, London, July 1, 1871.
THE AMERICAN SCHOONER YACHT ENCHANTRESS.
THIS is a new vessel, built by Mr. Fish, owned by Mr.
Lorillard, and sailed by Captain Reuben King ; and all
four the vessel, her builder, owner, and sailing master are per-
fect types of their several species as produced on the other side of
the Atlantic. This, perhaps, conveys no impression to those
people who are not acquainted with the Americans and their
yachts, and we may therefore be permitted to say that, taken in
the order already named, the four are respectfully beautiful,
talented, accomplished, and bold. The Enchantress, lying where
she now does among a cluster of English yachts in Cowes har-
bor, looks lovely ; so graceful and so rakish ; so taut and yet so
well balanced ; so racer-like, and yet so stiff and safe. A little
to the south of Bannister Quay, where she is lying, there are a
good many schooners ; one, the very last launched from the yard
of a celebrated builder, and truly they are hideous by comparison
with the stranger. They seem all of one pattern, wall-sided,
straight-sheared, sharp-ended boxes, while she looks like a swan
sitting on the water. Mr. Fish, her constructor, is renowned as
a most successful designer of yachts, and many hundreds of ves-
sels of all sizes, perhaps the most celebrated of which are the
Truant, the Challenge, and the Meteor, owe their being to him.
It is not our present business, however, to discuss men, but ships,
and having introduced the Enchantress with these remarks on
26 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
her general appearance and the characteristics of her people,
will describe the vessel in detail.
The Enchantress is a large vessel of some 300 tons or more.
She is broad in the beam, and shows a rather low freeboard,
with a great deal of shear, and she has raking masts and bow-
sprit with a steave, so that thus far we look upon comparatively
familiar forms ; but below water she is after a new pattern,
which is as yet strange both in America and England. Although
this shape may claim to come originally from America, yet the
most conspicuous example of it, so far as we know, is now sail-
ing her trial matches, having been launched under the name of
the Livonia only a few weeks back at Cowes. We see the shape
therefore produced both in England and America, and certainly
in America first ; but it is better to call it " new " than to give
it any nationality, because it is so totally unlike any of the
models which we are accustomed to regard as peculiar to either
one country or the other.
This strange form of the immersed body of the vessel has il
origin in the peculiar shape of the midship section. The dii
resistance, or, in other words, the area of this section, is reduce
until it is the smallest possible, or, at any rate, the smallest we
ever saw. One of the ideal "racing machines" is here realized;
not the simple plank on edge, with its lower extremity weighted ;
but the two planks one on edge affording the lateral resistance
and one (lying flat) nailed on top of it, affording the stability.
She is a vessel with a deck and keel, and little else ; the only
modification of this exaggerated form being that the junction of
the two is not pronounced in a sharp angle, but is affected by
the interposition of curves in the transverse sections. Here is a
sketch of her midship section ; not drawn to scale from a model
or correct draught, but merely by eye and from memory :
To look at this section and realize to oneself that at no other
place is this vessel even so bulky as this, must impress one with
the fact that there is very little of her anywhere. She is,
fact, the leanest ship we ever saw. The Livonia has the same sort
of " hollow " bottom, as it may be called ; but her bilge is much
The Enchantress. 27
fuller, and extends further clown into the water, than that of the
Enchantress, and, as a consequence, we find the Livonia started
with 70 tons of ballast (how much more she has now we can't
exactly say), while the Enchantress, which is a much larger
vessel, has but 60. Both these vessels depend chiefly for their
stability (at least, so we think) on their form ; and if this be so,
a very curious and interesting question arises as to why the
Livonia proved tender too tender to race, and the Enchantress
stiff enough to brave the Atlantic, and prove herself a safe and
good sailor in all weathers. In the first place, we must be un-
derstood to agree with our correspondent " C. E. S.," who wrote
a letter about the Livonia the other day, when he seems to doubt
the accuracy of calculations which go to show the Livonia's cen-
tre of gravity to be below her centre of buoyancy. We cannot
imagine such to be the case ; and, supposing we are right, the
answer to the question as to why the Livonia was more tender
than the Enchantress would seem to be that her bilge is un-
necessarily full that is to say, this bulky part of the hull is too
deeply immersed, and in piling in the ballast to sink the vessel
to her proper water-line, the centre of gravity was raised faster
than the centre of buoyancy. This has been pointed out before,
but then the Enchantress was not here to bring forward, as an
instance of a larger vessel with nearly the same proportion of
depth to breadth, with a less powerful bilge, and carrying less
ballast, and yet being stiffer altogether. The moral of all this
is that to strive after a combination of stability by form and
stability by ballast is vain. If you go in for a stiff shape, it
seems better to make no concessions to the requirements of the
28 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
opposition sort of stability, and give up all hope of getting the
centre of gravity below the centre of buoyancy.
In addition to having a lean middle piece, the Enchantress has
fine ends. Her bows are, perhaps, not finer than the Livonia's,
but her after end certainly is, and especially at her load-water-
line, where instead of a full curve nearly all the way from the
greatest breadth to the stern post, we have here a Scott
Russell wave line. Below this again, the water-lines at
both ends are extremely sharp ; and four or five feet beneath
the surface of the water there is scarcely any body to the vessel
at all.
The stern is of the usual American graceful form, and joins
the keel at a round-up forefoot. The keel, however, contrary
to the modern custom, is nearly straight ; and it has considerable
drag, so that the draught aft is some feet more than it is for
ward. The stern-post rakes about three or four feet, and the
counter is rather long and slight.
With this much description, and with the help of the sketcl:
of her mid-ship section, those who take an interest in the subject
and have not an opportunity of seeing the vessel for themselves,
may be able to form an idea of the shape of the Enchantress's hull
Beyond this, however, it would be quite impossible to give a fail
idea of her general appearance to any one who does not know the
sort of thing to expect, and even those who saw the Sappho, Daunt-
less, and Meteor last year would not be quite prepared for the
Enchantress. She is handsomer and more rakish ; and a visit
to the island only for a look at her, would be well repaid. We
have read legends of slavers, and pirates, and buccaneers, and
corsairs, and the like, with long, low, black hulls, and towering
spars ; and, behold, in this vessel we have the realization of all
the most facinating pictures of such that Marryatt ever drew, or
youthful imagination ever invented. Although her spars are tc
our English eyes quite gigantic, yet she is in cruising trim ; in
proof of which it may be asserted that though a larger vessel,
yet she has the poor old Meteor's mainsail now bent ; and
Meteor's hemp shrouds too are over her mast heads. Still,
The Enchantress. 29
people say that, rigged as she is now, she can fly ; and although
we are persuaded that her hull below water is not the shape that
salt water likes yet we can readily believe the report, and if
asked why, should say because she is so " fine " and so " fair."
A good sea-boat she has proved herself to be. She has been
seen running before a heavy gale of wind in the Atlantic, with
both gaff-topsails aloft, when the sea was so high that the large
vessels near her have been hove-to and their decks swept.
Now why cannot a match be made between this vessel and
the Livonia ? Although the Enchantress's racing sails are in
New York, we hardly think this would prove an obstacle ; for
Americans are too fond of sport to let anything stand in the way
of a good match ; and if the proposal was made, there can be
very little doubt that it would be accepted ; and the match would
be far more interesting than any of those which the Cambria
sailed against the Americans last season and the season before.
The Daily Telegraqh, tit. Johns, New Brunswick, July 25, 1873.
THE ENCHANTRESS.
This beautiful yacht made her appearance in the harbor yes-
terday afternoon, and signalled her advent by firing a salute,
which was returned by one of the ships loading on the Carleton
side. In a short time one of our staff boarded her, and was very
courteously received by the owner, J. F. Loubat, Esq., of New
York, who showed him over the vessel. Outwardly, the En-
chantress is a very rakish looking craft, with a very sharp bow,
fine lines forward, and a very long overhanging counter. She
has a moderately flat floor, and is not too much cut away on the
bilge, so that, although very fast, she is weatherly and a very
dry boat for a yacht. She measures 136 feet over all, and is
115 feet long on the water line, 112 feet 6 inches on the keel.
She is 24 feet beam, 11 feet hold, and her draft of water is 13
feet 6 inches. She is a keel vacht. Her official measurement
30 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
ns car-
is 118 tons, but she would probably approach 200 tons
penters' measurement. This vessel was built two years ago by
Mr. Lorillard, of New York, as a cruising yacht, and as
comfort was considered of more account than speed, she was
arranged with a view to furnish the largest amount of ac-
commodation for her inmates. How far this design has
been successful can be seen at once by the most casual
glance at her cabins, which are of the amplest character.
The main cabin is amidships and is very large, and the state
rooms are on an equally ample scale. The after part of the
vessel is occupied by a saloon after the English model, a capital
lounging place in the day time, and at night furnishing com-
fortable sleeping quarters to those who are too indolent or feel
disinclined to go to bed. Forward are the ice-houses, the pantry,
the galley, and the quarters of the steward and crew, the latter
being amply provided for and supplied with all necessary con.
veniences for their safety as well as their comfort. The fittings
of the cabins are of the most substantial and elegant description.
The Enchantress belongs to the New York Yacht Club, and was
purchased from Mr. Lorillard some time ago by her present
owner, Mr. Loubat. He is accompanied in his present cruise
by two friends, Dr. F. G. Snelling and Mr. Gardiner Sherman,
Jr. Mr. Robert Fish, the celebrated yacht designer, is also on
board this, the finest of his productions. The sailing master of
the Enchantress is Reuben King, the first mate, William Dand,
and the Sandy Hook pilot, Peter H. Roff. The crew numbei
18 men all told.
When Mr. Loubat left New York, in his fine yacht,
intended to go to New London, but concluded to come further
east, and arrived some days ago at Mount Desert, which he left
on Wednesday at 6 P. M., arriving here early yesterday afternoon.
It is his intention to spend some days here, perhaps to go up
river and to cross the bay. It is quite likely that the yacht will
go to Halifax, calling at one or two of the ports on the Atlantic
Coast on the way. After that the Enchantress will go to
Europe, probably to the Mediterranean, where she has already
aa,
:
The Enchantress. 31
cruised two seasons. At present the vessel is in cruising trim,
but still she is able to hold her own with all comers. When
she was being built it was predicted that she would be fast, and
she has amply fulfilled the expectations of those interested in
her. She is probably faster than any other yacht belonging to
the New York Yacht Club, except the Sappho. She is kept in
admirable order, and is provided with a steam launch, which is
also a life boat, a most admirable and useful appendage.
CHAPTER IV.
THE OCEAN EACES.
The New York Herald, New York, September 25, 1873.
Meeting of the New York Yacht Club Last Night Appropriate
$1,000 for the October Kaces.
The New York Yacht Club held a meeting last night, rear
commodore Kingsland in the chair.
Mr. Colgate moved that the regatta committee be author-
ized to carry out the instructions of the commodore's letter in
regard to the October races. Carried.
On motion of Mr. Chase the secretary was added to the com-
mittee.
It was moved to appropriate $1,000 to defray the expenses
for the October races. Carried.
The following are the prizes to be sailed for at the Octob
races:
Cup, presented by the commodore, one for schooners and
one for sloops, to be sailed for on the first Thursday in October
over New York Yacht Club course ; value $500.
Cup, presented by the commodore, to be sailed for on the
second Thursday of -October, by schooners of any organized
yacht club, from the anchorage off Owl's Head to and round
lightship off Cape May, and return to Sandy Hook Lightship ;
value $1,000.
GO
-
The Ocean Races. 33
Purses, presented by the Commodore, to be sailed for on the
second Thursday of October (under direction of the N. Y. Y. C.)
by pilot boats, working schooners and smacks (schooners),
sailing from any port in the United States. The first
vessel arriving to take a purse of $1,000; the first boat ar-
riving of each of the other two classes to take a purse of $250.
No class, however, to win more than one prize.
Newspapers in the various seaport towns are requested to call
the attention of owners of vessels to the conditions under which
these two last mentioned cups are offered. Further instructions
in regard to the races will be issued by the Regatta Committee
from time to time. Any persons desiring to enter their boats
or wishing any information can address Mr. Charles A. Minton,
Secretary, No. 26 Broad Street.
The Autumn Regatta of the New York Yacht Club and the Ocean
Eaces under its Auspices The Conditions and Prizes of the
Aquatic Events set down for October 2 and 3.
The autumn regatta of the New York Yacht Club and the
ocean races under its auspices are awaited with pleasure, and
promise to create a great amount of interest, not only because of
the excitement likely to be attached to them, but because of the
confidence which many owners place in their gallant craft. The
first named of these aquatic events will be sailed on Thursday,
October 2, over the usual regulation course, subject to the time
allowances and under the sailing regulations of the club. The
prizes to be sailed for are two cups, presented by Commo-
dore Bennett one for schooners and one for sloops, each of the
value of $500. The Regatta Committe, comprising Messrs.
Fletcher Westray, William Krebs, Edward E. Chase, and
Charles A. Minton, have issued the official notice calling atten-
tion to the regatta and inviting entries, which will be received
by the Secretary of the Club, at his office, No. 26 Broad Street,
until Tuesday morning, September 10, at ten o'clock precisely.
.34 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
In this contest no entrance money will be required. All yachts
must carry their private signals at the main peak. The start
will be a flying one, and the time of each yacht will be taken as
she crosses a line between a stakeboat, which will be anchored in
the Narrows, near Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, and the
judges' steamer. The signals for starting will be given from the
judges' boat, as follows: For a preparatory signal, one gun
and lowering the yacht club flag on the steamboat, and ten
minutes later, for the start, one gun, and the flag will again be
lowered. No yacht's time will be taken later than fifteen min-
utes after the second gun, unless instructions to the contrary are
given by the judges on the morning of the regatta. The expira-
tion of the time will be marked by a third gun and lowering of
flag. If practicable, a short blast of the steam whistle of
the judges' boat will be given when the time of each yacht is
taken as she crosses the line in starting and returning.
The course will be from the starting point, as above, to and
around a stakeboat, at buoy 8J, on the Southwest Spit, keeping it
on the port hand in turning, thence to and around the Sandy
Hook Lightship, keeping it on the starboard hand in rounding,
and return over the same course, keeping the Southwest Spit
buoy on the starboard hand. Yachts must keep to the eastward
of buoys Nos. 9, 11 and 13 on the West Bank, going and return-
ing, and will pass between the judges' boat and the stakeboat on
arriving home.
THE OCEAN KACES.
The "outside" or ocean contests under the direction of the
New York Yacht Club will be sailed one week after the autumn
regatta, Thursday, October 9, and there is b ut little doubt these
will be the events of the year and of a character to be remem-
bered by all the participants. The races will embrace, first, a cup
of the value of $1,000, presented by Commodore Bennett, to be
sailed for by schooner yachts belonging to any organized yacht
club, from an anchorage off Owl's Head, New York Harbor, to
and around the Lightship on Five Fathom, off Cape May, N. J.,
and return to Sandy Hook Lightship. Second, three purses of
hte
The Ocean Races. 35
the value of $1,000, $250 and $250, respectively, also presented
by the Commodore, to be sailed for over the same course upon
the same day, and open to the following class of vessels, hailing
from any port in the United States :
First Pilot boats.
Second Working schooners of not less than 25 nor over 300
tons, old measurement.
Third Schooner smacks.
In this race the first vessel arriving at the winning post will
take the purse of $1,000, the first vessel arriving of each of the
other two classes to take a purse of $250, no class, however, to
win more than one prize. These races will be sailed in accordance
with the sailing regulations of the New York Yacht Club, which
limits the amount of canvas to be carried to the following:
Mainsail, foresail, forestaysail, jib, flying jib, jib- topsail, fore and
main gaff-topsail and main topmast-staysail.
The Regatta Committee, comprising the same gentlemen as
given above, will issue specific instructions as to the course to be
sailed and the rules governing the race, copies of which will be
furnished upon application to the Secretary, Mr. Charles A.
Minton, at his office, on and after the 25th inst. All entries must
be made before twelve o'clock M., October 7, to the Secretary, to
whom inquiries relative to the race should be addressed.
These events, occurring in the season of the year when fresh
breezes are wont to abound in the bay of New York and along
the coast, have given rise to a great deal of interest and specula-
tion in yachting circles and among the friends and owners of the
vessels that are invited to enter for the purses named. The
latter contest, first of its character in this country, should call out
the speedy pilot boats and working schooners which abound in not
only these and adjacent waters, but in all our seaport towns, and
thus test their sailing qualities in company with the crack yachts
of the New York and other club fleets. In doing this mayhap
they will accomplish more than winning a purse ; they may beat
some more pretentious craft over the course, and thus add ad-
ditional laurels to victory. To aid a full entry in these races it
36 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
is desired that as much publicity as practicable may be given
these conditions by all journals on the seaboard. "The more the
merrier" on the 2nd and 9th prox.
The New York Herald, New York, October 8, 1873.
THE OCEAN KACES.
Special Instructions by the Regatta Committee of the New York Yacht
Club How the Competing Vessels will be Distinguished at
night.
There can be no question regarding the success of the ocean
yacht races to be sailed to-morrow (Thursday), under the direc-
tion of the New York Yacht Club. The entries, as given here-
with, embrace six schooner yachts of such construction they
must make good reports of themselves, notwithstanding the
character of the weather ; and if it should happen to blow great
guns, as it did on Monday during the Meta and Vision match,
the respective owners will glory in the occasion and hail the op-
portunity as most fortunate to test their several models. The
names of these pleasure craft that will contest for the
$1,000 cup are the Enchantress, Alarm, Clio, Eva, Atalanta and
Dreadnaught, a very fine fleet, indeed, and among yachtsmen
who are acquainted with the sailing qualities of each, the event
will produce much excitement. The performances of the En-
chantress and Dreadnaught will be particularly watched, as Mr.
Loubat, owner of the former, has challenged Mr. Stockwell of
the Dreadnaught, to defend his right and title to the Cape May
Challenge Cup on the 14th inst., and, without doubt, the part the
latter yacht will play in the ocean race will shape the character
of the cup contest. Then there are formidable competitors
in the Eva and Clio, both of which did magnificently in the
regatta of the 2nd inst., the latter winning the schooner prize.
And still more, the new boat of Mr. Astor, the Atalanta, which
The Ocean Races. 37
displayed such qualities of speed when there was but a handful
of wind during the late regatta, will "show her hand" around
the "outside" course ; and again, the Alarm, which demonstrated
what she could do in a gale and heavy seaway at Newport, last
Summer will, it is predicted, b*e at the front around the Lightship
on Five Fathom Bank. All in all, the competing yachts are
heavy weather craft, and must give an excellent account of
themselves from the moment they are started until the finish of
the grand race at the Lightship off Sandy Hook.
If there will be interest manifested in the competing yachts
and speculation as to the probable winner, there certainly must
be genuine excitement among the owners and their friends
of the pilot boats that have entered for the purses presented by
Commodore Bennett, to be sailed at the same time and over the
same course. Seven of these staunch sea craft are on the list, and
the several crews are exerting themselves to the utmost for the
event. The friendly rivalry among the pilots in this matter
is deep and earnest, and yet while each captain will strive
to make his vessel reach the winning post in advance of all the
others, they hope that no accidents will occur and that the
" best boat may win."
Still another class of those that " go down to the sea "
are intensely interested in the races that of those owning
working schooners. Four of this class of vessels are entered
for the purses, and, if report be true, among them are the
<jrack craft of the waters in and about New York. Much deter-
mination will mark the race between these boats, as each crew
will " go in to win," and their sailing masters, as well as those
of the pilot boats, are among the best in the country. Then
there is a class for schooner smacks, but until late last evening
but one entry had been received under this head.
The Regatta Committee, comprising Messrs. Fletcher
Westray, William Krebs, Edward E. Chase and Charles A. Min-
ton, having the races in charge, issued a few days since the an-
nexed specific instructions and rules to govern the events, which
should be carefully perused by all that are concerned.
38 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
NEW YORK YACHT CLUB. OCEAN RACES OCTOBER 9, 1873.
The following cup and purses, presented by Commodore Ben-
nett, will be sailed for on Thursday, October 9, 1873:
I. Cup of the value of $1,000, to be sailed for by schooner
yachts belonging to any organized yacht club, from an anchorage
off Owl's Head, New York Harbor, to and around the Lightship
on Five Fathom Bank, off Cape May, N. J., and return to Sandy
Hook Lightship.
II. Three purses, of the value of $1,000, $250 and $250, re-
spectively, to be sailed for over the same course, upon the same
day, and open to the following classes of vessels hailing from
any port in the United States:
First Pilot boats.
Second Working schooners of not less than 25 nor over 300
tons, old measurement.
Third Schooner smacks.
In this race the first vessel arriving at the winning post to
take a purse of $1,000 ; the first vessel arriving of each of the
other two classes to take a purse of $250. No class, however, ta
win more than one purse.
Entries to be made to C. A. Minton, Secretary, New York
Yacht Club, No. 26 Broad Street, New York, to whom all in-
quiries relative to the races should be addressed. No entrance fee
required.
These races will be sailed in accordance with the sailing regu-
lations of the New York Yacht Club, and the following
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS.
Two flagboats will be stationed off Owl's Head, about one
mile from the shore, and competing vessels will anchor OD the
morning of the race as follows :
I. Yachts, fifty yards apart on a line drawn due east from
the stakeboat stationed nearest the Narrows.
II. Pilot boats, working schooners and smacks, fifty yards
apart on a line drawn due east from the stakeboat stationed to
the northward of the first line.
JJie Ocean Races. 39
In taking position in line each vessel may select its own, in
the order of its arrival at the anchorage. Mainsails, foresails and
gaff-topsails may be set before starting, unless otherwise ordered
by the Hegatta Committee.
Yachts will be required to carry their private signals at the
main peaks, and working schooners and smacks will carry desig-
nating numbers in the middle of their mainsails, just above the
reef points.
THE START.
The competing vessels will be started at three o'clock, p. M.
precisely, and the signals, which will be given from the judges'
steamer the steam yacht "Herald," will be as follows :
For a preparatory signal One whistle and the New York
Yacht Club signal on the steamer will be lowered ; and, ten
minutes after, for the start, the same signals will be repeated,
whereupon all competing vessels will weigh anchors and get
under way.
THE COURSE.
The course will be from the anchorage, keeping to the east-
ward of buoys Nos. 9, 11 and 13 on the West Bank, to and
around buoy No. 8 \ on the Southwest Spit, leaving it on the port
hand in turning, thence to and around the Cape May Lightship
on Five Fathom Bank, leaving in on the starboard hand in turn-
ing, and back to the Sandy Hook Lightship, passing to the west-
ward of the same, and within 200 yards. Each vessel shall, im-
mediately upon passing the Sandy Hook Lightship, round to and
report to the judge stationed on board.
APPROACHING LIGHTSHIPS AT NIGHT.
Any vessel approaching either lightship at night shall, when
about half a mile distant, fire two rockets, to apprise the judge
stationed on board that she is a competing vessel ; and any ves-
sel other than a yacht rounding the Cape May Lightship at night
shall, when nearest to it, flash a light upon the number in her
mainsail, so that it may be distinguished.
40 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
Rockets, lights and numbers for mainsails will be furnished
upon application to the Secretary.
The races will be governed by the following extracts from
the sailing regulations of the club :
Rule 7.
Sails. Yachts contending for prizes may carry sails as
follows: Schooners, mainsail, foresail, fore staysail, jib,
flying jib, jib-topsail, fore and main gaff-topsails and main topmast-
staysail.
Rule 10.
Objections. If any objection be made with regard to the
classification or sailing of any yacht in a race, such objection must
be made in writing to the Regatta Committee before three
o'clock, P. M. on the next day after the regatta.
Rule 13.
Sounding. Nothing but a hand lead and line to be used in
sounding during a regatta.
Rule 14.
Touching Buoys, &c. A yacht touching any mark, boat
buoy used to mark out the course shall forfeit all claim to the
prize, unless as in case specified in rule No. 19.
Rule 16.
Floors and Bulkheads. All yachts, during a regatta, to keep
the floors down and bulkheads standing. No starting or taking
in water or ballast permitted within twenty-four hours of the
time named for starting, nor any trimming by dead weight al-
lowed.
Rule 18.
Courses. Any yacht bearing away or altering her course to
leeward, and thereby compelling another yacht to bear away to
avoid a collision, shall forfeit all claim to the prize and pay all
damages that may ensue, unless when two yachts are approach-
77ie Ocean Races. 41
ing the windward shore, a buoy or stakeboat together, with a
free wind, and BO close to each other that the weathermost can-
not bear away clear of the leewardmost, and by standing further
on would be in danger of running on shore or touching a buoy
or stakeboat, then such leewardmost yacht, on being requested
to bear away, is immediately to comply, and will forfeit all
claim to the prize for not doing so. The weathermost yacht
must, however, bear away as soon as the one she hails, if she can
do so without coming into contact.
Rule 19.
Rounding Buoys. When rounding a mark, boat or buoy the
yacht nearest thereto is to be considered the headmost yacht ;
and should any other yacht in the race compel the yacht which
is nearest to any mark, boat or buoy to touch said mark boat or
buoy, the yacht so compelling her shall forfeit all claim to the
prize, her owner shall pay for all damages that may occur, and
the yacht so compelled to touch a mark, boat or buoy shall not
suffer any penalty for such contact.
Rule 20.
Courses. Yachts going free must invariably give way for
those by the wind on either tack.
Rule 21.
Courses. When two yachts (by the wind) are approaching the
shore, a buoy, or stakeboat together, and so close to each other
that the leewardmost cannot tack clear of the weathermost, and
by standing further on would be in danger of running on shore,
or touching a buoy or stake boat, such weathermost yacht on
being requested to put about, is immediately to comply, and
will forfeit all claim to a prize for not doing so. The leeward-
most yacht must, however, tack at the same time as the one she
hails, if she can do so without coining into contact.
Rule 23.
Ruling of Regatta Committee. The Regatta Committee
shall have full power to decide all questions that may arise in
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
the sailing of the regatta, and also to exclude all yachts, which,
by their decision, have violated any rule of the Club. There
shall be no appeal from the decision of this Committee.
THE ENTRIES.
The entries of the several classes, up to a late hour last nig'
were as follows :
YACHTS.
Name. Owner. Tonnage.
Enchantress J. F. Loubat 276.16
Alarm A. C. Kingslaiid 225.77
Clio.. . 5T. B. Asten ) gg lg
/T. C. P. Bradhurst. I
Eva E. Burd Grubb 77.50
Atalanta . . . . Wm. Astor . . . . 145.41
ierht
Dreadnaught .
A. B. Stockwell.. ..240.
PILOT BOATS.
Widgeon, No. 10 N. Y. Pilots,
Hope, No. 1 N. Y. Pilots .
Edmund Blunt, No. 21 . .
C. H. Marshall, No. 3 ...
James W. Elwell, No. 7.
Thos. S. Negus, No. 1 ...
Mary E. Fish, No. 4
105.09
.132.04
.N.Y. Pilots
,N. Y. Pilots 85.00
.N. ,T. Pilots 165.00
.N. J. Pilots
.N. Y. Pilots.. .
WORKING SCHOONERS.
Designating Letter.
Wm. H. Van Name. . . .A Wm. H. Van Name 180
Reindeer B Capt. Howard 140
Sharpshooter C . . . . F. M. Grossman 120
Racer D Eugene Howard
SCHOONER SMACKS.
Wallace Blackford E. H. 0. Rogers & Co.
80
LIGHTS, DESIGNATING NUMBERS AND LETTERS.
In addition to the two rockets required to be fired by each
vessel approaching either lightships on Five Fathom Bank or
The Ocean Races. 43
Sandy Hook, the Regatta Committee will instruct the yachts as
they round either of these beacons to show the following lights,
that they may be easily distinguished.
Enchantress, blue light ; Alarm, red light ; Clio, blue and
red, one after the other ; Eva, red and blue, one after the other ;
Atalanta, two blue lights, one after the other ; Dreadnaught, two
red lights, one after the other.
The pilot boats will carry their own numbers, but as there
are duplicates on the list of entries, the Hope will be distin-
guished by a large black ball directly under her number.
The letters by which the working schooners and smacks are
to be distinguished are given above.
The New York Times, New York, October 9, 1873.
THE OCEAN KACE.
Just now the seekers after amusement must be especially diffi-
cult to please if, in the multiplicity of attractions offered them,
they cannot find the wherewithal to satisfy their cravings. There
was a time when it was considered extremely doubtful if New
York could support a single Italian opera, and when a single
prima donna or tenor, either graceful or robust, was considered
sufficient to meet all our musical requirements. Now we have
two opera houses, in which large and fashionable audiences con-
gregate nightly to hear not one, but half a dozen, of the fore-
most singers in the world. The theatres are open and running
briskly, with native and exotic talent, and they who cannot find
something to suit them, from Salvani, all the way down to
Sothern, from the "Midsummer Night's Dream," to the "Black
Crook," must be indeed exacting.
For those to whom the opera is forbidden ground^ and the
theatre an abomination, there are the harmless pleasures of the
lecture-room, and the miracles of the prestidigitateur. They may
inspect the wonders of machinery at the American Institute Fair,
or view the marvels of art at the Metropolitan Museum. They
44 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
may ponder over the exhumed pottery of Crete, or combine re
ligion with relaxation by going to the pious pantomime and
panorama of "The Pilgrim/' where for a most considerate ex-
penditure one may taste all the various delights, as the published
programme informs us, of "painting, song, music, lecture, and
grand transformation finale." And lastly, those who are fond
of sports may choose between the races at Fordham, the rifle-
shooting at Creedmoor, and the regatta of the New York Yach:
Club.
As the latter contest is this time to be an ocean race, it will
probably be, if the wind holds, an exceptionally fine one, and i:
may be, as the race between the Meta and Vision on Tuesday
showed, that our amateur mariners may have ample chance to re-
deem themselves from the reproach of overcaution, not to say
timidity, which has been left upon them by some episodes of tho
Summer cruise. A yacht that cannot face an ocean breeze, or
even an ocean gale, is little better than a toy, and its racing
hardly deserves a place among the list of manly sports. The;
main use and recommendation of yachting, next to its service ir
the improvement of marine architecture to which we have be
fore adverted the one thing that saves it from the stigma of at
expensive idleness, is the hardihood, vigor, and contempt of
danger that it naturally breeds.
For this reason we would be glad to see owners oftener gai*
their own craft, instead of confiding them to professional sailors
It is difficult to see on what principle a yacht race so conducted
can fairly be called an amateur contest at all. Rather would W
see them emulate the example of Mr. Brassey, the well-known
railway contractor and member of Parliament, who, the othei
day, passed his examination and received his full certificate as a
qualified sailing master in all the branches of navigation the
first instance, it is said, of the kind on record. We wish it
might not be the last. With a few such yachtsmen, this noble
sport would soon acquire a new dignity and importance. And.
we suggest, as one means towards bringing about this desirable
result, that in future regattas a separate and distinct prize shi
The Ocean Races. 46
I
be offered for yachts which are so sailed by their owners, or at
least by amateurs.
A novel feature of to-day's contest will be an additional race
open to pilot boats, working schooners, and schooner smacks, for
which two prizes, of $1,000 and $250, are offered by the Yacht
Club, and which has attracted a dozen entries. For the yacht
race proper a number of our best yachts are entered, including
the Enchantress, Alarm, Clio, Eva, Atlanta, and Dreadnaught
and, with favoring winds, the contest should be an exceedingly
fine one. Few, of course, can hope to see much more of it
than the start, though at Jeast two steamers, as will be seen by
our advertising columns, will accompany the race to Sandy Hook,
and if the weather permits, as far as the Light-ship. All who
enjoy this exhilarating and graceful sport, and who do not fear
the " white caps," will, we are sure, find their recompense in at-
tending.
The New York Herald, New York, October 10, 1873.
THE OCEAN KEGATTA.
From Owl's Head to Cape May for Cup and Purse and Glory The Clio
Leading at Sandy Hook The Pilot Boats and the Toilers of the Sea
Struggling Broadside to Broadside Brilliant Scene at Bay Ridge The
Fishing Schooner Blackford and Her Walk Over the Course "Crowd-
ing" at the Narrows and "Bunching" at the Southwest Spit.
The great ocean yacht race, from Owl's Head Point around
the Southwest spit to Cape May Lightship in New Jersey, and
back to the Sandy Hook Lightship, a distance of about 140
miles as the bird flies, and probably 250 miles when the boats
are going free and with tacks for wind, began yesterday after-
noon, at thirteen minutes after three o'clock. No more beauti-
ful day than Thursday, October 9, 1873, has ever been vouch-
safed to the yachtsmen of this or any neighboring city in the
United States. The air at an early hour of the morning was as
delightful as the dream of a young girl; the sky was clear and of
a piercing blue, and the sun, which in the beginning denied an
46 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
appearance to its worshippers, came later to gladden all hearts,
and to gild the white canvas of the boats as they lay on the blue
expanse of water between the villa-crowned eminences of Staten
Island, and the autumnal leaves of the crest of Bay Ridge. The
upper bay was swarming with the sails of numerous craft gad-
ding about, toying and tossing and flirting with sun and air, their
crews shouting with enthusiasm and their breasts filled with the
ozone that made the faintest sound or the lightest laugh distinct
as the booming of a bell over the waters of the bay. At about
eleven o'clock the "Herald" steam yacht bearing the Regatta Com-
mittee, consisting of Messrs. Fletcher Westray, William Krebs,
Edward E. Chase and Charles A. Minton, together with the rep-
resentatives of the press, left the Battery and passed down- the
bay, with the red cross, white star and blue ground on her bunt-
ing, and was hailed on her track by many welcome salutations
from the shipping, and by deafening screams from the whisth
of steamboats which tore by with the rapidity of demons.
At this point the sight was a charming one. Given tl
same number of boats, with their snowy canvas and their tall,
unpainted masts and fairy-like rigging, it is doubtful whether
the Bay of Naples or the Golden Horn, nor yet the Golden
Gate of San Francisco, could furnish a surrounding of frame-
work so deliciously still, so calm, so full of nobleness and grand-
eur. October had brought to the perspective all her purple and rus-
set and fading emerald glories to fill out the season's picture, the
centre of which was a breathing flame of gold from the sun, a
million of miles above in the great dome of the sky. As is
usual where a number of yachts are to contest a race, they
came slowly, some lying in at the verge of the shore of Staten
Island, others looming down fitfully upon the middle point of
concentration, and surging through the foam, rising from their
bows in the blue water like so many sea birds. The "Herald"
under the judicious management of Captain Robinson, was
obedient to every command of the Regatta Committee, and wj
The Ocean Races. 47
busily engaged in delivering instructions to the different yachts,
pilot boats and working schooners which had been entered for
the race. .Rockets and blue lights to be burned around the bleak
circle of Cape May Light and at the scarlet iron sides of the
Sandy Hook f ogship, were distributed to each contesting boat by
young Mr. Minton as the "Herald" yacht forged alongside. The
steamers Chamberlain, William Fletcher, Arrowsmith and other
marine caravansaries came down from the city wharves loaded
with people and endeavoring to secure good vantage ground for
the spectacle of a sea fight.
THE CONTESTANTS.
The Bennett Cup, valued at $1,000, was offered to schooner
yachts of any organized yacht club in the United States, and three
purses, amounting respectively to the sums of $1,000, $250 and
$250, were offered also by Commodore Bennett to pilot boats,
working schooners of not less than 25 or over 300 tons, old meas-
urement, and to fishing schooner smacks. And new to tell of the
entries to this ocean regatta, which was probably better favored
by wind and weather than any previous regatta ever before con-
tested on the Atlantic coast.
Of schooner yachts there were entered the Enchantress, J.
F. Loubat, 276 tons; Alarm, A. C. Kingsland, 225 tons; Clio, T.
B. Asten and T. C. P. Bradlmrst, 59 tons; Eva, Gen. E. B.
Grubb, 77 tons, and the Dreadnaught, A. B. Stockwell, 240 tons.
Of pilot boats there were entered the Widgeon, No. 10, 106
tons; Edmund Blunt, No. 2, 111 tons; James W. Elwell, No.
7, 137 tons; Thomas S. Negus, No. 1, 130 tons, and Mary E.
Fish, No. 4, 106 tons.
The working schooners, instead of being designated by nu-
merals, had large letters of the alphabet, nearly ten feet high
placed on their mainsails.
The working schooner W. H. Yan Name had the letter A on
her mainsail, rated at 140 tons, and hails from Staten Island.
This is a magnificent boat, painted black, and her crew boasted
before starting that there was not a pilot boat in the race equal
48 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
to her in model and solidity of timber. She is owned by Mr.
W. H. Van Name, and any person who saw her sweep by the
point of Sandy Hook yesterday must acknowledge that she is fit
to compete with any vessel that sails out of New York harbor.
Next on the list of working schooners was the Reindeer,
painted white, with the letter B on her mainsail, of 154 tons, W.
N. Howard, master, from Cold Spring, New York. The
Reindeer is a brick slop, and is staunch enough and with
breadth of beam enough to dismantle a stone fort.
Last, but not least, of all in the schooner smack class, came
the little Wallace Blackford, of eighty tons, owned by H. C.
Rogers & Co. This boat had enough hamper on her deck to
satisfy the mind of a captain of the Black Ball Line. She bore
the letter E on her mainsail, and the Blackford was considered
the pride of Fulton Market fishmongers.
Captain Baillie sailed the Widgeon, Bob Fish and Captain
Fete Roff were on board the Enchantress, Captain Dick Brown
sailed the Mary Fish, Captain Sam Greenwood (who sailed the
Sappho in her races with the Livonia) stood on the quarter deck
of the Yan Name, Captain Schon'eld sailed the fishing smack
Blackford, Captain Warner the Elwell, Captain Lewis the Negus
and Captain Johnson the Edmund Blunt.
The Regatta Committee distributed the judges of the race on
board the different boats in the following order : Mr. Walter
Kane and the Messrs. Jones on the Enchantress, Mr. Stockwell
and Mr. Henry Steers on the Dreadnaught, Mr. Asten on the
Clio, Rear Commodore Kingsland and Mr. Parsons on the
Alarm, and Mr. F. A. Smith on the Negus. To make the race
more interesting a private match for a cup valued at $250 -was
made between the yachts Clio and Eva. Late in the afternoon
the Prospero, Mr. AspinwalPs beautiful steam yacht Day Dream
the police boat Seneca, the steamboats Charles Chamberlain and
Seth Low, and a dramatic looking and ferocious little steam
yacht, with a big smokestack and no deck, called the Oliver
Doud Byron, came on the ground and added to the brilliant spec-
tacle.
T^he Ocean Races. 49
OUTWARD BOUND FOR THE START.
It was now three o'clock, and the hour was approaching when
the boats were to be started by the Regatta Committee. Two
stakeboats, with the American colors flying from their masts,
were stationed off Owl's Head Point, a mile distant from the
shore. Near the stakeboats, and with fifty yards distance be-
tween them, the yachts Enchantress, Alarm, Clio, and Dread-
naught were lying at anchor. The Atalanta had not yet been
seen. The pilot boats, with their big figures standing out vividly
on their mainsails, the hardy-looking working- schooners, having
their alphabetical designation, and the solitary fishing smack
from Fulton Market, were all in line, waiting for the first whis-
tle to prepare for action. The whistle was blown for prepara-
tion on board the "Herald" steam yacht, where the Committee
were engaged closely watching the movements of the different
craft. The red-cross signal fell at this moment and then there
was immediate bustle on the deck of every one of the thirteen
boats about to take part in the great ocean regatta. Ten min-
utes elapsed and the last whistle, the signal for starting, was
blown with a shriek so loud and long continued that it .might
have woke .the sleepers in Greenwood. At thirteen minutes
past three P. M. the vessels all weighed anchor as quickly a&
possible. The Clio was the first to show to the front with her
sails all sheeted well home as the pretty clipper leaped forward,
before the breeze. The Eva was close in her wake and the
fishing smack not many yards astern. As they drew off to fill,
the boats headed towards Fort Hamilton, but soon drew out
again into the middle of the entrance to the Narrows. The El-
well was a good fourth, and the other wave-skimmers were all
well up. The Yindex not in the race had been backing and
filling under Fort Richmond, and the schooner Ariel, her peaks
gaudy with flags, came out to greet the competing vessels. The
wind, which was from the eastward, had dropped considerably,
and the lurid sun shone down upon the sea, tinting the tiny
wavelets and glinting upon the snowy sails of the noble fleet then
moving onward in stately phalanx to victory and defeat.
5o A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
"DOWN TO THE SPIT."
While the spectators on the regatta boat and on the sur-
rounding steamers were heaping praises in an exciting manner
on the plucky little schooners which led the van, there came
down among them the great, big Enchantress wing-and-wing, her
deck crowded with men, and looking thoroughly as though
she was about to enter into a marine contest in earnest. The
Enchantress ran down towards Coney Island, and close upon
her starboard beam was the majestic Alarm. The Enchantress
then jibed her foresail ; while passing Gravesend Bay was the
pilotboat Edmund Blunt, working splendidly and standing up to
her canvass stiff as a tree. Just at this moment the Clio, which
was leading the fleet splendidly toward the main channel, caught
a gust of wind and had a large hole, about six yards in length,
blown into her maintopmast staysail. This retarded her some-
what, and the Enchantress was overhauling her rapidly, when a
dirty old tub of a coasting schooner crossed the latter's bow, and
she came very near colliding with the pretty Clio. The Dread-
naught picked up a little on account of this ; but the coaster,
with an unexpected spirit of fairness, got in her way also, caus-
ing her to bear up and lose what she had gained. It was as if a
lumbering charcoal wagon had crossed two rival four-in-hand
teams in Central Park. The Ariel and other outsiders kept
away well to the eastward, so as to leave the course clear. At
this point the scene was .an exceedingly beautiful one, for the
wind freshened considerably, and the hindmost boats, catching
the breeze first, ran up to their leaders and the whole fleet
were bunched, though clear and going well, as the South-
west Spit was reached. Here the "Herald" awaited the swan like
craft, and the scene, as witnessed from her deck, was truly mag-
nificent; for the sun flashed and sparkled upon the foam under
the sharp prows of the swift-gliding vessels. It was now
past four o'clock, and the regatta steamer was soon surrounded
by the other " funnel boats " at buoy No. 8, The fleet passed
in the following order, amid the most unbounded enthusiasm
and excitement :
The Ocean Races. 5i
H. M. S. H. M. S.
Clio 4 23 50 Widgeon 4 35 02
Enchantress 4 26 55 Reindeer 4 35 26
Alarm 3 28 45 Thomas S. Negus 4 36 14
Dreadnaught 4 29 09 WallaceBlackford 4 37 05
Van Name 4 29 32 James W. Elwell 4 39 06
Eva 4 29 44 Edmund Blunt .. 4 39 26
Mary E. Fish... 4 34 32
The "Herald" regatta steamer then started after the clippers.
The Elwell WHS doing very well and was flying foresail,
main sail, gaff topsail, f orestaysail, jib and jib-topsail, and the Ed-
mund Blunt, who was evidently trying conclusions with her
partner, had fore and mainsails, main gaff-topsail, main-staysail,
topmast staysail, forestaysail and jib set. The Fulton Market
people on the Blackford seemed very excited and were running
about wildly, and off the point of Sandy Hook the Mary
Fish put her nose under and shipped considerable water. An
emigrant packet from Europe came down at this moment, and
those aboard of her raised a cheer that rang out a welcome
to their American brethren in the tinier vessels.
About this time we all began to feel that this was
going to be a big race, and particularly it was noticeable
that the larger schooners were buckling down to the work
which was cut out for them. We were in the shadow of
the Highlands of Navesink, a heavy sea was running, and
afar off we could see that the Enchantress was doing her
"level best" for the first place, though the Clio was still
leading and the Alarm pushing them both to their utmost
speed. The regatta steamer then turned her bow homewards,
and two of the excursion boats crept out a little further, in
a timid way, but soon followed in our wake. The sun sank
slowly down towards the western horizon, and as he touched the
line dividing sea and sky, he resembled, in his crimson majesty,
a giant's golden shield. To the southward we saw a huge flock
of white sea gulls circling on strong pinions and dipping their
beaks in the brine in search of prey, while over them hovered a
Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
great black fish hawk, his sable wings spread like a fashionable
fan. A German steamer, deeply laden with freight and passen-
gers, outward bound, passed us and returned us a responsive
whistle. In the distance, the serrated tops of the Highlands, re-
sembling a waving woof of indigo, were standing boldly up, and,
almost hull down, we saw the Mary Fish fast overhauling the
Yan Name. A bulky iron ship, built pn the Clyde, was being
towed past us, and, on being hailed, her Captain slated that she
was from Glasgow, eighteen days out. The Edmund Blunt
passed us at this moment, and, on being hailed, her sailing mas-
ter cried out, " You will hear from us to-morrow morning."
Following the Blunt comes the Elwell, and as they sweep by
through the gloom that is covering Sandy Hook all hands rise to
wave their hats and cheer us, as might be expected from
the sternmost boat in the race. A few moments elapse, and as
the turbulent waves toss and the brisk sea breeze blows in
our faces we lose sight of all the fleet, who are stretching away,
with bending^ spars and bellying canvas, for Cape May Light-
ship.
The World, New York, October 10, 1873.
OCEAN YACHT RACES.
The Start and Position of the Eacers at Sandy Hook Magnificent a
ance of the Yachts sailing down the Bay.
A splendid start was made yesterday afternoon on the Ocean
Yacht Race to Cape May and return for the prizes offered by Com-
modoie Bennett, and the indications are that the race will be one
of the finest and fastest that has ever been made over so long a
course. The novelty of the conditions of this race and the
varied character of the contestants has attracted more than usual
attention to it and interested many classes of persons outside of
purely yachting circles. It was, in effect, open to any and all
schooners that chose to enter, including the schooner yachts of
all organized clubs, schooner-rigged pilot boats, working schoon-
The Ocean Races. 63
ers and schooner smacks. There was no entrance fee for any of
the vessels, and there were liberal prizes for all classes. The
prize for yachts was a cup of the value of $1,000, and for
the other schooners there were three purses, one of $1,000 and
two of $250 each. The rale governing the award of these pur-
ses was that the first vessel arriving at the winning post should
have the purse of $1,000, and that the first vessel arriving of
each of the other two classes should have a purse of $250, with
the proviso that no class should receive more than one prize.
The course was from an anchorage off Owl's Head, around the
Southwest Spit, thence to and around the Cape May Lightship on
Five Fathom Bank, and back to the Sandy Hook Lightship, pas-
sing within 200 yards of the latter.
The competing vessels were as follows :
YACHTS.
Name. Owner. Tonnage.
Enchantress ............... J. F. Loubat ............... 276.16
Alarm .................... A. C. Kingsland .......... 225.17
Olio.. JT.B.Asten .......... ) 59>86
?T. C. B. Bradhurst ...... )
Eva ....................... E. Burd Grubb ........... 77.50
Dreadnaught .............. A. B. Sfcockwell .......... 240.00
PILOT BOATS.
Widgeon, No. 10 .......... New York pilots .......... 105.69
Edmund Blunt, No. 21 ..... New York pilots .......... 111.00
Jas. W. ElweU, No. 7 ...... New Jersey pilots ........ 132.00
Thos. S. Negus, No. 1 ..... New Jersey pilots ........ 130.00
Mary E. Fish, No. 4 ....... New Jersey pilots ........ 106.75
WOBKING SCHOONEBS.
W. H. Van Name (A) ...... W. H. Van Name ........ 140.00
JBeindeer (P) .............. Captain Howard ......... 154.00
SCHOONEB SMACKS.
Wallace Blackford (E) ..... E. H. C. Eogers & Co ..... 80.00
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
There were five other vessels entered for the race, but which
failed to appear. They were the yacht Atalanta, the pilot boats
Hope, No. 1, and C. H. Marshall, No. 3, and the schooners
Sharpshooter and Racer. The letters which are placed opposite
to the schooners in the above list were used to designate them
when at sea, and were painted on large sheets of muslin, which
were sewed on the mainsails of the respective vessels. It will be
seen that there was only one schooner smack in the race, so that
if she sails over the whole course, she is sure of the purse offered
for her class, and she has also a chance of winning the capital
prize for schooners. In other words she may win $1,000, and
she must win $250.
The day broke bright and beautiful yesterday morning, and
it was evident that the racers were to have the most favorable
wind and weather that could be desired. There was not a cloud
in the sky, the temperature was just cool enough to make the
genial sunshine welcome, and there was a brisk breeze from
the northeast which dotted the surface of the bay and harbor
with long white caps, and which seemed expressly provided for
speeding the racers down the Jersey coast. From an early hour
of the morning the harbor presented a busy scene with the white-
winged schooners working down toward the anchorage, or sail-
ing about in long tacks and displaying their points to the numer-
ous spectators, and with the large number of excursion steamers
and smaller craft that were busily plying about the harbor pick-
ing up passengers and attending the vessels that were to partici-
pate in the race. Toward evening a great many spectators began
to assemble upon the points which commanded the best views of
the rendezvous, and by the time the start was made the banks of
Stateu Island and South Brooklyn were well lined with carriages
and pedestrians, all eagerly watching the race. The Committee
having charge of the race consisted of Mr. Fletcher Westray,
Chairman ; and Messrs. William Krebs, Edward E. Chase, and
Charles A. Minton, ; and Mr. Freeman S. Smith was appointed
the Judge of the pilot boats. These gentlemen embarked on
board of the "Herald" steam yacht at the barge office, and a little
The Ocean Races. 55
after eleven o'clock the judges' boat steamed down the harbor to
deliver the signals and instructions to the contestants and to align
the vessels. The signals consisted of rockets, two of which were
ordered to be fired by every vessel approaching either of the ter-
minal lightships at night blue and red combination lights by
which the yachts were to be distinguished, and ship -lights for the
other schooners, which were to be used so as to display the desig-
nating letters and numbers upon their mainsails. The first of
the contesting vessels encountered by the judges' boat was the
Reindeer, which was proceeding to the anchorage under very
easy sail, and next the Dreadnaught and Enchantress passed the
steamer on their way down. At the anchorage off Owl's Head
most of the pilot boats and working schooners had already got
into position and dropped their anchors. There were two stake-
boats, one exactly opposite Owl's Head and the other 300 yards
further down the Narrows. The second of these marked the po-
sition of the yachts and the first the position of all the other ves-
sels. Of the yachts the Enchantress and the Eva were the only
ones in line. The Dreadnaught was lying under the Jersey
shore, and the others were gracefully disporting about the harbor
under easy sail, but all showing fine speed. At the last moment
a private match for a $250 cup was arranged between the Eva
and the Clio, to be determined during the present race. The
judges' boat completed the distribution of the signals and instruc-
tions, and after awaiting the arrival of all the contesting vessels
took up a position to the leeward and between the lines of
schooners.
The signals agreed upon for the start consisted of one whistle,
and the lowering of the Yacht Club flag as a signal of prepara-
tion, and ten minutes after another whistle and another dipping
of the flag for getting under way. The start was announced to
be made at three o'clock, and at exactly two minutes after that
hour the first whistle was sounded, the last orders were given on
all the vessels, the men sprung to their posts, and all was life
and bustle. At twelve minutes after three the final signal was
given, the anchors were raised and the jibs hoisted as if by magic
56 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
and the thirteen contestants swung swiftly about with the north-
east breeze and dashed through the waves like greyhounds re-
leased from the leash. The start was one of the most even ever
made, but of the yachts the Clio made the best, and speedily
put herself 200 yards ahead of all her rivals, the Eva following
next, the Dreadnaught and Enchantress coming next and close
together, and the Alarm a slight distance in their rear. Of the
other vessels the "Pride of the Market," as the Blackford is
called in Fulton Street, got away first, and was followed by the
Edximnd Blunt, next by the Elwell and the Negus, r.nd then by
all the others in a bunch. The wind was a little lighter than it
had been in the morning, but it was dead astern and the fleet swept
wing-and-wing down the Narrows with every stitch of canvas
set, and presented one of the most splendid sights that ever
charmed the eyes of a yachtsman. The Clio kept her lead, but
the Eva came creeping up in a determined way that showed that
Captain Grubb had no intention of letting that $250 cup get
away from him without a struggle; the Enchantress veered a
few points to leeward and soon passed the Eva; the Dreadnaught
was but little astern of either, and the Alarm was coming rapid-
ly up in the rear. At this moment an ugly hole appeared in
the staysail of the Clio, caused by a foul with the gaff, and in
a few seconds the wind, which was bellying the sail in fine shape
ripped it from top to bottom, and it was hauled down to be re-
paired. The Clio, however, still gallantly maintained her advan-
tage, and swinging around to windward shot swiftly past the bow
of the Dauntless and took her position on the extreme left of
the fleet, which was by this time extended into an irregular cres-
cent, \ith the Clio and the Enchantress marking the two ad-
vanced corners.
This position was maintained without material change down
to buoy No. 8, on Southwest Spit. The Clio and Enchantress
were ahead, with the Clio away over to windward, and therefore
nearer the Spit, the Dreadnaught and Alarm were between and
a little behind them and on an exact line with each other, while,
the Eva was just astern of the Dreadnaught. The other vessels
The Ocean Races. 5 7
had made some changes in their relative positions, and the Yan
Name was away ahead and rapidly picking up the Eva. Close
upon her heels was the Mary E. Fish, and then came the Wid-
geon and the Reindeer, apparently together, and with the heavier
pilot hoats "Big 7" and the Blunt bringing up the rear.
The time of rounding the Spit was as follows:
H. M. s.
Yacht Olio.'. 4 23 50
Yacht Enchantress 4 26 55
Yacht Alarm .. 4 28 45
Yacht Dreadnaught 4 29 09
Schooner Van Name 4 29 32
Yacht Eva 4 29 44
Pilot boat Mary E. Fish, No. 4 4 34 32
Pilot boat Widgeon, No. 10 4 35 02
Schooner Keindeer 4 35 26
Pilot boat Thomas S. Negus, No. 1 . . 4 36 14
Smack Wallace Blackford '. . . 4 37 05
Pilot boat James W. Elwell, No. 7 4 39 06
Pilot boat Edmund Blunt, No. 2 4 39 36
From the time of the start to the arrival at the spit, the
breeze had noticeably decreased and had changed towards the
east, so that the "white caps" were no longer visible, and the ves-
sels, when they strung out after rounding the buoy, were com-
pelled to beat down with long tacks to get to sea. As each of
the beautiful craft shot past the Spit, she was greeted with three
shrill salutes from the whistles of the judges' boat and the other
steamers that had assembled there, and which included the
Fletcher, Arrowsmith, Chamberlain and Day Dream. The Clio
made a splendid tack, which slightly increased her lead, and the
Enchantress, which followed her, and was bounding along at the
speed of a race-horse, had to beware of her greater draught of
water, and describe a much wider circle. The Clio, therefore,
managed to retain her lead until out of sight, and there were no
important changes in the relative position of the other vessels.
The judges' boat, under the command of Captain Robinson, gal-
lantly escorted the fleet to Sandy Hook, and was followed by a
dozen other craft, including the steamers already named, and the
58
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
yachts Vindex, Columbia, Emilie, Camelia, and Ariel. The
racing yachts, as they receded in the distance, and in the mellow
sunset, formed one of the finest sea pictures that the Bay of New
York has ever seen. The wind was still in their favor and they
stood almost erect, with their tall masts and their crowds of can-
vas giving them the appearance of great white columns reflected
against the deepening blue of the horizon. On the judges' boat,
a number of rockets and other pyrotechnic pieces which had not
been needed in the distribution to the yachts were discharged as
a final salute to the fast-fading fleet, and as the sun sank, blood-
red, behind the hills of Staten Island, the boat reversed its course
and brought the party back to the city.
The favorable start which the yachts have had encourages the
belief which was expressed by all the yachting men who ob-
served the start, that the race will be an unusually fast one. The
course has been sailed in twenty-five hours, and the yachtsmen
yesterday, as they passed the steam yacht on their way to sea,
promised they would do it in twenty-four. It is quite possible
that the first of the returning fleet may be seen at Sandy Hook
early this afternoon, and it seems almost certain that they will
return this afternoon or evening. The Regatta Committee are
to proceed to Sandy Hook this afternoon to await the finish of
the race, and will remain upon the lightship until all of the
fleet return.
The New York Herald, October 11, 1873.
THE GREAT OCEAN YACHT REGATTA.
On Thursday afternoon thirteen vessels of schooner rig and
of four distinct classes, which have never before met in racing
competition, sailed forth under a clear blue sky on a grand ocean
race. The fact that five vessels of our trim pilot fleet, whose
fame in their line of hardy seafaring is world-wide, were sailing
beside five saucy schooners of our racing fleet is a circumstance
in itself worthy of note. That two working schooners, one from
Staten Island and another from Cold Spring Harbor, brought
The Ocean Races. 69
their ruddy crews into competition with the pilot boats, and that
a gallant little schooner smack came forward to claim her share
of the race, give us a picture well worthy of the genius of some
such American painter of marine subjects as Moran. That the
race meant downright sailing under conditions which divested
it of the toylike quality of races inshore was evident from the
beginning. It was a test of qualities that are not brought out
in races with land calms threatening to spoil all sport ; in races
with subtle knowledge of tides and currents telling more than
the great quality of fast sailing ; in races where the exact reach
of every tack under given directions of wind can be calculated
to a nicety. The vessel, in such a race as that started on Thurs-
day, is tested as much as the sailing master, and the result will
prove much more of the true grit in both than the ornamental
regattas, which, in their place, are so very admirable. About
this race there is another feature which Americans can point to
with pride it marks the entrance of a republican spirit into
contests hitherto laid claim to by a class alone. As that cla^ss
is, of necessity, a rich one, it will be gratifying to think that
the men of bronzed face, stout arms and manly heart, by whose
lives coasting commerce is made a nursery of hardy seamen
men whose grandfathers manned the privateers of 1812, whose
fathers in turn manned the gallant ships that in the war of the
revolution so brilliantly contested with England for the su-
premacy of the seas are taking their places in the race with
their fortune-favored fellow citizens. It matters not to whom
the prizes fall if the race proves where the best contests are to
be decided and if it marks an innovation in yachting experience
worthy of the aquatic holidays of a republic. The course,
covering from two hundred and fifty to three hundred miles
of actual sailing, is a splendid one, and one of the results of the
race will doubtless be to make it the scene of the future contests
of importance battled in by yachts in the vicinity of New York.
Throughout yesterday the arrival of the winning vessels was
anxiously expected, and the explanation that three hundred
miles cannot be sailed in the time of an ordinary race from
6o
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
the Narrows to Sandy Hook Lightship and back was made
hundreds of times by those learned in the matter to others not
so fortunate, but up to the present time the return of none
of the yachts has been reported.
The Evening Telegram, New York, October 11, 1873.
THE OCEAN BACE.
The Enchantress the Winning Yacht Ninety miles in ten hours An
precedented Bun from Sandy Hook to Cape May A Terrible Time at
Sea A Head Wind All the Way Home The Winning Pilot Boat.
SANDY HOOK, Saturday, Oct, 11 A. M.
The yacht Enchantress passed the lightship here at twelve
minutes past six o'clock this morning, and won the race.
The second boat is not yet in sight, but from the report
made by the Enchantress it is supposed that the first pilot boat
1 s pilot boat No. 1, Thomas S. Negus, of New Jersey, and that
the second yacht is probably the Alarm.
The Enchantress made the run from Owls' Head, L. I., in
New York Harbor, the starting point, to Cape May lightship in
ten hours, forty-five minutes and thirty seconds, an unprecedented
run.
The start was made at twelve minutes past three o'clock o
Thursday afternoon, and the Enchantress rounded the lightship
at Cape May at one o'clock, fifty-seven minutes and thirty
seconds on Friday morning.
There was a fair wind all the way down.
The race was a dead beat all the way back, a heavy head
sea running. In the afternoon of yesterday there were light airs
for a considerable time, the sea being very lumpy.
After rounding the Cape May Lightship the Enchantress
about four o'clock yesterday morning fell into a very heavy sea
and split her jib.
The Ocean Races. 61
There was no time for repairs at the time, but when the
morning advanced and an opportunity presented itself it was
repaired.
At eleven o'clock she shipped a tremendous heavy sea which
carried away the under bobstay, which endangered the jibboom.
Things were particularly lively at this time on board the yacht.
A tackle was got out and the jibboom secured.
Just at this time the split jib was ripped to its head all
through, a heavy sea running. From that time only half the
sail was used, it being impossible to bend another, the sea was so
high.
Captain Robert Fish sailed the Enchantress arid Peter W.
Ron was the pilot.
The general interest felt in the result of the great ocean
yacht race has in no way abated. On the contrary, the inquiries
after the yachts were more numerous this morning than yester-
day.
The delay in the arrival of the vessels was, of- course, caused
as stated in the Telegram yesterday, by the strong northeast
breeze which was blowing yesterday morning. Though this has
delayed the arrival of the vessels, it was far from spoiling the
race or lessening the interest felt on all sides in the result of the
contest. The fact is that this wind showed to greater advantage
the sea-going and weatherly qualities of the competing vessels.
Along shore the most intense interest is felt in the result of
the race on account of the pilot boats and the working schoon-
ers.
THE LATEST.
FASTEST SAILING ON RECORD.
The Enchantress passed Fort Hamilton at 9:15 this morning,
under full sail.
The yacht was followed by the pilot boat Thomas S. Negus,
No. 1, and the third boat in was the New Jersey pilot boat
James W. Elwell, No. 7.
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
If the run to Cape May has been made in the time men-
tioned it is the quickest run on record by any sailing vessel.
CAPE MAY, N. J., Oct. 11, 18T3.
The yachts passed Five Fathom Light at 3:20 A. M. as
follows :
Enchantress, first.
Dreadnaught, second.
Alarm, third.
The positions of the other yachts were not obtained.
PHILADELPHIA, PA., Oct. 11, 1873.
A second dispatch from Cape May, N. J., says that the yachts
passed at 3:20 yesterday morning, the wind being at the time
dead ahead.
The New York Herald, October 12, 1873.
THE OCEAN KACES.
From Owl's Head to the Five-Fathom Bank Lightship off Cape
May Thirteen Vessels Striving for Victory Working Schoon-
ers and Pleasure Craft in the Fleet Plenty of \Vind and
Heavy Head Seas Accidents and Incidents Beating to Windward
One Hundred and Twenty-five Miles The Enchantress the Winner
of the $1,000 Cup and the Pilot Boat Negus the $1,000 Purse Three
of the Eacers Home.
ON BOARD YACHT ENCHANTRESS, OFF SANDZ HOOK LIGHTSHIP.
Saturday, October 11 6.12 A. M.
Thursday afternoon when the competing vessels in the great
ocean races were off the point of Sandy Hook and the Regatta
committee of the New York Yacht Club and others on board
The Ocean Races. 63
the steam yacht " Herald " were preparing to bid them adieu and
wish them all " good luck," the scene was one that could not
fail to delight the most enthusiastic yachtsman. It had been a
day particularly charming to commence a contest of the charac-
ter in which the vessels were engaged, and upon each and every
deck of the racing boats were picked crews, veteran pilots,
delighted sailing masters, and hopeful owners. It was the for-
tune of one of the " Herald " reporters to find himself, early that
afternoon, on board the Enchantress, where, on deck, were Mr.
J. F. Loubat, the owner ; Yice-Commodore Douglas, Mr. Walter
L. Kane, Judge for the Committee ; his brother, Mr. Delancey
Kane, and Mr. Edward R. Jones, ready to accompany the yacht
to victory or defeat. Busy giving orders to the bronzed crew
was seen Captain Bob Fish, who modelled the boat, and near
him, eager to take the wheel, was Pilot Peter W. Ron , of Staten
Island. In like respects it was understood that all the craft whose
crews were eager to win the prizes presented by Commodore
Bennett were well provided. So, when the point of Sandy Hook
was passed, the great ocean race to the lightship on Five Fathom
Bank had commenced and was fast becoming exciting. At the time
of starting the wind was to the northward, but at this point it
had veered to the east -north-east and was breezing freshly. The
pretty Clio, with all sail set, was working well to windward;
the Enchantress, with a cloud of canvas, was second ; the Alarm
third, Dreadnaught fourth, working schooner Tart Name fiftfl,
Eva sixth, and the pilot boat Mary E. Fish, working schooner
Reindeer, pilot boat Thomas S. Negus, schooner smack Wallace
Blackford, and pilot boats James W. El well and Edmund E.
Blunt in the positions as named. Passing out by the land, the
Enchantress went about on the port tack at 4= h. 26 m., the Clio
did likewise at 4 h. 27 m., the Alarm followed suit at 4= h. 28 m.,
the Dreadnaught soon the same, and now each bent to their
business.
Away to leeward, and not to interfere with the manoeuvr-
ing of the vessels, the excursionists' steamers accompanied
us, and gliding swiftly along among these, looking par-
Yachtsman s Scrap Boot
ticularly handsome, was the steam yacht Day Dream, upon the
deck of which General Aspinwall was observed, in the New
York Yacht Club uniform. Though each and every captain of
this fleet of clippers knew there was much work and chances
of ill-luck before them, they commenced their task with faces
lighted up with pleasurable excitement, and the last whistle of
the judge's boat left them all in the best of humor, and with
the highest hopes of success. On board the Clio, which had
crept up to windward in the Narrows, there was an evident
determination to keep in advance. She had set foresail, main-
sail, foretopsail, jib, flying-jib, and two topsails, and the canvas
drew very well. At 4 h. 35 m. the Enchantress, under club fore-
sail, mainsail, jib, flying-jib, maintopmast staysail, and working
topsails was gradually lessening the distance. The Clio was in ad-
vance. The noble looking Alarm was a short away to leeward,while
the Dreadnaught, with all kites set, her big maintopmast staysail
being the more conspicuous, was challenging Rear Commodore
Kingsland for third place. The saucy Eva followed, and then the
Widgeon and Mary E. Fish, of the pilot boats, were earnestly con-
testing with each other for the post of honor in their class, with the
advantage in favor of the latter, and to leeward of these was the
trusty-looking Van Name, and among the brush the Wallace
Blackford, the schooner smack that entered for the prize and
glory attached to the event. The yachts were now flying
through the water and the Enchantress on the starboard tack at
4rh. 44 m. went by the Clio, which looked a beautiful picture, and
assumed the lead of the fleet that now was out on the ocean
heading to the goal far away. The day was fast passing to a
pleasant twilight, and the sun glinted its adieu on the snow
white canvass of the racers with blinding brightness. Now the
fun began in earnest. Five miles distant, at 5 h. 9 m., the High-
land lights bearing west southwest, the Enchantress was heading
south with the wind fair and leading all her competitors fully
one mile.
The Clio, standing on the same tack, was second, one
mile astern ; the Alarm a like distance to the leeward of ]
The Ocean Races. 65
the Dreadnaught half a mile further off, while the Eva, Van
Name and others were hull down. The wind was now hauling
a little more down the coast, and it was the unanimous opinion of
all on the Enchantress that there would be lively work before the
night was over. At 5 h. 31 m., we were off Long Branch and
on our weather quarter, with sails set, we sighted the Rich-
mond steamer Old Dominion, outward bound, and two miles
further away was one of Alexandre's steamships ploughing the
deep in the same direction. The western horizon still looked
bright with the glories of departing day, and, using a glass, the
positions of the competing vessels nearest us were noted to be the
same as before given, though we were dropping them fast. There
was a rolling sea off this point, and the steamers, as with us, felt
its influence. We were now doing very finely, and at 6 h. 4 m.,
the Alarm, two miles astern, had eaten up to windward of the
Clio and was passing her, but it was some time before the saucy
craft could be shaken off. One mile to the leeward of the Clio
was the Dreadnaught, and far in the fast approaching gloom wa&
the Eva struggling with the Yan Name. Darkness settled down
upon us at 6 h. 56 in., and heading south by west, the Enchantress
was slipping away upon her mission. Here we passed the steamer-
Old Dominion, her officers acknowledging the " go-by," blew
their whistle, which we responded to by a rocket, and the'
steamer in turn " blazed away " in similar manner from her bow.
At 7 h. 10 m., Barnegat light was made, bearing south southwest
distant about fifteen miles. The night was clear and beautiful,
and as the great golden moon came out of the sea the scene was.
exquisite.
The wind was now hauling to the eastward and increas-
ing, which sent us skipping along very fast. At 7 h. 55 m.,
the yacht was kept off half a point, heading south by west-half-
west, and at 8 h. 17 m. Barnegat light bore west. We were
doing some very nice work now, as at 8 h. 24: m., Alexandre'&
steamship was abeam, and nothing could be made out
astern but the lights of the Old Dominion. The sea was very
lumpy on this part of the coast, but the Enchantress carried her
-66 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
sail well, and while owner, officers and guests were congratula-
ting themselves on their good luck a sea broke over her weather
rail, and dousing some of the non-workers on deck they went be-
low to change their clothing and repair damages. Little Egg
Harbor bore west at 9 h. 45 in., the run down from Barnegat, a
distance of eighteen or nineteen miles, having been made in Ih.
28 m. At 10 h. we took in our maintopmaststay sail and jibtop-
sail and boomed out the foresail, the wind getting lighter. Still
we were doing nicely, and at 10 h. 37 m. Absecom blazed in the
westward. The wind now backed to the northeast, and at 11 h.
-we headed southwest by south. It was freshening every instant,
and at 11 h. 20 m. Captain Fish ordered the flying jibs to be
shifted. The big one was taken in and a smaller one set at 11 h.
35m.
We were now doing our best, bowling along in the glorious,
brightness of the night fully thirteen or fourteen knots, though
the sea was becoming more lumpy. At 11 h. 48 m. the balloon
topsail was ordered to be taken in and at 1 h. 54 m. it was on
deck unbent and clewed up, a neat job. At midnight, Alexan-
dre's steamship disappeared on our weather bow, and then we
^were left traveling alone in solitary grandeur. At 12 h. 01 m.
Friday morning we lowered away the peak and put a single
reef in the mainsail, and began preparation to wear around the
Five Fathom Lightship. A man was sent up the foremast head
at 12 h. 25 m. to look out for the lights of this beacon off Cape
May, and at 12 h. 48m. he sighted them two points on the port
<bow. At 1 h. 20 m. the foresail was lowered, the topmasts
ihoused and everything made snug for rounding the goal,
the sea was very lumpy, but we flew along exceedingly fast,
and at 1 h. 10 m. sent up two rockets, in accordance with the in-
structions from the Regatta Committee. Every man was at his
station, and, with showers of drift breaking over the weather
bow, we wore around the Lightship at 1 h. 57 m., under jib,
small flying jib and reefed mainsail, having made the distance
from Owl's Head, about 122 miles, in 10 h. 45 m. We burned
a blue light, left the beacon on the starboard hand, and, trim-
The Ocean Races. 67
raing down on the wind, made a stretch inshore, with our star-
board tack aboard. As we passed under the stern of the Light-
ship Mr. Loubat sang out " Enchantress," which elicited some
response, but in the confusion it was not understood. The
work now began in earnesst, the wind to the nor'ard and in-
creasing, with a head sea, becoming very nasty. We looked
anxiously astern with a view of observing what other rockets
were sent up, but nothing was seen until 2 h. 30 m., when two
signals were observed in the air, and we knew another vessel
was approaching the Lightship, and would soon be bursting on
the wind with us (afterward ascertained to be the Dread-
naught.) At 2 h. 57 m. we set the foresail, and half an hour
afterward stood off on the port tack. All the while the water
was becoming more turbulent, and at four o'clock the Enchan-
tress was near coming to grief, as she fell into a heavy sea, and,
bursting over her bow with tremendous violence, it split the jib
one cloth above the leech, making a rent four feet in length.
Nothing could be done with it at the time, and, with hopes
that it would not become worse, our officers trusted to luck.
At five o'clock we stayed and stood toward the beach, and
at 6 h. 10 m. just after daylight, sighted the pilot boat
Negus, No 1, on the same tack to leeward of us, head-
ing northwest on her lee bow with the Widgeon, No. 10
while about two miles astern of them was another sail,
that we could not make out. The Enchantress was heading
northwest-half-west and at 6 h. 35 m., "land on the lee bow" was
announced.
Shortly after this the Dreadnaught was sighted to leeward
of the Widgeon, on the starboard tack, under double reef
mainsail, single reef foresail and jib. The Negus was under two
lower sails and jib and flying jib ; the Widgeon the same. The
sea was quieter at this time, and the Negus and Widgeon had a
lively brush together, ending in the Widgeon getting the best of
it. But her victory was for a short time, for at 6 h. 48 m.
the Negus began to overhaul her, and when they tacked off
shore a few minutes afterwards she passed up to windward. At
68
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
6 h. 57 m. the Enchantress stood off on the port tack, and
one minute after the Dreadnaught went in stays. The latter
had just before set her flying jib. The Enchantress now was
heading northeast-by-east, and was outpointing all the others
and going .to windward fast. The reef in our mainsail was
shaken out at eight o'clock, and it was very evident that in the
lumpy water we hadn't headsail enough. We wanted to shake
out the reef in the foresail, but dared not. All the while
the Negus was doing admirably, beating the Widgeon and
the Dreadnaught, as well as the Alarm, which was now sight-
ed to the leeward of Mr. Stockwell's yacht. Absecom light-
house, looking dreary indeed in the morning light, at 8h. 20m. y
bore northwest by north, and at 10 h. 05 m. the tall, chimney-look-
ing affair, surrounded by dismal hotels and cottages, could be
seen with the naked eye. Our friends astern Negus, Alarm
and Dreadnaught were standing on the same tack, the Widgeon
having dropped out of sight. At this time the Dreadnaught
looked in trouble, as, settling away her jibs and mainsail, she
soon dropped astern. The head seas were getting to be very
bad, and, the wind still hanging from the northeast, it wa&
evident, unless it shifted, we would have not only the day
but another night to pass on the ocean, and we were not
disappointed.
The Alarm stood in shore at 11 h. 56 m., and the Negus
went in stays two minutes later. At 10 h. 05 m., Captain
Fish expressed a doubt as to our damaged jib holding out much
longer, as it continued splitting and was now half way up
the sail. Effort was made to " stop " the rent, and it was par-
tially successful. We went about on the port tack to clear Brig-
antine Shoals at 11 h. 25 m., and but little headway was made
against the lumpy water. At 11 h. 45m. the Enchantress fell
into a heavy sea, and, as it tumbled its tons of water over the bow,
its terrific force carried away the outer bobstay of the running bow-
sprit, and for a moment it looked as if the stick would be wrenched
clean out of its fastenings. At the same moment, and just when
such an event was especially annoying, thei'ipped jib was split clear
The Ocean Races. 69
to the head. With this disaster on hand all eyes were anxiously
cast to leeward to note "just for amusement" how far astern
the Negus was, and the distance was adjudged to be five miles,
while the Alarm was three or four miles further away. At 12 h.
15 m. we took a reef in the mainsail, laying the yacht "dead
to," and got out a tackle, hooking it on a strap at the end of the
boom, thus securing it and saving us from an ignominious
defeat, after going to the windward of all competitors for hours.
Little Egg Harbor was sighted at 12 h. 30 m., and we shook out
the reef in our mainsail at 1 h. 15 m., the wind hauling to the north
northeast. The Enchantress was heading north northwest, but
the delay had materially lessened the distance between the Negus
and the Enchantress. The breeze atl h.30 m. freshened, but was
still dead ahead. We set our foretopmast at this time, and nine
minutes afterwards stood off shore. Again we tacked at 2 h.
10 m., and the fact that we had been racing for hours with one-
third of our jib carried away wasn't a pleasant reflection. Yet
we held our own with the Negus, who was still six miles to lee-
ward, but going away from the Alarm all the while. No other
vessels were in sight at 3 h. 14 m., as Barnegat light was sighted,
bearing north by west. All the afternoon these relative
positions were maintained by the Enchantress, Negus and
Alarm. At 5 h. 10 m. our foretopmast was sent up, the wind
getting lighter and hopes of a change at nightfall entertained by
all. As the sun was sinking the Enchantress stood in shore with
her starboard tacks aboard, heading north northwest and the
Negus, on the port tack, was seven or eight miles away, with the
Alarm, as before trying to hang to her formidable adversary.
At 6 h. our gaff topsails had been set, and soon after the
smaller flying jib was taken in, and the big one ordered to be
substituted, but there was much difficulty in doing this work, as
the sea was running high and many of the men were worn out.
During this trouble, we went astern, and it became a matter of
serious conjecture whether it would not cause our defeat. Still,
every effort was made by constant watchfulness and good judg-
ment to make up the loss, and at 10 h., 50 m. a nice breeze from
/o A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
the northeast enabled us to fetch up the beach within one point
of our course. The sea was still lumpy, but there was more foot to
it. We stowed the f oretopsail at 10 h. 45 in. as it did not draw.
We were now along upper Squam Beach, half way to Sandy
Hook, and despite the discouragements of wind and sea, some
of the guests of the Enchantress felt hopeful that they might
keep their Saturday's engagements in the city. At 12 h. 15 in.
yesterday morning the wind shifted to the northward and became
lighter, heading us off. Barnegat light was now sunk, and after
three tacks at 2 h. 15 m. the welcome blaze of the Highlands
loomed up, bearing north-half-west, while we stood off shore on
the port tack. Though the ocean was narrowly scanned, nothing
could be sighted, and the hope was expressed that we still led the
fleet. From this time we stood off and on until 4 h. 9 m. when
the Enchantress went in stays, and headed in shore, which, at
4 h. 40 m. brought the lights of the beacon off Sandy Hook in
view, bearing north. At 5 h. 10 m. we tacked, and stood off
shore until 6 h. 10 m. when we went about and bore away for
Sandy Hook Lightship, which we passed to the westward at 6 h.
1 2m., and all on board gave three hearty cheers when they heard
the welcome news that no other competing vessel had been seen
The judges appointed by the Regatta Committee and the
members of the press, stationed on the beacon, returned the
cheers as the yacht prepared to beat in for Staten Island. The
following table of distances made by the Enchantress during the
race down to the Five Fathom Bank Lightship shows a pretty
fast run :
Distance. Time.
Point to Point. Miles. H. M.
Owl's Head to point of Sandy Hook. . 15 1 23
Point of Hook to Barnegat 45 3 42
Barnegat to Little Egg Harbor 19 1 28
Little Egg Harbor to Absecom 11 52
Absecom to Five Fathom Lightship. . 3l 3 20
Total distance running down 121 \ 10 45
The Ocean Races. 71
The beat back required 28 h. and 15 m., making the total
run, about 247 miles, in exactly 39 hours.
RUN OF THE PILOT BOAT THOMAS S. NEGD8, NO. 1.
We rounded the Lightship stake boat on Five Fathom Bank,
off Cape May, at twenty-four minutes past three o'clock A. M.,
on Friday Shortly before reaching the Lightboat, put a reef in
the mainsail and took bonnet off the jib. On hailing the Light-
boat, reported our name and asked how many of the boats had
rounded. Learned we were the fifth, the Enchantress, Dread-
naught, Alarm and Widgeon being ahead of us. Then stood on
the starboard tack, shook reef out of mainsail and jib. In half
an hour made the Enchantress, Dreadnaught and Widgeon ahead
to the leeward. At daybreak had dropped the Dreadnaught and
Widgeon astern to leeward, the Enchantress still leading us,
wind blowing quite fresh from north, and a dead beat to wind-
ward. At 4:30 P. M., Enchantress crossed our bow, most of
the competing vessels, both yachts and pilot boats, astern in
sight to the leeward.
Arrived at the Lightship off Sandy Hook at 8 h. 49 m. 30 s. A.M.
Hailed Judges on board, who informed us we were the second
boat in, the Enchantress only being ahead of us.
THOMAS S. NEGUS.
WAITING AT THE LIGHTSHIP.
For thirty-six hours, the Herald representative, together
with half a dozen others, were waiting on board of the Lightship
at some seven miles outside of Sandy Hook, to witness the arri-
val of the contesting boats at the home stake. Captain Cos-
grove, who has had command of Lightship, No. 16 for the long
spell of twenty-one years, made all his guests feel at home, and
did everything in his power to cheer the weary hours that passed
before the winning yacht came in sight. It was a pleasant sight ,
for Captain Cosgrove to look upon so many new faces, as he is
isolated and shut off from all human kind, as effectually, as if
72 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
he were located on a deserted island, during the winter months
of the year. Nothing is to be heard but the vibration of the
lazy swell of the pathless sea in fine weather, and the rolling and
pounding of the iron ship, combined with the terrific screaming
of the wind through the rigging and chain cables, in stormy
weather. Life in a lightship or shore beacon may do very well
for a day or two, because of its novelty, but, unless specially
trained for it, the monotony becomes something dreadful to a
stranger. During Friday afternoon and night, there were no
traces of the yachts discern able, 'and nothing was heard at the
Lightship of any of the contesting pilot boats. At a little after
four o'clock on Saturday morning, and a short time before day-
light, a vessel was reported rounding the Lightship, and the
watch called up all hands to see it. We discerned a schooner
with a large mainsail, and having a huge figure "7" painted on
the sail. This was supposed to be the James Elwell, No. 7, of
the New Jersey pilot boats, in the regatta, and there were ex-
clamations that she had won ; but in a few minutes the mistake
was discovered, for the people on board of the stranger, cried
out, that it was " pilot boat, No. 7, of New York," and that they
were " not in the race," and had heard nothing of the contes-
tants. At twelve minutes past six o'clock yesterday morning, a
cry was raised that a yacht was rounding to, and, looking for-
ward, we saw the dirty purple sides of the Enchantress rising
under the lofty bow of the Lightship. There was a wild cheer
from her decks, as the Lightship spoke the winning yacht, and
instantly acclamations resounded through the still morning.
There was an interval of two hours before any of the other
boats came in sight to fill up the long gap, but gradually the
sails of a trim looking schooner rose on the horizon, and soon it
was manifest that, although she had her topsails clubbed, like a
yacht, yet she must be a pilot boat. Shortly after this the
Thomas S. Negus, No. 1, a brand new pilot boat, rounded to at
precisely forty-nine minutes and thirty seconds after eight
o'clock. There was a tremendous cheer from about a dozen per-
sons who stood on the deck of the Negus, when they were in-
The Ocean Races. 73
formed that no pilot boat had preceded them, and their enthu-
siasm became so great at the intelligence, that the captain of the
Negus immediately hoisted a great big burgee and a long whip
pennant as a sign that she was the victor. In a few minutes
after she was dancing around the Lightship, as if she would like
to have a nautical chip knocked off her shoulder. Captain Cos-
grove, acting under the inspiration of the moment, fired several
shots from a huge navy revolver at the iNegus, and ordered his
lighthouse colors and the American flag to be loosened, which
was immediately done, to every one's satisfaction. Some hours
now elapsed, and the next vessel that appeared was the pilot
boat Widgeon, No. 10, which passed within hailing distance, but
did not round to at the Lightship. It is supposed that all the
other vessels have been becalmed, as the three boats reported
above, were the only ones heard from up to a late hour last
night.
The World, New York, October 12, 1873.
THE OCEAN YACHT BACE.
The Enchantress the Winning Yacht Stormy Weather Head Winds and
Heavy Tide Arrival of Pilot Boats Last Night.
The Enchantress, after an unprecedented run from Sandy
Hook to Cape May, and a beat back in a seaway that thoroughly
tested her seagoing qualities, passed the Sandy Hook Lightship
at twelve minutes past six yesterday morning the winner of the
yacht prize for the ocean race. The start was made at twelve
minutes after three Thursday afternoon. A light northeast breeze
was then blowing, and as the yachts strung out after rounding
the buoy the Clio led, followed closely by the Enchantress, with
the Dreadnaught in close company. Just off the Highlands the
Enchantress passed the Clio, and the Southwest Spit was turned
in the following order: Enchantress, Clio, Dreadnaught, Alarm,
Mary E. Fish and James W. Elwell. The other boats were lost
sight of by those on board the Enchantress. An exciting race
74 A Yachtsmaris Scrap Book.
took place as far as Long Branch, which was passed at half-past
six Thursday evening. At this point the Enchantress still led,
with the James W. Elwell a point or two astern. Then came
the Dreadnaught, followed closely by the Alarm, with the Mary
E. Fish last of the first bunch. Everything was made snug for
the night, but with the exception of the occasional flash of a
colored light nothing was seen of the racers by the Enchantress
people until daybreak Friday morning. During the night the
yachts kept in the same relative positions as when last seen
Thursday night. The pilot boat Thomas S. Negus, however,
had crept up, and now led the boats of her class. The Widgeon
had also taken a first place, together with two other pilot boats,
whose numbers could not be distinguished. At fifty-seven
minutes past one Friday morning the Enchantress rounded Five
Fathom Light, off Cape May, and ran for home. Just after turn-
ing, it came on to blow, and the Enchantress carried away her
jib-bobstays head gear and had to lay to to repair damages. The
sea was running high at the time, and when the sails were finally
set the other yachts had gone their course and were beating back.
Under a single reefed mainsail, reefed jib and small jib the En-
chantress began to beat back, and it was not until six o'clock
when the weather moderated sufficiently to allow a small fore-
sail with the bonnets out to be set. Shortly afterwards the jib
was blown away, but the Enchantress continued to run for home,
and arrived off the Sandy Hook Lightship shortly after six
o'clock yesterday morning. The Judges on the Lightship were
astir, and having recorded her time she ran up to Fort Hamilton ,
where she dropped anchor at a quarter past nine. During the
run home the wind varied considerably, veering from north
northeast to north northwest. There was a heavy tide running
and the Enchantress encountered a head sea all the way back.
When the Enchantress had reset her sails after her mishap and
began to beat back the other yachts were seen about fifteen miles
astern. She was commanded by Captain Bob Fish and Peter
Roff was pilot. Captain C. Fairchild was acting captain.
The following yachts had arrived up till two o'clock
The Ocean Races. 7$
morning : Enchantress, Thomas S. Negus, Widgeon, James W.
Elwell, Mary E. Fish.
THE RACE AS SEEN FROM THE M. E. FISH.
A visit to the pilot-boat Mary E. Fish, of New Jersey, at pier
23 East River, last night at half-past one, just as she arrived
from sea, elicited the following information : Leaving with the
rest at three o'clock Thursday, with a light northeast wind, the
Fish kept in the midst of the fleet until the Hook was passed.
At the Southwest Spit was near Enchantress, schooner A, and
another yacht. At five o'clock the wind was northeast. The
Fish was the first pilot-boat around the Spit. With two tacks
she went around the Hook. The fleet kept pretty close together
as far as could be seen, far into the night, but few were visible in
the morning. Passed the Cape May lightship at 3 h. 55 m. A.M.;
saw the rockets of the Enchantress, and the blue signals of the
Negus; saw the Widgeon; passed the schooner A, at 5 h. 50 in. A.
M. ; hauled in by the wind and stood in at 5 h. 15m. the wind N.E.;
pushed on with short tacks all the morniug with wind about N.
N. E.
Saw a little yacht about six o'clock, Saturday morning, sup-
posed to be the Eva. Saw the Negus and Widgeon off north-
east, about seven o'clock; also the Dreadnaught off shore, hull
down. Off Absecom the Fish bore west seven miles. The Ne-
gus and Widgeon were then in sight. Then passed the Dread-
naught and Alarm, and the schooner A was astern out of sight.
The Dreadnaught about half-past two carried away something
about her jib and furled it. Both yachts then put one reef in
their mainsails. The other pilot boats reached off shore at dark,
and the Fish lost sight of them.
In the morning saw the Elwell under the lee, and she soon
crossed our bow. The Widgeon was off north. Stood in to
Highlands and anchored in a calm, with the Elwell a mile off.
At two o'clock yesterday afternoon a light breeze sprung up
from the southeast ; hauled southwest, drew up on Elwell and
j6 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
passed her. Passed the Lightship at twenty minutes to eight.
The Elwell passed at twenty minutes to nine, the Clio at seven-
teen minutes to nine. The E. Blunt was then off shore. Came
up the bay and river with a light breeze.
THE DRE AD tf AUGHT S EXPERIENCE.
At 4: h. 32 m. the Enchantress rounded the Southwest Spit and
trimmed aft on her course on the port tack, followed by the
Alarm at 4 h. 38m. and by theDreadnaught an instant later. The
pilot boats and working vessels, still on the starboard tack came
up in the following order: The Mary E. Fish leading, the Wid-
geon next, then the .Reindeer, the Negus, and the James W. El-
well following closely, with the ruck astern. The breeze was
now freshening, and on each yacht and boat a vast cloud of can-
vas was piled aloft, every stitch of which was drawing finely ;
driving the vessels through the water at a lively rate of speed.
At 4 h. 43 m. the Eva and half a minute later, the Yan Name
tacked and squared away. Meantime the Clio catching the
breeze to best advantage, had shot ahead of the Enchantress,
leaving the Alarm third in position, the Dreadnaught fourth,
and the Eva and Yan Name nearly abreast astern. The Dread-
naught now set her staysail, and with this additional canvas
gained rapidly upon the Alarm, who found it necessary to sub-
stitute her balloon jib for her forestaysail jib. The Dread-
naught, however, gained perceptibly upon her, and when, just as
the sun was sinking, the Alarm passed the Highlands of Nave-
sink at 5 h. 20 m, the Dreadnaught was abreast of her, and both
vessels going through the water like racers, making a very
pretty spurt of it with a fresh full sail breeze blowing and every-
thing drawing on both boats. The sky was perfectly clear, and
the fleet at this time presented a beautiful appearance and one
well calculated to excite the admiration of the most ordinary ob-
server.
The Dreadnaught had gained constantly upon the Alarm
and was just passing her when the latter parted the tack of her
The Ocean Races. 77
balloon jib. This was quickly got inboard and reset without
checking her headway; but. the Dreadnaught caught a freshen-
ing breeze just then, and went bowling down the Seabright beach
at a tearing pace, with her late antagonist well on her lee quar-
ter. As the darkness began to gather, the position of the ves-
sels had changed but little, though the rate of speed had brought
those who were well in the race far down the Long Branch
beach, which was still plainly visible, with its long line of bath-
ing houses, behind which towered the spires of the town, while
from the open sea to the westward a steady, long "white-capped"
swell came rolling in continually. At the rate at which the
Dreadnaught was now running, and with the pile of canvas
which she had set, there appeared to be but little doubt, that she
would soon overhaul the Clio and Enchantress, who alone of all
the fleet led her in the race, when a suddening freshening of the
breeze split the Dreadnaught's staysail with a bang, parting
everything so that the sail flapped but to leeward and went
astern, held only by the sheet and the guy ropes. The yacht
was at once thrown into the wind and headway checked before
the truant sail struck the water, and thus the canvas was saved
and hauled aboard by the sheet while the vessel lay to.
It was then deemed advisable to send down the balloon top-
sail, as that sail was doing no good ; but, owing to a further mis-
hap, this became entangled with the toping lift of the mainsail,
and had to be got in with great care and at considerable loss of
time. At this time it was also found that the bonnet of the jib
was badly split, so that when the Dreadnaught again got on her
course she had lost nearly forty minutes of most valuable time,
during which it was quite impossible to say what portion of the
fleet had passed her or what advantage had been gained by those
already ahead. Finally, however, she got under way again, and
thanks to the constantly increasing wind was by nine o'clock
picking up the yachts ahead very rapidly when Barnegat Light
bore due west. The Dreadnaught gained rapidly on the leading
yachts for a time, but soon carried away the bonnet of her jib be-
fore rounding the Lighthouse off Cape May, and afterwards
78 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
breaking the rod leading from her stern, just at the weld, in such
a manner as to loosen the jib stay and set the masts back
from their position over eight inches. This mishap occurred
when she was homeward bound after having rounded the
Cape May Lightship well up with the leaders of the race, and
necessitated her running to southward for fully an hour, thus
putting her fairly out of the race at a time when, in spite of
rough weather and a constant series of mishaps, her chance of
finally winning was by no means bad. After this the light winds
and a heavy swell, together with her crippled condition, retarded
her progress so much that at one o'clock yesterday she was be-
calmed somewhat south of Highland Lights, and reaching the
Lightship at 8 h. 40 m.
The New York Herald, New York, October 13, 1873.
THE OCEAN EACES.
Eeturn of the Fleet to Sandy Hook The James W. Elwell's Experience
Working Schooner William H. Van Name Wins the $250 Prize of Her
Class and the Smack Wallace Blackford Walks Over the Course.
The Ocean Races are ended and general satisfaction reigns at
the result. The yacht clubs of America have often been ac-
cused of a fondness for smooth water sailing ; but a contest from
Owl's Head, Long Island, to the Five Fathom Bank Lightship is
one over a course that is at times as bad as can be traversed by a
sailing vessel. At this season of the year strong winds, or, at
least, fresh breezes may always be expected, and it requires a
vessel well built, ably manned and properly governed to win a
race such as that which has just terminated. The yachts, pilot
boats, working schooners and schooner smacks which competed
for the prices offered had their work cut out from the start ; and,
though the breezes were strong and baffling at times, light at
others, and frequently variable, it was conclusively proven that
the skill of the competent mariner is more than a match for the
subtleness of old Neptune. Among the arrivals last Saturday
evening were the working schooner William H. Van Name and
schooner smack Wallace Blackford, which completes the list of
The Ocean Races. 79
winners, the former beating the Reindeer, her only competitor,
and the latter walking over the course. There are now but the
yachts Alarm and Eva and working schooner Reindeer to hear
from. Annexed will be found additional reports of the races :
THE RACE AS SEEN FROM THE JAMES W. ELWELL.
On Board Pilot Boat James W. Elwell, No. 7,
October 11, 1873.
At just three minutes after three last Thursday, by the clock
onboard the pilot boat Elwell," the signal and the lowering of
the Yacht Club flag on board the steam yacht Herald was given
by the Judges for the competing vessels in the ocean race to get
ready. An anxious ten minutes succeeded. The thirteen com-
petitors were ready for the start ; mainsail and foresails were set,
and jibs and topsails were ready to be run up as soon as the final
signal was given. Promptly it came, anchors were weighed and
the vessels were off.
Rather an amusing incident occurred just previous to and at
the moment of getting under way. The schooner smack Wallace
Blackford, the only one in the race, lay near the Elwell. There
was a good but noisy crew on board of her. Though she was the
only boat of her class in the contest she was evidently determined
to make it hot for some of the more pretentious looking vessels
of the fleet, if possible. As soon as the order to be away was
given the work on the deck of that smack was lively. She had
not only her anchor under bow first, but she went round as if she
was on a pivot. "How's that for getting under way ?" sang out
her skipper, with a proud consciousness of having accomplished
something smart.
Down through the Narrows the racers flew, with every stretch
of canvas they could carry. The sight from the deck of the
Elwell was a beautiful one. Numbers of steamboats and tugs,
heavily freighted with sight-seers, waved adieu to the compet-
ing vessels. Yachts of every rig, from cat to schooner, saluted *
them as they flew by. The wind was fresh from the northeast,
but baffling. The Enchantress was among the first yachts around
8o
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
the Southwest Spit, followed by the Alarm, the Dreadnaught
and the working schooner Van Name. At 4: h. 32 m. the pilot
boat Fish rounded ; then came the Widgeon, schooner
Reindeer, pilot boat Negus, fishing smack Blackford, then
the Elwell and the Blunt. The difference between the time
of the passing of the Fish, which was the first pilot boat
around, and the Blunt, the last, was about seven minutes. After
leaving the buoy we had the wind abeam. It was still fresh, with
a heavy sea running. All hands had now gone amidships, and
not a head was seen above the rails. The Elwell, owing to the
wind veering a little, was not able to weather the point of the
Hook, and had to make another tack. The Blunt, taking ad-
vantage of this manoeuvre, continued on her course and obtained
the lead of the Elwell. The point of the Hook was
passed at ten minutes after five o'clock. With every sail
that would draw, the whole fleet were now fairly off for the
Cape May Lightship. About a quarter past five the steam yacht
Herald passed by, going in, and with good wishes for a pleasant
voyage we waved adieu to the New Yorkers. The race now
began in earnest, with the Elwell engaged in a stern chase. The
wind was behind us, and with foresail and mainsail boomed out
we were going through the water at a lively rate. Shortly after
the pretty little village of Seabright loomed up, and the beach
at Long Branch showed prettily in the distance. At sundown
we were still astern of the fleet, but hoping for better things.
The Widgeon, with all her yacht sails on, was taking every ad-
vantage of the wind, and was slipping through the water like a
race-horse. So long as the wind continued light it was the Wid-
geon's "pie,' 1 but if it came to blow, and it did during the night,
we knew she, and the others of her class, would be compelled to
come down to pilot boat sails proper, and then the pilot yacht
Widgeon, good boat as she is, might not have so fair a record.
About a quarter to six o'clock the Elwell overhauled the Blunt,
and allowed her the honor of following in her wake. The fish-
ing schooner Blackford was next brought abeam, and shortly
after allowed to drop astern. There was some satisfaction in
The Ocean Races. 81
knowing we were picking up with the group and getting into
good company. At ten minutes after eight o'clock the moon
rose in all its splendor. We were now ten miles north of Barnegat,
with the wind increasing, but puffy. At half-past eight o'clock
we sighted Barnegat light. Fifteen minutes later the man at the
lookout sighted three of the racers to leeward. Shortly after
another of the boats hove in sight. We now felt we were over-
hauling the fleet and gaining our lost ground, and all on board
felt in better spirits. The wind, too, was freshening, and,
although nearly all on board were paying their respects to Nep-
tune in the cockpit of the Elwell, Captain Warner made no ob-
jection, and jolly Jack Reardon, who stood at the wheel, sang
out to one of the party, " Go in, old man, we mayn't be ship-
mates in a long time again." At half-past ten o'clock we had
Barnegat Light abeam, bearing west. Four of the leaders were
still in sight. At half- past twelve o'clock Absecom Light, bear-
ing northwest, was in sight. The wind was increasing every
moment, but not blowing nearly as strong as the larger boats
wished for. At forty-seven minutes past two o'clock on Friday
morning the Lightship, on Five Fathom Bank, appeared in sight.
All was anxiety on board the Elwell. Every one on board was
on the lookout for the lights, which were to tell the story of the
racers' whereabouts.
At seven minutes to three, two rockets went into the air, in-
dicating that one of the fleet was close by the ship. In twenty
minutes two more were seen. A sharp lookout was kept for the
color of the lights, but the roughness of the sea prevented the
lookout from being able to see them. At a quarter past three
two more rockets were seen from the deck of the Elwell, and at
half -past the stars of another pair lighted up the heavens. We
were now nearing the Lightship. At four o'clock the Elwell sent
her rockets up to announce her coming. Up to this time the
fireworks of four of the vessels had been seen. About 4 h. 3 ra-
the Widgeon, as nearly as could be made out, turned the Light-
ship. The wind had increased in strength since midnight, and
the order to shorten sail was given. The mainsail was accord-
82
Yachtsman 's Scrap Book
ingly single reefed, the gafftopsail was stowed, staysail and fly-
ing jib taken in.
At 4 h. 15 m. we wore around the beacon, having made the
run down in thirteen and a half hours. Going by we hailed
those on board:
" How many have gone round ? "
" Six."
" Has the Widgeon yet rounded ? "
Yes, sir."
Before we had time to ask any more questions we were out
-of hearing. It was consoling to know we were not the last boat
at this stage of the race, as we had been in leaving the Hook.
After passing, the course was altered, and, heading the Elwell
north by west half north, we commenced to beat home against a
strong head wind and heavy sea.
It was now blowing a stiff nor'easter, and under a single
reefed mainsail we were ploughing through the waters at a
terrible rate. At 4 h. 30 m. another of the racers passed the
Lightship. In another quarter of a mile two more rockets
showed the whereabouts of one more oi : the craft. A little
before five, a yacht, which we took to be the Clio, by the
lights she showed, paid her respects to the beacon, and com-
menced the burst on the wind homewards. At six o'clock Fri-
day morning the reefs were shaken out of the mainsail, although
the wind was still blowing fresh and our decks were wet nearly
all the time. The good boat did nobly. It was the kind of a
blow that suited her. At times we had the rails under, and
nearly all on board were seasick. The sea since we left the
Lightship had been running very high, sweeping the decks
from stem to stern every few minutes. Now and then a glimpse
of five of the racers could be had as the Elwell rose on the
crests of the sea, but what boats they were it was impossible
to tell. At 10 h. 30 m. we lost sight of land and stood off shore.
The wind continued stiff and came down in chunks. We were
driving through the water at a terrible rate against a heavy head
sea under flying jib, jib, jib staysail, foresail and mainsail. The
The Ocean Races. 83
Blunt, in sight all the morning, was hull down before noon.
At 12 h. bearings were taken, lat. 39 12, Absecom bearing
west northwest about twenty-five miles. Since daybreak we had
made about twenty miles on our direct course. We were now
well out to sea, the wind continuing to blow with great violence
and the sea was rolling heavily. Before nightfall seven of the
vessels were in sight, the greatest number we had seen since
we lost sight of them on Thursday evening.
At 6 h. 20 m. Barnegat was sighted on our weather quarter.
The Elwell was now pointing about northwest by north. Egg
Harbor light was well under the lee and Absecom could only be
seen at intervals as we rose on the swell of the sea. Darkness
was fast settling over the face of the water. The racers to the
windward of us were no longer to be seen. A yacht, looking
like the Clio, passed astern of us a couple of miles on the port
tack. Our reckoning at this time showed that since leaving the
Lightship at Five Fathom we had beaten about fifty-five miles.
The Widgeon, the Fish and the Negus were to windward hull
down ; one of the smaller yachts was about three miles astern
and another just beginning to show on the horizon. This was
the position of the boats as seen from the Elwell as darkness
came on.
Nothing of interest occurred during the night, only the part-
ing of the flying-jib sheets, which was soon righted. The wind
was light through the night, giving indications of dying out be-
fore noon. At daybreak, we found we had overhauled the Fish
and left her about three miles astern. The Widgeon was also in
sight to the windward. She did not have so much water between
us as she had at nightfall. The Negus was now^here to be seen,
and it was thought possible that the new boat, untried as she
was, had showed some of the older boats a trick in speed worth
knowing. Every sail we could carry was set, but there was no
"draw" m them.
At 9 h, 30 m. in the morning, we sighted the Lightship with
the breeze fast giving out. The Fish was at this time to lee-
ward of us about three miles, and in shore ; the Widgeon about
^achtsmans Scrap Book.
five miles to windward, slowly nearing the Lightship with a light
breeze. The beacon was only seven miles distant. By -10 h. the
sails were flapping, and we came to anchor. The blow had
spent itself and we were becalmed. The Fish, to leeward of
us, after trying to crawl up, also anchored. None of the others
were at this time in sight. For four hours, we lay at anchor
praying for a blow, and not getting it. The yacht Dreadnaught
began to show up about noon, with the light breeze that wa&
stirring. The Fish weighed anchor about 3 h. 30 m. and set every
inch of canvas she could pnt on, to catch the capful of wind.
On board the Elwell there was also a stir, and at 4 h. the anchor
was brought under her bow. The Fish was now creeping slowly
upon the Elwell in the light wind, and at 7 h. 45 m. showed her
light at the Lightship. At 8 h. 30 m. the Elwell also showed her
light and hailed the beacon:
u How many have passed \ "
" One yacht and three pilot boats."
" What yacht ? "
" The Enchantress."
" Good enough, Cap. What time ? "
u The Enchantress at 6 h. 12 m. this morning; the Negus at
8 h. 30 m. and the Widgeon at 12 h. 30 m."
Just after passing, the Dreadnaught showed her signal lights.
There was scarcely five minutes difference between the yacht
and the pilot boat. The race was so far run. Two yachts and
four pilot boats had announced their arrival. The Elwell
headed for Staten Island, all on board satisfied with the fifty-
three hours which had elapsed since the start, and all hoping
that the next ocean race in which the Elwell would be engaged,
would be run with a fiercer blow, in a heavier sea, and under
close-reefed canvas out and back.
REPORT OF WORKING SCHOONER W. H. VAN NAME.
The working schooner W. H. Yan Name, which won the
prize of $250 for vessels of her class in the ocean races, passed
Sandy Hook Lightship at 10 h. 50 m. Saturday night. A brief
The Ocean Races. 85
report of the part she took in the contest is as follows: The Yan
Name was the fourth vessel around the Southwest Spit. Off
Long Branch passed the Dreadnaught and Alarm, and off Abse-
com went by the Clio. Carried all lighter sails to Barnegat. At
2 h. 30 m. Friday morning made the Five Fathom Bank Lightship
and sent up rockets according to instructions from the Regatta
Committee. At 2 h. 44 m. rounded the Lightship the second boat,
the first passing being the yacht Enchantress. Was under reefed
mainsail, full foresail, and bonnet out of jib at the time. Trim-
med in all the sheets, hauled on the wind and stood in shore, the
schooner making good weather and not taking any water on
deck. The sea was rough, and there was plenty of wind. Con-
tinued beating to the northward until daybreak, when we sight-
ed to leeward the Widgeon, Mary E. Fish, Thomas S. Negus
and yacht Alarm. The pilot boats stood off shore, and we
hugged the beach, experiencing baffling winds. Passed yacht
Dreadnaught on Saturday morning at three o'clock, on port tack.
Beat along in company with yacht Alarm for some three hours,
the Yan Name being to windward, when the Alarm up helm,
started sheets, and ran back before the wind. Off Squam Beach
got becalmed and remained there until eight o'clock in the even-
ing, when a light breeze sprung up from the southwest, which
enabled the schooner to pass Sandy Hook Lightship at 10 h. 40 m.
The Yan Name in this race demonstrated that she is a fast boat
and has excellent seagoing qualities. She did not take a barrel
of water on deck during the run down and back, and came
in with whole canvas. She was sailed by Captain Samuel
Greenwood, late of the yacht Sappho.
PILOT BOAT THOMAS S. NEGUS, NO. 1.
In the great Ocean Race the fortunate pilot boat Thomas S.
Negus, No. 1, the winner of the $1,000 prize, was commanded
by Pilot William Lewis, her captain, assisted by Messrs. Sylves-
ter, Lennon, Cooper, Robert and William Hall, Mr. T. S. Ne-
gus, one of the New Jersey Pilot Commissioners, and after
86
A Yachtsman's Scrap Book.
whom the boat was named, together with Messrs. T. D. Harri-
son, E. 0. Neilson, William F, Taylor and Freeman A. Smith,
the latter appointed a Judge by the Regatta Committee, were on
board. These gentlemen speak in the warmest terms of the sea-
going qualities of the Negus, and state that she was at all times
during the eventful race able to carry all her canvas and
topmasts, and at no time shipping any water, while other boats
seem to have quite as much sea and wind as they could stagger
under.
Captain Lewis and his company are entitled to credit for the
confidence which they had in their boat and the pluck displayed
in entering her for the ocean contest, as she was only launched
on the 6th of September last. Her first trial was on the
2d inst, the day of the autumn regatta of the New York Yacht
Club, when she proved herself to be fast in light winds, and
with her recent victory, stamps her to be a grand success.
The Sun, New York, October 13, 1873.
THE GREAT OCEAN RACE.
A Test of the Seagoing Qualities of Our Yachts A Lively Dash Over
the Waves Beautiful Moonlight Scenes A Fine Run to Cape May
Lightship Dead Beat Back to Windward The Last Boat Back.
The great Ocean Race which commenced on Thursday after-
noon, aud was concluded yesterday by the arrival of the last
of the contestants, brilliantly terminated the yachting season
of '73. The weather was magnificent throughout, the racers
ploughing their way through "white caps" glittering in the sun's
rays by day, and through moonlit seas by night. The fleet had
a splendid run down to Cape May Lightship with a free wind
and a dead beat to windward returning. For two days it blew
fresh, with high seas, and in fact from start to finish no element
was wanting to make the race a satisfactory test of the sea-
going qualities of the various craft engaged in the contest.
The run down to the point of Sandy Hook was without any
The Ocean Races. 87
special incident. Off the Hook the accompanying steamers left
the fleet and turned their prows homeward. Off the Highlands
the wind freshened, coming from the eastward about two points
abaft the beam. At this time the Clio and Enchantress were
leading the fleet, closely followed by the Alarm and Dread-
naught. A short distance astern were the Eva, A. Yan Name,
Mary E. Fish, and Widgeon. The Thos. S. Negus, Eeindeer,
El well, Edmund Blunt, and smack Wallace Blackford brought
up the rear. At 5:15 the Widgeon, yacht rigged throughout, set
jib-topsail, and commenced to overhaul the Mary Fish. Off the
Highland lights the Negus and Reindeer also began to make
play to the front. About 5:30 the fleet encountered considerable
sea, into which bowsprits were pitched in a lively manner. All
had every inch of muslin piled on which they could carry; but
about dark staysails, jibtopsails and flyingjibs began to come in.
A rolling sea at supper time made the crockery jingle and sent
the landsmen aboard the various craft on deck, too sick to nibble
a biscuit, and the seas shipped sent them below again, drenched
in spray, to seek consolation if possible in the arms of Morpheus.
At 6:30 the wind was east by south, and the Enchantress was
leading the fleet, having passed the Clio, which, however, strug-
gled manfully for precedence with the big yachts Alarm and
Dreadnaught. Off the weather bow of the Mary Fish were the
Eva, Widgeon, and Yan Name, and a short distance astern were
the Negus and Reindeer. After dark the vessels of the fleet be-
gan to string out, the Enchantress being five or six miles ahead
of the one bringing up the rear. About 9 the Mary Fish parted
head rope of staysail and took it in. At 9:15 Barnegat light
bearing west by half south, saw the Negus to leeward and the
Reindeer to windward, both a little astern. The Eva and Wid-
geon were on weather bow. Wind from the eastward, two
points abaft the beam.
As the moon rose high in the heavens the scene was grandly
beautiful. The Mary Fish dashed through the waves, gaily
sending showers of spray aloft, which flashed in the moonlight
like diamonds, and left a glittering wake of foam far behind her.
88
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
Ever and anon she plunged into a sea which swept her decks
and washed in torrents out of the lee scuppers. Yast hills
of water threatened to overwhelm the little craft, but as they
overhung her she would ever mount the waves and dash through
the sea like a duck. At 10:30 p. M. Little Egg Harbor light
bore west by north. Wind east northeast and puffy, with light
fleecy clouds obscuring the moon. At 12:20 A. M., Friday, Ab-
secom light bore west. Wind northeast. About this time the
Mary Fish shipped a tremendous sea and the jibboom was
rigged in. Things began to look squally, and Capt. Brown
called Pilots Watson, Hussey, Germond, and Maxwell on deck
for a consultation. No harm was done except wetting the watch
forward, and "freshening the nip" made everything serene.
At 1:30 rockets were seen, an indication that a yacht was
Hearing the Lightship. At this time winged our foresail. Wind
northeast. At 2:30 sighted the Lightship from aloft. Took reef
in foresail and bonnet out of jib. Rockets began to go up in all
directions to the astonishment of an old sailor aboard a coaster,
who hailed the Mary Fish, and wanted to know what the -
was up. Blue lights and red lights burning showed that some of
the fleet were rounding the Lightship, and rockets off to the
southward showed that two or three vessels had gone too far in
that direction. At 3 sent up two rockets. Viewed through a.
night glass the scene at the Lightship was a brilliant one. As
the craft successively passed blue and red lights lit up
the sea, and flashed on the Lightship enveloped in a shower
of spray and foam. The Mary Fish dashed through the
waves and came up rapidly. At 3:45 got ready to jibe,
dangerous manoeuvre in a heavy sea. Single reefed mainsail
and lowered the peak. At 3:53 jibed and came on a wind on
the starboard tack, passing the Lightship at 3:55. Hailing the
Lightship found'only five vessels had passed, a small yacht being
the last one. The wind was stiff from the northeast, a heavy sea
running, and the barometer 30 38', and rising. At 4:10
shook out reefs, and about the same time saw a pilot boat, sup-
posed to be the Elwell, passing Lightship. The morning broke
The Ocean Races. 89
damp and chilly, and the spray flying over the deck of the Mary
Fish brought out sou' westers, peajackets and India rubber boots.
At 6 A. M. off Hereford passed to windward of the working
schooner Yan Name. Three yachts were seen astern, but it
was too foggy to make them out. The wind about this time
came out due north, and the long dead beat to windward up the
Jersey coast had fairly commenced. On the wind, with plenty
of it, is the Mary Fish's best point of sailing. As she came in
sight of three or four of the white winged racers ahead a grim
smile broke over the face of Capt. Dick Brown, and the recol-
lection of fifty yachting triumphs, from the time he won the
Queen's cup in the America to the present day, illumined his
countenance. Says he to the Sun reporter : " Sonny, we are the
smallest boat in the fleet, but the harder it blows down the
coast, and the heavier the sea, the better for us."
As the sun rose, made out the yachts Alarm and Clio or Eva
astern, and the Elwell and Blunt. At 7:15 made out the Wid-
geon, Negus and Dreadnaught ahead. A minute later the look-
out aloft sighted the Enchantress on the weather bow, going like
a race horse, with topmasts housed. She soon went out of sight
and was not seen afterwards. At 7:30 the Mary Fish was gaining
fast on the Widgeon, Negus and Dreadnaught. Standing offshore
at this time on the port tack, the Mary Fish met the Alarm and
Elwell standing in on the starboard tack. The two latter tacked
in her wake, but were soon far astern. Near the Alarm and
Elwell was the working schooner Yan Name. No other boats
were in sight. Great Egg Harbor bore northwest at 8 A. M., at
which time the Molly Fish had the fifth place in the race, with
a chance of something better if the wind held. By the time
breakfast was over the sun came out bright and warm. Every-
body came on deck and things were made snug for a twenty-four
hour dead beat to windward. The veteran darkey cook poked
his head up out of the fore-castle, and as he tossed a lot of pota-
toe peelings to leeward exclaimed, "Golly, Capt. Brown, give it
to her. Dis is de breeze de Molly wants." At 9:20 the Dread-
naught took in her jib, having evidently torn it badly. Soon
go A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
after she took a reef in her mainsail, and gradually dropped to
leeward. At ten A. M. the wind was north northeast and the
barometer 30:42 and rising. Absecom light bore north by east
about eight miles off. The Alarm, Yan Name and Elwell were
six miles off on the lee quarter of the Mary Fish and nearly out
of sight. The Negus and Widgeon were ahead on the lee bow
and the Dreadnaught placed at a disadvantage by the accident
to her jib, was gradually dropping astern.
As the sun rose high in the heavens a more glorious subject
for painter's brush or poet's pen than the scene presented could
not be imagined. The vast hills of water which were following
the Molly Fish the night previous were now ahead, and she
dashed into and over them with an ease and buoyancy perfectly
delightful. The sickening rolling seas of the night before had
vanished, and in their stead was the inspiriting motion of a ves-
sel by the wind. As far as the eye could reach "white caps "
crowned the billows. Around the Mary Fish the gallant yachts
were ploughing along with lee rails buried in foam, throwing
the spray in showers over the decks and far to leeward. At one
moment the bowsprits would point toward the zenith, and at
another would plunge into the waves as if never to emerge there-
from. Over all was a clear, blue sky and an October sun.
About 11:30 the Mary Fish, which had been rapidly gaining on
the Negus and Widgeon, was unfortunately headed by the wind
a couple of points, and the shift of wind of course gave tiie two
latter a corresponding advantage. At this time the Negus was
under whole sails, and the Widgeon had set her flying jib. The
shift of wind placed them some distance to windward of the
Fish. At 11:50 the Mary Fish tacked off Atlantic City-
At 1 P. M. the Elwell was ahead of the Dreadnaught on her lee
bow. All day long the Molly Fish made tacks up the coast in
and off shore, Capt. Brown and Pilot Watson spelling each
other at the helm. At 3 sighted the Negus and Widgeon
ahead some distance to windward, tacking in shore. The ElwelL
could be seen astern tacking oft' shore. The Dreadnaught, Van
Name, Blunt and Alarm were out of sight astern. At 3:30
The Ocean Races. 91
while passing Little Egg Harbor, saw Commodore Selling's
pretty yacht Meta at anchor. In the mouth of the harbor the
Mary Fish went about on port tack, and stood off shore on the
same tack for two hours and a half, when she went about and
stood in shore on starboard tack. The wind was northeast, and
sea going down all the time. The Negus was carrying staysail
and jibtopsail with ease, and the Widgeon also had all her mus-
lin spread. At 5:40 the Mary Fish set her main gafftopsail.
The Negus and Widgeon tacked off shore about the same time
as the Fish, but when she tacked in shore continued standing to
the eastward, and thereby gained a decided advantage over her.
Had the Mary Fish continued standing off shore till midnight
she would have held the easterly wind, and doubtless have been
at Sandy Hook by daylight, and won the $1,000 purse. In so
close a race with so powerful opponents as the Negus and
Widgeon it was bad policy to " break tacks," and by doing so
she lost all chance of winning the race. The indications were,
however, that the wind would come out from the westward,
which it did for a while, but not long enough to do any good.
Barnegat was passed at 10.45, at which time the wind shifted
to the northwest, and the Mary Fish rigged out her flying jib-
boom and set balloon flying jib and main staysail. It soon
veered back again to the northeast, and the momentary advan-
tage was lost. At 1 A. M. wind hauled to the westward again for
a few minutes, and the flying jib was again set, but taken in
again, as the wind veered around once more to the northeast.
From this time out had light and baffling breezes. At 6:30 A.M.
Saturday, Toms river bore due west; wind nor' nor Vest, and
variable.
The Widgeon and Elwell were seen ahead. None of the
other vessels of the fleet were in sight. At 11 A. M. continued
in the doldrums, and the sails flapped idly against the masts.
The Widgeon and Elwell were also lying becalmed a short dis-
tance to the westward, the Widgeon being nearest the Sandy
Hook Lightship. An unknown yacht, and pilot boat Edmund
Blunt were seen coming up the coast. At 11:30 the Mary Fish
t
t 2
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
and El well anchored just north of the taverns at Long Branch.
At 1:45 p. M. the wind came out light from the southeast, and
the Mary Fish and Elwell hauled up their mud hooks and mad
sail for the Lightship, which the "Widgeon had passed a f<
minutes previous. The Clio and Blunt were seen astern about
p. M., bringing up a light breeze from the southward. After
drifting about for several hours the Mary E. Fish finally passed
the Lightship, and was told by Capt. Cosgrove thaVshe was the
fourth vessel to arrive. The Enchantress passed the Lightship
at 6:12 A. M., Thomas S. Negus at 8:49:30, Widgeon at 12:33:30
p. M., Mary E. Fish at 7:40 p. M., James W. Elwell at 8:35 P.M.,
and the Dreadnaught, Clio, Edmund Blunt, and smack Wallace
Blackford, a few minutes apart in the order named. The work-
ing schooner William H. Van Name arrived at 10:40. The
Alarm up helm and started sheets and ran down the coast again
about noon on Saturday, and the Eva and Reindeer were
reported off Sandy Hook yesterday. The Enchantress thug
wins the $1,000 cup for schooner yachts, the Thomas S. Negus
takes the $1,000 purse, the William H. Yan Name pockets one
$250 purse, and the Blackford, the only vessel in her class,
course, "mug-hunted" the other $250.
The New York Times, October 13, 1873.
THE OCEAN RACE.
Prom Our Special Correspondent.
PILOT-BOAT JAMES W. ELWELL,
Sunday, October 12, 1873.
In my dispatch sent from off Long Branch, on Thursday af-
ternoon, I sent you a description of the start made by the yachts,
pilot-boats, and others engaged in the Ocean Kace for the prize,
offered by Commodore Bennett, of the New York Yacht Club
the course being from an anchorage off Owl's Head, to anc
around the Cape May Lightship and return to Sandy Hook
Lightship. I also described trie positions of the different
The Ocean Races. 93
sels as they were overtaken by the darkness, which was as fol-
lows: The Enchantress leading, with Clio somewhat astern,,
which in turn was followed by the Dreadnaught, Alarm, Yan
Name, Eva, Mary E. Fish, Widgeon, T. S. Negus,E. Blunt, James
W. Elwell, Reindeer, in the order named, with the little smack
Wallace Blackford bringing up the rear. At this time the sea.
was running very heavy, and the breeze freshening from the
north-east, betokening anything but a pleasant night's sail ; but
as everything on board was strong and taut, no apprehensions
were entertained that anything would part. Shortly after 7
o'clock the wind again hauled a little more to the eastward and
increased to nearly half a gale, and about an hour later we were
bowling along in fine style, and beginning to think that our
chances of final success were improving, as the Elwell is a boat
that sails well in a heavy, choppy sea and strong breeze, such as
we had at this time. We were carrying all the canvas we
could set, consisting of foresail, mainsail, maintopsail, jib, flying
jib, and jib-topsail, together with a small maintopmast staysail.
In the moonlight we could see that we were overhauling the
Blunt, and shortly afterward passed her, when we could distin-
guish nothing further. At 10 o'clock we were abreast of and
passed Barnegat light. The sea at this point was particularly
lumpy, causing our boat to pitch and roll considerably ; but we
took in no water beyond a little spray occasionally over the bows
The maintopmast staysail had just before this been taken in, and
we were making good headway, notwithstanding the sea running.
We passed little Egg Harbor, which bore nearly due west at
11:32, having run from Barnegat, a distance of about nineteen
miles, in one hour and thirty-two minutes. Nothing of interest
occurred from this point until we arrived within about two miles
of the Lightship at Cape May, when the mainsail was lowered
and a single reef put in on account of the increased wind and sea.
At this time we noticed some schooner firing rockets as a
signal to those at the Lightship that she was rounding that
point, and by the aid of powerful glasses recognized it as Pilot
boat No. 10 (the Widgeon). We rounded at 4:15 A. M., and
94
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
stood on the starboard tack on the beat back. As we rounded
the Lightship we inquired what boats had passed, and were
informed that three yachts and three pilot-boats had already
gone by, which we understood to be the Enchantress, Dreadnaught
Alarm, Thomas S. Negus, and Widgeon. The Blunt rounded
the turning point shortly after us, as we could see by her signals,
as also the Eva. The sea, as we stood toward home, was worse
than it had been yet, and we shipped two or three rather heavy
doses of salt water, but, fortunately, without damage, and after
standing first on one tack and then on the other for about two
hours, the weather moderated somewhat and we shook the reef
out of the mainsail. At daybreak every one was on deck, and
eyes and glasses were turned in every direction to see if any of
the racing fleet was in sight. It was at once discovered that the
Blunt was about five miles astern of us, and the Mary E. Eish
about the same distance ahead, although considerable to leeward,
but none of the others were in sight. All became excitement to
overhaul and pass the Fish, and every care was taken not to lose
a single foot or slightest advantage. After sailing for some lit-
tle a time in this position, we appeared to be gaining on our
leader, and shortly after caught and passed her, when we saw
the Widgeon ahead of us and to windward, and soon after saw
the Alarm to leeward and astern and seemingly laboring con-
siderably. All hands were somewhat concerned about the little
schooner Clio, and an anxious lookout was kept, but nothing
could be seen of her. We had also seen nothing of the Yan
Name, Reindeer or Blackford, or of the leading yachts. From
this point we lost sight of the Widgeon and Alarm, although
we could still see the Mary E. Fish a little way astern of us and
doing her utmost to regain the position we had wrested from her.
So we sailed along until the darkness again fell and hid every-
thing from view. All hands then went below and talked ovei
the exciting events of the tussle we had had with the Fish. During
the night we continued to make good way, and hopes were freel 1
indulged in that we might reach the termination of our voyage by
early morning. In the morning, as the light began to dawn, we nc
The Ocean Races. 96
ticed the Fish still a long way astern and some distance to wind-
ward; but could not see anything else in sight. The sea at this
time was calming down and the wind continuing to drop lighter and
lighter so that grave doubts arose as to whether we should not be-
come becalmed before many hours were over. This was soon re-
duced to a certainty, for after standing in and off shore and making
but little headway, we found ourselves off Long Branch although
some distance at sea almost perfectly in the doldrums, the wind be-
ing scarcely sufficient to cause a wave in the canvas. We then drifted
about in this way for sometime, when the anchor was let go about
eleven o'clock, and we patiently waited for the breeze to come up.
The Fish was about one-half mile behind, but considerably
nearer in shore. She was also obliged to adopt the same course
as the Elwell, and wait for a breeze. Shortly after letting her
anchor drop we noticed the Widgeon on our windward bow
crawling up to the Lightship, but with her sails flapping lazily
against the mast in the almost dead calm that prevailed. She,
however, every now and then got a slight, puff, although it was
hardly enough to give her steerage-way. At half-past one
o'clock the Fish caught a slight slant of wind off shore, and im-
mediately weighed anchor and headed for the Lightship, passing
the Elwell, which was again getting under way. Both boats
then drifted about until nearly seven o'clock, when a slight
breeze sprang up, enabling them to continue their course. The
Fish passed the Sandy Hook Lightship ahead of us at 7:40, and
our boat at 8:35. On inquiring of the judges at that station, we
were informed that the Enchantress had rounded at 6:12 A. M.
the Thomas S. Negus at 8:49:3, the Widgeon at 12:30, and the
Fish at 7:40. Previous to our passing the Lightship, and at
about dark, while we were drifting hopelessly about the sea, we
noticed a black yacht a long way off to windward, which was
taken for the Clio, but it was afterward discovered to be the
Dreadnaught, .as she rounded the Lightship at 8:38. This we
were enabled to make out as she showed her signals in passing
the Judges' station. The wind again dropped quite away, and it
became apparent that we could not hope to reach shore that
g6 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
night. We, however, headed for home, and after scarcely doing
more than drift, we arrived off Quarantine at 2 A. M., when we
came to a final anchorage. Here also we found the Enchantress,
who remains there to be in readiness for her match with the
Dreadnaught on Friday next. Mr. Loubat, her owner, stated to
your correspondent that should the Dreadnaught not start, he
will sail over the course the same as the one just sailed and claim
the cup.
Of the boats which started on the race just made the follow-
ing are now in, viz.: The yachts Enchantress, Dreadnaught,
Clio and Eva ; the pilot boats Thomas S. Negus, Mary E. Fish,
and J. W. Elwell ; the schooner Yan Name. There remains yet
to be heard of, the Alarm, Blunt, Reindeer and Wallace Black-
ford.
The Enchan tress 'wins the $1,000 cup ; the Thomas S. Negus
the $1,000 in money ; the Yan Name, the $250 purse. The win-
ner of the third prize of $250 is not yet decided.
The New York Daily Tribune, October 13, 1873.
THE OCEAN YACHT RACE,
A QUICK BUN TO CAPE MAT THE ENCHANTRESS THE WINNER.
The Ocean Races for the Bennett Challenge Cup from Owl's
Head to Cape May and return, began on Thursday afternoon,
and the competing yachts, pilot-boats, and working schooners
have been drifting at irregular intervals since 6 A. M. Saturday.
The race which opened so brilliantly closed rather tamely. The
course was from Owl's Head to and around the Lightship on
Five-Fathom Bank off Cape May, and thence to the Sandy Hook
Lightship where the Judges were stationed. The length of this
course was about 245 miles. The prize of a $1,000 cup was to
be awarded to the first yacht home, regardless of time allowance.
A second prize of $1,000, and two of $250 each, were also of-
fered to pilot boats, working schooners, and fishing smacks, un-
The Ocean Races. 97
der the condition that the first boat home of each of these
classes should receive one of the prizes.
Of the yachts the Enchantress and Dreadnaught were the
favorites. The Eva and Clio were also well watched, though it
was hardly expected that they could compete successfully with
the Enchantress and the Dreadnaught. With the coming of
Friday morning the intervening distances had been widely in-
creased. The run to the Lightship had been accomplished with
marvelous speed, the breeze having continued and freshened
throughout the night. Slight disasters had occurred. The En-
chantress had encountered a tremendous sea and had split her
jib. The balloon jib of the Alarm and the staysail of the
Dreadnaught were out of order. Similar misfortunes had oc-
casioned slight delay to other yachts, and nearly all had been
obliged to reef their mainsails. The Enchantress was the first
of the yachts to round the Lightship. Of the pilot boats, the
Negus had taken the first place, with the Widgeon second, the
Fish third, the El well fourth, and the Blunt last. The race
home was a " beat dead to windward," and progress was neces-
sarily slow. The Enchantress maintained the lead she had ob-
tained. The Negus increased the gap behind her. The Elwell
overhauled and passed the Fish, and bade fair to obtain soon a
similar position with relation to the Widgeon. The fishing
smacks and working schooners were not to be seen, but as there
was no interest in their race, it mattered little. The Enchan-
tress made good progress, and was the first vessel to reach the
Sandy Hook lightship at 6:12 A. M. on Saturday. The remain-
ing yachts were a long distance astern, and at about 8 A. M. the
wind died out completely and left nearly all the racers becalmed
within a few miles of the goal. This nearly killed the interest
in a race which would otherwise have been an unprecedented
success.
The Negus had, however, obtained a position so favor-
able that she was not seriously crippled by the calm and drifted
across the line at 8:49:30 Saturday morning. These vessels, of
course, were the winners of the races in which the interest cen-
98 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
tered, but the remaining vessels of both classes were hopelessly
becalmed. It was 12:33:30 when the Widgeon crossed the line.
The Fish did not arrive till 7:40 P. M., and the Elwell's time was
8:35. Then came the yacht Dreadnaught at 8:38, and the re-
mainder of the fleet drifted about several hours longer before ac-
complishing the few miles intervening between themselves and
the Lightship.
Of the working schooners the Yan Name arrived yesterday
forenoon thus winning the $250 prize awarded to the winning
schooner.
[The World, New York, October 13, 1873J
THE EETUKN OF THE YACHTS.
A REVIEW OF THE OCEAN KACE AND A LIST OF THE WINNING BOATS.
For many days previous to last Thursday the interest of all
aquatic sport lovers had centered in the great Ocean Race for the
Bennett Cup and money prizes, to be sailed over the course
from Owl's head to and around the Lightship off Cape May and
back to the Lightship off Sandy Hook. Much speculation has
been indulged in as to the probable result and most men famil-
iar with the qualities and condition of the various yachts and
other vessels had fixed upon Mr. J. F. Loubat's yacht, the En-
chantress, as likely to win the race and the cup. Under other
circumstances perhaps the splendid reputation for seaworthiness
won in many hard contested battles with rough weather and
heavy seas by Mr. A. B. Stockwell's Dreadnaught would have
made her a great favorite. But it seemed to be well known that
the Dreadnaught was very "foul" from her summer's cruising,
and in sad need of clean copper, new canvas, and other repairs.
The Enchantress, on the other hand, was just off the dock, with
bottom pumice-stoned till it shone like a mirror. She had a full
crew, and above all her owner was bound to win the race or
bring her back without a stick in her or a stitch on her. Mr.
A. C. Kingsland's Alarm, though in many respects a fine sailer,
was not expected to win, and the Clio and Eva were looked upon
The Ocean Races* 99
as quite too small to be reliable should the weather prove heavy,
as might reasonably be expected at this season of the year.
Some thought that one of the twelve pilot boats, working
schooners, or smacks entered might come off victor by some
happy chance, but after all the Enchantress was by long odds
the favorite, and justified the prediction of her admirers by a
successful trip and the fair winning of a fair ocean race over a
course 122 miles and return in thirty-nine hours. The Enchan-
tress' trip was not marked by the occur ence of any serious acci-
dents beyond the splitting of her jib by the force of the wind and
the carrying away of her bobstay by a heavy sea. These do not
appear to have caused any considerable delay, so that her cruise
may be considered a fair criterion of the seaworthiness and abil-
ity of the yacht. The Dreadnaught, on the contrary, having
shipped a chance crew at starting, met with a constant series of
disasters, and was prevented from making a good showing in
the race. The loss of her staysail and the unfortunate snarl into
which her club-topsail got when being sent down preparatory to
rounding the Cape May Lightship caused a dead loss of thirty-
five minutes, and the subsequent parting of her jibstay rendered
it necessary to run before the wind for nearly an hour in a di-
rection exactly opposite to her course, by which she lost nearly
four hours on her true course, and was therefore becalmed when
the wind died away after some of her antagonists had reached
the goal. In addition to this she carried away her jib owing to
an imperfect splice in her leach -rope, and the mainsail showed
signs of weakening at the reef cringle. Had the Dreadnaught
been less unfortunate the Enchantress might perhaps have been
more closely pressed and possibly her laurels would have been
won in a much severer contest. Little is known of the course
pursued by the Alarm after rounding the Cape May Lightship,
and it was believed on board the Dreadnaught that owing to the
carrying away of some portion of her rigging she was obliged to
run before the wind to the Delaware breakwater for shelter.
The leading boats rounded the Five Fathom Lightship in the
following manner : Enchantress, Dreadnaught, Alarm, Widgeon.
100
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
The Enchantress made the Sandy Hook light-ship at 6 h. 12 m,
Saturday morning, winning the yacht cup; the Thomas S. Negus.
No. 1. at 6 h. 49 m. 30 s., winning the first money prize; the Mary
E. Fish, No. 4, at 7 h. 40 m.; the Dreadnaught at 8 h. 40 m. Sat-
urday afternoon. Off the Lightship after dark Saturday even-
ing the scene was an unusual one. There was a dead calm, and
the sea, which had been so heavy during the entire trip, had
quieted down to a long and steady swell. The moon in the
eastern sky sent a long wake of light across the water, and on
all sides the distance was filled with the signal lights and shadowy
forms of vessels of every sort, some at anchor and others lying
to, idly yielding to the long sweep of the swell and describing
with their tall masts huge arcs among the stars. Now and then
a steamer or a tug with a seaward-bound craft in tow would cross
the wake of the moon and steam away for the harbor or disap-
pear in the oifing. Presently "eight bells" sounded from the
Lightship, and a few moments after a red rocket shot from some
vessel far in shore into the sky, exploding in a shower of colored
lights.
Another followed from the same quarter, and then an-
other and another from boats more or less distant, while on
the El well and the Dreadnaught, then just drifting past the
Lightship, blue and red signal fires- were burned, casting their
weird, strange light upon rigging, spars, and sails, and leaving
as they died out a momentary sense of utter darkness. Soon
after this a light breeze sprung up, offering an opportunity to
those who desired to make an anchorage inside the Hook.
The Commercial Advertiser, New York, October 13, 1873.
THE STOEY OF THE KACEES.
WHAT IT DEMONSTRATES LIGHT VESSELS IN A ROUGH SEA.
Now that the winning boats of the great Ocean Regatta .are
known and are safely in port, it is pleasant to hear the story of
the sailing-masters and the passengers. Taking the reports as
they come to us, the yacht Enchantress, which wins the first
The Ocean Races. 101
prize, should be proud of herself. She made the run from New
York to .Cape May in excellent time, and in a heavy sea. The
problem of light vessels, such as the yachts of the New York
Club generally are, crossing the Atlantic, was solved by the race
between the Fleetwing, Yesta, and the Henrietta, in which the
Henrietta was the winner, and since that time the white sails of
the yachts have been spread in all the pleasant places of the
world, from the British coast to Spain, and up in the Mediter-
ranean, where Mr. Lorillard left his yacht, a wreck, and gave to
us, through the medium of the foreign correspondents, a story
of romance in which life ashore, under a tent, guarded by Arabs,
needed only the presence of the requisite number of houris to
make it a chapter from the " Arabian Nights." Yacht-owners'
comfort divides itself into two distinct features the comfort of
lazy indifference, and the comfort of a cruise. The fact that
vessels of the class of larger boats of the New York Yacht Club
can go almost anywhere with safety, has placed a new complexion
upon yachts andyachtingin America. It is an expensive luxury,
but there is something indefinably "nice" and commendably
jolly in having a yacht, and being able to go where one pleases
providing always that there be a wind. Here comes in the point
where the demonstrated safety of the vessels at sea adds to the
first division of the yacht-owners' comfort, and where the lazy
indifference of the occasion is made doubly grateful by the
safety.
The records of the racers in the race to Cape May and back are
interesting in more ways than one. They tell just what the other
boats did the boats which are not yet home, and the work done
by the Enchantress is worthy of remembrance. Notwithstand-
ing a heavy sea, the yacht made the run from Owl's Head, in
New York Harbor, to Five Fathom Lightship, off Cape May,
a distance of 121 J miles, in ten hours and forty-five minutes, and
beat back again in twenty-eight hours and fifteen minutes, mak-
ing the entire run of 247 miles in thirty-nine hours. This is not
a quick run home, but it shows that vessels built for pleasure,
well manned and properly equipped, may be used to an advantage
IO2
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
in a sea, and, with ordinary " luck at sea," may be depended up-
on for long and even tempestuous voyages.
The race to Cape May and back is also important, since boats
of several classes were thrown into competition and contrast.
The pilot boats of New York Harbor have measured their dis-
tances and ability with the yachts, and are a representative
class, with which sea work is not a specialty, but a general oc-
currence.
The pilot boat Thomas S. Negus is the winner of the prize
for her class, and the run made by this vessel shows that the
pilot boats are to be trusted also, since the new boat has done
so well, and the working schooner, Wm. H. Van Name, is
winner of the third prize.
The contest demonstrates the fact that the " pleasure-boat
navy " of America is worthy of representation at home and wor-
thy of imitation abroad. The old idea that size and weight were
necessary at sea is exploded by the record of the performances
of these light-craft, and the improvements made in such archi-
tecture as yacht- building are each year adding new wonders to
the performances of the vessels of the various yacht club fleets.
The ocean regattas are a benefit far more so than the ordinary
races over the Yacht Club course from Staten Island to the
Lightship and back, as it makes a necessity that the vessels should
be in thorough sea-going trim, and should be handled witli care
to procure speed and yet keep the yacht in good condition for
the work required of her and the repetition of such regattas
will doubtless bring forward more boats that have yet to win a
sea record, and inaugurate a new system of ocean navigation in
pleasure craft as beautiful as they are seaworthy.
The New York Herald, October 15, 1873.
In the recent Ocean Regatta the Clio, Messrs. Asten & Brad-
hurst, was the winner of a $250 cup from the Eva, Mr. E. Burd
Grubb. It i only fair to state that the owners of the Clio are
willing to sail any yacht of her size and tonnage to wind-
The Ocean Races. 103
ward and return, feeling assured that she will give a good ac-
count of herself.
The schooner Alarm, Rear Commodore Kingsland, passed
Sandy Hook Lightship at nine o'clock Sunday night, having
made the run from Five Fathom Bank Lightship in twelve hours.
The reason that Commodore Kingsland ordered his yacht to
abandon the ocean race on Friday morning, when she held a cap-
ital position, is that one of the men o board was seriously ill
requiring immediate medical aid, so they bore away for Cape
May, where a physician was found. There is no doubt that the
Alarm would have done well in the contest could she have con-
tinued.
The schooner Eva, one of the yachts which started in the
Ocean Regatta and did not return, has been heard from at Burling-
ton, on the Delaware, the residence of her owner. She arrived
there on Sunday morning in a disabled condition. Among the
accidents that happened her were the disabling of her steering
apparatus, and the breaking of her fore- chain plate, which carried
away the bolt out of the topping lift and sprung the flying jib-
boom. At this time the sailing master of the Eva concluded
that it would be safer to abandon the race, and so changed the
course of the yacht.
The New York Herald, October 18, 1873.
THE OCEAN RACES.
Official Report of the Committee of the New York Yacht Club Announcing
the Winners of the Great Ocean Race Prizes.
NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 1873.
The Regatta Committee of the New York Yacht Club submit
the following report of the ocean regatta sailed on the 9th inst.
for prizes presented by James Gordon Bennett, Esq., Commodore
of the Club:
104
A Yachtsman s Scrap fiook.
THE PRIZES.
The prizes offered were as follows, viz:
First Prize of the value of $1.000, to he sailed for by
schooner yachts belonging to any organized yacht club , from an
anchorage off Owl's Head, New York Harbor, to and around the
Lightship on Five Fathom Bank, off Cape May, N. J., and re-
turn to Sandy Hook Lightship.
Second Three purses ; one of the value of $1.000, and two of
the value of $250 each, to be sailed for over the same course,
upon the same clay, and open to the following classes of vessels,
hailing from any port in the United States:
1. Pilot boats.
2. Working schooners of not less than 25, nor over 300 tons,
old measurement.
3. Schooner smacks.
In this race the first vessel arriving at the winning post to
take a purse of $1.000 ; the first vessel arriving of each of the
other two classes to take a purse of $250.
ENTRIES.
The entries were as follows, viz:
YACHTS.
Name. Owner. Tonnage.
Enchantress J. F. Loubat 276.1G
Alarm A. C. Kings! ami 225.77
Clio.
JT. B. Asten
) T. C. P. Bradlmrst
Eva E. Burd Gruhb.
Atalauta William Astor . . .
Dreadnaught A. B. Stockwell
59.18
77.50
145.41
240.00
PILOT BOATS.
Widgeon No. 10 New York Pilots 105.09
Hope, No. 1 New York Pilots 132.04
Edmund Blunt, No. 21 ... New York Pilots
C. H. Marshall, No. 3. ... New York Pilots 85.00
James W. El well, No. 7. . .New Jersey Pilots 165.00
Thomas S. Negus, No. 1 . . New Jersey Pilots
Mary E. Fish, No. 4 New Jersey Pilots . .
77/6' Ocean Races. io5
WOBKING SCHOONEBS.
Designating letter.
W. H. Van Name A. . . . W. H. Van Name 180.00
Eeindeer B Captain Howard 140.06
Sharpshooter C F. M. Grossman 120.00
Racer D . . . . Eugene Howard
SCHOONER SMACKS.
Wallace Blackf ord E H. C. Rogers & Co. 80. 00
CONTESTANTS.
On the day appointed for the regatta the following vessels
were at the anchorage prepared for the start :
YACHTS.
Name. Owner. Tonnage.
Enchantress J. F. Loubat 276.16
Alarm A. C. Kingsland 225.77
T. B. Asten 59.18
T. C. Bradhurst
Eva E. Burd Grubb 77.50
Dreadnaught A. B. Stockwell 240.00
PILOT BOATS.
Widgeon, No. 10 New York Pilots 105.00
James W. Elwell, No. 7. ..New Jersey Pilots 165.00
Thomas S. Negus, No. l...New Jersey Pilots
Mary E. Fish, No. 4 New Jersey Pilots
Edmund Blunt, No. 2 New York Pilots
WOKKINQ SCHOONERS.
Designating Letter.
W. H. Van Name A. . . .W. H. Van Name 180.00
Reindeer B Captain Howard*.. 140 00
SCHOONER SMACKS.
Wallace Blackf ord H. C. Rogers & Co 80.00
The preparatory signal was given at 3:02 p. M. The vessels
were started at 3:12 p. M.
The person who was sent to Cape May to take the time of
rounding the Five Fathom Bank Lightship was unable to board
that vessel, because of the strong northeast wind and high sea
prevailing, and no official time at that point can be given.
'achtsmaris Scrap Book.
HOME TO THE LIGHTSHIP.
The time of arrival at Sandy Hook Lightship was as follow;
YACHTS.
H. M.
Enchantress, October 11 6 12 A.M.
Dreadnaught, October 11 8 30 P.M.
Clio, October 12 1 22 A.M.
Alarm Not taken
Eva Not taken
PILOT BOATS.
H. M. S.
Thomas S. Negus, October 11 8 49 30 A.M.
Widgeon, October 11 12 33 30 P.M.
Mary E. Fish, October 11 7 40 00 P.M.
James W. Elwell October 11, 8 25 00 P.M.
Edmund Blunt, October 11 9 44 00 P.M.
WOBKING SCHOONERS.
W. H. Van Name, October 11 10 52 00 P.M.
Reindeer Not taken
SMACK.
Wallace Blackf ord October 11 11 44 00 P. M.
THE WINNERS.
The prizes are awarded as follows :
The Yacht Prize to Enchantress.
The $1,000 Purse to Pilot boat Thomas S. Negus.
One $250 Purse to schooner William H. Van Name.
One $250 Purse to smack Wallace Blackford.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
FLETCHER E. WESTRAY ]
WILLIAM KREBS, Regatta
E. E. CHASE, j" Commttee.
CHARLES A. MINTON, J
The New York Herald, October 23. 1873.
OCEAN RACING.
From Owl's Head to Five Fathom Bank Lightship and Return The
Schooner Smack Wallace Blackford willing to Sail any Vessel of he
class for $2,000,
The Ocean Races. 107
NEW YOKK, Oct. 22, 1873.
To the Editor of the Herald:
Through the liberality of the Commodore of the New York
Yacht Club our schooner smack was lately permitted to test her
sailing qualities in the Ocean Race with some of the swiftest sail-
ing craft of New York Bay ; but, very much to our disappoint-
mentf the "Wallace Blackford had no competitor of her class,
thereby depriving us of the privilege of demonstrating that she
is the fastest sailing fishing smack afloat.
Permit us to say, through the columns of the Herald, that the
smack Wallace Blackford is open to sail over the same course
against any fishing smack (with a well) for a purse of $2000, at
any time before December 30, 1873. Respectfully yours,
EUGENE G. BLACKFORD.
II. C. ROGERS & Co.
CHAPTER V.
THE CAPE MAY CHALLENGE CUP RACE.
The New York Herald, September 23, 1873.
The Owner of the Enchantress Looking for the Cape May Challenge Cr
The Dreadnaught Called Out Mr. Loubat Willing to Sail any
Yacht of an Organized Club across the Atlantic.
UNION CLUB, NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 1873.
Captain STOCKWELL, Yacht Dreadnaught, New York Yach
Club :
DEAR SIR : I hereby challenge your Yacht Dreadnaught tc
sail my yacht Enchantress, on Tuesday, the 14th day of October
next, at twelve M., for the Cape May Challenge Cup, presented
by Commodore J. G. Bennett to the New York Yacht Club,
Course, from Sandy Hook Lightship to Five Fathom Lightship
(Cape May) and return.
Should you desire any extension of time please name any
day to suit your own convenience up to the 1st of November
next, although, according to the tenure by which you hold said
challenge cup, you are obliged to race any challenger during the
racing season that is, from the third Thursday in June to the
third Thursday in October in each year, on a fifteen days' notice,
or forfeit the cup to the challenger.
I shall, therefore, hold you to such race,and if you do not accept
this challenge I shall go over the course on Tuesday, the 14th of
The Cape May Challenge Cup Race. 109
October next, starting from Sandy Hook Lightship at 12 M. and
claim said challenge cup, as I recognize no right in a holder of a
challenge cup to refuse a challenge on any plea whatsoever.
As to the ocean race from Sandy Hook Lightship to Cowes
(Isle of Wight), of which you spoke yesterday, I can but repeat
that I am not willing to stake such a large sum as $25,000 on a
race, but that, should it be agreeable to you or any member of
any organized yacht club in the United States to challenge my
yacht, Enchantress, for a race across the Atlantic entrance
$5,000 or less, play or pay to be sailed from Sandy Hook
Lightship at 12 M. on any day which may suit your or their
convenience from the 8th to the 16th of November next, I will
be most happy to accept any such challenge or challenges.
I should require notice thereof, however, before the 1st of
October next.
I send copy of this letter to Mr. Charles A. Minton, Secre-
tary of the New York Yacht Club, to be placed by him on file,
and remain, Yours truly,
J. F. LOUBAT.
The New York Herald, September 25, 1873.
The Cape May Challenge Cup Letter of the Secretary of the New
York Yacht Club to the owner of the Enchantress Mr. Loubat's
Reply Resolved to Sail for the Cup and claim it, unless beaten.
CLUB KOOMS, Sept. 23, 1873.
J. F. LOUBAT, ESQ.:
DEAR SIR I have your favor of yesterday and note con-
tents. I saw Mr. Stockwell to-day, and, as far as I can
understand it, there appears to be some misunderstanding
between you and himself as regards the Cape May Challenge
Cup. He considers himself still under challenge from the
Magic, and until that is settled, either by the withdrawal of one
of the parties, or sailing of the match, that he is not open to be
challenged by any other vessel. Your impression on the con-
trary, as expressed on Sunday, I understood to be, that the
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
match was off. It appears to be a question as to how long
a yacht under challenge can hold a cup when neither of the par-
ties intends to sail for it. I have my own views upon the subject
but would prefer laying the matter before the Regatta Commit-
tee before expressing them.
As soon as a definite opinion is arrived at I will advise you-
Yours, very truly,
C. A. MLNTON, Secretary.
MR. LOUBAT'S REPLY.
CHAS. A. MINTON, Secretary N. Y. Y. C. :
UNION CLUB, KEW YORK, Sept. 24, 1873.
DEAR SIR : In answer to your favor of yesterday's date I beg
to remark that, without assuming that "neither of the parties in-
tend to sail," I must insist that the only proper answer to my
challenge is notice of intended sailing this season under a
challenge which precludes the possibility of accepting mine.
There is not, nor can be, a misunderstanding. I intend to sail
over the Cape May Challenge Cup course on Tuesday, the 14th
of October next, starting from the Sandy Hook Lightship at
twelve M., and to claim the challenge cup, unless I am beaten.
Yours, very truly,
J. F. LOUBAT.
I send a copy of this letter to Captain Stockwell.
The Field, London, October 11, 1873.
ANOTHER YACHT EACE.
We learn from the Spirit of the Times that there is
chance of a race being made across the Atlantic by the
JJreadnaught, Capt. Stockwell, and the Enchantress, Capt.
Loubat. We learn from the same paper that the Dreadnaught,
holder of the Bennet Challenge Cup, is under challenge from the
Enchantress to sail a match from Sandy Hook to Cape May
The Cape May Challenge Cup Race. 1 1 1
Lightship and back on the 14th of October. There however ap-
pears to be some difficulty about the challenge, as the owner
of the Dreadnaught declares that he is under challenge trom the
Magic, and cannot accept two challenges. The New York
Yacht Club is probably used to this sort of thing, and will prove
quite equal to the occasion. As the matter at present stands,
Capt. Loubat insists on the legitimacy of his challenge, unless
the Dreadnaught and Magic intend sailing this season ; at
any rate the Enchantress will be at Sandy Hook Lightship at
twelve noon on the 14th inst., and will sail over the course and
claim the challenge cup, unless the Dreadnaught is there to beat
her.
The New York Herald, October 14, 1873.
The challenge of Mr. J. F. Loubat, owner of the Enchan-
tress, to Mr. A. B. Stockwell, owner of the Dreadnaught, to sail
from Sandy Hook Lightship to and around Five-Fathom Bank
lightship and return, for the Cape May Challenge Cup (now
held by the Dreadnaught), was accepted by the latter gentleman
and this day fixed for the race. Yachtsmen in general agreed
that the event would be very interesting, and since the great
ocean races they Jiave expressed the opinion that it could not be
otherwise than particularly exciting. In the late rim to the
Cape May Lightship and back the Dreadnaught was quite unfor-
tunate in splitting sails and receiving other damage, which
will prevent her from appearing at the starting point, thus
leaving the Enchantress to " walk over " the course. It is cer-
tain that the owner of the Dreadnaught desires to sail the race,
but as his yacht is not in fit condition to attempt it he must ac-
cept the alternative.
The Sun, New York, October 13, 1873.
THE DISPUTES OF THE YACHTSMEN.
The Clio, though the smallest of the fleet, sailed over
112 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
the course, without a mishap, carrying sail through wind
and sea in a manner which proved her seaworthy qualities.
During the race other and larger yachts came to grief, and her
immediate competitor, the saucy Eva, was left by the fleet Clio
far astern.
The race for the $500 Cape May Challenge cup was to have
been sailed to-day between the Enchantress and the Dread-
naught, the latter of which won the cup last year. Owing to
her disabled condition she will not be ready to sail to-day, and
as the owner of the Enchantress will not give her any further
time it will be a "mug hunt" for the Enchantress, which will ap-
pear at the starting point and claim and receive the cup.
The World, New York, October 14, 1873.
MUG HUNTING.
THE ENCHANTRESS REFUSES TO ACCEDE TO THE DREADNAUGHT'fc
REQUEST FOR DELAY.
The Bennett Cape May Challenge Cup has for the past year
been held by Mr. Stockwell, owner of the Dreadnaught, which
last fall won it from .the Palmer in a well-contested race over
the prescribed course from Sandy Hook to Cape May light-ship
and return in twenty-six hours. According to the rule by which
this challenge cup is held its holder is bound to have his yacht
in readiness to sail a race over the prescribed course whenever
called upon to do so from the opening of the yachting season up
to the 16th of the present month, or relinquish the cup. Hardly
had the Dreadnaught returned from her recent encounter with
the Enchantress in so crippled a condition as to render her quite
unseaworthy when her owner finds himself challenged by Mr.
Loubat, the owner of the Enchantress, to sail a race for this cup
over the same course, starting to day at 12 M. The limit of time
during which a holder of this cup may be challenged is looked
The Cape May Challenge Cup Race. 1 1 3
upon as simply a protection for the holder, preventing the
necessity of keeping his yacht in the water and in sailing trim
the year round. Understanding this, Mr. Stock-well sent word
to Mr. Loubat representing the impossibility of putting the
Dreadnaught in fit sailing condition, or even repairing her injur-
ies so as to make her safely seaworthy at so short notice, and
offering, if a delay of a few days could be afforded, to waive his
right of refusing to sail after the 16th instant. To this message
the following reply was yesterday received:
A. B. STOCKWELL Ecq.
My Dear Sir : I regret that I cannot accede to your request
for delay. The challenge cup, as you will probably recollect,
must be sailed for by Thursday next. I shall, therefore, sail from
Sandy Hook Lightship Tuesday the 14 inst. at 12 M., and shall
claim the challenge cup, as also our private cup, unless defeated.
Yours, respectfully,
J. F. LOUBAT,
Yacht Enchantress, K Y. Y. C.
New York, October 12, 1873.
The private cup alluded to in the above note is a $1,000 cup
which these gentlemen have individually wagered upon the
result of this race, and goes with the challenge cup mentioned
above. It is said that several gentlemen, members of the New
York Yacht Club, yesterday visited the Dreadnaught to
satisfy themselves of the truth of her reported condition, and
then called upon Mr. Loubat for the purpose of dissuading him
from a course which they consider unfair "mug hunting" and
but little designed to promote sport on the water or harmony and
good feeling in the Club. Mr. Stockwell desires that it may be
announced that he will be ready, if notified at once, to race the
Enchantress for these two cups over any course known to the
New York Yacht Club at any time after Friday next, though he
should certainly decline to yield the private challenge cup if the
race is insisted upon before that time, on the ground that the bet
was a verbal one and not made "play or pay."
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
The Evening Mail, New York, October 14, 1873.
A VERY SMALL BUSINESS.
Mr. Joseph F. Loubat, the owner of the yacht Enchantress,
appears to be disposed to play what in lower circles is called an
" open and shut game," in order to get away from the owner of
the Dreadnaught the challenge cup so fairly won by that fine
yacht last Fall. By a strict construction of the rules of the
yacht club, the winner of the challenge cup is bound to be ready
to sail a race whenever called upon to do so between the opening
of the subsequent yachting season and the 16th of October. As
is well known, the Dreadnaught has just come into port from a
recent race, in so crippled a condition as to be unfit for sailing ;
and the owner of the Enchantress takes advantage of the cir-
cumstance to send in his demand for a race, together with Jhe
claim that both the challenge cup and a $1,000 cup privately
wagered shall belong to the winner. In view of this fact that
the Dreadnaught is really disabled and notwithstanding the pro-
tests and wishes of the members of the Club, Mr. Loubat insists
upon compliance with his challenge and churlishly notifies the
owner of the Dreadnaught of his intention to sail over the racing
course to-day and thereafter assert his claim to the two cups.
This, too, in spite of the announcement that the challenged
party will waive his right to refuse sailing after the date fixed by
the rules, and will be ready to sail at any time after Friday next.
Of course, there can be but one opinion touching Mr. Loubat's
conduct in this matter, for, independently of the mug-hunting
disposition it evinces, there is certainly about it such a repudia-
tion of the commonest principles of courtesy and fair play as
ought to make the winner in such a mean game forever feel as
if he had paid a very high price for his surreptitious gains. We
dislike to characterize, in type, an action so utterly antagonistic
to the high-toned code which is generally supposed to govern
yachtsmen.
The Cape May Challenge Cup Race. 1 1 5
The Sun, New York, October 15, 1873.
Mr. J. F. Loubat, of the yacht Enchantress, seems to us to
be acting rather ungenerously in requiring Mr. Stockwell, of the
Dreadnaught, to' sail a race without giving him a fair time to re-
lit his yacht and make her seaworthy after the damages she re-
ceived in the recent contest for the Cape May cup.
The New York Times, New York, October 15, 1873.
COCKLE-SHELLS.
A controversy is said to be pending between the owners of
two of our leading yachts, which may appropriately be made
the occasion of recurring to certain views on the subject of
yachting, which we expressed the other day. Last year, the
Cape May Challenge Cup was won by the Dreadnaught, from
the Palmer, in a match race from Sandy Hook to Cape May and
back within the allotted time of twenty-six hours. By the terms
on which the cup is given, it must be held by the winner, at all
times during the yachting season, open to challenge for a trial
over the same course, or else it must be relinquished. The late
ocean race which the Enchantress won, beating the Dreadnaught
and others, was not, it must be understood, for this but for
another special prize. Now, the owner of the Enchantress, as
is clearly his right, challenges the Dreadnaught to a race for
the Challenge Cup before Thursday, the 16th inst. at which
date the season ends. The owner of the Dreadnaught pleads for
delay on the ground that his yacht has been so strained by the
late race as to be unseaworthy, and offers, if time be given, to
waive his right of refusing to sail after the 16th.
To many this proposition will appear perfectly fair, and Mr.
Loubat, the owner ot the Enchantress, will be charged with all sorts
of unworthy motives for insisting upon his technical rights. "We
do not coincide with this view. Stanchness, not less than speed, is
an element, if it be not the chief element of merit in an ocean
race ; and the fact that, after such a race, the Enchantress is in
n6
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book,
better trim to encounter another than the Dreadnaught, shows
of itself that she is better entitled to the award of superiority.
The cup is given on condition that its holder shall be always
ready, during a prescribed term, to vindicate his right to hold it;
and for a yachtsman to attempt to evade such an express obli-
gation, on the ground that his boat is un seaworthy, is simply to
admit the whole question put at issue by the offer of such a
prize.
and
to confess that he has forfeited his claim to retain it.
We refer to the matter because disputes of this kind are
constantly arising, and because such an excuse, if seriously put
forth and entertained, is a stain upon the name of American
yachting. The truth is, our amateur mariners have so educated
themselves to believe that swiftness and beauty of outline were
alone essential to a model yacht, that everything like solidity
appears to have been sacrificed to these graces. If yachts are
meant for playthings, to amuse a summer fancy, this is well
enough. But let our yacht clubs have this clearly understood,
aud resign all claim to be anything but smooth-water sailors.
When Mr. Ashbury came over here after the American cup, and
went away without it, everybody was well pleased. But if, at
the end of that week of races, a sailor had been asked to choose
between the Livonia stanch and sound as when she entered
and any one of the three or four yachts that almost went to
pieces in the effort to beat her, is it likely that he would have
long hesitated ?
We look with regret on controversies like this between the
Enchantress and Dreadnaught, because their very nature implies
a degeneration in the spirit of our yachtsmen and the build of
our yachts alike. For this reason, and as one means to check
this demoralization, we hope to see Mr'. Loubat press his claim,
and, if possible, set a precedent which may not be disregarded.
A yacht that is knocked up by a single race ought to be content
with such trophies as may be gathered on light winds and
smooth water, and leave worthier triumphs to worthier and
stouter competitors.
The Cape May Challenge Cup Race. 1 1 7
The World, New York, October 15, 1873.
THE PAST YACHTING SEASON.
The season of the New York Yacht Club for 1873 has not,
we regret to say, reflected any credit whatever on that organiza-
tion. It has been proved, indeed, although it was sufficiently evi-
dent before, that the Club possesses a number of vessels capable of-
making high speed in smooth water and with a light breeze.
But upon the annual cruise of the club it was proved also either
that the majority of the yachts were not fit, or that the majority
of the yachtsmen were not inclined to face the summer breezes
of the Sound, although while the large schooners and sloops of
the Yacht Club were lying wind-bound, open boats were racing
across the same Sound. The recent outside races have been
still more discreditable than the summer cruise. The race of
the Meta and the Vision proved nothing except that those sloops,
which are certainly large enough to be good sea-boats, are not
sea-boats at all. The sloop Yindex, which would have no possi-
ble chance with either of them in the inside summer races to
which the majority of yachtsmen addict themselves, put them
both utterly to shame in weather which they ought to have been
equally well prepared to encounter. The recent race to Cape
May and back, in which no severer weather was encountered
than any coasting schooner pursues her voyages in without
difficulty, crippled or drove into harbor nearly all the contestants
in it. The result of these races has been to show that our
yachts, superior as they probably are to the English yachts for
speed in light weather, are utterly inferior to them for sea-going
qualities. For the English yachts habitually sail races with no
greater disaster than the occasional loss of a light spar or a light
sail in such weather as drove the Meta into port, rendered the
Yision utterly helpless, and seriously injured the Eva and the
Dreadnaught. It is evident that in some cases by reason of
model, in other cases by reason of rig, most of our yachts are
very ill-suited to improve marine architecture, which is one
chief reason of being of yacht clubs, or of developing a class of
118 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
I
amateur sailors, which is the other. This is a valuable lesson, if
our yachtsmen will consent to learn it and act upon it. But it
seems that some of them are much in need of learning a lesson
in courtesy and fair dealing. These qualities the New York
Yacht Club has always prided itself upon promoting, the asser-
tions of the defeated Mr. Ashbury to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. And these qualities are conspicuously absent from the
recent behavior of the owner of the Enchantress in insisting that
the Dreadnaught shall sail against his yacht in a crippled con-
dition or surrender without a contest the prize which was fairly
and well won by the Dreadnaught a year ago. In either case
the prize could have no possible value as a trophy. If yachting
is to be regarded merely as a means towards the acquisition of
a collection of silverware, the owner of the Enchantress may be
called a yachtsman. But if y.ichting is a " manly sport," his
course in relation to the challenge cup held by the Dreadnaught
does not suggest to us that he is qualified to succeed in it.
TJie New York Times, New York, October 17, 1873.
THE CAPE MAY CHALLENGE CUP.
Between 9 and 10 o'clock Tuesday morning the yacht
chantress left her anchorage off Staten Island and proceeded to
Sandy Hook. At noon she started alone over the course
prescribed for the Bennett Cape May Challenge Cup, from the
Hook to Cape May Lightship and return. The present holder
of the cup, the Dreadnaught, is now refitting damage received in
the ocean race of the 9th inst, and was unable to join in the
contest. The sloop yacht Yixen, with a member of the Racing
Committee on board anchored off the Lightship shortly before
12 o'clock, and at 12:16 gave the signal for the Enchantress to
start. She had her small-main topsail and jib-topsail set, there
being at the time a good west by north breeze. The distance
between the point of the Hook and the Ocean House at Long
Branch fourteen miles was made in one hour and fifteen
The Cape May Challenge Cup Race. 119
minutes. Commodore Stockton's house, twenty-two miles from,
the Hook, WHS passed at 4:18 p. M. About this time the breeze
decreased, whereupon the large balloon topsail was set. At 6
p. M. Little Egg Harbor was passed bearing west-south-west
five miles off, and at 6:20 Absecoui Light was made aud
passed at 7:35. The wind fell, and the yacht slowly drifted
toward the Lightship, which was sighted at 11 P. M. At 11:15
the large maintopmast staysail and balloon jib were got ready
to set as the Lightship was turned, which was accomplished at
1:30 A. M. on Wednesday morning. Mr. Loubat hailed the
light-ship and asked the people on board to take the yacht's
time. The balloon sails were then set, but at 3:25 A. M. the
wind hauled to the nor'ard, and the balloon jib had to be taken
in. At 5:25 A. M. her head was east by north. At 5:30 A. M.
the jib topsail and maintopmast staysail were hauled down and
the yacht went about, heading on this tack north by east; went
about again at 6:10 A. M. the wind shifting and light, and now
headed north-north-east. At 6:40 the balloon main topsail was
shifted for a working topsail Absecom bearing north-west
by west, six miles away. At 7:30 the small maintopmast stay-
sail was set. At 8 a new Philadelphia schooner-yacht, bound
south, was passed. At 8:55 the maintopmast staysail was hauled
down and the yacht went about, setting the staysail again on the
other tack. At 9:55, after tacking off shore, the yacht was put
about on the starboard tack and stood inshore again, a brisk cool
breeze blowing. At 11:40, closing the land, the maintopmast stay-
sail was hauled down and the yacht went about on the port tack.
The balloon jib topsail was set, Little Egg Harbor bearing west,
with a light breeze. At 11:50 the balloon maintopsail was set and
the yacht went about at 1 P. M., Heading north-north-east.
The small maintopmaststaysail was now set. At 1:35 Barnegat
Point was made, a point and a half on the weather bow, eight
miles off, ship heading north by west. Barnegat was passed at
3:25 P. M., and the balloon jib was set, wind freshening from
the eastward. At 7 P. M., the wind hauling to the southward
and eastward, the sheets were slackened off, the wind being very
I2O
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
were sighted. At
light. At 7.50 P. M., the Highland Lights
8:25 the maintopraast staysail was hauled down, and the balloon
jib at 8:40, the small jib being set instead, and the wind dead
aft. At 9 P. M. the foresail was boomed out, and Sandy Hook
Light was sighted a little on the starboard bow, the wind very
light. At 11 P. M. the mainboom was jibed. At 11:33 the Light-
ship was spoken and asked to take the yacht's time. The ship
then hauled to the wind on the port tack, and stood in for the
Hook with a nice breeze. Sandy Ho<-k was passed at 12:20, and
the yacht sailed up the bay for Staten Island where she arrived
at 5:50 A. M., yesterday, and anchored off shore, as the wind
failed. At 9 A. M., the yacht hove up again, went close in, and
let go the anchor at 9:15 A. M. All well on board, and the cup
won, as also a private cup
Dreadnaught.
wagered with
the owner of the
The World, New York, October 20, 1873.
CONCERNING MUGS AND YACHTING.
If Mr. Loubat, the owner of the Enchantress, had challenged
Mr. Stockwell, the owner of the Dreadnaught, upon the heels of
a race in which the Dreadnaught was badly damaged and the
Enchantress not at all damaged, to run another race which
the Dreadnaught by racing-rules would be obliged to run or lose
a cup, yet could not possibly be refitted and made ready for, the
common-sense opinion would be that Mr. Loubat was more
anxious to acquire a collection of silverware than to prove the
quality of his yacht and uphold a manly sport.
That opinion The World expressed, basing the same upon i
reporter's statement, which was as follows :
"Hardly had the Dreadnaught returned from her recent en
counter with the Enchantress in so crippled a condition as to
render her quite unseaworthy when her owner finds himself
challenged by Mr. Loubat, the owner of the Enchantress, to sail
a race for this cup over the same course, starting to-day at
12 M."
LC;
:
n-
The Cape May Challenge Cup Race. 1 2 1
Our reporter was grossly misled, we cannot pretend to say
by whom, but if by any yachtsman, then that person is not a fit
associate for the gentlemen of the New York Yacht Club.
Mr. Stockwell did not return with the Dreadnaught disabled
from the ocean regatta of the 9th, to "find himself challenged"
by Mr. Loubat, the owner of the winning Enchantress. On the
contrary he had been challenged on the 22d of September to a
race on the 14th day of October, for the Cape May challenge
cup. That cup was last year won by the Dreadnaught from the
Palmer, and is held by the Dreadnaught on condition of racing
any challenger during the racing season on a fifteen day's notice?
or forfeit the cup.
But Mr. Loubat's challenge gave twenty-one day's notice.
The Dreadnaught need not have entered the ocean regatta on
the 9th in which she is alleged to have been disabled. The
Enchantress underwent the same rough weather with the same
risk to her condition for the challenge-cup race on the 14th.
The Dreadnaught was beaten 14 hours in the ocean regatta from
New York Harbor to Cape May and back to Sandy Hook
Lightship, but had still three nights and two full days to repair
her alleged damages, to say nothing of providing beforehand for
haste.
It is obvious, therefore, that Mr. Loubat was perfectly right
to refuse delay, right to sail the course, and right to claim the
challenge cup as well as the private cup staked upon the same
race; it is also obvious that an undue preference for silverware
over good yachting cannot justly be imputed to him.
Mr. Stockwell's position in the matter was thus represented
we hope misrepresented to our reporter:
"Mr. Stockwell desires that it may be announced that he
will be ready if notified at once, to race the Enchantress for
these two cups over any course known to the New York Yacht
Club at any time after Friday next, though he should certainly,
decline to yield the private challenge cup if the race is insisted
upon before that time, on the ground that the bet was a verbal
one and not made ' play or pay.' "
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
What distinction between a verbal and a written agreement a
gentleman becomes able to perceive by being a member of the
New York Yacht Club we cannot pretend to guess, nor why the
private cup does not follow the challenge cup ; but perhaps a
yacht-owner may have a nicer code than land-lubbers would
TJie Sun, New York, October 21, 1873.
,
Any person who labors under the impression that Mr. J.
Loubat has taken an unfair advantage of Mr. A. B. Stockwell in
compelling him to sail his yacht Dreadn night against Mr. Lou-
bat's Enchantress when the Dreadnaught could not be got into
condition, has been the victim of a mistake. The challenge was
given and accepted for a certain day long before the race took
place. Meanwhile, Mr. Stockwell put the Dreadnaught into
another race, taking the chances of her being disabled, but with-
out obtaining from Mr. Loubat any conditional release from the
meeting between them. Accordingly when the day for that
match arrived Mr. Loubat sailed it, and of course won the cup
which was at stake. This was all perfectly fair, and involved
nothing ungenerous or improper on his part.
Th Nuo York Times, New York, October 21, 1873.
Mr. J. F. Loubat, owner of the yacht Enchantress, has been
very shamefully abused by some of the papers for challenging
the Dreadnaught to race for the Commodore's challenge cup.
We ventured to protest against these attacks last week, without
fully knowing all the facts of the case. Now that we do know
them, we are more strongly of opinion than before that Mr.
Loubat has been very badly used. The challenge was not issued
after the Dreadnaught was injured supposing she ever was
injured, which is doubtful but dates back as far as September
22. The Cup is held under certain very clear conditions, and
Mr. Loubat could not foresee that the owner of the Dreadnaught
The Cape May Challenge Cup Race. 123
would endeavor to evade those conditions on the plea that his
yacht was not in sea-going condition. If the attacks on Mr.
Loubat have been prompted by Mr. Stockwell, we can only say
that Mr. Stockwell has been guilty of conduct which reflects no
credit on the Yacht Club. Indeed, the Yacht Club itself does
not appear to have treated Mr. Loubat very generously, for the
Secretary must have known that the challenge was not issued
under the circumstances described in the papers which assailed
him, and the true facts might easily have been placed before the
public. Mr. Stockwell seems to have striven hard to keep the
cup, when he knew that he could not keep it by fair means
that seems to be the long and short of the story. Mr. Loubat's
conduct has been perfectly fair and straightforward from first to
last; and, as will be seen from the report of the Regatta Com-
mittee in our news columns, the cup has been awarded, and
very properly, to the plucky owner of the Enchantress.
TJie World, New York, October 21, 1873.
The Regatta Committee of the New York Yacht Club pub-
lish a decision such as we expected, awarding the Cape May
challenge cup from the Dreadnaught to the Enchantress.
Mr. Stockwell, in a letter which we also print, withdraws
from the untenable position taken in his former statement to our
reporter, and very properly leaving also the private cup for ' as-
signation to the same committee, goes into winter quarters won-
dering if any Enchantress can be truly enchanting, all whose
cups have not been won in actual strife and electro plated with
the fine gold of courtesy.
THE CHALLENGE CUP.
Beport of the Regatta Committee on the Challenge of the Dreadnaught by
the Enchantress the Enchantress awarded the cup.
To Charles A. Minion, Esq., Secretary New York Yacht Club:
The Regatta Committee submit the following report in ref-
124 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
erence to the challenge of the yacht Dreadnaught by the yach
Enchantress for the Cape May challenge cup won by tin
former on the 10th October, 1872.
On the 22d September, 1873, Mr. Loubat, of the Enchan-
ress, sent to the Secretary of the club a copy of a note of that
date, which he had addressed to Mr. Stockwell, of the yacht
Dreadnaught, in which he challenged the latter for a race be-
tween their respective yachts for the Cape May challenge cup
held by the Dreadnaught. In the note he named Tuesday, the
14th October, as the day upon which the race should be sailed
but expressed his willingness to sail it on any other day to sui
Mr. Stockwell, up to 1st November.
On thfe 7th October Mr. Stockwell informed a member o
the Regatta Committee that he had received the challenge, and
would sail the race on the day named.
The Regatta Committee appointed Mr. C. A. Minton a sub-
committee to start the yachts, with power to associate other
members of the Club with himself to assist in the performance
of the duties, and to act as judges on board the competing ves-
sels and take the time of each.
On the 14:th October Mr. Minton proceeded to Sandy Hook
and found the Enchantress there prepared to start for the race.
He appointed Mr. Frederic Tains, a member of the Club, on-
board the Enchantress, to act as judge on board that vessel, and
report the time of her rounding the Five Fathom Bank Light-
ship, off Cape May, and of her arrival at the home stake-boat.
The Dreadnaught did not make her appearance. At thirteen
minutes past twelve the Enchantress sailed from the starting
point. By report of Mr. Tarns a copy is submitted herewith
she rounded the Five Fathom Bank Lightship at thirty-five
minutes past one of the 15th, and at thirty-five minutes past
eleven p. M. of the 15th she passed Sandy Hook Lightship.
The rules which govern races for the cup, as presented by
the donor, are as follows, viz. :
First The cup is to be held by the winner for thirty days
after the race without liability to challenge.
The Cape May Challenge Cup Race. 1 2 5
Second Upon the expiration of that period the winner must
accept any challenge, and be prepared to sail a race over the
same course within fifteen days from the receipt of such chal-
lenge, or forfeit the cup to the challenger; but should any yacht
succeed in holding the cup in two consecutive races during one
season it will not again be liable to challenge until the com-
mencement of the yachting season of the following year. The
cup will become the bona-fide property of any yacht holding it
successfully through three consecutive contests.
Third The yachting season in American waters in reference
to this cup is understood to be from the third Thursday in June
until the third Thursday in October in each year.
The Kegatta Committee are of the opinion that the Enchan-
tress is entitled to the cup, and so award it.
The letter, above referred to, of Mr. Loubat, conveying the
challenge, is submitted herewith.
FLETCHER WESTRAY,
WILLLIAM KREBS,
E. E. CHASE,
NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 1873. Regatta Committee.
53 EXCHANGE PLACE, NEW YORK, October 16, 1873.
To the Regatta Committee of the New York Yacht Club.
DEAR SIRS : As Judge appointed on the Enchantress in her
match with the Dreadnaught for the Cape May challenge cup,
I beg to report that after having been started by Mr. Charles A.
Minton at thirteen minutes past twelve P. M. on the fourteenth
day of October, 1873, she sailed around the Lightship off -Cape
May, which she rounded at thirty-five minutes past one A. M.
of the 15th October, keeping it to starboard, and returned to
the Lightship off Sandy Hook, which she passed to starboard, at
thirty-five minutes past eleven P. M. of the 15th October, having
complied with the regulations governing the contests for said
cup. I remain, yours respectfully,
(Signed) J. FREDERIC TAMS.
126 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
UNION CLUB, New York, September 22, 1873.
Captain Stockwell, Yacht Dreadnaught, New York Yacht Club.
DEAR SIR : I hereby challenge your yacht Dreadnaught to
to sail my yacht Enchantress on Tuesday, the 14th of October
next, at twelve M., for the Cape May challenge cup, presented
by Commodore J. G. Bennett to the New York Yacht Club,
Course from Sandy Hook Lightship to Five Fathom Lightship -
(Cape May) and return.
Should you desire an extension of time please name any day
to suit your own convenience up to the 1st of November next,
although according to the tenure by which you hold said chal-
lenge cup, you are obliged to race any challenger during the
racing season, that is, from the third Thursday in June to the
third Thursday in October in each year, on a fifteen day's notice,
or forfeit the cup to the challenger.
I shall, therefore, hold you to such race, and if you do not ac-
cept this challenge I shall go over the course on Tuesday, the
14th of October next, starting from Sandy Hook Lightship at
twelve M., and claim said challenge cup, as I recognize no right
in a holder of a challenge cup to refuse a challenge on any plea
whatsoever.
As to the ocean race from Sandy Hook Lightship to Cowes
(Isle of Wight), of which you spoke yesterday, I can but repeat
that I am not willing to stake such a large sum as $25,000 on a
race, but that, should it be agreeable to you or any member of
any organized yacht club in the United States to challenge my
yacht Enchantress for a race across the Atlantic entrance
$5,000 or less, play or pay to be sailed from Sandy Hook
Lightship at twelve M., on any day which may suit your or their
convenience from the 8th till the 16th of November next, I will
be most happy to accept any such challenge or challenges.
I should require notice thereof, however, before the 1st day of
October next.
I send copy of this letter to Mr. Charles A. Minton, Secretary
of New York Yacht Club, to be placed by him on file, am
and remain yours truly. J. F. LOUBAT.
The Cape May Challenge Cup Race. '127
LETTER FROM MR. STOCKWELL.
2o the Editor of the World.
SIR : Observing a statement in your columns this morning,
purporting to come from me, 1 now enclose a copy of a letter
addressed by me to the Regatta Committee of the New York
Yacht Club ; and I beg further to say that, my boat being laid
up for the winter months, I have no intention of issuing or ac-
cepting any challenge whatever.
Yours, very- respectfully,
A. B. STOCKWELL.
To the Regatta Committee of the New York Yacht Club.
GENTLEMEN : In calling your attention to a letter I have al-
ready addressed to you on the subject of the challenge cup
claimed by the owner of the yacht Enchantress, I now hand
you herewith my check for $1,000, being the amount of my
private bet with that gentleman, and 1 rely on your courtesy to
decide the question, if any, of the private bet, as well as of the
challenge cup.
I desire here to reiterate that the only doubt in my mind is
whether a challenge cup, which seems to me held by a peculiar
tenure and subject to be won only by a bona-fide race between
the yachts, can be acquired by a walk- over without contest.
Should you decide that it can 1 shall most cheerfully acquiesce
in your decision, which will then establish a technical claim on
the part of the owner of the yacht Enchantress, but will not re-
move my feeling that common courtesy between yachtsmen
should have induced him to accord me time to refit my vessel,
and thus enhance his possession of the cup, which now can have
no real value in his hands, as it represents no victory.
Yours, very respectfully,
ALDEN B. STOOKWELL.
'achtsmaris Scrap Book.
The Evening Nail, New York, October 21, 1873.
MB. LOUBAT'S CHALLENGE.
The decision of the New York Yacht Club in regard to th<
challenge of the Dreadnaught by the Enchantress, which we
publish elsewhere, relieves Mr. Loubat, the owner of the latter,
from unjust imputations that were more or less extensively made
upon his conduct as a yachtsman. The World, which criticised
Mr. Loubat pretty severely, as we did, has gracefully retracted
its charges against that gentleman, as we do. There are very
few newspapers that can be conceded to be infallible or omnis-
cient, and we have no ambition to be counted among the fortun-
ately limited number of journals which never correct, or seek to
atone for, their own mistakes.
The fact that Mr. Loubat's challenge was sent upon the 22d
of September materially changes the situation, as it was stated
to us by gentlemen who ought to be well informed. He. is
naturally sensitive to the criticisms made from this mistaken
report of the facts as any honorable gentleman would be and
we are glad to rectify, so far as we can, the false impression
produced by what we said without a full knowledge of the case.
Mr. Loubat has acted honorably, and the better public opinion,
for which he should most care, will do him full justice.
Tlie New York Herald, New York, October 24, 1873.
NEW YOKE YACHT CLUB.
Important Meeting the Question Regarding the Cape May Challenge
Cup Amicably Settled New Signals adopted.
The New York Yacht Club held a regular meeting last even-
ing, at its rooms in Twenty-seventh street, Yice Commodore
William P. Douglas in the chair.
The following gentlemen were proposed and accepted as
members: John A. Barnham, Jr., George W. M. Sturgis and
A. Lumley.
The Cape May Challenge Cup Race. 129
The report on the classification of yachts was then laid over.
Mr. Talboys moved that the reports of the Committee on
summer races at Newport and elsewhere, be accepted without
reading and ordered on file, and that the thanks of the club be
tendered to the committee. Passed.
Some changes were then proposed in the by-laws providing
for the election of a permanent yearly Regatta Committee, instead
of the temporary Regatta Committee only empowered to act dur-
ing the June regatta. Mr. Minton explained what was to be
gained by the change, and the amendment to the by-laws was
passed.
THE CAPE MAY CHALLENGE CUP.
The following letter was read :
UNION CLUB, NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 1873.
WILLIAM P. DOUGLAS, Esq., Vice- Commodore and Acting Com-
modore of the New York Yacht Club :
SIR I cannot but express to you my regret that the New
York Yacht Club should hitherto have shown such indifference
to the unworthy attacks made upon me one of its captains.
I now most respectfully beg to say that if it should take no
steps to ascertain how my letter of the 12th inst. to Captain
Stockwell should have found its way into the columns of the New
York World of the 14th inst., and given rise to various unfounded
charges in that and other papers, which have since been so hand-
somely retracted by their editors, it will then be a grave ques-
tion with me what should be my future conduct in the matter.
The Regatta Committee, as you are aware, have but justly
awarded me the Cape May challenge cup, but pending the
club's action, I place it in your hands as I will not inscribe
on it the name of the Enchantress without the fullest endorse-
ment of the New York Yacht Club, to which I have the honor
to belong, I remain, etc.,
J. F. LOUBAT,
Captain of the Yacht Enchantress, N. Y. Y. C.
1 3 o
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
THE DECISION OF THE REGATTA COMMITTEE SUSTAINED.
A lengthy discussion then followed as to what course should
be taken regarding this letter. Almost all the members spoke
upon the question, and three resolutions were offered, two of
them being somewhat too personal to be carried. The discussion
was at one moment quite excited. At length the following reso-
lution was proposed by Mr. G. G. Haven :
Resolved, That the action of the Regatta Committee is fully
endorsed and approved by the club, but that in the absence of
any specific charge against any member of the club they do not
feel empowered to investigate the authorship of any newspaper
article, while they consider Mr. Loubat fully justified in accept-
ing and retaining the cup as honorably and fairly won.
The resolution was unanimously carried.
The action of the Regatta Committee was to award the cup
to Mr. Loubat as spoken of in his letter. It was also stated that
the private bet of $1,000 had been sent by Mr. Stockwell to the
Regatta Committee to hand to Mr. Loubat.
On vote the Club adopted Caston's night signals, Messrs.
Stuyvesant, Bend and Colgate being appointed a committee to
revise the code of signals.
A WINTER RENDEZVOUS IN GEORGIA.
A proposition was received from a Mr. Arkwright, of Sa-
vannah, Ga., giving the club a tract of land at a watering place
near that city for the purpose of making it a winter rendezvous.
The proposition was accepted and the thanks of the club ten-
dered to Mr. Arkwright.
AN UNACCEPTED RESIGNATION.
The following letter was read from the Vice Commodoi
C. A. Minton, Esq.:
DEAR SIR: I beg, through you, to tender my resignation of
the office of Yice-Commodore of the N. Y. Y. C. While natur-
ally reluctant to resign so honorable a position, I feel it my duty
to do so, inasmuch as I am persuaded that the flag officers
of the club shonld always be active members. For two years
The Cape May Challenge Cup Race. 1 3 1
back the Sappho has not been in these waters, and it is very un-
certain if I shall put her in commission next summer. While
placing my resignation in your hands I desire to thank the yacht
owners for the honor which they conferred on me in electing
me as their Yice Commodore, and to assure them that, although
relieved from office, my interest in the welfare of the club shall
never flag. W. P. DOUGLAS.
Oct. 23, 1873.
It was moved that Mr. Douglas be requested to reconsider his
action and to withdraw his letter. Mr. Douglas did so, after
some hesitation, and shortly after tendered to the club the
die for the new medal, which was struck some time since in com-
memoration of the victory of the America in winning the Queen's
Cup. The gift was accepted with thanks.
The meeting then adjourned.
The New York Times, New York, October 24, 1873.
THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB.
A regular meeting of the New York Yacht Club was
held last night at the club-house, Madison Avenue and Twenty-
seventh street, Vice-Commodore William P. Douglass in the
chair. After the ordinary routine business had been transacted
and a number of new members had been admitted, the following
letter from Mr. Loubat was read: (Seepage 129.)
The reading of the letter was followed by an excited
discussion, in which various theories respecting the publication
of Mr. Loubat's letter were rehearsed. While some of the
members were in favor of investigating the matter and appoint-
ing a committee for that purpose, the majority felt that Mr.
Loubat should rest satisfied with the retractions which, accord-
ing to his letter, had been made in the newspapers. One
member indignantly repudiated the suggestion that the members
of the club should act like a body of detectives and try to find
out who supplied certain information to the newspapers a
132
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
":
ell
course entirely beneath the dignity of gentlemen and true yachl
men.
Mr. Talboys said that he had conversed with Mr. Stockwel
on the subject, and that gentleman denied that he had ever sup-
plied any information to any newspaper, and declared that he
had been in no way concerned in the publication of the letter in
question.
Mr. Krebs presented the following :
Whereas, Mr. Stock well having disclaimed any agency in
procuring the publication in the World of the letter to which
Mr. Loubat refers, or in the publication of any of the newspaper
articles of which Mr. Loubat complains,
Resolved, The opinion of the meeting is that there is no rea
son why Mr. Loubat should hesitate to accept the cup, anc
inscribe upon it the name of his yacht.
Mr. Talboys said that he hoped the resolution would nol
pass. It was not right that a document which was to be placec
among the archives of the New Fork Yacht Club should con-
tain the name of Mr. Stockwell in connection with the charges
alluded to. Mr. Stockwell was not present to speak for himself,
and he thought it was an injustice to him to pass such a resolu
tion.
The resolution was lost.
Mr. Bend proposed the following :
Resolved, That the Secretary notify Mr. Loubat that the
club approves the action of the Regatta Committee in awarding
to the Enchantress the Cape May challenge cup, but that tho
club does not consider it within its province to notice the publi
cation of the letter of Mr. Stockwell.
A vote was called for, and the resolution declared lost.
After some further animated discussion the following resolution,
proposed by G. G. Haven, was unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That the action of the Regatta Committee is ful
endorsed and approved by the club, but in the absence of any
specific charge against any member of the club, they do not feel
ion,
.,,
The Cape May Challenge Cup Race. 133
empowered to investigate the authorship of any newspaper arti-
cle, while they consider Mr. Loubat fully justified in accepting
and retaining the cup as honorably and fairly won
This ended the discussion of the Loubat-Stockwell dispute,
and the meeting proceeded to transact other business.
A plot of ground in Savannah, offered to the club gratuit-
ously as a winter rendezvous by Mr. Arkwright, was accepted,
and a committee appointed to draw up resolutions expressing to
Mr. Arkwright the thanks of the club.
It was resolved that Coston's night signals be adopted as the
signals of the club, and that a committee, consisting of Messrs.
Stuy vesant, Bend and Colgate be appointed to revise the present
book of signals. A Mr. Wolfe, of Southampton, England, was,
at his own request, appointed flag-maker to the club.
A letter from Yice-Commodore Douglass, tendering his
resignation, on the ground that his yacht, the Sappho, had not
been in these waters for two years, and that he considered all
officers of the club should be active members, was read. At
the earnest request of the members, Mr. Douglas consented to
withdraw his resignation. A magnificent gold die and medal
of the club was presented by Vice-Commodore Douglas, and
thankfully accepted. The meeting then adjourned.
The World, New York, October 24, 1873.
NEW YOKK YACHT CLUB MATTERS.
A Letter from Mr. jLoubat The Difficulty Arranged A Resignation Made
and Withdrawn.
A regular meeting of the New York Yacht Club was held
last night at its rooms corner Madison Avenue and Twenty-
seventh Street. Yice-Commodore William P. Douglas presided,
and considerable routine business of a private nature was trans-
acted. Charles A. Minton, the Secretary of the Club, read the
following communication from J. F. Loubat, who had recently
134
Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
been awarded the challenge cup by the Regatta Committee
and whose action in the matter of the challenge to the Dread-
naught in her then disabled condition was the subject of com-
ment in yachting circles. (See page 129.)
The reading of this communication gave rise to considerable
discussion, which brought out the statement that as soon as the
Committee had decided the race in favor of the Enchantress
Captain Stockwell forwarded to the Committee the cup with the
private prize of $1,000 previously arranged. Mr. Talboys said
that Captain Stockwell had disclaimed to him all knowledge of
how the letter had reached the newspaper in question, and the
following compromise resolution was offered by G. G. Haven-
and it was unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That the action of the Regatta Committee is fully
indorsed and approved by the Club, but that in the absence of
any specific charge against any member of the Club they do not
feel empowered to investigate the authorship of any newspaper
article, while they consider Mr. Loubat fully justified in accept-
ing and retaining the cup as honorably and fairly won.
A motion was then made that the Club acknowledge the
communication of Mr. Arkwright, of Savannah, Ga., who offered
to give all the property in Savannah harbor that was required
for a winter rendezvous. A vote of thanks was accorded him,
and Messrs. Wright, Bend and Johnson were appointed a com-
mittee to consider the expediency of accepting the offer. Mr.
Bend moved that a committee be appointed to revise the code of
signals of the Club and report at the next meeting. It was
adopted, and Messrs. Bend, Stuyvesaut and Colgate were ap-
pointed such committee. ,
The Secratary then read the following letter of resignation
from Yice-Commodore Douglas, of the yacht Sappho: (/<
pages 130, 131.)
Rear Commodore Kingsland rose, and sincerely hoped tl
the resignation would be withdrawn. After passing a few fittii
words on the action of Commodore Douglas, he moved that th(
Club request Mr. Douglas to withdraw it. The motion
The Cape May Challenge Cup Race. 135
adopted with cheers, and Commodore Douglas then gracefully
withdrew his resignation, thanking the members for their flatter-
ing action. The Club then adjourned.
CHAPTER VI.
MR. LOUBAT'S GIFT TO THE PILOTS.
The New York Herald, New York, October 26, 1873.
YACHTING.
Generous Donations by Mr. J. F. Loubat, of the Enchantress, to the Pilot's
Benevolent Funds of this Port.
Mr. J. F. Loubat, of the yacht Enchantress, in view of Mr.
Stockwell sending him his check for $1,000, as a winner of a
private bet between the Enchantress and Dreadnanght, in the
Cape May challenge cup contest, has made a charitable disposi-
tion of the amount, and more, he has added his own check for a
like sum, the whole to be credited to two of the pilots' benevo-
lent associations of this port. The following report from official
source tells the story:
Mr. A. B. Stockwell, of the yacht Dreadnaught, a few days
ago sent to the Regatta Committee of the New York Yacht Club
his check for $1,000, with authority to hand the same to Mr. J.
F. Loubat, of the yacht Enchantress, in payment of the private
bet between the two gentlemen upon the result of the recent
challenge for the Cape May challenge cup. The committee
sent the check to Mr. Loubat and received from him the follow
ing communication; -
Mr. Loubafs Gift to the Pilots. 137
UNION CLCTB, NEW YOKK, Oct. 25, 1873.
FLETCHER WESTRAY, ESQ., Chairman N. Y. Y. C. Regatta Com-
mittee-.
SIR. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your official com-
munication of the 23d inst., with check of Mr. A. B. Stockwell
for $1,000, our bet upon the race you decided won by the En-
chantress. Enclosed please find that check endorsed by me to
the order of the Regatta Committee of the N. Y. Y. C., as well
as my own for the same amount. I beg the Regatta Committee
to hand one to the Treasurer of the Sandy Hook Pilots' Charity
Fund (care of J. W. Avery, No. 309 Water Street), and the other
to the Treasurer of the New York and New Jersey Pilots' Be-
nevolent Society, corner of South and Fulton Streets.
I remain, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. F. LOUBAT,
Captain Yacht Enchantress N. Y. Y. C.
The New York Herald, New York, October 29, 1873.
THE PILOTS' BENEVOLENT FUND.
Acknowledging the Eeceipt of Mr. J. F. Loubat's Generous Donations
Letters of Thanks.
The annexed letters, acknowledging the receipt of the gen-
erous donations recently made by Mr. J. F. Loubat, of the yacht
Enchantress, to the benevolent funds of the pilot organizations
of this city, tell their own story :
NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 1873.
CAPTAIN J. F. LOUBAT, Yacht Enchantress, N. Y. Y. C.
DEAR SIR We have this day received from the N. Y. Y. C.
Regatta Committee your check for the sum of $1,000, as a
donation to the New York and Sandy Hook Pilots' Charitable
Fund, and beg leave to submit the following extract from the
minutes of the Board of Trustees of said organization :
At a meeting of the trustees of the New York and Sandy
138 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
Hook Pilots' Charitable Fund, held this day, at their rooms,
No. 309 Water street, it was unanimously resolved that the
thanks of this association be tendered to Captain J. F. Loubat,
of the yacht Enchantress, N. Y. Y. C., for his generous donation
to our fund.
And we, as officers of said fund, beg leave to convey to you
our heartfelt acknowledgment for your liberal gift, coming, as
it does, when we greatly need it, and can assure you that it will
be a source of much gratification to the numerous pensioners on
our fund.
With our best wishes for your future welfare, we remain,
yours, very respectfully,
H. HARBINSON, President.
WALTER BREWER, Secretary.
NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 1873.
To the Editor of the Herald :
The members of the New York and New Jersey Pilots'
Benevolent Association gratefully acknowledge the receipt of
$1,000, generously donated by Captain Loubat, of the yacht
Enchantress, N. Y. Y. C., the first intimation of which we
received through the columns of the Herald.
HENRY DEVERE, Secretary.
NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 1873.
CAPTAIN J. F. LOUBAT, Yacht Enchantress, N. Y. Y. C.
DEAR SIR Continued absence from the city and a misunder
standing on the part of my associates, will, I trust, be accepted
by you as sufficient apology for not acknowledging earlier your
generous donation of one thousand dollars to the New York and
New Jersey Pilots' Benevolent Association.
I am instructed by the trustees to convey to you the sincere
thanks of the Association for your liberal gift at this opportune
time, having recently lost one of our members, and a large por-
tion of your present goes to his orphan child for it's maintenance
Mr. Loubafs Gift to the Pilots 139
Trusting that your sea voyage will be pleasant and that you
will safely return with renewed vigor, and that the Enchantress
will sustain her well-earned reputation.
I remain, yours very respectfully,
(Signed) HENRY DEVERE, Secretary.
CHAPTER VII."
THE ENCHANTKESS GOES TO COWES.
NEW YORK, October 29, 1873.
Captain J. F. Loubat, Yacht Enchantress, N. Y. Y. C.
DEAR SIR :
I am requested by the pilots of the port to say that they will,
with great pleasure, furnish your vessel on her voyage to sea
with a pilot, free of charge.
Please send rne word when she will be ready for sea.
Yery respectfully yours,
JOHN W. AVERT,
309 Water Street, N. Y.
The New York Times, New York, November 27, 1873.
STATEN ISLAND.
Mr. Loubat's yacht Enchantress has been at anchor off Staple-
ton for the last three weeks. She is undergoing a thorough
overhauling in rigging and spars, and will have a new suit of
sails, preparatory to making her European trip. She is expec-
ted to sail early in the present month.
The New York Herald, New York, November 9, 1873.
YACHTING.
THE ENCHANTRESS TO CROSS THE ATLANTIC.
The schooner yacht Enchantress, New York Yacht Club,
The Enchantress goes to Cowes. 141
will leave her anchorage off Stapleton, Staten Island, this morn-
ing, about eleven oclock, for a trip across the Atlantic. She
will proceed to Cowes, where Mr. Loubat will join her as soon
as his business in New York will give him an opportunity. A
tugboat with the owner and a few friends, will accompany the
yacht outside the Sandy Hook Lightship, when adieus will be
spoken and wishes for a safe and pleasant voyage heartily ex-
tended to all on board. She is in excellent trim for such a trip,
and no doubt will arrive out in good season. Captain Fairchild
is in command.
*
The Spirit of the Times, New York, December 27, 1873.
The schooner yacht Enchantress arrived at Cowes on Dec. 1
from New York. She left here on the 9th ult., and thus made
the passage in twenty-two days. The Enchantress experienced
variable weather, westerly winds however prevailing. The dingy
is reported to have been stove in the davits, a contin-
gency the reverse of unlikely to happen to a boat carried thus
at sea. The Enchantress will ship an English crew, and fit out
at once for the Mediterranean.
The Field, London, February 23, 1874.
AMEKICAN YACHTS.
Mr. Fish, the yacht designer, of ; New York, arrived at Cowes
in the steamship Hermann this week, having been requested by
Mr. Loubat, the owner of the American yacht Enchantress, now
lying in the Medina, to come to England, and carry out what-
ever improvements he thought necessary in order to bring her
out as a racer this season. Mr. Fish is well known for the suc-
cess with which he altered the Sappho, and made her one of the
fastest yachts ever sailed. We understand that immediate steps
will be taken to put the Enchantress in racing trim. Mr. Fish
brought over with him in the Hermann a new suit of cotton-
racing sails for her.
14* A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
Bell s Life in London, London, May 2, 1874.
Whether the American schooner Enchantress, now being
lengthened at Cowes, will join in the open matches, will only be
decided after a trial. She is being drawn out some 10ft. aft, and
is to have a lead keel and bustlings over garboards, after the
English fashion. Should these alterations be successfully
carried out, we anticipate another revolution in the yachting
world, as there is little doubt that she is capable of being made
faster than the Sappho, and consequently able to tackle any
English schooner. Her builder, Mr. R. Fish, is superintending
alterations and Mr. J. White is carrying out the work. The
yacht is in the Medina Docks, at Cowes, and is well worthy
a visit.
BeWs Life in London, London, May 30, 1874.
THE SCHOONER YACHT ENCHANTRESS.
The following letter appears in the Field :
SIR. Perhaps one of the most interesting experiments we
have ever witnessed in yacht construction is now being made in
Mr. John White's graving dock, by Mr. Fish, an American
yacht designer. Mr. Fish is, I understand, a self-made man,
and he appears to be wonderfully alive to picking up and utilis-
ing ideas, from whatever source they may come, providing they
are good for anything. For many years he informs me he has
been thinking out and experimentalising on the proper form of
a midship section for a clipper yacht. Of course it is well-known,
that on this section depends the whole of the ultimate form of
a vessel, and whether she will carry sail, and as Marrett says,
'* rolling, direct resistance, lateral resistance, and stability are
affected by the form of the midship section ; " but prior to this
question the form or shape which would offer least resistance,
and most stability in passing through the water had to be con-
sidered. This, after a series of experiments, Mr. Fish decided
to be that of a cone, pointed each end, similar to the cigar ships
The Enchantress goes to Cawes. 143
which the Messrs. Winan have made us southerners familiar
with. The first experiment with the cone was a decided suc-
cess, so much so that he at once adopted that principle, and fully
carried it out with a deep hollow bottom (in fact, reversing
the cone below water instead of putting on a deep keel) in
building the Enchantress, the principle making the vessel much
stronger and enabling her to carry her weights much lower than
would have been the case with a deep keel only. To carry it
down in the Y shape was to compel the carrying a large quantity
of ballast to overcome the resistance of her sails, and to keep
down the tendency which her bilge would have to float whenever
the vessel heeled over.
All this Mr. Fish took into consideration, and the result is
the Enchantress, which he built in New York, 1871, for Mr.
George Lorillard for a cruising and sea- going yacht, which she
has thoroughly proved herself to be, having crossed the Atlan-
tic five times at all seasons of the year and cruised in the
Mediterranean for two seasons, carrying all the while her im-
mense spars ; and now that she is in dock I do not notice the
least sign of weakness or wrinkling of her copper in any part,
which proves her to be well put together, also showing that her
form is peculiarly easy in a sea way in rough weather. To give
any person an idea of her construction without lines is a difficult
matter ; but, to commence with, she is unlike any yacht which
our builders have ever sent out, her midship section being a true
ogee. From there she begins to taper off to each end, so that
her entrance and her leaving the water appear to be perfection,
and, with very little ballast, her sail-carrying power will be
enormous, as directly she begins to heel over, her bilge, instead
of pushing up from below, and so heeling her still more, will be
pushed down by the weight of water in the hollow, and will con-
sequently render her more stable. The alterations now being
made in her at Mr. John White's establishment are, first, that of
lengthening by the stern thirteen feet, as Mr. Fish thought she
was far too abruptly finished there to carry out his idea in per-
fection, which, by the alteration now being made in her, appears
144
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
to be exactly what was required. Since she has been* in the dock
a number of scientific gentlemen have visited her, and the criti-
cisms appear to be generally very favorable. Her principal
dimensions we may quote as under :
Feet.
Length between perpendicu-
lars 128
Ditto over all 144
Ditto on load water-line 120
Beam extreme 24
Ditto on load line 24
Depth of hold 11
Displacement, English meas.
350 tons.
SPAKS.
Length of mainmast 91
Ditto deck to hounds. . 69
Feet.
Ditto masthead 11
Length maintopmast 52
Ditto of foremast 85
Ditto deck to hounds 64
Ditto masthead 10
Ditto f oretopmast 48
Ditto main gaff. 50
Ditto main boom 82
Ditto fore gaff 26
Ditto main topsail yard 44
Ditto topsail yard 35
At the present moment she is in a very forward state, con-
sidering the short time she has been in hand, and the amount
of work required to be done in lengthening a yacht of this
description, as she had to be opened so far back to avoid any-
thing like a too sudden alteration in her contour. Below, her
accommodations for the crew are materially improved ; the fit-
tings for the men, which were put up in America, have been
knocked away, and, without entrenching any more on the ac-
commodations aft, quite double the room has been made for the
crew, which is a great desideratum. Aft the fittings will not be
touched, except to be redecorated. We believe that Mr. Loubat,
who now owns her, intends sailing as many matches as he can
with her this season ; and there is no reason to doubt but that
she will prove herself to be very fast. The uniform success
which has always attended the efforts of Mr. Fish in building or
altering yachts give confidence that the Enchantress will be an-
other success.
We should very much like to see our American friends do
something now in the cutter line. Cutters are essentially Eng-
lish yachts ; schooners we have had very fast, very weatherly,
and possessed of all the qualities of good yachts, but the Ameri-
cans always beat us in schooners, without any of our schooners
The Enchantress goes to Cowes.
can go in and beat the Enchantress, which is a question unsolved
at the present time ; but cutters have never yet been built by any
nation to equal our forty, sixty, and one hundred tonners, and
here is another field open for our American brethren, who, we
prophesy, will not be long before they commission Mr. Fish to
try his skill in that way. The Enchantress will be commanded
by Captain Poland, who was with Sir Edward Sullivan some
years, and last year in the Shamrock. VEOTIS.
TJie Field, London, July 4, 1874.
The Enchantress, Mr. Loubat, is now between the piers at
the entrance to Mr. John White's graving dock, and will be
ready for sea next week. We have now four American schooners
at Cowes the Enchantress, the Sappho (now lying in the har-
bor, Mr. Douglas, her owner, not seeming to wish to fit out this
season), the Faustine (now in the roadstead), and the Viking
(having a refit at the present moment, all of which, excepting
the Sappho) may be expected to take part in any races they can
enter for.
CHAPTER VIII.
AN INTERNATIONAL YACHT KACE,
SOCIETE DES KEGATES DU HAVRE.
SATURDAY, 25TH JULY, AT 7 A. M., PRECISELY.
MATCH FOE YACHTS OF ALL NATIONS OF 10 TONS AND UPWARDS
FROM HAVRE ROADS TO SEA AND BACK.
Length of Course about fifty miles, time allowance Fifteen
seconds per ton.
1st Prize A work of art (Grand Prize of the City of Havre),
value F 2,500.
%nd Prize A work of art value F 1,000 and a Marine Glass.
3rd Prize (to the first French yacht) A work of art and a
telescope, value F 1,000.
N. B. The yawls and schooners shall be allowed to enter as
follows, viz: Yawls at f and schooners at their tonnage meas-
ured according to the rule of the Societe des Regates du Havre.
EXTRACT OF INSTRUCTIONS AND REGULATIONS.
First. The races will be run according to the sailing regu-
lations of the Societe des Regales du Havre, the decision of the
Committee shall in all cases be final.
An International Yacht Race. 147
The Sailing Committee reserve to themselves the right of al-
tering any of the arrangements or regulations that they may
deem needful ; copies of regulations and instructions may be ob-
tained at the time of entry, by application to the Hon. Secre-
tary of the society.
Second. Time shall be allowed for difference of tonnage, ac-
cording to the scale of the Society.
Third. Three boats to start or no race, the third prize will
not be given unless three French yachts sail the course.
Fourth. Yachts to anchor in a line as directed by the sailing
Committee.
Fifth. To weigh anchor and start by the following signals,
which must be strictly complied with viz: A gun wiM be fired
as a signal to prepare ; after an interval of one minute a second
gun will be fired as the signal to weigh anchor and start.
Sixth. Vessels may set their mainsails, but neither foresails,
headsails nor topsails until after the signal to start.
Seventh. No restriction as to canvas.
Eighth. Yachts may anchor during the races, but before
starting again, must weigh their anchors.
Ninth. The vessels must leave all mark boats including the
winning markboat on the starboard side.
These boats will have a ( red flag flying at the masthead
by day, and by night there will be three red lamps hung in a
triangle.
If dark, the yachts are to fire rockets, and must past
close to the markboat to report their names.
Tenth. Yachts sailing in matches shall carry their racing
colors at the main- masthead.
Eleventh. The Owner, Captain or Master of every yacht en-
tered or some duly authorized person, shall attend at the Hotel-
de-Yille on the day preceding the race (exclusive of Sunday) at
9 P. M. for the purpose of receiving instructions and a chart,
relative to the course to be sailed.
Twelfth. Entrance fee, not returnable, F 1 per ton. Min-
imum F 25. Maximum F 75.
148
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
NOTICE.
Application for entrance may be previously made by letter to
the Hon. Secretary, L. Mandrot, Esq., 31, quai d' Orleans, Havre.
Entries to close for Monday's race 20th July, on Saturday
18th July at noon.
Post entries at double fees not returnable up to 9 p. M. on
the day preceding the race.
Entries to close, for Saturday's race 25th July, on Thursday
23d July at 9 P. M.
Post entries at double fees, not returnable, up to 9 p. M. on
the preceding race.
The Regatta ball will take place at Frascatis on 18th of July
at 10 P. M.
The other annual regattas sailing and rowing matches, will be
held on the 19th and 20th July at 1 P. M.
The prizes will be distributed in the grand salon at Frascatis
on Monday 20th of July at 9 P. M.
By order of the Committee.
HAVRE March 15th 1874.
L. MANDROT, Ed. WINSLOW,
Hon. Secretary. President.
1874 VILLE Du HAVEE. 36eme Annee
SOCIETE DES BEGATES DU HAVEE.
SAMEDI 25 JUILLET 1874:, A SEPT HEURES DU MATIN.
COUKSE POUR BATEAUX DE PLAISANCE DE TOUTES NATIONS.
De la rade du Havre au large et retour. An Chronometre
avec compensation de temps de 15 secondes par tonneau.
Parcours : environ 50 miles marins.
ler Prix. Un Objet D'art, Grand Prix de la Ville du Havre,
Valeur F 2,500. 2me. Prix. Offert par la Societe des Kegates
du Havre. Valeur F 1.000
An International Yacht Race. 149
Et une Jumelle offerte par le Ministre de la Marine.
Prix an premier Bateau de Plaisance Francais, Offert par la
Societe des Regates du Havre, Yaleur F 1,000.
Et une Longue-vue offerte par le Ministre de la Marine.
Amoins de trois Concurrents Francais , ce Prix ne sera pas delivre.
INSCRIPTIONS :
1 Cetonia Lion blanc sur fond bleu goelette Anglaise,
Wm. Turner, 14 Tons.
2 Corinne . . . Eouge et damier bleu et blanc horizontal, au centre
goelette anglaise, N. Wood, 122 Tons.
3 Faustine Eouge avec raies blanches diagonales
goelette americaine, G. Peabody Eussell, 74 Tons.
4 Hirondelle Hirondelle verte sur fond jaune
cotre dandy anglais, W. C. Quilter, 60 Tons.
5 Comte-de-Chambord . . .Blanc avec carre bleu. . .cotre Francais,
Cardon, 22 Tons.
6 Scapin Bleu et blanc horizontal cotre Francais, Baque,
24i Tons.
7 Mesange Damier bleu et blanc cotre Francais, Le Eoy
d'Etiolles, 36| Tons.
8 Panthere . . . Damier jaune et bleu . . . cotre Francais, Crandalle,
10| Tons.
9 Florinda Damier Eouge et noir cotre dandy Anglais,
Wm. Jessop, 102| Tons.
10 Egeria. ..Orange et bleu. . .goelette anglaise', John Mulholland
11 Enchantress . Bleu, blanc, bleu horizontal . goelette Americaine,
J. F. Loubat, 200 Tons.
12 Gertrude Jaune clair et bleu en diagorale cotre dandy
Anglais, J. G. Watt, 48^ Tons.
13 Verveine Eouge avec une boule blanche cotre Francais,
Legru, 17 Tons.
14 Gertrude. .Eouge avec une boule blanche. cotre dandy Anglais,
Langtry, 60J Tons.
Le Secretaire du, Gomite d? Administration,
L. MANDROT,
Le President du Oomite d> Administration,
E. WlNSLOW,
Le President d>Tionneur,
E. BlGOT DE LA ROBILLARDIRE,
Maire du Havre, Chevalier de la Legion-d 'Honnevr '.
i 5o A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
Bell's Life, London, August 1, 1874.
SOCIETE DES EEGATES DU HAVKE.
It was unfortunate for Havre that after having been the
means of bringing together several of the most notable English
racing yachts, and the American schooners Enchantress and
Faustine, the weather should have been of a character such as to
make sailing results wholly unreliable as a guage of racing abili-
ties. In other respects, however, the last day of the Societe des
Regates du Havre was as pleasant as its predecessors, and went
far towards toning down many of the annoyances and imposi-
tions to which yachtsmen are subjected in French ports. We
hard more than one owner affirm it would be their last visit
until some of the existing regulations and penalties, as far as
respected yachts were repealed, and really some customary forms
are unnecessarily vexatious and frivolous. There was great ex-
citement consequent upon the meeting of the Enchantress and
Cetonia, when, on Thursday, these vessels were known to have
arrived in the Roads, and then the Gwendolin and the Florinda's
presence contributed additional interest, the Corinne being little
thought of as the "coming ship;" seeing that in every match she
previously competed in she had shown lamentably inferior in
speed to the Cetonia. We bore in mind, however, a display of
reaching ability in the first half of the race from Dover to Bou-
logne, and conjured up a day in store when she might get suit-
able weather. Few, however, were prepared to see Ratsey's lust
so much improved, but unshipping tanks and a little additional
lead has worked wonders. We were told that she would display
in a breeze greatly increased stability, and for this on dit with-
out reserve there would have been obviously accountable
reasons. The day was a somewhat remarkable one, the wind for
the first half being taken fresher by the Enchantres and the
Corinne the weather line, while in running back, the lee line
had more wind than the Enchantress; the latter, consequently,
never having had a chance of showing her true form, added
to which, her throat halliard iron on the main gaff gave out, and
An International Yacht Race. 1 5 1
delayed her quite 10 minutes, but she afterwards reached fast
enough in the same streak of wind as the Corinne to give an
insight of the possession of marvellous speed on that particular
point of sailing. Like other long vessels of the American model,
she made a sorry show with the wind dead on the mast, this
being simply to be accounted for through the vast amount of
friction on her large submerged body ; whilst with reference to
her weatheiiy qualities, it may be taken as demonstrated that on
this point she will never be able to compensate by speed in head-
reaching for a palpable deficiency in weatherliness. The Cetonia
and the Florinda did not show by any means to advantage.
Everyone knows Mr. Turner's schooner, by reason of being some-
what under-canvassed, to be no great flyer in light winds, but
zephyrs are the Florinda's forte, yet she sailed in anything but
brilliant form. The Faustine, a most objectionable vessel to the
eye in point of shape, figured wretchedly badly, and the Flying
Cloud, in her best day, would have made a humiliating exhibi-
tion of the angular-looking American. The two Gertrudes did
as well as the wind favored them, and the Hirondelle went ap-
parently as fast as allowed to. The conditions, &c., are
appended, viz. :
Match, open to yachts of all nations of 10 tons and upwards;
course from markboat off Havre Harbor piers to a markboat
moored in a W. N. W. direction, and returning to a markboat
moored about one mile N. N. W. of Cape Le Heve, distance
about 45 miles ; time race, 15 sec. per ton; tonnage computed ac-
cording to the society's rule, viz : The length taken from stem
to stern post, and breadth and depth at extremes, all in metres ;
the length is multiplied by the depth and the product by quarter
breadth, the whole being divided by four to find tonnage. Three
prizes, viz : First (Grand Prize of the City of Havre) a work of
art valued at F 2,500 second F 1,000. third (to the first French
yacht of any rig) F 1,000 in addition to the above the owner of
the first vessel was presented with a pair of marine glasses, and
the owner of the second vessel with a telescope. The entries,
American and English, were :
1 52 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
TONS,
YACHT. RIG. FRENCH. OWNER.
Cetonia schooner 148 Mr. W. Turner.
Corinne schooner 122 Mr. N. Wood.
Gwendolin schooner Major Ewing.
Egeria schooner Mr. J. Mulholland.
Enchantress schooner 200 Mr. J. F. Loubat.
Faustine schooner 74 Mr. J. P. Eussell.
Gertrude yawl 60J Mr. E. Langtry.
* Gertrude yawl 48$ Mr. J. F. Watt.
Hirondelle yawl 60 Mr. W. C. Quilter.
Florinda yawl 102| Mr. W. Jessop.
Yawls sailing at three-fourths, and schooners at three-fifths
their tonnage. The Gwendolin, although in harbor, did not
start, and the Egeria, not having arrived from Ireland, was
another absentee.
Seven o'clock A. M. would be thought the height of lunacy
by the metropolitan clubs for starting a match over a course of
about 40 miles, but the Havrais are an early rising people, and
kept exemplary punctuality in starting the match of July 25.
The yachts were out of dock at 5, and jilting about in readiness
at 6:45. There was to be, according to French custom, a drift
of 15 minutes after starting gun, wherewith to cross the line,
and then into the book of reckoning went time, Dr. or Cr.
according as the race was commenced by each, and to be added
or deducted as the case might be at the finish of the match.
With a light balloon topsail breeze from the N. N. W. we thus
logged them :
START.
H. M. S. H. M. S.
Gertrude (48$) 7 7 45 Corinne 7 11 15
Enchantress 7 9 46 Florinda 7 13 30
Hirondelle 7 10 Faustine 7 14 30
Cetonia 7 10 5 Gertrude (60$) 7 20
With a W. by K. \ ^f. course, on a N. N. W. breeze, the
wind was on the starboard beam, and the Enchantress must have
had her head up to about N. W. soon after start, for the purpose
of having weather guage of the rest should the breeze narrow.
An International Yacht Race. 153
On the other hand Gertrude (Watt) headed as far to leeward of
her course, or about W., while the Cetonia would have followed
the Enchantress in luffing out into a fresher breeze to windward,
had the Hirondelle not been just in her wind at the opportune
time. The latter, who looked as if her sails had been given a
douche bath, perhaps showed a little judgment in leaving the
heavy weights and wiping away in chase of her class the lesser
Gertrude who was now spinning along, with the mouth of the
Seine well open, and, keeping the shore aboard, leading vessel.
The Corinne picked the breezy track in the Enchantress's trail,
and was quickly upon the Cetonia's starboard beam, with the
Florinda in a position that about split the distance between the
two English schooners, the Faustine and the Gertrude (60J)
making a waiting race of it, Mr. Langtry's craft losing a minute
or two over and above the allowed quarter of an hour. Balloon-
topsails and staysails, jib topsails and big jibs were carried on all
but the Cetonia and the Florinda, who had working topsails, the
two American vessels spread of sail beggaring description com-
pared with the rest. At 7:30 the Enchantress and the Corinne
led weather line, with a palpable advantage in amount of breeze
over the Cetonia and the Florinda, while away on the lee beam
of the Cetonia, a mile distant, was the Gertrude, reaching fast,
with the Hirondelle far in her wake, but both with less of the
motive power in their sails than the vessels further north. Two
miles astern were the Faustine and the Gertrude (Langtry),
bringing up a clipping burst to what the rest had. This was
obvious from the style in which the Gertrude was heeling up,
but the wee Yankee, with her delta topsails, had a good deal of
the sentry-box upright carriage. The wind was free enough,
and there should not have been a difference in so short a space
of water, but the Enchantress certainly had more than either the
Cetonia or the Florinda, while the Corinne planted herself at
7:35 right on the Cetonia's weather beam. Settling at 7:40 to a
nice steady balloon topsail breeze, a weak spot in the iron work
of the Enchantress's gaff brought the sail with a run down at
the throat, and it was ten minutes and smart work too before
A Yachtsman's Scrap Book.
the mainsail was again set up and balloon topsail resheeted. In
this opening the Cetonia walked up on the Enchantress, and
drew level with her port quarter, although three-quarters of a
mile to the southward, the Corinne closing in to about half a
mile of the American's wake, and being third vessel, the Florinda
in the Cetonia's trail fourth, the Gertrude (Watt) fifth, Hiron-
delle sixth, Faustine seventh, and the other Gertrude whipping
up with the little Scapin, going in very good form indeed, lead-
ing French yachts.
At 8 o'clock a little roll from seaward made us look for more
wind, but it kept light and unsteady, until 9 o'clock, when the
Corinne had reached past with the breeze on her beam very wide
to windward of the Cetonia, now being second vessel to the En-
chantress, a mile distant, the Cetonia was about 200 yards east
of the Corinne, and the Florinda some three cables' lengths
astern of the Cetonia, the others in same position, but the Hiron-
delle was being nearly played out by both the Faustine and Ger-
trude (Langtry), and then a quarter of an hour later certainly last
vessel. Two miles from the markboat (that was discernible
through the haze only a short time previously) the wind short-
ened, and the Enchantress screwed up to be certain of fetching
her W. limit on starboard tack, and a little later on all came
close-hauled. Nearing the mark the wind again freed slightly, but
the weather-most boats, the Enchantress and Corinne, had a
good bit the best of it, the northing giving the additional advan-
tage of a free slant when round. The Enchantress made the
most of her position, and showing great speed, even in so light a
breeze, had an undeniably creditable lead, when she tacked to
round the W. mark steamer 20 miles from Havre ; the time
each staying being:
H. M. S. H. M. S.
Enchantress 10 2 30 Gertrude 60J 10 44
Corinne 1010 Faustine 1048
Cetonia 101545 Mesange 1050
Florinda 102040 Hirondelle 1052
Gertrude 48* 10 41
An International Yacht Race. i55
The wind was just abaft the port beam when they steadied
for their course to the Le Heve mark, the Enchantress ran with
two balloon topsails, balloon maintopmast-staysail and balloon-
forestaysail, beside all lower canvas, the Corinne being similarly
treated, but for some time appeared to have her f oretopsail sheet
adrift. The weather, which had been overcast with but oc-
casional bursts of sun improved about 11 o'clock, but when the
summer haze rolled away and the sun came out strong, the
breeze lost heart, and now on the English craft spinnakers were
set jib fashion, the American, with not so much wind as the
Corinne and Cetonia, coming back very fast, until at 11:30
the stranger had lost position to the Corinne, and the Cetonia
had also gone past her. Mr. Turner's vessel and the Corinne
drew within hail, and the Florinda on being treated to her
favorite jib, picked up her heels in vulgar haste and left the
American flax pile as though brought up. With a rally of wind
astern, the tail of the fleet rose their hulls on the leaders until
the big Gertrude could be seen feathering at the stem, and the
lesser American doing better with the ruck than on sailing west.
The breeze towards noon drew round on to the quarter, and
then spinnaker booms were dropped, and sails set square. The
Corinne's fore -spinnaker, as jib, drawing well, and picking up a
breeze at 12:30 that made the sheet tauten out, she with ad-
ditional help of main spinnaker went fast away from the Cetonia,
while the Florinda got into a vein that drew her up in under
the Cetonia's beam, and lasted of sufficient strength to ramp her
through the schooner's lee. An unaccountable burst at 1:30
put the Corinne double the distance, or about a mile and a half
ahead of the Cetonia in a short space of time. Of course it was
a little wind favor, but it obviously settled the destination of
the prize, as the Florinda, although going again in her best
form looked little like saving time on Mr. Wood's craft, and
both were going far faster than either the Cetonia or the En-
chantress. The latter towards the close ran up slightly on the
Cetonia, but we saw enough of her to judge that down the wind
there are a number of faster craft on this side ; but, perhaps,
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
other than the untried Gosport frigates there is no tried vessel,
the Sappho included, capable of reaching with Mr. Loubat's
Enchantress. She was very well taken care of in the race, but,
as we have said before, we attach but very little importance to
the result of this match. The finish made the Corinne an easy
winner, and the Florinda more particularly so of second prize,
the little French cutter, Scapin, having revenge on the Mesange
by winning her prize with a lot in hand. The times of arrival
were :
H. M. S.
*CORINE 2 1 45
tFLORINDA 2 12 30
CETONIA 2 14
ENCHANTRESS 2 19 30
GERTRUDE (Watt) . . .2 46
*Winner of 100, first prize, and marine glasses.
t Winner of 40, second prize, and telescope.
{Winner of 40, for first French yacht.
H. M. s.
GERTRUDE (Langtry),. 2 49
FAUSTINE 2 49 30
HIRONDEI/LE 2 50 20
2 50 30
The Field, London August, 1, 1874.
SOCIETE DES EEGATES DU HAVEE.
Saturday, July 25.
The good yachtsmen of Havre brought their regatta to a
close on this 25th day of July ; but the vessels that sailed for
their prizes are to compete in another match across Channel on
Monday. So far as we know, everyone is satisfied with the
arrangements the Regatta Society has made, and the liberality
displayed has been simply charming. However, the society has
determined to go still farther, and next year promises three
prizes of F 2000 each for " each rig," and a prix d'honneur of
F 3000 for first yacht by classification. Such startling liberality
will no doubt induce a large number of English yachts to flock
to Havre.
The race to-day was mainly remarkable for the debut of the
American yacht Enchantress, and if she were something like a
Cetonia among Flying Clouds, her entree would be regarded
An International Yacht Race. i5^
with some interest. Allowing for her great size, she will no
doubt be always a formidable competitor ; but it would be ab-
surd to suppose that there is anything wonderful about her. She
will always beat small vessels in breezes, just as the Sappho
would ; but we should expect to see her pretty well tied up with
such a weight of wind as a vessel like the Guinivere would have
to haul down a reef in. The Cetonia got an exemplary beating
from Corinne, but the beating was a little too much to be true.
However, the Corinne ran and reached right well, and she may
cause some anxiety on board Egeria and Pantomime ere the
season is out. In dismissing the doings of the Havre Regatta
Society this year, we can only re-echo a feeling we have heard
expressed on board most of the yachts present, that the arrange-
ments for the matches were in many instances superior to those
of English clubs, and that the liberality as to prizes was such as
not only to call forth satisfaction, but astonishment, considering
the flying visits the yachts make to the place.
The starting hour was appointed for 7 A. M., and it was early
on tide (5:30) when the fleet came out from the floating docks
into the roads.
The weather on the previous night liSd been overcast and
wore an unsettled look, but, after a thunderstorm, cleared away
and somewhat brightened up. With the first of the morning a
thick haze rolled in from the K. W., bringing a light, chilly air
from that quarter, and it looked all over like a day for flying
kites. Enchantress showed her hand by setting her two balloon
topsails, huge flying jib, and staysail; and her competitor Faus-
tine copied this sail plan to the letter. Corinne set s main bal-
loon-topsail, the rest of the fleet big working sails. The French
vessels, however, could not let such an eligible opportunity pass
without airing their balloon canvas, and (it little recked whether
on or off the wind) boom water sails were rigged with a view of
accelerating speed. Once we thought the north wind had heart
in it for a pipe up, but there was little more than enough
to keep their sails asleep when the line was crossed after second
gun fire (7 h. 5 m.). We timed them to commence the race thus
i58
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
H. M. S.
Gertrude (Watt) 7 7 45
Enchantress 7 9 4
Hirundelle 7 10
Cetonia. . . 7 10 05
H. M. s.
Corinne 7 11 15
Florinda. 7 13 30
Faustine 7 14 30
Gertrude (Langtry). 7 18
On heading her course Enchantress trimmed her sheet for a
breeze about two points abaft the beam, Gertrude being broad
on her lee (port) bow, and evidently intending to keep the shore
closer aboard. When Cetonia luffed for the mark boat she found
Hirondelle too close to clear her bowsprit of the yawl's mizen,
and had to bear away under her lee beam ; here the schooner
hung for a time, and WHS prevented thereby getting fair in the
wake of Enchantress, and in a breeze to windward, which
the Hirondelle's captain could not appreciate the advantage of.
On the other hand, Corinne luffed out into it and soon came up
on the beam of Cetonia ; while the weather-beaten dandy, Hiron-
delle went in to share a streak of calm to leeward with Mr.
Watt's Gertrude, at once losing any chance she might have had
in the race. Florinda came on almost in the wake of Cetonia,
slightly drawing up on Mr. Turner's schooner, while Faustine
was being fast left astern by all the vessels which had crossed
the imaginary line before her, and was coming back fast to Mr.
Langtry's Gertrude who, by the way, lost some three minutes
over and above the fifteen allowed at the start. Briefly, there
was more wind by far with the weather line where were the
Enchantress and Corinne than with those further to the south-
ward, viz., Cetonia, Florinda, and Gertrude ; and seeing this
Poland, of the Enchantress, wisely luffed out into it, eventually
getting a nice sailing breeze, and, with every available inch of
fore and aft sail set, was grandly drawing away from Cetonia,
who was, at 7.30, second vessel. Jibtopsails were set by all at,
7.35, although the wind, from two points free, was now fair on
the beam, and northing as they sailed west. At 7.36 the
Enchantress found wind enough to wring and break the iron
work of the main gaff that the lower main halyard block was
connected to, and of course the mainsail settled down at the
throat ; the topsail sheet, however, held on, and the vessel was
An International Yacht Race. i59
kept going her course, with but the slightest diminution of
speed. Ten minutes elapsed ere the luff of the mainsail was
again taunt, and then Cetonia had ranged herself up on the
American's port beam, Corinne being far in her wake some three
quarters of a mile distant. Florinda was a quarter of a mile
astern of Cetonia, with Gertrude (Mr. Watt) two miles distant
on the lee beam. Faustine and Gertrude (Mr. Langtry) were
sailing along in close company two miles astern of Florinda.
The weather was yet dull and overcast, with a slight motion of
sea, when the N. E. tide came away, and then, after a
little burst^ of sunshine, the air came very chilly. At nine
o'clock the wind had drawn forward the beam, and, through
keeping a course close to windward of the mark, Enchantress
and Corinne got a fine lift, as well as having about double the
power of wind Cetonia and Florinda had ; whilst Gertrude (Mr.
Langtry) and Faustine were bringing up a breeze that put them
up close to Gertrude (Mr. Watt) and passed Hirondelle by some
two miles. How much better the Enchantress went when she
took wind just forward the beam then she did running, was ob-
vious enough, and now that it freshened a little neither Cetonia
nor Corinne could by long chalks compass her speed; the
Corinne was in the same streak of wind, but neither Ce-
tonia nor Florinda had the same weight. Ere the markboat
was reached they came to a close haul, and with it a softening of
the wind ; maintopmast-staysails were run down on the schooners
and jib topsails also, for rounding ; and, as will be seen by the
appended times, the tailing from first to last was so considerable
that it would be futile work to attempt to show how partial and
spotty the breeze must have been on the twenty miles, reach
down to the western mark, viz.:
H. M. s. H. M. s.
Enchantress 10 2 30 Gertrude (Langtry). . . 10 44
Corinne 10 10 Faustine 10 48
Cetonia 10 15 Mesange (1st French
Florinda 10 20 40 yacht). .10 50
Gertrude (Watt) ... 10 41 HirondeUe 10 52
^achtsman s Scrap Book.
Enchantress ran up fore balloon topsail and balloon maintop
mast staysail, after having taken nearly a minute and a half in
staying round the mark. There was no tide to consider, and
thus, with a free wind, the direct course was steered for the
winning mark off Cape Le Heve, bearing E. by 1ST., distant
twenty-four miles. Up to 10:30 the leading vssssls ran with a
light and failing breeze just abaft the port beam, but which
kept gradually drawing more aft. At eleven o'clock the sun
came out intensely hot, and so dried up the wind as to become
nearly a case of doldrums. Enchantress might have got into a
calmer streak than either Corinne or Cetonia, the last named
pair taking a wide berth on her port (lee) side, and leaving her
in turn, fast as the American was going through the water.
N oon brought a little more air, with a light summer haze, and
at 12.30 there was a beautiful true balloon topsail breeze. Cor-
inne now, with a clear lead, of half a mile from Cetonia, set her
spinnaker on bowsprit, and then Florinda, who had now also run
past Enchantress, followed the fashion. At one o'clock Cetonia
had nearly drawn up on Corinne's beam, when the latter spurted
off in a little extra lift of wind, and at the same time Florinda
came blowing at the bow with a double measure from the bel-
lows. Enchantress had the wind lighter, there was no doubt,
but, even when in the same strart, could not run as fast as either
of the English schooners. Corinne, with a thorough racing fit-
out, was materially helped by having two spinnakers when the
wind came far enough aft to set the main one and carry the
other on the bowsprit ; but as to area of sail, of course the En-
chantress should on any point have had the heels of the smaller
vessels, even in light winds. Florinda carried a breeze from a
mile astern of Cetonia right through her lee and out ahead, and
wanted but a little distance to have taken time from the Cor-
inne. Gertrude (2), Faustine, Hirondelle, and Scapin (first
French yacht) brought a breeze up that closed them in with the
leading vessels, but not near enough to in any way affect the
result. Two miles from home Corinne took in main spinnaker,
and finished with one fore jib.
THE INTERNATIONAL CHANNEL MATCH. THE " CORf
/>w// tlie Graphic, London., August 8, 1874.
" Enchantress."
FE" AND "ENCHANTRESS" STRUCK BY A SQUALL.
OF THX
UNIVERSITY
CHAPTER IX.
INTEKNATIONAL CHANNEL MATCH.
YACHT CLUB DE FRANCE AND ROYAL ALBERT YACHT CLUB.
From Havre to Southsea July 27, 1874.
OPEN TO YACHTS OF ALL NATIONALITIES.
By the Yacht Club De France and the Koyal Albert Yacht
Club.
First Prize. (Given by the Yacht Club de France) the Glad-
iators, two silver statues, unpublished models, offered by M. J.
L. Gerome, Painter, member of the "Institut de France,"
value 320 besides the value of art, the value of metal only is
120.
Second Prize. (Given by the Yacht Club de France) a silver
cup (Grande Patere Minerve, du Tresor de Hildesheim), value
80.
Third Prize. A silver cup, value 25, given by the Royal
Albert Yacht Club.
Special Prizes. A purse of 12, offered by the Yacht Club-
de France, to the yacht arriving first, whatever the rig, but float-
ing the French flag.
A purse of 8, offered by the Yacht Club de France, to the
yacht arriving second, whatever the rig, but floating the French
flag.
1 62 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
To start from Havre roads, on the 27th of July, at four
o'clock, at high water.
The time of starting of each vessel will be taken by chronom-
eter, at the moment of passing through an imaginary line drawn
from the shore to the starting buoy floating special flag, by the
Committee of the Yacht Club de France.
In like manner, the time of each yacht will be taken on its
passing the winning mark off Southsea, by the Committee of the
Eoyal Albert Yacht Club.
If the first vessel in is a cutter and if she saves her time on
her rig, she will take the first prize.
The second prize can only be won, on the same conditions, by
a schooner or a yawl.
The third prize will be taken by the first yacht of a different
rig to the former ones and on the same conditions.
The allowance of time for tonnage (which is only to be
applied with regard to yachts of the same rig) as well as the ton-
nage measurement, will be according to the Rules of the Royal
Albert Yacht Club.
In all other respects with the exception of time allowance
and tonaage measurement, the Rules of the Yacht Club de France
will be adhered to.
In case of dispute, the Committee of the Royal Albert Yacht
Club and the Committee of the Conseil Maritime du Yacht Club
de France will decide.
There will be no entrance fee for any yachts carrying the flag
of the Yacht Club de France.
For all others it will be 4=.
But, on payment of this sum, the vessel so doing acquires
the right of carrying the flag of the Yacht Club de France and
of enjoying the privileges attached to it during the present year,
and during the following years by payment of 16s. per
year.
Each yacht on entering must state the distinguishing colors
of her racing flag and at the same time pay the entrance fee.
In the event of the vessels arriving in the night, the Mark-
International Channel Match. 163
boat, at Southsea, will show three vertical lights and throw up a
rocket on the arrival of each vessel.
Yachts are to pass near enough to the markboattogisre their
names and tonnage.
COMMITTEE OF THE MATCH.
President, M. G-. Benoit-Champy, Yice-President of the
Yacht Club de France.
Members, The members of the "Conseil Maritime" of the
Yacht Club de France; MM. de Rouge (Marquis), the Capt. J.
H. Anderson; the Members of the Committee of the Royal
Albert Yacht Club; MM. Champeaux, Larue, Mandrot and
Marcel, Members of the Committee of the Societe des Regates
du Havre.
YACHTS TO ENTEE UP TO THE 15ra JULY.
At Paris, at the Secretaryship of the Yacht Club de France
rue Louis le Grand.
At Southsea, at the Secretaryship of the Royal Albert Yacht
Club Club House.
At Havre at the Secretaryship of the Societe des Regates du
Havre, 31, quai d' Orleans.
VICE- ADMIRAL BARON CL. DE LA EONCIERE-LE NOURY,
President of the Yacht- Club de France.
COUNT E. BATTHYANY, E. N. E.
Rear- Commodore of the Royal- Albert- Yacht- Club.
The, Commercial Advertiser, New York, July 29, 1874.
THE INTEKNATIONAL YACHT RAGE. *
It quickens all hearts on this side of the Atlantic to read that
in the International Yacht Race on Monday, in the English chan-
nel, the American yacht Enchantress came in first, leading the
fleet by eleven minutes and forty seconds. Unfortunately she
lost the fruits of her prowess through time allowance, but it is
1 64
r acktsmaris Scrap Book.
gratifying to know that the stars and stripes were the first to
greet the eyes of our English neighbors at Southsea. The race
had been arranged by the Yacht Club of France, and the point
of departure was Havre. Ten yachts started, but the cable
only tells us that the American came in first, followed by the
Corinne, the latter taking the prize by time allowance. The
Enchantress is schooner built, is owned by M. J. F. Loubat, and
belongs to the New York Yacht Club. The brilliant feat of the
American champion will give a new impetus to international
contests in deep water.
The New York Times, New York, July 31, 1874.
Mr. Loubat's fine yacht the Enchantress, appears to be sustain-
ing abroad the reputation for speed and stanchness which she
won in our waters. In the recent international race from Havre
to Southsea, under the management of the French Yacht Club,
the Enchantress, although becalmed all night, came in ahead of
the fleet by nearly twelve minutes. The cup, indeed, she failed
to secure, that being awarded to her nearest competitor on time
allowance ; but her performance shows that American yachts
have little to fear from any foreign rivals. Some months ago
Mr. Loubat suffered a great deal of ill-considered and wild
criticism from certain newspapers because he insisted, as he had
a clear right to do, upon claiming a challenge cup for which his
only contestant had refused to sail. It gives us the more pleas-
ure, therefore, to record his present success.
Bell's Life in London, London, August 1, 1874.
CHANNEL RACE FROM HAVRE TO SOUTHSEA.
After Saturday's match the whole fleet of competitors, ex-
cepting the Enchantress, came into harbor, and thus ensured a
quiet day preparatory to the Channel Race on Monday. On Sat-
International Channel Match. i65
u relay night the wind freshened, and on Sunday morning blew
strong on the rise of the flood, a nasty roll coming into the bay,
and the long counter of the Enchantress popping very unplea-
santly. She consequently joined the harbor division, and came
out with the rest about 9 o'clock on (Monday) the morning of
the race.
The start had with the first issue of the program been set
for 4: P.M. high water so it was stated, but low water would
have been nearer the mark, seeing that the morning tide of Mon-
day was at 8.50. In consequence of this, and the glaring un-
suitability of the appointed time, an effort was made to induce
the committee to alter the starting hour, the idea being readily
enough taken up by the executive of the French Yacht Club, and
debated on. Many matters, however, having been prearranged,
it was elicited that it would be impolitic to interfere with exist-
ing arrangements, other than that of postponing the start until,
the day following at 8 o'clock. To this proposition many pre-
sent were willing to accede ; but in the end it was determined to
stand by the original program, and out of this expressed ul-
timatum some little unpleasantness arose, which, however, has
doubtless by this time been smoothed over, and will have no
more lasting impression upon French yachtsmen than upon
those from this side the channel. Sunday's breeze had blown
itself out, and St. Adresse Bay was as smooth as a dyke by noon
on Monday, at which hour the whole of the competitors except
Mr. Langtry's Gertrude nine in number, showed up, arid the
time dragged wearily enough without the slightest prospect of a
breeze. With a delay of an hour came a little chill, but this,
the lightest of topsail breezes, was nearly spun out by sundown.
In the first watch came a clock calm, and the air from a close
haul at starting, when a little draught did come breezed up
dead aft, then with a temporary burst came a fight between an
easterly and westerly breeze, the catspaws prevailing in the end
from the latter quarter ; in one of these vagrant airs Corinne got
a start, such as is often seen in the Channel, which sent her away
roaring from the Gwendolin, and giving her quite an eight mile
1 66 A Yachtsman s Scrap Boot
lead, sufficient, in fact, to put a heavy mortgage in her favor on
the most valuable prize of the year, and this before nearly half
of the course had been sailed. Subsequently, however, she well
held her place, and is, no doubt, a greatly improved vessel since
the early part of the season. A palpable error in judgment at
the finish might, however, have nullified her first advantage, and
lost the Corinne the race, the outrageous carrying on at such a
juncture being out of all countenance. The Enchantress when a
breeze came, illustrated the utter futility of anything in the
race attempting to reach with her, and we should think that in a
fresh breeze, with the wind on the beam, she could open out a
two mile lead in every hour from the best one pitted against her
on Monday last. Run, however, she will not, and in sailing to
wjndward, the task of rendering a satisfactory result might
be safely left with the Cetonia.
Of the rest we feel convinced that had the Gwendolin started
on the previous form her winning chance was far before the
Corinne's, and in the result of this race one cannot but trace the
same provoking run of ill-luck Major Swing's schooner has en-
countered so persistently of late. The Cetonia we knew to be
out of trim and required docking. This there seems to be no
doubt was the cause of her not appearing in her previous fine
form. The Florinda was within an ace of getting served by the
Hirondelle, as the Corinne did the Gwendolin, Mr. Quilter's
yawl sailing a very good race with Mr. Jessop's notability, and
only being out of it when simply overpowered by weight of
breeze. The Florinda, reckoning the second prize in this race,
has thus accomplished nine consecutive wins, a very remarkable
yachting coincidence. Of the Faustine nothing need be said,
but the Mesange deserves a passing compliment. The first part
of the race, as we have said, was paltry in the extreme, but the
end, as will be seen in our detailed report, made some little
amends for the unsatisfactory outset. The following were con-
ditions and entries, the Gertrude alone not starting :
The race was under the auspices of the Yacht Club ae
France and the Boyal Albert Yacht Club of England, open to
International Channel Match. \ 67
yachts of all nations. Course, from Havre to Southsea ; The
entries were :
YACHTS. BIG. TONS. OWNERS.
Cetonia Schooner 202 Mr. W. Turner.
Comtede Chambord (F)Cutter. 26 Mr. M. E. Garden.
Oorinne Schooner 165 Mr. N. Wood.
Enchantress (American). Schooner 320 Mr. J. F. Loubat.
Faustine " Schooner 120 Mr. J. P. Kussell.
Florinda Yawl 136 Mr. W. Jessop.
Gertrude Yawl 80 Mr. E. Langtry.
Gwendolin Schooner 192 Major Ewing.
Mesange (French) . . Cutter . . 40 Mr. M. Le Boy d'Etiolles.
Scapin " Cutter. . . 31 Mr. M. Leon Baque.
From a flat calm at 4 o'clock there came a few stray veins,
and at an hour after the appointed starting hour a neutral tint
on the sea away in the northern board gave notice of a breeze
that, in a few minutes, ruffled the whole of the bay, and set
several at shifting. Very quickly the Corinne's balloon topsails
disappeared for working ones, and then the Enchantress and the
G-wendolin came to two jib-headers, the Cetonia's two working
sails appearing after all about the correct thing ; but one and
all seemed to be of a mind that wind was meant from the clouds
and dark sea-line. A further provoking delay made some rather
impatient to be sent off, but it was 5.12.10 before the gun was
fired, and then this was the order and time of their being logged
crossing the line :
H. M. S. H. M. S.
Hirondelle 5 17 Chainbord 5 20 50
Florinda 5 18 Gwendolin 5 21
Cetonia 5 19 Enchantress 5 22 50
Mesange 520 Faustine 527
Scapin 5 20 30 Corinne 2 30 10
The Hirondelle^ Florinda, Cetonia, Mesani>e, Enchantress,
and Corinne, shot round the markboat in stays, and headed off
about N. W., with a light breeze from N. by E. The Corinne
lost some three minutes at start, and the Gwendolin and the
Faustine, who were far under Cape La Heve, made a poor be-
ginning indeed. For the first half hour the breeze continued
1 68 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
northerly, and jib -topsails were run up to bend a hand on the
close haul. At 6 o'clock the breeze had so freed that a course
N. by W. for the Nab was being made good. At this time the
Cetonia had drawn out from under lee of the Florinda, and be-
come leading vessel, the Corinne and the Gwendolin coming up
fast away fine on the weather quarter of the Florinda, the Hiron-
delle being close upon the latter's weather quarter, while far
away astern of all was the Faustine. All the time of the close
haul the Enchantress had been dropping to leeward of the Ce-
tonia ; and, although in the first instance she had tacked at the
markboat, well clear of the Cetonia's wind, she was now fairly
under her lee-quarter, and, forereaching not a whit faster and
not looking within a point of the Cowes schooner course. The
Corrine brought up a luffing breeze, which put her up with the
Hirondelle; and, at 6:30, with a failing wind free enough
for maintopmast staysails,and spinnakers on bowsprit jib-headed
topsails came down and ballooners went up on the Enchantress,
Corinne, and Gwendolin, and then balloon staysails were bent to
the stays and hoisted.
At 7 o'clock the Cetonia was the leading vessel, with the
Florinda second, and the Enchantress third. The Gwendolin
and Corinne, however, away to the eastward, were bringing
more wind up with them, and at 7:45 Major Ewing's vessel
went fairly past the Florinda to windward, and by 8 was up on
the Cetbnia's starboard beam, carrying a breeze. The Corinne
also went past the Florinda and Cetonia, the Enchantress hang-
ing under the lee quarter of the Cetonia, and not altering her
position a jot. The water was as smooth as a lake at 8:15, and
at 8:30 the wind had nearly died out in the eastward. A light
breeze was yet playing, but the Cetonia and the Enchantress, to
the westward, were in the doldrums, and had both the Gwen-
dolin and the Corinne now ahead of them. The Corinne drew
up close to the Gwendolin, and after a luff the Cowes schooner
took the lead, both carrying a little breeze, but the Corinne
having apparently the best. Heavy thunderclouds were hanging
in the X. W. when the sun went down, but other than a passing
International Channel Match. 1 69
blow out of one of these steely-looking banks, the sky had not
the least appearance of wind. By 9 o'clock the evening had
deepened so quickly as to render the Corinne and the Gwendolin
almost indistinct from the Enchantress and the Florinda, but
from the Cetonia the Corinne could be made out drawing away
from the Gwendolin, and astern the Faustine and the Hirondelle
had a little breeze, by which they closed the land in fast from
the Enchantress, Florinda, and Cetonia,, who had the wind on the
masthead. At 9 Cape Antifer Light bore S. E. by E., and La
Heve Lights S. By 9:30 a little air came up right aft, and spin-
nakers were set, the Cetonia and the Florinda running along
almost beam and beam, with the Enchantress a quarter of a
mile astern of Mr. Turner's schooner. Gwendolin also set her
spinnaker, and stealing up on the Corinne unperceived, went
past her to windward ere the latter thought of squaring off her
boom and setting sail for a run. By 10 o'clock there had been
several gybes ; but after this the wind came from the S. W., and
the Corinne once more drew up on the Gwendolin's beam, the
Cetonia and the Florinda's position being now equally good with
those of the Corinne and Gwendolin, and in fact both they and
the Enchantress were nearer than any of the rest to the Nab ; a
freeing of the wind to the southward would, of course, how-
ever, give the lee vessels the best chance through drawing to
and getting everything to draw, while the weather line would
be more off the wind.
At 11.30 the Corinne, about 200 yards from the Gwendolin
took a westerly draught, which freshened as she went on, and
with a lee tide she made herself a breeze which lasted her out until
she was fairly out of sight of everything else, the rest meanwhile
lying with scarcely steerage way. Save a light eye where the
sun went down, the night was cloudy, and it was 4= o'clock when
the Corinne was made out with a good six miles lead of the
Cetonia, the Gwendolin being third in position, then the
Enchantress, Florinda, Hirondelle and Faustine. At 4.30 a
clinking breeze came up from the westward, and the Enchantress
soon drew out from the Cetonia, the Gwendolin fairly reaching
\ichtsmaris Scrap Book.
away from the last named, but the Florinda being left fast b}
schooners. As before stated, the two lee vessels, the Corinne
and G-wendolin, had an advantage in being in a position to gel;
their sails drawing better than the Cetonia; but the Enchantress,
although similarly situated, drew fast on the pair, and quickly
reached past the Gwendolin, going at a tremendous pace after
the Corinne, and illustrating that the vaunted 16 knots was no1;
moonshine. It was only a question of distance for the Enchan-
tress to have won; she passed the Corinne about the Nab, the
latter now, with the same strength of wind that had come up a^
4.30, being smothered with sail, and with a little sea on the tide
the gear was getting hardly used. The Corinne had two
ballooners and spinnaker for jib when, at 7 o'clock, the wind
shortened, and made the big headsail lift; one shake and al
full again, and down came both topmasts, the main topsail yarc
and main-gaff also going, and leaving Mr. Wood's smart little
craft a pitiable object. She was kept going her course while
the wreck was cleared away, the flying Enchantress of course
picking up precious minutes; but from the Nab it was too shor
to hope to save her time from the Corinne, even in her cripplee
state. Gwendolin stuck to her ballooners to the finish, but wa*.
wary in running down headsail and main topmast staysail. Major
E wing's vessel came in in such style that we thought it a pity
the Corinne's fluke had left the Gwendolin out of it, especially
as we hear she will not sail again this year. The Enchantress
finished first, her performance at reaching during the time then;
had come a fair sailing breeze being a splendid one; but th<$
Corinne was well within time, and took the big 320 prize, the;
Florinda second (40), and the Mesange the prize for French
yachts. The official times of arrival were:
H. M. s. H. M. s.
Enchantress 7 21 40 Hirondelle 8 48 35
Corinne 73320 Faustina 9 120
Gwendolin 7 53 15 Mesange 9 23 10
Cetonia 7 54 56 Scapin 9 36 30
Florinda. . . .8 12 45 Chambord. . ..9 49 50
International Channel Match. 1 7 1
The Field, London, August 1, 1874.
THE YACHT CLUB OF FRANCE.
Monday, July 27.
We have been over and over again asked why the members
of the Yacht Club de France gave 400 in prizes to bring about
a match between English and American yachts. Knowing the
fondness our Gallic friends have for the sea and all its influences,
we replied a little too simple was that reply perhaps it was
their love of watching a good contest upon water. A satisfac-
tory confirmation was given to this answer at Havre on Sunday,
by the announcement that many members of the club had arrived
from Paris, and had chartered a steamer to accompany the match
across Channel. This was evidence that a keen interest was
taken in the coming contest, and the Englishmen present were
charmed ; indeed, so warm was the enthusiasm evoked at Fras-
cati's, that they would have embraced their admirers had it
been a custom the phlegmatic Britishers were tutored in. As it
was, Mr. Midshipman Easy took Alphonse by the hand, and
assured him that all the yacht owners present felt proud of the
admiration they had excited in the minds of Frenchmen, and
that they would only be too glad to teach them the art of yacht-
ing, as they had taught them everything else before. The
mutual adulation being over, and its debilitating effects removed
by all round doses of B. and S., the expert Britisher began to
think it was time to question some of the arrangements of the
contest. There is no doubt our countrymen and we might say
countrywomen do like to see a yacht match sailed ; and it is
very certain, if the match be sailed in the dark, they cannot so see
it. Accordingly, as the Yacht Club de France had arranged that
the start should be an afternoon one four o'clock the English-
men present ventured to ask that they might be allowed to start
at 9 A. M., especially as they would have to be outside in the bay
at that hour. But the Frenchmen who delight in. yacht sailing
are made of stubborn stuff, and would not yield an inch, even
172 A Yachts mans Scrap Book.
though they themselves were barred viewing the contest.
ments should not be changed, they argued, out of mere caprice; ; j
and moreover they had agreed to banquet themselves at one
o'clock, three hours before the start, and then rise to view the
fight with emotions that the gods might envy.
The morrow came, and a wet, dirty-looking morrow it was,
very little wind, a leaden sky, and a drizzling rain. At eight
o'clock all the yachts that were to meet in the contest were
towed outside and anchored in the bay, to wait a dreary eight
hours for four o'clock. Two o'clock came, and we began to lock
anxiously for the steamer freighted with the members of the
Yacht Club ; but they came not yet, and the Dollond which v r e
turned upon the glittering corridors of Frascati told us the
carousal was still unfinished. But banquets, like other good
things, must come to an end, and presently at three o'clock
the steamer, flying the tri-color of the Yacht Club de France
and the blue ensign of the Royal Albert Yacht Club, came out
of the harbor. At 3.30 she was alongside the nearest yacht,
and gave final instructions that the match would be started at 4
p. M. across an imaginary line. The steamer then made off ,o
the other yachts, and, as they were very much scattered aboi t,
it took her just one hour and a half to go to thei;i all and thon
get into position W. ~N. W. of Cape La Heve to form the line :>f
the start. And so five o'clock came before the gun wis
fired, and, with only three hours of daylight before us, we begnn
to think that the good things partaken of at Frascati's would
lose our French friends a sight of the match. We were think-
ing how best we could condole with them on this disappointmer t,
when lo ! directly the start had taken place away steamed the
Club vessel straight for the Culvers, leaving the yachts to .them-
selves and Davy Jones. "There/' says Dipsey Sounding in oir
ear, "Talk of Mossoo taking an interest in a yacht match ! thoy
know as much about it as a Kaffer does of the Sanscrit for peak
purchase ; I tell ye it's all done for political reasons." "Well, it
was rather a nose-ender to see that steamer steam away, but in
ten minutes we had sunk our wonderment, the steamer, Dipsay
International Channel Match. 173
Sounding's political reasons, and all the rest of it ; and thought
nly of the contest and that very wicked-looking young lady La
Belle Americaine.
There had been a nice sou'-westerly breeze during the early
norning; but after noon the breeze died away, and up to three
>'clock there was scarcely a ripple upon the water. Then there
ame a smart breeze from the northward, straight across from
he Nab, and the vessels that had sent up balloon topsails hauled
hem down. These were Gwendolin and Enchantress, and they
ow sent up jib-headers, and Corinne sent up big workers. But
>efore the gun was given for the start the breeze died out to
ight airs, and everybody wished that the dark clouds and the
hill from them had not frightened ballooners off the vessels.
?he match did no. t, for the first part, prove a very exciting affair,
,nd told us very little concerning the merits of the vessels.
However, we could see that the Enchantress is a slouch close-
lauled off a light wind, and that the Gwendolin is better than
Oetonia under similar conditions ; but then we knew that before.
?he Corinne moved very fast in the light wind, and from the
first half-hour looked the most dangerous vessel in the race. It
as a pity she got so far away from the others during the night,
hilst they were becalmed, as we could not fairly judge of her
>erformance in the fine reaching breeze which blew after three
'clock on Tuesday morning ; but there is no doubt she kept up
he reputation she made on the Thames for fast reaching. The
Jetonia, we take it, was not doing quite her best, whilst Gwen-
lolin never sailed better, and had she been lucky enough to have
hared in the breeze that took Corinne away from her at mid-
light, she would have won. The Florinda no doubt would have
given the schooner some trouble had the northerly wind held ;
ut of course, when it came to reaching, she had no chance
gainst such big schooners. The Hirondelle sailed very well, and
t was no disgrace for her to be beaten 36 minutes by such a vessel
s Florinda over an eighty miles course. The Faustine is a
:unny kind of racing craft, but she might find a worthy antag-
nist in the Harlequin, and we should be inclined to back the
174
A Yachtsman's Scrap Book.
but it iii
as some
ailed re-
latter. We know this is rather hard on the Faustine, but it
only right she should be pitted against a vessel she has some
chance of beating. The three French yachts were sailed re
markably well, and everybody was pleased to see a French gen-
tleman win one of the three prizes.
Match, from Havre to Southsea, for three prizes. The first
vessel in to determine the rig of the winner of the first prize.
Time allowance, twice the .Royal Albert Yacht Club scale. The
start to be made underway, and the time each vessel crossed the
line to be taken and accounted for at the finish ; no time beyond
fifteen minutes to be allowed for at the start :
ENGLISH YACHTS.
YACHT. RIG. TONS.
Cetonia Schooner 202
Gwendoliu .... Schooner 192
Corinne ....... Schooner 165
Florinda Yawl 136
Hirondelle ... Yawl 68. .
AMERICAN YACHTS.
Enchantress . . Schooner 320
Faustine.. ,. Schooner.. . 120..
OWNER.
Mr. W. Turner.
Major Ewing.
Mr. N. Wood.
Mr. W. Jessop.
Mr. W. C. Quilter.
Mr. J. F. Loubat
Mr. P. Kussell.
FRENCH YACHTS.
Mesange Cutter 40 M.Le Dr.leRoy d'Etiolleu
Scapin Cutter 31 M. Leon Baque.
Comte de Chambord 26 M. E. Cardon.
At 5 o'clock the club steamer took up a position three mile:,
W. N. W. of the Lighthouse on Cape La Heve, forming the line?
for the start. All the yachts were to the southward of the line,
the Gwendolin, Faustine, Scapin, and Count de Chambord inside
the bank, close under the Cape, and the others on the leeward
end of the line. Course : from the line of Cape La Heve to ? ,
markboat off the Horse Shoal, near Southsea ; about eighty
miles N. by W.
At 5.15 the gun was fired for the start, and Hirondelle wan
the first across at 5.20, standing on starboard tack 1ST. W. by N,
JN.; wind light from N. X. E. Florinda was the next over
International Channel Match, 175
under Hirondelle's lee quarter at 5.22.30, and in the wake of her
came Cetonia at 5.24.0. The Mesange struck into the latter's
trail, and crossed the line at 5.25 ; and the Enchantress went
across close after her at 5.26. Then came the Gwendolin in-
shore and high on their weather at 5.27, followed by the two
other Frenchmen and the Faustine. The Corinne was still
to the southward, and, standing in on port tack, crossed the line
about midway at 5.33, so far as we could judge, having thus lost
three minutes at the start.
The wind, as we have said, was light, and flying about a
great deal, directly after the start altering to N., much to the
disadvantage of those who had started inshore. Jib topsails
went up all round, and there was enough heart in the wind to
send Florinda through Hirondelle's lee half an hour after the
start. Gwendolin and Corinne, too, were doing well in the light
breeze, and were gradually creeping up on Enchantress and
Cetonia wide on their port beam. At six o'clock the Enchant-
ress hauled down her fore jib-header, and sent up a wooden-
headed one, Gwendolin at the same time shifting hers for a
ballooner, both sticking to main jib-headers. The wind now
commenced to eastern in earnest, but remained dreadfully light ;
their heads by 6.15 were up to N. \ W., and this brought Gwen-
dolin and Corinne from the weather quarter to weather beam of
Cetonia and weather bow of Enchantress. These four schooners
seemed pretty evenly matched in the light wind, and if there
was any difference in their speed Corinne was the fastest, gradu-
ally eating up to Gwendolin. The wind seemed inclined to free
them still more, but Cetonia shifted her balloon fore stay-
sail for a working one, whilst Corinne and Gwendolin thought
it an occasion for exactly the reverse, and shifted workers for
ballooners. As the breeze easterned there came a little more
weight in it, but still it was only of balloon topsail strength, and
the passage over promised to be a protracted one. At 6.50 all
could head N. by E. two points above their course, and Enchant-
ress sent up maintopmast staysail, and Gwendolin shifted No. 2 for
big reaching jib. Corinne, too, now had a leading wind, went in
ij6 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
for a change, and, stowing her jib and jib topsail on the bowsprit,
hauled up spinnaker, instead for head sail; but we fancied
Gwendolin reached away from her after she made the change.
With sheets started, the schooners were marching up to the two
yawls, and both dandies hauled up a bit to show the former a
leeward passage. At T.10, with a beam wind all easterly,
Gwendolin hauling up maintopmast staysail, burst through
Hirondelle's lee, and went on in the wake of Florinda, who was
still a quarter of a mile ahead. Corinne, sending up a balloon
maintopsail, followed Gwendolin through Hirondelle's lee, and
both had reached past the Enchantress. The latter now sent up
main balloon topsail, and Gwendolin main working topsail, the
sky at present having anything but a pleasant look about it. At
' 7 .30 Gwendolin went past on Florinda's weather, and became
the leading vessel, having fairly sailed past everything in the
fleet.
But there was a rival for honors close astern of the Gwendo-
lin in the person of Corinne, and that young lady, with a weight
of wind in her sails, was luffed out across the stern of Gwendo-
lin with the idea of passing on her weather. It is much the
quicker way, as everybody knows, to pass a vessel to windward,
and Corinne had already been long enough under Gwendolines
lee quarter to know she could find no passage to leeward. At
first it looked as if she could not get past to windward either,
but presently a fresher breeze took hold of her, and up she
marched to Gwendolin. The latter, out of politeness or flurry,
conceded her a weather passage, and so at eight o'clock
Corinne became a leading vessel. Then Gwendolin, sorry for
her good nature, hauled up across Corinne's stern, in order to
repass her if she could, and surely Corinne was bound to yield
the passage. But Corinne's sailing master has evidently not
learnt his manners in a high bred French school, and instead of
taking off his cap and bowing a weather passage to Gwendolin,
commenced luffing at her savagely. Gwendolin, stung by such
ingratitude, commenced luffing too, and presently the pair were
by the wind, heading N. E., the spinnaker of the Corinne's bow-
International Channel Match. 177
sprit falling into folds. Still Gwendolin could not get past,
although she got well nigh abeam, and the wind falling light,
she gave up the attempt, and as Gwendolin eased her helm
Corinne did the same, so botli bore up to their course N. by W.,
and were still the leading vessels at 8.30. The wind continued
to die away, and as the red glare left by the setting sun disap-
peared the evening became very dark ; but the full moon would
soon be due, and then the sailing would become prettier. As
the wind lightened it got round southerly, and at 9.15 Gwendo-
lin's crew, going to work very quietly, got out main spinnaker to
starboard, Corinne at the time being under her port beam,
Florinda and Hirondelle astern, and Cetonia and Enchantress
away under her lee quarter, felowly, but surely, Gwendolin
went past on Corinne's weather, and at 9.30 was again leading
vessel. Corinne now ran off main boom and set spinnaker, but
only just in time to prevent Gwendolin getting clear away.
The wind now got to the westward of south and brought the
vessels by the lee, and to keep on their course Gwendolin and
Corinne gybed to port tack at 9.45. The wind came westerly
very fast, and at ten o'clock it was abeam due west, whilst at
nine they had it abeam easterly. The westerly wind brought
a smart shower of rain, but by half-past ten the sky had cleared,
and the bright full moon showed up all the vessels. Gwendo-
lin, with Corinne on her port (weather) beam, was still leading,
and Cetonia and Enchantress were broad on their weather
quarter ; whilst Florinda and Ilirondelle were dragging along
in the wake of Corinne. At eleven o'clock all were in a
roaring calm, with noontide heat. Then a little air came from
S. S.W., which brought about a squaring of booms, and Gwendo-
lin set fore spinnaker, reserving her main for a probable gybe in
the course of a few minutes.
They lay with very little motion up to 11.30, when Corinne
was seen to take a light breeze abeam westerly, and stole ahead
of Gwendolin. The latter was not a cable's length from her,
but was left becalmed, her sails flipping in folds as she yielded
to the swell. In twenty minutes the Corinne was lost to the
178 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
rest of the fleet, having sailed clean away with the westerly
breeze, and we suppose a greater fluke was never scored. Gwen-
dolin now, for want of something better to do, set about shifting
her main balloon topsail, and when that job was completed
hauled up maintopmast staysail. But it was all to no purpose,
and one after the other she saw Cetonia and Enchantress steal
past broad on her weather, and Florinda ranged up abeam.
They were now about thirty miles from Cape La lleve, and
where Corinne was gone no one knew OQ board the other craft.
From midnight up to 2 A. M. Gwendolin lay well-nigh be-
calmed, with Florinda in the same plight, when at that hour a
light air came out from S.W. ; by 2.30 it had increased in
strength and backed to S. S.W., so spinnakers were got out
Gwendolin setting hers on foremast, and water-sail under mair
boom. Up to four o'clock the wind continued to increase and
hauled more westerly, and at last, coming out W .S. W., due
abeam, brought in spinnakers. It was now sunrise, and Corinne,
that had been lost so many hours, was made out leading five
miles ahead of Enchantress, on the latter's weather bow, and to
windward of her course ; two miles under the lee-quarter of the
Enchantress was the Cetonia, and h-.ilf a mile under the lee-
quarter of Cetonia were Gwendolin and Florinda abeam. Scat-
tered about three miles astern of Florinda were Ilirondelle.
Mesange, Faustine, Comte de Chambord, and Scapin, all having
closed up during the darkness by bringing up the westerly
breeze.
They now had a fine scupper breeze on the port beam, an<
the big Yankee was tearing along with a tremendous burst
speed, hauling Corinne back to her, and leaving Cetonia and
Gwendolin fast. The latter two were carrying a pretty whito
feather in their teeth, and both, we think, were gaining on Cor-
inne. But Gwendolin was showing the finer speed, and, drop,
ping Florinda, marched through Cetonia's lee in a way we did
not expect. It was now really fine sailing, and the cool morning
breeze refreshed one after the sultry calm of the middle watch.
Soon the white Culver Cliffs of the Isle of Wight loomed up in
International Channel Match. 179
the bright sunbhine, and Enchantress, going as fast perhaps as
Guinevere could in such a breeze, was rapidly getting hold of
Corinne. At 6 o'clock, at the eastern end of Sandown Bay, the
Yankee was within a half a mile of the Cowes boat ; but the
latter was making a bold tight of it, and her fine speed was
bound to carry her home the victress. But Corinne, after her
good fortune of the night, was now about to get her turn of ill
luck, and we must admit it was rather a severe one when it came.
At 6.45 Enchantress went past on her weather, and gave her
such a shake up that when she filled again down came her fore
and main topmasts, spinnaker on bowsprit breaking the fore one
and main ballooner and main topmast staysail the other. Worse
than this, the balloon topsail yard fell across the main gaff, and
smashed that ; so Corinne was indeed in trouble. However, with
all the wreck hanging about her it was impossible to clear it
whilst under way spinnaker was cut adrift altogether she kept
her course for the channel between the .Norman and Horse
Shoal, the Yankee clipper going clean away. Gwendulin im-
mediately stowed jib-topsail and hauled down main topmast stay,
sail, determined to risk no spar breaking now her chance of win-
ning was over. Cetonia, however, continued to drag hers along,
but it was doing her little good, as Gwendolin continued to gain
a trifle on her the whole way in to the winning Markboat. But
little else need be said concerning the match ; Enchantress con-
tinued to extend her lead when once past Corinne, and the lat-
ter, in her crippled state, was yet able to keep the prize for her-
self. The yachts passed the winning mark, and were timed by
the Secretary of the Royal Albert Yacht Club, as under :
H. M. 8. H. M. 8.
Enchantress 7 21 40 Hirondelle 8 48 35
Corinne 7 33 20 Faustine 9 1 26
Gwendolin 7 53 15 Mesange 9 23 10
Cetonia 7 53 56 Scapin 9 36 30
Florinda 8 12 45 Count de Chambord. .9 49 50
The Corinne won the silver images, the Florinda the silver
salver, and the Mesange the Royal Albert Cap. The Mesange
180 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
also won a prize, value 12, for the first French yacht in; and
and Scapin an 8 prize for second French yacht.
Hunt's Yachting Magazine, London, September, 1874.
THE YACHT CLUB DE FRANCE.
It .certainly appears a curious liberality on the part of our
friends across the Channel to offer two prizes, amounting to 400
for a race from France to England. If it was not that they bribe
the yachts of "perfidious Albion" largely, to visit their coasts,
and entertain them hospitably when they get them there, we
might be inclined to suspect that the liberal prizes were given in
order to get quit of them ; but as this is not the case, we must
conclude that they are only "speeding the parting guest."
Another curious part of the proceeding is that the starting time
should be fixed for so late an hour as 4 p. M., which makes sail-
ing all night a necessity. But, whilst we wonder at their ar-
rangements, we admire their generosity.
The yachts were carefully towed out of the harbor at 8 A. M.,
and had to drop their anchors and wait patiently until the start-
ing hour, which, as the sailing committee and their friends were
anxious to secure a substantial feast before venturing on the
treacherous ocean, was delayed until 5 h. 15 m. P. M. Like most
ocean matches this one had the usual amount of fluking, and was
a very excited affair, excepting just at the finish, when owing to
the wholesale smashing on board the Corinne, some degree of
excitement took place. The Gwendolin was very unlucky, and
the Corinne got hers and her own luck, whilst the Cetonia
seemed quite out of form, and did not sail in the style we know
she is capable of. The Hirondelle surprised us by the manner
in which she went, and had she not carried away her spinnaker
boom at a critical period of the race, might have even saved her
time on Florinda. Of the Americans the Faustine cut up very
badly, and she certainly can have very little claim to being con-
sidered a racing vessel ; and the Enchantress, although reaching
International Channel Match. 1 8 1
very fast, could do nothing beating to windward in a light
breeze. During the night the Corinne got away from every-
thing else whilst they were becalmed, sailing very fast indeed,
and with go >d luck just before the finish, won from the En-
chantress with something in hand, notwithstanding that she lost
both topmasts and main-gaff at 'one fell swoop.
The conditions and entries were: Match from Havre to
Southsea for three prizes. The first vessel in to determine
the rig of the winner of the first prize. Time allowance, twice
the Royal Albert Yacht Club scale. The start to be made
underway, and the time each vessel crossed the line to be taken
and accounted for at the finish; no time beyond fifteen minutes
to be allowed for at the start :
Numbered as in Hunt's Universal Yacht List, for 1874.
NO. NAME OF YACHTS. RIG. TONS. OWNERS.
264. .Cetonia (English) . ..Schooner. . 202 . ,W. Turner, Esq.
841 .. Gwendolin " Schooner. . 192 . .Major E wing
340. .Corinne " . . ..Schooner. . 165 . .N. Wood, Esq.
683..Floriada " ....Yawl .. 136 ..W. Jessop, Esq.
924..Hirondelle ' ....Yawl .. 68 . . W. 0. Quilter, Esq.
. .Eachaii tress (Amer'n).. Schooner. . 320 ..J. F. Loubat, Esq.
..Faustine " ..Schooner.. 120 . . J. P. Eussell, Esq.
. . Mesange (French) . . Cutter . . 40 . . M. Le Dr. le Boy d'Etiolles
..Scapin " ..Cutter .. 31 . . M. Leon Baque
. . Comte de Chambord . . Cutter . . 26 . . M. E. Cardon
The Hirondelle was the first across the line at 5 h. 18 m., with
Florinda next, whilst the Corinne was last, losing some two or
three minutes at the start. The wind was very light and shifty,
but coming in little gusts from the north and north-east, and
balloon sails were set to make the most of it whilst it lasted.
Soon the wind got a little stronger, and with more east in it the
yachts had it pretty free, and the Gwendolin picked them all
up, and at half-past seven was leading vessel. But the Corinne
luffing up, unopposed by the Gwendolin, went out on her
weather, and passed her ; then the Gwendolin tried to do the
Bame, but without the same success, as the Corinne luffed up
very hard, and both were standing away from their course. But
the Gwendolin at last got her spinnaker out again, and, bearing
182
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
away, got past the Corinne and once more was leading vessel.
After this the wind came so far round that a jibe was necessary,
and about eleven p. m. all lay becalmed.
The first to feel the wind again was the Corinne, which just
before midnight got a breeze all to herself, and actually ran
clean out of sight of every vessel in the race. Until two A.M.
the others were lying as still as if at moorings, when a nice breeze
sprung up from southwest, which, backing more southerly, came
stronger, and with a beam wind the yachts were bowling along at
fair speed. At daybreak the Corinne was leading by about five
miles, but with just the wind to suit her, the Enchantress was
picking her up like a race horse following a dray horse ; but the
former was so far ahead that she was certain to get in within
her time, let the American sail ever so fast. A little before
seven o'clock the Enchantress over-hauled her,* and passing on
her weather took the wind from her, and as the wind once more
filled the unfortunate Corinne's sails, down came both topmasts,
the topsail-yard falling with such force on the main-gaff as to
break it in two. Of course it was no use stopping to pick up
the pieces, so the wreck was cut adrift, and the Corinne held her
course, winning the first prize notwithstanding her accident.
The time of arrival off Southsea was :
Hirondelle . .
Fanstine. . . .
Mesange. . . .
Scapin
H. M. s.
....8 48 35
....9 1 26
....9 23 10
...9 36 30
H. M. s.
Enchantress 7 21 40
Corione 7 33 20
Gwendolin 7 53 15
Cetonia 7 53 56
Florinda 8 12 45 C.de Chambord 9 49 50
The Corinne took the first prize, value 320 ; the Florinda
the second, value 80; the Mesange the Albert cup, also 12
prize for first French yacht ; and the Scapin the 8 prize for
second French yacht. The Grwendolin stowed flying jib and
main staysail on seeing the Corinne's accident, and appeared to
sail all the faster for the change. The Enchantress went past
the winning flag-boat at a great speed, and with all her canvas
set was a sight not easily forgotten.
CHAPTER X.
THE PKIJSTCE OF WALES'S CHALLENGE CUP EACE.
ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON OFFICIAL PROGRAMS.
TIME ALLOWANCE FOR YACHTS SAILING FOR THE PRINCE OP
WALES CHALLENGE CUP.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 187*.
M. B. M. s.
Enchantress, 320, allows Shark. .23 48 Shark, 201, aUows Egeria. .9 48
" Egeria..33 36
1874.
BOYAL YACHT SQUADRON REGATTA, ON THURSDAY, AUG. 6.
CHALLENGE CUP, THE GIFT OF H. R. H., THE PRINCE OF WALES.
For all American and British schooners and yawls of 100
tons and upwards. Yawls to have half their tonnage added.
All yachts to be measured by a person appointed by the Sailing
Committee of R. Y. S., according to Thames measurement.
Time allowance, 12 seconds per ton. No restriction as to
hands, canvas, or boats ; in other respects the R. Y. S. Sailing
Regulations to be adhered to.
1 84
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
COURSE
From Cowes round the Light Yessel on the Shambles, an<
back round the Nab, leaving both Light Yessels on the ^ort hand
(passing to the Southward of the Isle of Wight), winning between
Cowes Castle and a Flagboat moored in the Roads, keeping
outside all the buoys and marks on the shoals extending from
the Island Shore (Peel and Princess included), except the Mid-
dle and Sturbridge.
TO START UNDER WEIGH:
Three to start or no race.
Shark, 201.
Egeria, - 152.
Enchantress, - 320.
To start at A. M.
Duke of Rutland.
J. Mulholland, Esq.
J. F. Loubat.
Mark Boat Off Castle Union Jack.
MARK BOAT OFF CASTLE, TWO LIGHTS HORIZONTAL BY NIGHT.
PREPARATIVE.
The owner of any vessel winning a prize,' will be required
before the prize is delivered, to sign a declaration that the Sail-
ing Regulations have been strictly conformed to.
RICHARD GRANT, Secretary.
BelVs Life in London, London, August 8, 1874.
Cowes, Friday, August IT, (by telegraph.)
The Challenge Cup, presented by H. R. H. the Prince of
Wales, for all American and English schooners and yawls of
100 tons and upwards; yawls to have half their tonnage added;
course from Cowes round the Shambles Lightship and back
round the Nab to Cowen ; time race ; Thames measurement ;
allowance 12 sec. per ton ; no restriction as to hands, canvas,.
or boats ; the cup to be won three times by the same vessel.
The Prince of Wales s Challenge Cup Race. i85
The holders were Egeria 1870, Aline 1871, Gwendolin 1872,
Egeria 1873. The entries this year were :
YACHT. BIG. ' TONS. OWNER.
Egeria (holder) Schooner. . 152 . . J. Mulholland, Esq.
Shark (challenger) S3hooner . .201 . .Duke of Rutland.
Enchantress (do American) . Schooner .. 320 . .J. F. Loubat.
The race was started at 6 A.M. on Friday morning. There
was a strong breeze from the westward, with a west going tide,
and each went across the line at gun fire under whole lower can-
vas, the Egeria and Shark with housed topmasts, the Enchant-
ress having maintopmast on end. It was a dead beat down to
the Needles, and from the first, the Enchantress justified the
remarks which have been passed on her, that her weatherly
qualities are far inferior to the English vessels. There was but
Ittle sea, of course, in the Solent, but she did not care, even
witli a breeze fresh enough for housed topmasts and second jibs,,
to turn about, and under the north shore was hanging from
five to ten minutes in the wind. The Egeria and the Shark both
under the circumstances weathered her, and it looked as though
she would have a rough Channel passage, as when full and be-
fore gathering way fairly wallowing down until waist deep, in
fact, buried up to the skylights. The Egeria and Shark were
meanwhile spinning to windward in a manner that made th&
American's lee berth a more extended one every minute.
The Field, London, August 8, 1874.
The match round the Shambles was started this morning at
six o'clock. The starters were Egeria, Shark and Enchantress.
It was a dirty-looking morning, a S.W. wind blowing, with rain.
The Enchantress started with housed topmasts, and, as the yachts
would most likely fetch right out to the Shambles, she will prob-
ably come in a long way ahead. The match will not be con-
cluded before evening ; but the Egeria weathered the Enchant-
ress on the second board. The latter then carried away her jib-
f86 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
boom, and hove to for the purpose of reefing her mainsail,
getting under way again she was catching Egeria ; off Newtown
she carried away her forestay, and returned to Cowes. Shark
also gave up, so Egeria sailed over the course alone.
The Daily News, London, August 10, 1874.
ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON REGATTA.
COWES, Saturday Evening.
In consequence of the series of mishaps to the Enchantress,
American schooner, from whom so much had been expected, the
race for the Prince of Wales's Challenge Cup was virtually de-
cided on Saturday morning, but still there was just the bare pos-
sibility that the Egeria might not be able to complete the course.
The Enchantress fell early into difficulties, for off Yarmouth she
lost her jibboom ; off Sconce Point her jib tack went; and off
the east buoy of the Shingles away went her forestay. With
these accumulated casualties there was nothing left for her but
to return to her anchorage at Cowes. After getting through the
Needles Passage, the Egeria met the Channel tide, and took in
-sail, and on the return from the Shambles Light made easy sail,
and arrived at Cowes at 11.50 P.M. Thus the Egeria became the
absolute winner of the Prince of Wales's Challenge Cup, having
won it three times, though not in consecutive years, as was orig-
inally the conditions of the race. These terms were looked up-
on as very hard ones, for if they had been adhered to the Cup
would doubtless have remained as a challenge for all time, and
this being represented to the Prince of Wales, the original con-
ditions were modified, and instead of it being required that the
same yacht should win it three years in succession, it was altered
to allow any yacht to take it who had won it on three seperate
occasions. This good fortune has fallen to the lot of the Egeria;
but during the whole time that the prize has been instituted there
was always a difficulty in getting yacht-owners to start for it, as
there was only a very problematical prospect of getting anything
The Prince of Wales s Challenge Cup Race. 187
for their pains, and in consequence of the course taken few per-
sons ever had an opportunity of witnessing it, inasmuch on every
former occasion the greater part of the race was done in the
darkness of the night. The following is the order of winners of
this prize : In 1870, by the Egeria; 1871, by the Aline; 1872,
by the Gwendolin; and in Ib73 and 1874-, by the Egeria.
The Shark after having gone far enough bore up for home, the
Duke of Rutland having merely entered for the purpose of
making up the conditional three starters. Ere Yarmouth was
reached the Enchantress was upwards of a mile to leeward of
the Egeria, and hereabout some of her innumerable stays of
head-gear gave out, and the jibboom was carried away. She
was pitching badly enough even here, but what sort of a figure
she would have cut at St. Albans must be left to conjecture.
The question was, however, quickly set at rest, through the
vessel bearing up, and running back for Cowes, where she arrived
about 9 o'clock, her standing jib-stay having apparently given
out. as the foremast looked to have come aft. The Egeria, con-
sequently hauled down reefs, and sailed over the course by her-
self, her owner thus becoming possessor of the Prince of Wales's
Cup.
Tlie Field, London, August 15, 1874.
ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON.
We stated last week that the American yacht Enchantress,
after a series of mishaps, was obliged to return to Cowes. At
the time Enchantress bore up off Hurst, having carried away
her forestay, Egeria was a good mile and a half out on her
weather, and holding a much better wind than the American
yacht. The Egeria had lost some time through the clew of
her jib bursting out, and having thereby to shift jibs.
The Egeria passed out through the Needles at 8 A. M.,
and, with the wind strong at W. S. W., had well nigh a dead
beat of something like thirty miles before her. There was a
big sea on, but Egeria, snugged down to double-reefed main-
1 88 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
sail (foresail stowed), reefed staysail, and small jib, jogging
along easily, was making excellent weather of it. She weath-
ered the Shambles Lightship at 3.55 p. M., having worked
down by long leg on port tack and short one on starboai'd off
shore. For the run up Channel to the Nab, foresail was set,,
but no other change made, and she made the Lightship at the
eastern end of the island at 10 p. M. Cowes was reached at
11.50, and Egeria at midnight let go her anchor in the Roads.
The Egeria won the Prince of Wales's Challenge Cup in 1870,
beating the Guinevere, &e. ; she again won it last year, beat-
ing the Morna. Having again won it this year, she has com-
plied with the conditions of the donor, and won it three times*
Mr. Mulholland thus becomes the winner of the cup.
The prize was originally offered as an inducement to get
the American yachts to compete against those of England, but
up to the time the Enchantress entered no American had com-
peted for it. Everyone seems rejoiced that the cup is finally
disposed of, and we assume that challenge cups are not popular*
Hunt's Yachting Magazine, London, September, 1874.
August 7th: The race for the Prince of Wales's Challenge
Cup was to have have been sailed round the Shambles to-day but
the request of the Egeria it was postponed for a day in order to-
allow her to prepare for the fight.
August 8th. The race round the Shambles for the Prince of
Wales's Challenge Cup was started at six o'clock in the morning,
the only entries being :
Numbered as in, HunVs Universal Yacht List for 1874.
No. Names of Yachts. Big. Tons. Owner. Builders
542 Enchantress Schooner 320 J. F. Loubat, Esq.
492 Egeria Schooner 152 J. Mulholland, Esq., M.P. Wanhill
2105 Shark Schooner 201 Duke of Butland. Wanhill
The Egeria got away first, and the Enchantress, slow in stays,
lost some time; but when she got really set going she began to
The Prince of Wales * Challenge Cup Race. 189
pick up the Egeria, when her jibboom carried away. After
getting the wreck in she began to overhaul the Egeria ; but
before getting to Hurst Castle her f orestaj parted, and, after
nearly losing her mast, she had to run back to Cowes. The
Shark gave up soon afterwards, and so the Egeria sailed over
the course, and claimed the cup, which, as she had won it twice
before, is now her property.
CHATPER XL
MR LOUBAT'S FIRST EUROPEAN CHALLENGE.
The Times, London, August 14, 1874.
Should it be agreeable to any member of an organized
European yacht club, owning a yacht of at least 300 tons R. T.
Y. C. measurement, to sail a match for a hundred guinea cup
with the Enchantress over the Prince of Wales' s Challenge cup
course, according to the rules, regulations, and time allowance
established for the said course, Mr. J. F. Loubat will be happy
to sail any such match in July next, the race to be sailed on the
day appointed without regard to wind or weather. This offer is
to remain open until the 15th day of September.
BeWsLife in London, London, August 15, 1874.
INTEBNATIONAL YACHT CHALLENGE.
To the Editor of BeWs Life in London.
SIR : Should it be agreeable to any member of an organized
European Yacht Club, owning a yacht of at least 300 tons, R. T.
Y. C. measurement, to sail a match, for a one hundred guinea
Mr. Loubats First European Challenge. 191
cup, with the Enchantress, over the Prince of Wales's Challenge
Cap course, according to the rules, regulations, and time allowance
established for said course, I shall be most happy to sail any
such match in July next. The race to take place on the day
appointed without regard to wind or weather. This offer re-
mains open until the 15th day of September,
Yours, &c. J. F. LOUBAT.
Cowes, August 12, 1874.
The Field, London August 15, 1874.
THE AMERICAN YACHT ENCHANTRESS,
Although it is contrary to our custom to insert challenges,
we give the inclosed, as it relates to a matter of international in-
terest:
SIB: Should it be agreeable to any member of an organized
European yacht club, owning a yacht of at least 300 tons, R. T.
Y.C. measurement, to sail a match for a one hundred guinea cup
with the Enchantrsss, over the Prince of Wales's Challenge Cup
Course, according to the rules, regulations, and time allowance-
established for said course, I shall be most happy to sail such a
match in July next.
The race to take place on the day appointed, without regard 1
to wind or weather.
This offer remains open until the 15th day of September.
Cowes, August 12, 1874. J. F. LOUBAT,
Yacht Enchantress, N.Y.Y.CL
The Evening Express, New York, August 15, 1874.
PLUCKY MR. LOUBAT.
There was some good sailing with the fleet-winged vessels
abroad, across the Channel, and the Enchantress made good time-
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
displayed excellent sea-going qualities, and her enterprising own-
er did not lose heart in the contests nor faith in his boat because
the sail makers were employed in repairing her canvas and the
spar-makers on her spars after the race. The true spirit of an
American yachtsman is dominant in Mr. Loubat's composition ;
he represents the New York Yacht Club, and the spirit which
sent the Henrietta, Vesta, and Fleetwing over to England in an
ocean race, and the Sappho and Dauntless, afterward, into for-
eign waters in racing trim, is well supported by Mr. Loubat's
challenge to all other clubs. The Enchantress is to sail against any
yacht club in Europe for a one hundred guinea cup, the race to
take place next July. There is time enough for the entries, and
the course chosen is the Prince of Wales's cup course, so that the
stranger who throws his gauntlet into the face of the foreign
yachtsmen gives them the privilege of sailing the race over their
own favorite track. We may justly admire Mr. Loubat's pluck,
and may trust that the competing vessels may be worthy of the
Enchantress that it may be a fair race and a good one, and that,
if defeated, Mr. Loubat may console himself with the fact that
iiis courage brought him a good contestant, and he suffers no dis-
grace by a defeat fairly accomplished.
THE "ENI
From tkt Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News t London, Saturday,
CHAPTER XII.
THE ENCHANTRESS IN ENGLAND.
THE FLY-AWAY.
Have you seen the fish with a great long tail ?
The fish that tried to make the " Enchantress " sail ;
She went across to France, on purpose for to win,
Where she got severely beaten by the little yacht " Corinne."
CHORUS :
Have you seen the fish with a great long tail,
A little wiggle waggle, a winkle or a whale ?
She tried again, this day, the challenge cup to catch,
But found, to his surprise, that the " Egeria" was his match,
So home he had to run, with his great long tail,
Followed by the " Shark " a winkle, or a whale.
Have you seen the fish, &c.
Now back to Yankee Land this fish will have to go,
Where he can calculate, and guess, and bounce, and blow
And tell his fellow-countrymen what folly he has seen,
In coming o'er to England, on purpose for to win.
Have you seen the fish, &e.
194 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
THE YANKEE BOAT.
O, if you listen, I will sing a little ditty
Of that Yankee boat that came across the sea.
Which caused a great to do throughout the country,
Excitement, and great anxiety.
Chorus. So attention pay,
To what I say,
And of this Yankee boat you soon shall hear,
For you see she came across the ocean,
From that noted place that is called America.
Now they sent her to old England for improvement,
Which of course she has been and boldly done her part;
For she's shown them all a wrinkle in the channel,
Like a little fish away from them did dart. Chorus.
Now that noted little yacht that's called Cetonia,
Which was thought to be the order of the day;
But this Yankee boat she caused them for to wonder,
When from her she boldly marched away. Chorus.
Now this long tail fish that came across the ocean,
It takes a swifter fish than the shark for him to catch;
And, if he hadn't lost his little nosegay.
Egeria would not seen the way he went. Chorus.
Now the owner has just sent out a challenge,
But there's something I can scarcely understand,
For those noblemen that thought she was a duffer
But still they haven't the nerve to try their hand
[Chorus.
Now the rumor was this Yankee boat had foundered,
And gone to the bottom of the sea;
But I am h&ppy to inform you she is still reigning,
And they will find her a torment still to be. Chorus.
Now, with all the advice that I have given.
Of this Yankee boat I hope you understand;
And I guess she'll give our racers all a licking
Before she goes home to Yankee land. Chorus.
The Enchantress in England. 195
The meld, London, October 10, 1874.
A SEASON YACHT RACING.
*******
But the achievements of the English yachts were completely
eclipsed by the performances of the American yacht Enchan-
tress, and she certainly did earn a distinction no English yacht
could make claim to, although not in the way expected. She
appears to have been a moderately good vessel, as originally
built ; but some improvements, wrought upon her by her de-
signer, turned her into a regular laughing-stock. That she is
very fast with the wind well on the quarter, there is no deny-
ing, and in the Havre- Southsea match passed the Corinne
{35ft. shorter on the load line) in pretty much the same way that
the Guinevere or Livonia could. But it was not on this point
of sailing that her performances were eccentric, nor in going
before the wind, but in beating to windward. She took
nearly as long to stay as a coal brig, and then was not certain of
doing it, and when her sheets were hauled aft, in a breeze at sea
she tumbled about so that it was next to impossible to sail her.
Lead ballast to the tune of seventy tons we believe has made
her capable of standing up much better in a breeze, and it is
just as likely she would come out and repeat the Sappho-
Carnbria performance if any small vessel were matched against
her over an open course. The American papers repudiated the
notion that she is an "American yacht ;" but one inhabitant of
the United States, more generous than his compatriots, came
forward and claimed her defects and all. Englishmen ought
certainly to be grateful for this; for it is quite bad enough to
have to bear with all our own failures, without having to stand
sponsors to those we have had nothing to do with.
The Evening Post, New York, November 24, 1874.
AMERICAN YACHTS IN FOREIGN WATERS.
THE EXPLOITS OF THE ENCHANTRESS.
Yankee clippers and American sewing machines have become
196
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
pretty well-known all the world over. The dearest wish of the
manufacturers of the latter article, that no family should be with-
out a sewing machine, is gradually accomplishing itself. In the
mean time we have given our English cousins "some new wrinkles"
in the matter of yacht-building. Witness the Sappho and other
American boats built for purposes of speed. There is now-a-day&
scarcely a yacht race of any importance in European waters but
Brother Jonathan is sure to put his keel into it. Even "Mossoo"
as represented by the Yacht Club "of France, cannot get up a
quiet little International Channel Race with the sons of perfidious-
Albion but the inevitable Yankee must needs assist. At the
match from Havre to Southampton, a distance of about eighty-
three miles, held under the auspices of the Ya<-ht Club of France
on the 27th of July last, for prizes amounting to 400, there
were five entries of English yachts, of which we give only the
schooners, and two entries of American yachts :
ENGLISH YACHTS.
Cetonia,
Gwendolin
Corinne
BIG.
Schooner.
TONS.
..202..
..192.
..165.
AMERICAN YACHTS.
TONS.
OWNERS.
. . Mr. W. Turner.
..Major Ewing.
. Mr. N. Wood.
OWNERS.
Enchantress 320 J. F. Loubat.
Faustine 120 Mr. P. Russell.
< : It will be seen that the contest was substantially between
English and American yachts, for the Frenchmen had entered
three small cutters of twenty- six, thirty-five and forty tons re-
spectively. "Mossoo" in fact organized a little yachting enter-
tainment for the benefit of his foreign friends. Individually
"Mossoo" much prefers Les Grandes Eaux de Versailles. At 5
o'clock P. M., the club steamer took up a position three miles "W.
N.W. of the lighthouse, on Cape La Heve, forming the line
for the start. The Enchantress went across the line at 5:26, and
the Gwendolin at 5:27, followed by the Faustine, the Corinne
being the last at 5:33. At 11 o'clock the yachts all found them-
The Enchantress in England. 197
selves becalmed thirty miles from Cape La Heve. The Gwendolin
with the Corinne on her port (weather) beam, was leading, and
the Cetonia and the Enchantress were broad on their weather
quarter. They lay thus becalmed till 11:30, when the Corinne
was seen to take a light breeze abeam westerly, and stole away
from the Gwendolin. The latter was not a cable's length from
her, but got no wind, her sails flapping in folds as she lay almost
motionless on the water. In twenty minutes the Corinne was
lost to the rest of the fleet, as she sailed off with the westerly
breeze. A greater "fluke" was never scored. At sunrise the
Oorinne was leading five miles ahead of the Enchantress, on the
latter's weather bow and to windward of her course. They now
had a fine breeze, and the Enchantress went flying along, rapidly
overhauling the Corinne and leaving all the others behind. At
6:45 the Enchantress went past the Corinne on her weather, and
gave her such a shake up that when her sails filled again down
<iame her fore and main topmasts. She kept on her course for
the channel between the Noman and Horse Shoal, the Tarikee
-clipper going clear away. The yachts passed the "winning
mark" as follows:
H. M. s. H. M. s.
Enchantress 7 21 40 Gwendolin 7 53 15
Corinne 7 33 20 Faustina 9 1 23
The Corinne, of one hundred and sixty-five tons, was entitled
to time from the larger yacht, and won the first prize, namely,
two silver statues of gladiators, from models by J. L. Gerome
{Institut de France) estimated at 320 in value.
The performance of the Enchantress was on this occasion
very remarkable, and shows what she can do in a stiff breeze.
From sunrise till twenty-one minutes past 7, a not very long
period, on the morning of the 27th of July, she gained more
than five miles on the Corinne, and came in ahead thus more
than making up all the time she had lost in the calm. The own-
er of the Enchantress was so well pleased with her performances
that we find the following challenge in the columns of the lead-
198 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
ing English sporting paper, the Field, in its number of August
15, last:
" THE AMERICAN YACHT ENCHANTRESS.
" Although it is contrary to our custom to insert challenges,.
we give the enclosed, as it relates to a matter of international
interest :
" SIR : Should it be agreeable to any member of an organ-
ized yacht club, owning a yacht of at least 300 tons R. T. Y. C.
measurement, to sail a match for a one-hundred guinea cup with
the Enchantress over the Prince of Wales's Challenge Cup course,,
according to the rules and regulations and time allowance estab-
lished for said course, I shall be most happy to sail such a match
in July next. The race to take place on the day appointed,,
without regard to wind or weather.
" This offer remains open until the 15th day of September.
"CowES, August 12, 1874.
" J. F. LOUBAT,
u Yacht Enchantress, N. Y. Y. C."
This challenge was not taken up.
Mr. Loubat bought the yacht Enchantress from Mr. George
Lorillard,who had her built in this country after a model of Robert
Fish. At the close of the yachting season of 1873, in Ameri-
can waters, Mr. Loubat went abroad, his yacht having preceded
him ; and during the last winter he engaged the services of Mr.
Fish to superintend and direct the alterations he proposed mak-
ing on her. She was lengthened and otherwise improved at an
expense of more than twenty thousand dollars. These altera-
tions were made in England.
When the Enchantress appeared in English waters as a debu-
tante this last season, she was the subject of a good deal of com-
ment in yachting circles, and was criticised in a not unkindly
spirit by the leading English sporting papers, including the
Field, which was impartial till some considerable time after the
challenge of the Enchantress. But, in an article in the Field of
October 11, 1874, entitled "A Season's Yacht Racing", the
The Enchantress in England. 1 99
writer goes considerably out of his way to criticise the Enchan-
tress in a spirit which, if not directly dictated by an unfriendly
feeling, is certainly in the very worst of taste, more especially
(to use his own words, and his own reason for printing the chal-
lenge), as it relates to a matter of international interest." While
the challenge of the Enchantress remained unanswered it would,
perhaps, have been more graceful certainly more delicate had
those criticisms been left unwritten. The article winds up in
the following words :
" The American papers repudiated the notion that she is ' an
American yacht .' But one inhabitant of the United States,
more generous than his compatriots, came forward and claimed
her, defects and all. Englishmen ought certainly to be grateful
for this, for it is quite bad enough to have to bear with all our
own failures, without having to stand sponsors to those we have
had nothing to do with."
We very much doubt if these playful sneers in any manner
represent the true sentiments of English yachtsmen, and we are
quite certain that the Field is not commissioned to speak for
"American papers."
The Field, London, October 17, 1874.
The Enchantress, Mr. J. F. Loubat, arrived here on Monday
from the eastward. Although there can be no doubt that she did
not this season turn out such a success as was expected, yet Mr.
Fish, her constructor, is still sanguine of beating the crack yachts
of England, and openly states that before returning to America
Mr. Loubat's yacht will beat the whole of our English yachts.
The Hampshire Advertiser, Southampton, October 17, 1874.
Mr. Loubat's schooner Enchantress is being stripped, and will
go on the mud in a few days to lay up for the winter. Mr. Fish,
her designer, is very sanguine that, without any alterations, he
will be able next season to beat all the English yachts, and with-
2OO A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
out prejudice to the talents of our English builders, we should
not be surprised if his prognostication was to turn out correct.
We perfectly recollect the Cambria and Sappho matches, and
how we who were believers in the Cambria were surprised to see
the Sappho beat her in the way she did, not but that the Sappho
was as big again as the Cambria, but then we all thought that
in beating to windward she would be beaten so much by the
Cambria that in the run home the Sappho would be unable to
catch her. Eecollecting this and also the fact that Mr. Fish,
who made the Sappho what she is, has the Enchantress in hand
and that on her his reputation in a great measure rests, we shall
be very chary of giving an opinion against her.
The Field, London, October 31, 1874.
THE ENCHANTRESS.
SIB: In The Field of the 17th inst. it is stated under head of
" Yachting Intelligence " that Mr. Fish still maintains that the
Enchantress will beat all English yachts.
Those who remember the career of the little Flying Cloud,
how she carried all before her, beating all the small schooners
will scarcely doubt that Mr. Fish is right, and that the Enchantress
will do the same among the large schooners, for she is almost
an exact model (enlarged) of the Flying Cloud. I do not sup-
pose that Mr. Fish has ever seen the Flying Cloud dry, or it
might be said that the Enchantress is a copy of that celebrated
little clipper.
In strong breezes (for these long, sharp vessels can do nothing
in light winds) I do not doubt that the Enchantress will astonish
the Englishmen.
Liverpool, Oct. 22. MERSEY.
CHAPTER XIII.
'THE ENCHANTRESS IN KUSSIA AND IN SWEDEN.
The Times, London, July, 1875.
KING OSCAR AT ST. PETERSBURG.
(FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT. )
ST. PBTEESBUEO, July 18.
The visit of the King of Sweden is almost ended, as His
Majesty is to leave Peterhof for Stockholm late to- morrow night.
I may remind your readers that, what at first sight, considering
the intricacy of the Cronstadt Channel, might seem an impru-
dence, is not so in reality, as there is no real night at this season
in these latitudes. The smallest print can be read with ease in
the open air at midnight. The close of His Majesty's visit was
celebrated by a review of some 35,000 troops on Friday, and yes-
terday there was a grand naval inspection, when almost every
available thing that could float belonging to the Russian Govern-
ment was brought into requisition. It was a gloriously fine day,
with just enough breeze to prevent the hot sun being disagree-
able. The fleet was anchored in three parallel lines in Cronstadt
!Roads, and consisted of the following vessels: Ironclads:
Peter the Great, 4 guns, 12in. (when she gets them); Sebastopol,
18 guns, 8in., broadside, frigate; Petropaulovsk, 18 guns, 8in.,
202 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
broadside frigate; Krernl, 16 guns, 8in., floating battery; Per-
venetz, 14 guns, 8in., floating battery; Admiral Lazareff, 6 guns,.
9in., in three turrets; Admiral Spiridoff, 4 guns, 9in., 8 in two
turrets; Smertch, 4= guns, 9in., in two turrets; Tcharodeika. 4:
guns, 9in., in two turrets; Rousalka, 4 guns, 9in., in two turrets;
Lava, Latnik, and five other monitors, having a freeboard of
about 9in., and carrying one Sin. gun in a single turret. Next
come the Yoievoda and seven other wooden corvettes, variously
armed; the Rurik and six other paddle vessels, including the
Emperor's large yacht, the Derjava, which was not used, as she
was said to be too long to handle with safety in so crowded a
roadstead; and the Erch, screw gunboat, and ten others, carrying
one gun each, of various calibres.
Besides the above, at the request of the authorities, the
American ships Franklin and Alaska, the Swedish vessels Yana-
dis and Blenda, the Norwegian frigate St. Olaff, in which His
Swedish Majesty came over, and the English Royal Yacht Os-
borne had positions in about the centre of the lines. The total
number of vessels was thus a little over 50, without counting a
long line of tiny yachts belonging to the Petersburg Yacht Club..
Yice-admiral Gregory Boutakov, so well and favorably known
in England as Naval Attache to the Russian Embassy, and
author of the able treatise on Naval Tactics, was really in com-
mand of the fleet, although the flag of the Grand Duke Con-
stantine as Grand Admiral was flying on the Rurik, Rear- Ad-
mirals Erdmann, Geikung and Pilkin, with Captains Selivanov
and Drecher, flew their flags and broad pendants, and commanded
the various divisions. Yice- Admiral Surdin and Rear- Admiral
Warden flew their flags on board the Yanadis and Franklin re-
spectively, and Commander F. Durant was in command of the
Osborne, which brought the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
hither from England.
At about noon, the Emperor, the King of Sweden, the Duke
of Edinburgh, the Grand Duke Constantine, and other members
of the Imperial family, with their numerous suites, arrived at
Cronstadt from the Summer Palace at Peterhof in the yacht,
The Enchantress in Russia and in Sweden. 203
Alexandra. After steaming up and down the lines and paying
visits on board the St. Olaff, the Franklin, and the Petropaulovsk y
which last was Admiral Boutakov's flagship, the Imperial and
Royal party returned to Peterhof about 2:30.
It is needless to say that during the inspection yards were
manned, that cheers were given and salutes fired in great pro-
fusion. The orthodox number of cheers on each occasion was
six from each ship, and the salutes consisted of 31 guns. The
din was deafening, and, after their manner, the Americans cer-
tainly contributed more than their fair share. The forts also
joined in, and some time after each general salute was finished,
as far as the ships were concerned, far-off booms were heard and
white wreaths of smoke seen rising from forts apparently miles
away inland. These same wreaths, too, made their appearance
in all sorts of odd and unlooked-for spots. Along the coast line,,
where no one would have expected to find batteries, the puffs
betrayed the existence of many " snakes-in-the-grass." "With
regard to the character and efficiency of the ironclads, if Rus-
sian accounts are to be trusted, there is not one that would be
formidable for five minutes to the Hercules, to say nothing of
the Thunderer or Devastation. The Peter the Great will take
nearly a year before she can go to sea. She has, as yet, no tur-
rets whatever, but so desirable was it considered to make a good
show that, actually, false turrets of wooden scantling were con-
structed and painted to look like what it is hoped the real ones
will be some day when their plates are ready and fixed in place.
She was begun before the Devastation, so I think the little
" scare " that once existed in English Naval circles about her
may be considered to be without basis. There were two other
things to strike an English observer yesterday one, that the
seamanship which declined the task of manoeuvring the Derjava
must be vastly inferior to that which animates the Victoria and
Albert on similar occasions ; the other, that the Alexandra, the
yacht which could be manoeuvred, emitted volumes of black
smoke that would have disgraced a Newcastle collier.
The Osborne is expected to reach Portsmoth about the mid-
204 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
die of August, when she will be refitted and decorated for her
cruise to India with the Prince of Wales.
Brentano's Aquatic Monthly, New York, April, 1879.
THE SCHOONER-YACHT ENCHANTRESS.
The following reminiscence of the long cruise of the Enchan-
tress, Mr. J. F. Loubat, owner, in European waters, we deem of
sufficient interest for publication, the more especially as it has
not previously appeared in print : During the long cruisings of
the Enchantress she visited the principal ports and capitals of
the Old World. Wherever she anchored she was received with
u all the honors," her generous owner receiving and dispensing
unstinted hospitalities and courtesies. She was sailed by Captain
Robert Fish, whose handling of the Sappho, to whom England's
best lowered their colors, is a matter of yachting history. That
the Enchantress made a most favorable impression, and caused
her private signal and the signal of the New York Yacht Club
to be respected by the yachtin gf raternity of distant lands, is as
true as the fact that Mr. Loubat issued the broadest and boldest
challenge ever published to the yachtsmen of Great Britain, in
offering to sail them on their own time allowance and rules, thus
virtually "handicapping" his yacht's American model materially;
and yet she was permitted to go into winter quarters without an
acceptance. The good yacht Enchantress now sails under a
foreign flag, having been sold in England.
The following official communication from Gen. Andrews,
Minister of the United States in Sweden, explains fully the cor-
dial reception accorded the Enchantress at Stockholm.
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, )
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, JULY 29, 1875. )
Hon. HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. :
SIE : As indicating the disposition of King Oscar II., to re-
The Enchantress in Russia and in Sweden. 2o5
ciprocate attentions, I would state that Mr. J. F. Loubat, of New
York (but now residing in Paris) baving arrived bere with his
remarkably elegant yacht Enchantress, and made an informal
visit to the King, in company with the Swedish Admiral Lager-
crantz, he was invited with myself to visit His Majesty on Sun-
day last, at the palace of Drottningholm, and stay to dinner.
We went out in the Swedish Government yacht, accompan-
ied by a small Government steamer, with Admiral Lagercrantz,.
and by invitation, breakfasted with the King at 1 P.M. Soon
after, his Majesty accompanied us in an excursion on the same
yacht on Lake Melar, for three hours or more. Returning to
Drottningholm, rooms were assigned to Mr. Loubat and myself 7
in the palace, and we had the honor of dining with His Majesty
at 5 o'clock. The Crown Prince Gustaf, four officers of the
Household and the Admiral, were of the party on the occasion
and at dinner. His Majesty took leave of us at about 8 P. M. He
was, of course, very civil and kind during the day.
On Monday, His Majesty and the Crown Prince, accompan-
ied by the Minister of the Marine, Admiral Lagercrantz and
four officials of the Court, accepted Mr. Loubat's invitation to
visit the Enchantress. At about 1 p. M. a fine lunch was served.
Including Gen. Crawford and Mr. Phoenix (Mr. Loubat's travel-
ing companions) and myself, there were twelve seated at the
table in the spacious dining saloon of the yacht. His Majesty
remained on board upwards of two hours, and the occasion was
remarkably pleasant.
Several private dinners have been given to the owner of the
yacht. He has been made an honorary member of the Royal
Swedish Yacht Club, and has accepted the King's invitation to
be present at the annual review of that club on Sunday next.
It seems to be understood that the Enchantress is the first
American yacht that has visited Stockholm.
I have the honor to be, etc., etc.,
0. C. ANDREWS.
2o6 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
The New York Times, New York, August 9, 1875.
OUR EUROPEAN SQUADRON.
NORTHERN CRUISE OF ADMIRAL JOHN L. WORDEN.
Cordial reception of the American Officers in Germany, Sweden Norway,
and Russia Magnificent Military and Naval Reviews at St.
Petersburg and Cronstadt.
From an Occasional Correspondent.
CRONSTADT, Russia, Tuesday, July 20, 1875.
In the early part of last May a portion of the American
squadron now on duty in European waters was ordered to ren-
dezvous at Villefranche, near Nice, to make preparations for a
Summer's cruise along the northern coast of Europe. The ves-
sels selected for this duty were the Franklin, bearing the flag of
our old Monitor hero, Rear- Admiral John L. Worden ; the cor-
vette Alaska, Capt. Carter, and the sloop-of-war Juniata, Com-
mander S. D. Greene, Wordeu's First Lieutenant in the memor-
able action at Hampton Roads.
Leaving the harbor of Villefranche May 17, this squadron
arrived at Gibraltar on the 23d of the same month, and while
there took part in the festivities on the celebration of the Queen's
birthday. The officers of the squadron were present, by invi-
tation on the afternoon of that holiday, at the annual review of
the garrison upon the famous Neutral Ground, the Admiral
accompanying the Governor, Sir E.Williams, the heroic defender
of Kars, of Crimean fame, as reviewing officer. By a somewhat
curious coincidence, it happened that several of the regiments
taking part in this display were representatives of the same
bodies whose regimental numbers figure so prominently in our
present centennial newspapers. The most noticeable among
these was the Twenty-third or Royal Welsh Fusiliers, whose
traditional goat appeared on the ground with his regiment. The
present incumbent of that time-honored position is a magnificent
white cashmere animal, presented to the Fusiliers on their return
The Enchantress in Russia and in Sweden. 207
from the Ashantee campaign by the citizens of Portsmouth.
" Billy" had evidently been well drilled, for he marched past the
reviewing stand with the precision of a veteran, leading his six
or seven hundred masters with becoming gravity. After the
review, and during the few days of their stay in port, many
civilities were exchanged between the navy men and the officers
of the garrison. The Governor led off with a ball, which was
followed by dinners on board the flagship arid at the various
regimental mess rooms. The visit, however, was necessarily a
short one, and, on the 28th of May, the squadron again put to
sea and the northern cruise proper began.
On the 8th of June the squadron arrived off the mouth of
the Elbe, at Cuxhaven, where the German gunboat Loreley was
found waiting to receive and convey the Americans to their
anchorage further up the river. To many of the new comers the
scene on the lower Elbe presented quite a novel spectacle ; the
long lines of dikes shutting out the water from the green stretches
of meadow-land on either side ; the fact of reversing the natural
order of things so far as to look down to see the surrounding
country on a level with the vessel's keel; the first view, in short,
of a land where
"People do not live, but go aboard,"
formed a subject of lively discussion. The prevailing sentiment
in regard to this curious country is best summed up in the words
of one of the spectators, who hazarded the opinion that "Those
fellows may think their landscape very fine, but if they ever have
water scape, Lord help 'em !" The larger vessel being left at
Gluckstadt, about thirty miles from Hamburg, the rest of the
squadron proceeded to the city, the Admiral's flag being trans-
ferred temporarily to the Alaska.
Nothing could have been more cordial or more flattering
than the marked attention with which the American visitors,
were officially received in Berlin. The Ministers of War
and the Navy entertained the Admiral and his suite at dinner,
and Mr. Davis having expressed a wish to present the visitors
to his Highness, the Crown Prince, in the absence of the Em-
208 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
peror at Ems, an immediate reply was received inviting the Ad-
miral and staff to dine at Potsdam on the following day with
the Prince and his wife, the Princess Royal of England.
The American guests were received at the so-called "New
Palace," in Potsdam, built at the close of the Seven Years' War
by Frederick the Great. The monarch's object in erecting this-
splendid building was to show his enemies that he still had plenty
of the sinews of war, though it was only by the greatest efforts
that he succeeded in obtaining the necessary funds to complete
the costly pile. The reception of the Americans on this occasion
was one of the pleasantest features of the visit to Germany. The
Crown Prince and Princess were most cordial in their welcome
conversing freely with their naval guests and conducting their
entertainment with gratifying absence of formality. Both ex-
pressed a good deal of curiosity in regard to the exhibition at
Philadelphia next year, mingled with hopes for its success, to
to which the Prince added his regrets at not being able to at-
tend the great World's Fair. Seventy guests were present at the
dinner, including Minister Davis and Mrs. Davis, the Admiral
and staff,and Lord Odo and Lady Russell, Gen. Dannenberg, CoL
Lestocq, and other heroes of the late war represented the military
element. At the close of the banquet, and when the Americans-
were about to retire, they were shown instead through all the
historical grounds of Potsdam and Sans Souci at the Prince's in-
vitation, the fountains at the latter resort being played for their
benefit, and all the sights of the place opened for their inspect!
before the party returned to Berlin.
Leaving Berlin on the following day, the Admi
returned to the squadron and started at once for Kiel, where the
German iron-clad fleet was awaiting his arrival. This port was
reached June 24th by the Franklin and Alaska, the Juniata re-
maining at Hamburg to undergo some repairs. From a military
point of view, it is difficult to overestimate the value of Kiel in
its present use as the great naval arsenal of Germany. One can
hardly wonder that for the sake of such a prize the Prussians
crossed the Eyder that had been for centuries the boundary line
The Enchantress in Russia and in Sweden. 209
dividing them from Denmark. It is perhaps a matter of equal
surprise that, in its defenseless state during the early part of the
late war, the French did not seize it. One of the German works
recently published on the great struggle calls attention to this
fact, and adds the laconic comment, c If they had been Yankees'
some would have gone in," a neat tribute to the glories of IS T ew
Orleans and Mobile Bay. Now that the entrance to the place is
so well protected by the great earthworks at Friedrichsort and
elsewhere, and with torpedoes substituted for the beer casks that
blocked the channel to the imaginative Bouet Willaumez an
attack would be rendered very difficult. As the Americans came
to anchor in this beautiful harbor, a flood of invitations of all
kinds was poured on board the Flagship. In spite of the short-
ness of the visit, the variety of the entertainments offered and
the hearty welcome from all sides rendered the few days of the
stay thoroughly enjoyable. The iron-clad squadron, four mag-
nificent vessels Konig Wilhelm, Kaiser, Kronprinz and Hansa
under the command of Admiral Henck, had been detained in
port several days to participate in the reception of the visitors.
Admiral Werner, the commandant of the arsenal, whose career
on the coast of Spain attracted so much attention a few years-
ago, was especially cordial in his welcome. A banquet at his-
residence, followed by another on the Flagship Wilhelm, were
among the first entertainments. During our stay the first
Schleswig-Holstein musical festival took place at Kiel, and the
Americans were invited to attend as guests of honor. With
the renowned Joachim as leader and Clara Schumann as one of
the performers the festival proved a great success. It was dur-
ing a banquet given at the close of these three days of musical
feast that the Admiral took occasion to express the thanks of the
squadron for the unexpected warmth and cordiality of the wel-
come extended to the Americans. In conclusion the speaker
dwelt upon the valuable qualities of our German citizens at
home, and spoke of the pleasure he felt in visiting in person the
former home of some of our best Americans. These expressions
were received by the assemblage of over 500 guests with entlm-
2io A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
elastic applause, the allusion to the distant kinsmen evidently re-
calling personal associations to many present.
Leaving Kiel on the 1st of July, the American squadron
fired the usual national salute on the 5th, amid the beautiful
cluster of islands that shut out the Venice of the North from the
open sea. The passage from the Baltic to the city reminds one
irresistibly of the beautiful Thousand Isles with which so many
of your readers are familiar. The ships anchored on the evening
of the 5th at Waxholm, twelve miles below the capital, the chan-
nel being too intricate to permit of their proceeding further in-
land. Their arrival was the signal for the immediate appearance
of the Swedish " mosquito" fleet of light-draft gun-boats, sent
down from Stockholm to receive the visitors. On the same
evening, the Royal yacht Amazon brought down from the cap-
ital the American Minister, Gen. Andrews, with the message
that the King had postponed his proposed trip to Russia to greet
the Americans in person.
On arriving at Stockholm the party were driven at once to the
Royal Palace. King Oscar, a tall, fine-looking man, somewhat past
the middle age, appeared in the audience hall as soon as he had
been notified of the arrival of his guests. His Majesty wore the
Swedish naval uniform, not only as a compliment to the visitors
but probably to remind them that in the by-gone times he had
been "one of them," as his early life was spent in the Swedish
Navy. Of this his cordial manner left no reason to doubt, his
greeting being that of a brother officer in a similar service. His
Majesty expressed much regret at having to leave Stockholm,
"but," said he, "I have given orders that you shall be received as
my own guests," and to judge from the result, they obey the
royal mandates tolerably well in Sweden. In reply to a question
from one of the officers, his Majesty said: "I look forward to
my trip across the Baltic with great interest, as I am still fond
of the sea. I like it so much better than this duty." At the
close of the interview his Majesty replied to the Admiral's fare-
well by saying that it should be only an au revoir, as they would
meet again in Russia. The King left on the same evening for
Tke Enchantress in R^tss^a and in Sweden. 2 1 1
Oronstadt, but his instructions as to the entertainment of his
guests were most pleasantly observed.
Detained at the "Waxholm anchorage by unfavorable weather,
the Franklin and Alaska did not reach Cronstadt until the early
morning of July 12. The vessels were met on their arrival off
the harbor by an officer from the flagship Rurik, with an invita-
tion from the Lord High Admiral to take part in a naval review,
for which preparations were being made near the harbor forts.
The invitation having been accepted, the American ships were
given a position of honor as leading vessels of the central column
of "heavies." Even at this early date (the review not taking
place until the 17th) the assemblage of war-vessels presented a
most imposing appearance. West of Fort Nicholas, a formidable
battery defending the southern side of Cronstadt, were arranged
four columns of vessels. The southern line was formed of the
smaller craft, yachts and dispatch boats. The tall, symmetrical
spars and jaunty appearance of the leading vessel in this column
were a guarantee of her nationality, and more than one keen eye
had picked her out as a Yankee craft before she hoisted her
colors and displayed the well known burgee of Loubat's yacht,
the graceful Enchantress. North of the small-fry a column of
seven single-turreted monitors formed a second line, headed by
their Flagship, the gun-boat Yolga. Still further to the north-
ward came seven wooden corvettes and frigates, including, as a
rear guard, the St. Olaff and Yanadis, which, with the gun-boat
Blenda, formed the Swedish contingent. The above mentioned
gun-boat was the last vessel in the fourth line of nine similar
craft that formed the northern boundary of the van division. On
one side of this fleet were the fortresses of Peter and Alexander,
the southern line running from Fort Paul westward to battery
No. 3. In the rear of this division lay the yacht Rurik, bearing
the flag of the Grand Duke Constantine, the Lord High Admiral
of Russia, under whose management the whole fleet had been
placed. Immediately to the rear of his vessel and stretching far
away to the westward were grouped the heavier ships, in three
columns, double and three turreted monitors to the southward;
212
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
iron-clad gun-boats (led by the Duke of Edinburgh's yacht
Osborne) on the north flank, and in the centre led by the Frank-
lin and Alaska, the pick of the Russian iron-clad Navy, Peter
the Great, an immense turreted ram, a project of Admiral Pop-
off's, and then the Peter and Paul, Sebastopol, Kreml, and
Pervenentz, heavy iron-clad frigates, in the order named, the line
ending with the Bogatyr and another corvette, the name of the
former probably a familiar one to those who witnessed the
reception of the Grand Duke Alexis.
The Grand Duke Constantine repaired on board the Flagship
in person to welcome the Admiral to Russia, and to tender his
thanks for the proposed participation of the Americans in the
coming ceremony. When the Admiral expressed his acknow.
ledgment of the honor accorded to his ships in placing them in
the leading line, his Highness replied, pointing to the long rows
of monitors: "You are here, Admiral, among the children of
your gallant deed ; it is only right that you should take the first
place," a graceful compliment, which was duly appreciated by
the naval men present. At a dinner, given the same evening
aboard the Rurik, the Grand Duke spoke most feelingly of the
intimate relations between the two countries, and proposed the
health of u The President," which was received with all the
honors.
During the few clays preceding the naval review the Amer-
icans busied themselves in a sort of steeplechase through the
different sights of St. Petersburg, the time of their stay being
unfortunately too limited to admit of extended visits anywhere.
The magnificence of St. Isaac's; the gloomy grandeur of
the Kazan Cathedral ; the beautiful Hermitage, with its
gaudy frescoes and treasures of art; the famous Winter
Palace; the fortress of St. Petersburg, church and castle in one,
with the tombs of the Czars ; the little hut, so carefully pre-
served and piously revered, where Peter the Great once held his
court ; the thousand and one monuments of departed monarchs
or of glorious triumphs all passed before them, like the
shifting scenes of a kaleidoscope. It was too much like the
The Enchantress in Russia and in Siveden. 213
model railroad dinner one mouthful, obtained by dint of much
labor and bodily toil, and then all aboard ? The excursionists
from the ships did their best under these discouraging circum-
stance, their uniforms being an " open sesame " to all places of
amusement or interest, and their search for novelties much
lightened by the kindly services of the Russian officers, who
piloted them about in gallant style.
Meanwhile the official entertainments formed a part of the
daily occupation of the Admiral and his suite. The Czar was at
Peterhoff, the Russian Versailles, a beautiful palace and park
opposite Cronstadt, on the southern side of the bay, with his
guests, King Oscar IT., of Sweden, and the Duke and Duchess
of Edinburgty. On the 13th a grand review of the Imperial
Guard and other troops took place at Krasnoe Selo, fifteen miles
from Peterhoff. The review was one of the most brilliant mili-
tary pageants I have ever seen, over 50,000 men of the different
arms being upon the field. The King of Sweden was the review-
ing officer, attended by the Czar and a brilliant suite. A nov-
elty to the American visitors was the presence in line of a large
body of Circassians and Cossacks in their curious national cos-
tumes. The maneuvering was simply perfect ; battalion after
battalion of foot marched past, double company front, with uni-
form step, and with aligments such as columns of fours might
nvy ; following them came the cavalry walk, trot, gallop,
walk as the different signals rang out from the bugle, the
changes being so instantaneous as to seem almost marvel-
ous.
Once, a squadron of Circassians rode by, a signal was made to
"wheel and charge," and this difficult movement was so perfect
that even in the staff there was an unofficer-like "buzz" of ap-
proval, while the King of Sweden openly expressed his admir-
ation, and as the squadron rode back the Czar himself said a few
words of compliment. Instantly the air rang again with a mighty
shout from the delighted troopers, as different from the regula-
tion "cheer" as one can well imagine. It is not often that sol-
diers get such a compliment from the Emperor on the reviewing
214 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
grounds, but that none ever deserved it more would be the testi-
mony of all who witnessed the feat.
At noon precisely on the 17th, the Emperor's yacht Derjawa,
followed by two other small vessels as escort, appeared at the-
head of the in-shore line of vessels off Cronstadt. The presence
of the Czar was at once acknowledged by all the vessels manning
yards, (or turrets, as the case might be,) but no further demonstra-
tion was made until the yacht had passed down the centre of the
van division and anchored abreast of the Rurik. As she came
to, the Emperor's standard was hauled down, and the blue
and yellow of Sweden took its place at the Derjawa's mainmast-
head. Then from every fort and every vessel of the great fleet
the national salute came thundering forth, mingled with the
cheers of the seamen and the martial strains of the Swedish and
Russian national anthems. Nothing I have ever seen afloat
could equal this imposing display ; the review at Portsmouth in
1867, in honor of the Sultan, and considered a magnificent spec-
tacle, was far inferior to this. Fancy a fleet whose line of anch-
orage covered a space of nearly two miles and a half, treble col-
umns, with fifty vessels of war in the line, many of them among
the most formidable ships afloat, add to this the shouts of the
men, the roar of the artillery, the clash of the music, and you
have a scene not to be forgotten. After a short visit to the
Swedish Flagship, the imperial barge came alongside of the
Franklin, and the Czar, King Oscar, the Duke and Duchess of
Edinburgh, the Grand Duke Constantine, the Czarewitch, and
his pretty wife, the Princess Dagmar, with a large retinue, came
on board the American vessel, were the imperial standard was
hoisted at the main. The Grand Duke Constantine presented
the officers to the Czar, the King of Sweden greeting them as
previous Stockholm acquaintances, with a cheery, "How are you
all now, gentlemen ?" which provoked an audible smile from
some of the "unterrified." The imperial party inspected the
ship throughout, praising her appearance very highly, and seem-
ing especially surprised by the prevailing neatness. In truth,
that seems the most noticeable feature of our Yankee men of
The Enchantress in Russia and in Sweden. 2 1 5
war as compared with those of other nationalities, most of which
are anything but successful in that respect.
At the Krasnoe-Selo review, where the Americans were
seated in the Empress' pavilion, directly opposite the reviewing
officers, I had seen the Czar again for the first time since that
memorable Summer day in Paris in 1867, when Berezowsky
attempted his life. When on board the Franklin I had an
opportunity of viewing him still more closely. Time has
wrought its inevitable changes, but the dignified bearing, the
firm set of the lips, and the clear eye of the great ruler of all
the Russias are as .of old. His character lies written on his
face, a proud, determined, but kind-hearted and liberal-minded
man. His brother Constantine has the appearance common to
many aristocratic Englishmen, that the British cut of his
whiskers seems to increase still further. But in spite of his
grave, reserved appearance, his Highness can crack a joke and
enjoy one with the best of them, and many are the stories told
by his officers in corroboration thereof. Among the suite I
noticed a tall, distinguished looking officer, with iron-gray hair,
a quiet, rather sad-looking face, and a decided stamp of super-
iority about his whole appearance. Though he appeared in the
uniform of a general officer of engineers I could not place him
at first, but on inquiry I found how much he deserved attention
as the commander of Sebastopol, the famous Todleben. I was
no longer surprised at his being one of the very few present
who wore the Cross of St. George, of the first class, a decoration
that the Czar himself does not wear, as being one reserved, in his
opinion," for those to whom the country is indebted for deliverance
from imminent danger or for heroic efforts to that end."
On leaving the Franklin, as the imperial standard was hauled
down it was saluted as before by the American Flagship and all
the vessels and forts. The Emperor then repaired on board his
yacht, signalled to the fleet his commendation and thanks, and
on his way back to Peterhof passed close to the Franklin, bow-
ing repeatedly in answer to the salutes from that ship and the
Alaska. On the same evening the Grand Duke Constantine
2i6 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
conveyed officially to Admiral Worden the thanks of the Czar
for his reception on board, coupled with an invitation to attend
an evening fete at Peterhof on the following day.
This closing scene in the gala week was fully equal to any
of the other magnificent displays that had previously taken
place. For miles the grounds in the vicinity of the Czar's Sum-
mer palace were illuminated a giorno with colored lanterns ;
the palace and the islands on the lake, the "piece des suisses " of
the park were one mass of lights of every kind. Even the walks
winding about in every direction were traced in glowing devices
of every hue. On one of the largest islands all the invited
guests were assembled to witness a ballet by the imperial troupe,
after which an elegant collation was served, the fete concluding
with a brilliant display of fireworks.
The King of Sweden left on the evening of the 19th for
Stockholm his squadron being accompanied by all the vessels of
the van division. All the ships in the harbor were brilliantly
illuminated in his honor. As the Vanadis passed the American
Flagship,duringa pause in the cheering, the King sang out, "good-
night, Admiral, and bon voyage," a compliment instantly
acknowledged by three times three from the Yankee men-of-
war.
On the following morning the American vessels got under
way and left the harbor, escorted by the Peter the Great to the
offing, the Russian vessels of the rear division, at anchor, saluting
the Admiral's flag with thirteen guns. With a short visit to
Copenhagen, where the Juniata is expected to join, the northern
cruise of our squadron will terminate, the vessels touching as
Flushing and Plymouth on their return to Gibraltar and the
Mediterranean.
While there will be quite a general satisfaction among the
members of the squadron when the fatted calf of welcome has
been killed for good, and the quiet of ordinary routine is
restored, there are few who do not appreciate the advantages to
the country of a trip of this kind. It is impossible to give an
adequate idea of the interest taken by the mass of foreigners in
The Enchantress in Russia and in Sweden. 217
anything American in that far-off country which in spite of its
original ideas of government seems to enjoy such great prosper-
ity. It was touching to find among the thousands of visitors who
flocked to see the strangers, many who came hundreds of miles
to have one glimpse of the Stars and Stripes, for the sake of
personal associations, or with the thought of some friend or
relative who had left the Fatherland for a new home beyond the
seas. The universal cordiality of the welcome extended to our
ships by German, Swede, and Russian alike is most gratifying to
all who feel that even in this slight way some knowledge may
be gained by them of the great country of which they so often
hear. While it is a subject of general regret that these visits
<?ould not have been made in more modern types of naval archi-
tecture, one finds not a little consolation for this drawback
in the high terms of praise accorded to the personnel of the
squadron. No notice of their movements has appeared in any
journal unaccompanied by the highest terms of praise of the
officers and men, and in every port especial mention has been
made of the splendid bearing of the officers and the discipline
.and efficiency of their subordinates.
The American Register, Paris, September 25, 1875.
THE YACHT ENCHANTRESS.
Mr. J. F. Loubat, the proprietor of the yacht Enchantress, has
returned to Paris, after a two months' cruise in his beautiful
vessel. He visited Sweden, Norway and Russia, and every-
where during his trip was the recipient of marked favor and
courtesy. The King of Sweden visited the American yacht ;
he remained several hours on board and lunched with
Mr. Loubat. In Russian waters Mr. Loubat met with
the same extreme kindness and attention. Admiral Popoff,
of the Russian Navy, visited the Enchantress ; as did also the
218
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
Grand Duke Constantine, who received in return the visit of
Mr. Loubat and the American gentlemen who were his guests.
TJhe Enchantress is now at Cowes, where she will be laid up
during the winter.
The Commonwealth, Boston, November 6, 1876.
FROM ENGLAND.
Special to the Commonwealth.
COWES (ENGLAND), Oct. 15, 1875.
THE NEW YORK YACHT ENCHANTRESS IN RUSSIAN AND SCANDI-
NAVIAN WATERS.
Having vainly sought to have his challenge to all English
yachts accepted, and finding that the French Yacht Club were to-
give no international channel race, Mr. Loubat, owner of the*
yacht Enchantress, of the New York Yacht Club, decided upon
making a cruise to Sweden, Norway and Russia, and started on
the 18th of June from Cherbourg, accompanied by his friends
General Crawford and Lloyd Phrenix as his guests. They
reached Copenhagen on the 24th of June, remained there two-
days, and on the 2d of July arrived at Cronstadt. The yacht
had no sooner anchored than an officer came on board, sent by
Captain Koupreyanoff, of the Russian iron-clad man of war
Pervenetz, which was acting as guard-ship, to offer his compli-
ments and services. On the morning of the 4th of July the
Enchantress was duly " dressed," having the Russian flag at the
fore. Again was a Russian officer sent on board with thanks for
the compliment, and with renewed expressions of good-will..
Admiral Popoff, who twice commanded the Russian fleet in the
Pacific, and is well-known in San Francisco, which city he several
times visited, came on board the yacht, and after remaining some-
time informed Mr. Loubat that the Grand Duke Constantine
would call on the 6th. On that day the Grand Duke came on
board, and after a very pleasant visit took Mr. Loubat to dine-
The Enchantress in Russia and in Sweden. 2 1 9
with him. During the course of the conversation the Grand
Duke referred in the kindest terms to the mission upon which
the Hon. G. V. Fox went to Russia some years since, and at
which time Mr. Loubat was one of his secretaries. The Grand
Duke also evinced much interest in Captain Robert Fish, the
well-known modeller, and now sailing-master of the Enchantress.
He consulted him as regards the modelling of some new war
vessels to be constructed for the Russian Navy, and was exceed-
ingly courteous to the American gentlemen during the whole of
their interview. Admiral Popoif took Mr. Loubat with him to
visit the new Russian ship Peter the Great, an immense turretted
iron-clad ram, considered the most powerful vessel afloat and
which was constructed after the plans and under the supervision
of the Admiral and in every way displayed the utmost friend-
liness to the owner of the Enchantress and his party.
On the 12th of July the members of the St. Petersburg
Yacht River Club came to Cronstadt in their yachts, and were
entertained on board of the Enchantress. The next day the
American party dined at the club-house, which was most ele-
gantly decorated and festooned with the American and Rus-
sian flags. There were very complimentary toasts proposed in
honor of the United States, and most amicable speeches were
pronounced by the Russian gentlemen and responded to by the
Americans. The next day the Enchantress, by order of
Grand Duke Constantine, was towed into the outer roads and
placed at the head of the line of yachts which were to take po-
sitions in a grand naval review at which were to be present
fifty-three men-of-war, the American vessels Franklin (Admiral
Worden's Flagship,) and the Alaska among the number. The
King of Sweden was there in his frigate, the Yanadis. There
were also the Swedish Gunboat Blenda, and the Norwegian
frigate Saint Olaf, and the Queen of England's yacht Osborne,
which had brought over the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
The review was one of the most imposing of its kind, in fact,
it was so very brilliant as to excite the jealousy of the reporter
for the London Times, who in his letter published in that journal
22O A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
went out of his way to reflect in a sarcastic manner upon the
seamanship of the Russians, the Emperor not coming out in his
yacht, the Derjava, but taking a smaller vessel. This course
was unfavorably contrasted with that pursued in English waters
by those who command the royal yacht Albert and Yictoria.
The good taste of the strictures in question will be the better
appreciated when it is added that the Czar's yacht was not made
use of simply because there was not a sufficient depth of water
for her to reach Peterhof, the Imperial summer residence.
On the 19th the Enchantress weighed anchor, sailing away
along the line of war vessels. On passing Admiral Boutakoff's
ship the second in command, Grand Duke Constantine being
commander-in-chief the Enchantress dipped her colors, where-
upon the band on the Russian ship played " Hail Columbia,"
the Admiral and officers remaining uncovered until the air was
finished. These were unusual honors to render to a yacht, but
the Enchantress was the first American vessel of the kind which
had visited Cronstadt, save Yanderbilt's North Star, many years
since, and the Russians made the most of the opportunity for
giving proof of their friendship and good-will to our people.
On the 22d of July the Enchantress reached Stockholm, and
on the Saturday following Mr. Loubat was presented to the King
at Drottningholm Palace by Admiral Lagercrantz, and by invi-
tation of His Majesty the proprietor of the Enchantress and the
American minister, Gen. C. C. Andrews, spent the following
day with him. They sailed to the palace on the King's yacht,
lunched and dined with His Majesty, who, the next day, came
on board the Enchantress, where he was entertained at lunch,
and remained several hours. The King expressed his regret at
not being able to visit the centennial exposition, but will send
his second son an officer in the Swedish navy. With His Ma-
jesty on board the Enchantress were the Crown Prince, Baron
Yon Otter, Minister of the Navy; Admiral Lagercrantz; Baron
Flake, Master of the Royal Household ; Major Ribbing, tutor
of the Crown Prince; also the Chamberlain on duty. The
American minister was present. On this occasion the King, for
The Enchantress in Russia and in Sweden. 221
the first time, tasted Catawba wine. He drank with American
wine, said he, to the prosperity of the United States and perpet-
ual friendship between the two countries. We may add that
His Majesty found the wine so much to his liking that he order-
ed a supply to be purchased for the palace.
It should have been^mentioned above that the Enchantress
passed near Elsinore, in the Sound, the Russian war vessel
Swetlana, commanded by the Grand Duke Alexis, who is to make
a two-years' cruise in the Mediterranean, will then be appointed
Admiral, and in command of a fleet will again visit the United
States.
As the Enchantress was to continue her cruise, the King of
Sweden himself wrote out the itinerary of a tour through Nor-
way for the American party, and said he should advise one of his
chamberlains for Norway to take charge of them upon their ar-
rival at Christiania. Before leaving, however, Mr. Loubat and
his friends were invited by King Oscar to remain and be present
at the regatta of the Royal Swedish Yacht Club, of which the
King is president, and of which His Majesty caused Mr. Loubat
to be made an honorary member.
On Sunday, August 1st, the American party spent the day
upon the King's steam yacht, where they were joined after the
regatta by His Majesty, who had been sailing his yacht with the
other vessels of the kind belonging to the club. The American
visitors noticed with pleasure the affable manner, in fact, the
true sailor-like bluffness, with which the King went among the
people. From the highest to the lowest all sailed their own
yachts ; and it was a pleasant thing to witness the King distrib-
uting prizes and shaking hands with the winners. After the
Minister of the Navy had addressed the yachtsmen and caused
the report of the races to be read, a pause took place to allow
time for objections, if any were to be made, and then the names
of the fortunate parties were read out aloud amid the applause
of the people assembled ; and, as said above, the King personally
complimented them.
Returning to Stockholm, the yachts were all towed by
222 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
steamers ablaze with Venetian lights and firing rockets. The
villas along the coast were illuminated, and also sent up rockets,
and thus for a distance of over eight miles the Americans wit-
nessed one of the most beautiful sights one could behold.
Leaving Stockholm, the Enchantress visited Gottenborg,
Christiania and Bergen, in which places the vessel first displayed
the New York Yacht Club Flag. Wherever they went, Mr.
Loubat and his friends met with the same kindness. It was
evident the people were delighted to greet Americans with more
than usual courtesy. Many of them have relatives and friends
in the United States who are prospering in their new home, and,
it was, doubtless, pleasant to them to have the opportunity of
greeting cheerfully and cordially citizens of the great Republic.
The Enchantress was visited by all classes, and the party on
board of her will long remember this most interesting cruise.
Doubtless the popularity of our representative at Stockholm,
Gen. C. C. Andrews, added to the favor shown to the party
upon the yacht, as the General was so much with them ; but,
above all, was the sincere desire of the people to evince good-
will towards Americans. The official reports made by General
Andrews upon the institutions of Sweden and Norway have at-
tracted much attention in European political circles, and have
rendered him very popular, as we said above, in these countries,
and the party on the Enchantress found the Minister most
willing to be of service. The Enchantress is at present being
laid up for the winter at Oowes, from which place lately sailed
the celebrated American yacht Sappho, now the property of
Prince Sciarra of Rome. NAUTILUS.
CHAPTER XIV.
MR. LOUBAT'S CUP TO THE ROYAL ALBERT
YACHT CLUB.
The Evening Post, New York, July 7, 1875,
AN AMERICAN YACHTSMAN'S GIFT TO THE ROYAL ALBERT
YACHT CLUB.
Messrs. Tiffany & Co., of Union Square, have just finished a
silver cup ordered by an American gentleman, now residing
abroad, for presentation to the Royal Albert Yacht Club. The
cup, including pedestal, is forty inches in height and nineteen
inches in width, and in originality of design and workmanship is
one of the finest pieces of silver plate ever executed in this
country.
The pedestal is of ebony, and ornamented with a large silver
plate in the form of a square-sail bent to a yardarm. It is in-
scribed as follows : "Presented to the Royal Albert Yacht Club
by J. F. Loubat, Esq." The cup is supported on a circular base,
ornamented with dolphins' heads in high relief, and bound with
a massive hawser. The lower part of the body of the cup is
burnished, but above the rim or belt, upon a concave surface, it
bears an elaborate design of sailor-boys with joined hands, form-
ing a ring upon the greensward and dancing. Yarious nautical
objects, such as capstans, tillers, anchors and cables, are grouped
in with the figures. This design forms a most elegant piece of
repousse.
224 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
From either side of the body two gracefully curving arm*
handles spring, and are ornamented with laurel blossoms at the
top and laurel wreaths hang pendant at the curves. The neck
of the cup is ornamented in relief with tridents and female heads
crowned with cereal productions peculiar to America. To
relieve the somewhat formal shape of the neck sprays of palm
are introduced, springing from the body at the point of union
with the handles and forming a curve to the crown of the neck.
The introduction of these palm branches serve to carry off the
lines of the arms, and adds greatly to the general effect of the
design.
The crown of the neck is ornamented with a winged figure
of Victory, kneeling and with outstretched arms holding the
laurel wreaths of victory. This figure is exquisitely modelled,
and is, as well as the cup which it surmounts, a triumph of the
silversmiths' art. The neck of the vase shows the rich satin
finish, but the figures and ornamentations in relief are tinted
with gold, which greatly enhances the richness of the general
effect.
The cup is to be shipped to Europe on Saturday, but in the
meantime it will remain on exhibition at the store of Messrs.
Tiffany & Co., in Union Square. It is eminently worthy of the
notice of connoisseurs. Its destination will give the art-workers
in silver in England a good idea of the progress of the art in this
country, and that it will be accepted as a creditable production
of artistic skill we have no doubt.
Hunt's Yachting Magazine, London, September, 1875.
ROYAL ALBEET YACHT CLUB REGATTA.
Third day. The liberal prizes offered on Thursday, the final
day of the regatta, attracted nearly all the most famous of our
racing vessels, and of the nineteen names figuring on the card, only
one or two were not yachts which have won world-wide reputa-
The Royal Albert Yacht Club. 226
tions. Only two were absent at the start, namely, the Odetta
and Hypatia, and had there been a sailing breeze the match would
have been something to remember. Unfortunately, as is so
often the case when unusually handsome prizes are given, the
weather was unfavorable, and so the great match for Mr. Lou-
bat's cup was unsuccessful in providing sport. With such a
paltry and baffling wind none of the yachts engaged had any fair
chance of showing their sailing powers, and the disposal of the
prizes was more the result of luck than anything else. The
following were the conditions of the match : First prize (pre-
sented by J. F. Loubat, Esq.), value 200 ; second, value 70,
and third, value 50, for yachts of 40 tons and upwards, belong-
ing to any royal yacht club, or to any recognized yacht club of
a foreign country. The rig of the first vessel in to determine
the rig of the winner, the second prize to be awarded to the ves-
sel of different rig saving her time, and the third prize to the
vessel of other rig saving her time. Course, from starting vessel
round the Nab Light, thence round a Flagboat moored off Yar-
mouth. Once round. The starters were :
Numbered as in Hunt's Universal Yacht List for 1875.
NO. NAMES OF YACHTS. BIG. TONS. OWNERS. BUILDERS.
1237 lona Cutter. 66 J. Ashbury, Esq., M.P. Eatsey.
402 Cuckoo Cutter. 93 Harry Hall, Esq. Fife.
1365 Kriemhilda Cutter. 105 The Count Batthyany, Eatsey.
1839 Neva Cutter. 62 E. K. Holms-Kerr, Esq. Fife.
1927 Oimara Cutter. 159 J. Wylie, Esq. SteeL
725 Fiona Cutter. 78 E. Boutcher, Esq. Fife.
2873 Vol-au-Vent Cutter. 102 Col. Markham. Eatsey.
1934 Olga Schoon'r 220 J. A. Hankey, Esq. Henderson.
541 Egeria Schoon'r 155 J. Mulholland, Esq. Wanhill.
947 Gwendoliu Schoon'r 192 Major Ewing. Nicholson.
384 Corinne Schoon'r 162 N. Wood, Esq. Eatsey.
780 Flying Cloud. . . Schoon'r 75 F. Cox, Esq. Inman.
1408 Latona Yawl. 163 A. B. Eowley, Esq. J. White.
861 Gertrude Yawl. 68 Sir A.'Fairbairn, Bart. Wanhill.
762 Florinda Yawl. 163 W. Jessop, Esq. Nicholson.
1047 Heron Yawl. 45 F. Blackwood, Esq. Eatsey.
The Odetta and Hypatia entered, but did not start.
226 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
The morning was hazy and without a breath of wind, but
about 9 h. 30 m. a light south-west breeze sprung up, but the
yachts in shore did not get it, and the start had to be delayed
until about 10 h. 45 m., when a light S. S.W. wind gave the yachts
steerage way, and they were sent on their journey. With bal-
loon topsails and spinnakers on bowsprits, the yachts drifted
across the line in the most leisurely manner, the Flying Cloud
being first away. They continued working down towards the
Nab until about twelve o'clock, when the wind entirely ceased
and kedges were let go by many, and thus they lay for about an
hour when an air came from the south, which gradually westered
until it was about south-west, and they got round the Nab Light
ship thus: Yol-au-Yent 3 h.17 m. 15 s., Gertrude 3 h. 17m. 15 s.,
Fiona 3 h. 19 m. 35 s., Neva 3 h. 26 m. 25 s., Arrow 3 h. 28 m.,
25 s. Latona 3 h. 28 m. 30 s., Cuckoo 3 h. 29 m. 15 s., lona
3 h. 30 m. 5 s., Corinne 3 h. 31 m. s., Egeria 3 h. 31 m. 5 s.
Florinda 3 h. 32 m. 30 s., Kriemhilda 3 h. 34 m. 10 s., Gwen-
dolin 3 h. 34 m. 15 s., Olga 3 h. 35 m. 10 s., Heron 3 h. 41 m.
s. Flying Cloud 3 h. 43 m. s.
The wind now freshened a little and with spinnakers on bow-
sprits they were making better progress. Yol-au-Yent left the
others a little, and Kriemhilda getting past lona closed up to
Cuckoo. Off Egypt the wind westered more and rain began to
fall, and the Yol-au-Yent was far ahead of the others and got
round the mark-boat off Yarmouth about 9 h. 30 m. Nearly all
the yachts lay becalmed until abont 9 h. P.M., when a nice
W. S.W. breeze came, and soon afterwards they all got round the
mark-boat and began the homeward journey to Southsea. The
wind was shifting about very much but the Yol-au-Yent got to
the end of the course before meeting the tide, whilst the others
being caught by it, and getting so little wind that kedges were
let go, and some were hours afterwards in finishing. The tim
taken were :
H. M. S. H. M. S. H. M. S.
Vol-au-Vent.12 41 50 Gwendolin 3 220 Gertrude .. 3 12 50
Corinne 2 45 40 Fiona 3 4 30 Florinda . .3 18 25
Egeria 2 49 52 Neva .... 3 11 20 Kriemhil'a 4 2 20
The Royal Albert Yacht Club. 227
The Yol-au-Vent thus takes the 200, Corinne the 70, and
the Gertrude the 50. The race was one of the most tedious
ever sailed and was a tiresome wind up to an otherwise excellent
regatta.
To J. F. LOUBAT, ESQ.,
Owner of the yacht Enchantress,
New York Yacht Glub.
SIR : In the name of the Royal Albert Yacht Club, we the
undersigned desire to express to you our thanks for the muni-
ficent gift recently presented by you to our club.
America has ever been foremost in promoting yacht building
and yacht racing, and it is most gratifying to us to welcome to
our shores an American gentleman in many ways distinguished
both in his own country and in Europe, and whose love of a
noble sport must powerfully contribute to strengthen this natural
bond of union between the two nations.
We have accepted this handsome trophy as a token of the
good-will and fellowship which have long existed and will long
endure between the yachtsmen of America and England.
That our club should be selected by you to receive this beau-
tiful specimen of American art, and above all this noble token of
personal generosity demands more than our silent acceptance.
We trust, therefore, that you will accept our sincere thanks
for the gift itself, and our expression of admiration and sym-
pathy with the motives which have prompted you to present to
our club such a valuable and lasting memento of the kindly feel-
ing and generous sentiments entertained by yourself.
ALFRED,*
Commodore.
WM. CORRING GORDON, BATTHYANY,
Vice Co?nmodore. Rear Commodore .
*H. E. H. the duke of Edinburgh.
CHAPTER XV.
THE YACHT RACING ASSOCIATION.
SAILING RULES, 1876.
MANAGEMENT OF THE RACES.
1. All Racers, and all Yachts sailing therein, shall be unaer
the direction of the Flag Officers or Sailing Committee of the
Club under whose auspices the Races are being sailed. All mat-
ters shall be subject to their approval and control ; and all doubts,
questions, and disputes, which may arise shall be subject to their
decision. Their decisions shall be based upon these rules so far
as they will apply, but as no rules can be devised capable of
meeting every incident and accident of sailing, the Sailing Com-
mittee should keep in view the ordinary customs of the sea, and
discourage all attempts to win a Race by other means
than fair sailing and superior speed and skill. The de-
cisions of the Sailing Committee shall be final, unless they
think fit, on the application of the parties interested, or
otherwise, to refer the questions at issue for the decision
of the Council of the Yacht Racing Association. No
member of the Sailing Committee or Council shall take part in
the decision upon any disputed question in which he is directly
interested. The Sailing Committee, or any officer appointed to-
The Yacht Racing Association. 229
take charge for the day, shall award the prizes, subject to rule
30. If any yacht be disqualified, the next in order shall be
awarded the prize.
POSTPONEMENT OF RACES.
2.' The Sailing Committee, or officer in charge for the day,
shall have power to postpone any race, should unfavorable
weather render such a course desirable.
MEASUREMENT FOR TONNAGE.
3. The tonnage of every yacht entered to sail in a race shall
be ascertained in the manner following: The length shall be
taken in a straight line at the deck, from the fore part of the
stem to the after-part of the stern-post ; from which deducting
the breadth, the remainder shall be esteemed the length to find
the tonnage ; the breadth shall be taken from outside to outside
of the planking, in the broadest part of the yacht, and no allow-
ance shall be made for wales, doubling planks, or mouldings of
*iny kind ; then multiplying the length by the breadth, and the
product by half the breadth, and dividing the result by 94, the
quotient shall be deemed the true tonnage ; provided always that
if any part of the stem or stern-post, or other part of the vessel
at or below the load water-line project beyond the length taken
as above mentioned, such projection or projections shall, for the
purposes of finding the tonnage, be added to the length taken as
stated. In the case of a yacht whose stern-post has an elbow, the
length shall be taken to a point where the stern-post, if its rake
were continued, would cut the deck-line ; and in measuring
schooners or other yachts with overhanging stems, the length shall
betaken to a point half the distance between the fore part of the
stem at the deck line and a perpendicular to the true load water,
line at its fore-end. The fractional and over to be counted as a ton
and any fraction under to be disregarded. If, from any peculiar
ity in the construction of a yacht, or other cause, the measurer
shall be of opinion that this rule will not measure the yacht
fairly, he shall report the circumstances to the Council or Sailing
Committee, who, after making such inquiries as they may con-
230 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book*
sider necessary, shall award a certificate of tonnage accordingly.
The certificate of tonnage of The Yacht Racing Association shall
be deemed a yacht's true racing tonnage, so long as she re-
mains unaltered.
TIME ALLOWANCE.
4. Time shall be allowed on arrival for difference in tonnage,,
according to the annexed scale, increased or decreased in propor-
tion to the length of different courses. If it is necessary during
a race to shorten the course, the time allowance shall be reduced
in proportion.
ENTRIES.
5. Entries shall be made with the Secretary at least forty-
eight hours previous to the time appointed for starting each race..
In case of a Sunday intervening, twenty-four hours to be added,
Form of entry to be signed by the owner, or his representa-
tive, previous to the race.
Please to enter the ; yacht for the race at
on the . Her distinguishing flag is ,
and her tonnage, in accordance with rule 3, is tons. I
undertake sailing under this entry she shall not have on board 1
any bags of shot ; that all her ballast shall be properly stowed
under the .platform or in lockers, and shall not be shifted
or trimmed in any way whatever ; and that I will obey and be
bound by the Sailing Rules of The Yacht Racing Association.
Signed this day of
Should any yacht duly entered for a race not start, or having
started should she give up, or be disabled during the race, such
yacht shall, in the event of the race being resailed, be entitled
to start ; but no new entries shall be received under any circum-
stances whatever for a postponed race.
OWNERSHIP.
6. Each yacht entered for a race, together with her gear,,
must be the ~bona fide property of the person or persons in whose
name or names she is entered, who must be a member or mem-
bers of a recognised yacht club.
TJie Yacht Racing Association . 231
ONLY ONE YACHT OF SAME OWNER.
7. No owner shall be allowed to enter more than one yacht
in a race, except in cases in which a prize is given for each rig,
when one yacht of each rig may be entered.
ONE YACHT ENTITLED TO SAIL OVER.
8. When a prize has been offered for competition, any yacht,
duly entered, may claim to sail over the course and shall be en-
titled to the prize ; subject, however, to Rule 2.
SLIDING KEELS.
9. No yachts which are fitted with machinery to shift keels,
or otherwise to alter their form, shall be permitted to enter.
MEMBER ON BOARD.
10. Every yacht sailing in a race shall have on board a mem-
ber of a recognised yacht club, who, before the prize is awarded,
shall, if required, sign a declaration, that the yacht under his
charge has strictly conformed to all the sailing regulations.
DISTINGUISHING FLAGS.
11. Each yacht must carry, at her main topmast head, a rect-
angular distinguishing flag, of a suitable size, which must not be
hauled down unless she gives up the race. If the topmast be
lowered on deck or carried away, the flag must be rehoisted in a
conspicious place, as soon as possible.
INSTRUCTIONS.
12. Every yacht entered for a race shall, at the time of
entry, or as soon after as possible, be supplied with written or
printed instructions as to the conditions of the race, the course to
be sailed, marks, &c., and nothing shall be considered as a mark
in the course unless specially named as such in these instructions.
SAILS.
13. There shall be no restrictions as to sails, or the manner of
setting and working them ; but steam power must not be used
for hoisting sails.
232
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
CREW AND FRIENDS.
14. There shall be no limit as to the number of paid hands,
and no restrictions as to the number of friends, or to their work-
ing. No paid hand to join or leave a yacht after the signal to
start. [This rule is not intended to apply to Corinthian matches.]
FITTINGS AND BALLAST.
15. All yachts to be fitted below deck with the ordinary fittings
of a yacht, including two transverse bulkheads of wood, and
their platforms to be kept down, and bulkheads standing. No
water shall be started from or taken into the tanks after the sig-
nal to start has been made. No more than the usual anchors and
chains to be carried during a race, which must not be used as
shifting ballast, or for altering the trim of the yacht. No bags
of shot shall be on board, and all ballast shall be properly stowed
under the platform or in lockers, and shall not be shifted or
trimmed in any way whatever during a race. No ballast to be
shipped or unshipped after 4 A.M. on the day of the race. A race
resailed shall, so far as regards this rule, be considered a new
race.
BOATS AND LIFE BUOYS.
16. Yachts exceeding thirty and under seventy tons, shall
carry a boat on deck not less than ten feet in length and three
feet six inches beam, and yachts of seventy tons and over, one of
not less than twelve feet in length, and three feet six inches
beam, with oar? lashed in them ready for immediate use. Each
yacht to carry at least one life buoy on deck.
STARTING.
17. The yachts to start from moorings, anchors, or under
way, as directed by the Sailing Committee. Half an hour before
the time of starting one of the following flags of the Commercial
Code shall be hoisted as a preparative flag for the yachts of each
successive race ; in case of a start from anchors or moorings to
t;iko up their stations for the start with headsails down, or all
The Yacht Racing Association. 233
-sails down, as the Sailing Committee may direct ; or in case the
start be a flying one, to approach the starting line, viz:
B of Commercial Code for the yachts of the 1st Race
C 2nd "
D 3rd u
F 4th "
and so on.
Five minutes before the start the preparative Flag to be low-
ered and a Blue Peter hoisted, and a gun fired. At the expira-
tion of five minutes exactly the Blue Peter to be hauled down
and a second gun fired as a signal to start. If the start is to be
made from anchors or moorings, lots shall be drawn for stations,
and springs shall be allowed on the same bridle or anchor chain
or warp as the bowfasts, but are not to be carried to a buoy,
pier, other vessel, or fixed object. If any yacht lets go or parts
her bridle before the signal to start, or if she drags any moorings
or anchor to which he is made fast for the purpose of starting,
she shall be liable to be disqualified, unless such parting or
dragging be explained to the satisfaction of the Committee, or
unless she has returned, after the signal to start, within the line
of starting buoys, so as not to obtain any advantage by the ac-
cident . In case of a flying start, no yacht to cross the line pre-
viously pointed out until after the signal to start ; or should she
have done so, she must return and recross the line. Should the
gun miss fire, the lowering of the Blue Peter to be the signal to
start.
MEETING END ON.
18. If two yachts are meeting end on, or nearly end on, so as
to involve risk of collision, the helms of both shall be put to
port, so that each may pass on' the port side of the other.
TWO YACHTS CROSSING.
19. When two yachts are crossing so as to involve risk of
collision, then if they have the wind on different sides, the yacht
the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the
234 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
yacht with the wind on the starboard side, except in the case in
which the yacht with the wind on the port side is close hauled
and the other yacht free, in which case the latter yacht shall
keep out of the way ; but if they have the wind on the same
side, or if one of them has the wind aft, then the yacht which is
to windward shall keep out of the way of the yacht which is to
leeward.
OVERTAKING, ROUNDING, MARKS, ETC.
20. A yacht overtaking another yacht shall keep out of the
way of the last mentioned yacht, but when rounding any buoy
or vessel used to mark out the course, should two yachts not be
clear of each other at the time the leading yacht is close to, and
actually rounding the mark, the outside yacht must give the
other room to pass clear of it, whether it be the lee or weather
yacht which is in danger of fouling the mark. No yacht to be
considered clear unless so much a-head as to give a free choice
to the other on which side she will pass. An overtaking yacht
shall not, however, be justified in attempting to establish an over-
lap, and thus force a passage between the leading yacht and the
mark after the latter yacht has altered her helm for the pur-
pose of rounding.
OBSTRUCTIONS TO SEA ROOM.
21. When passing pier, shoal, rock, vessel, or other obstruc-
tion to sea room, should yachts not be clear of each other, the
outside yacht or yachts must give room to the yacht in danger of
fouling such obstruction, whether she be the weather or the lee-
ward yacht ; provided always that an overlap has been estab-
lished before an obstruction is actually reached.
tab-
LUFFING AND BEARING AWAY.
22. A yacht may luff as she pleases to prevent another pass-
ing to windward, but must never bear away to hinder her pass-
ing to leeward the lee side to be considered that on which the
leading yacht of the two carries her main boom. The over-
taking vessels, if to leeward, must not luff until she has drawn
clear ahead of the yacht she has overtaken.
The Yacht Racing Association. 235
CLOSE HAULED APPROACHING SHORE.
23. If two yachts are standing towards a shore or shoal, or
towards any buoy, boat or vessel, and the yacht to leeward is
likely to run aground, or foul of such buoy, boat or vessel, and
is not able to tack without coming into collision with the yacht
to windward, the latter shall at once tack, on being hailed to do
so by the owner of the leeward yacht, or the person acting a&
his representative, who shall be bound to see that his own vessel
tacks at the same time.
RUNNING AGROUND ETC.
24:. Any yacht running on shore, or foul of a buoy, vessel, or
other obstruction, may use her own anchors, boats, warps, &c.,
to get off, but may not receive any assistance except from the
crew of the vessel fouled. Any anchor, boat, or warp used
must be taken on board again before she continues the
race.
FOULING YACHTS, MARKS, ETC.
25. Each yacht must go fairly round the course; and must
not touch any buoy, boat, or vessel used to mark it out, but shall
not be disqualified if wrongfully compelled to do so by another
yacht. If a yacht, in consequence of her neglect of any of these
rules, shall foul another yacht, or compel other yachts to foul,
she shall forfeit all claim to the prize, and shall pay all
damages.
SWEEPS.
26. No towing, sweeping, poling, or pushing, or any mode of
propulsion except sails, shall be allowed.
ANCHORING.
27. Yachts may anchor during a race, but must weigh their
anchor again, and not slip. No yacht shall during a race make
fast to any buoy, stage, or pier, or send an anchor out in a boat,
except for the purpose of rule 24.
SOUNDING.
28. No other means of sounding than the lead and line
allowed.
236 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
MAN OVERBOARD.
29. In case of a man falling overboard from a competing
yacht, all other yachts in a position to do so shall use their
utmost endeavors to render assistance; and if it should appear
that any yacht was prevented thereby winning the race, the
committee shall have power to order it to be re-sailed.
PROTESTS.
30. Should the owner of any yacht, or the person acting as
his representative, consider that he has a fair ground of complaint
against another for foul sailing, or any violation of these rules,
he must, if it arise during the race, immediately signify the same
by showing an ensign conspicuously in the main rigging. The
protest shall be made in writing, and under such regulations (if
any) as the Sailing Committee may determine, within twelve
hours of the termination of the race, and shall be heard and
decided by the Sailing Committee after such inquiries as they may
consider necessary.
REMOVAL OF FLAG BOAT.
31. Should any flag vessel or boat be removed from its
proper position, either by accident or design, the race shall be
sailed over again, or not, at the option of the Sailing Commit-
tee.
PENALTY FOR DISOBEYING RULES.
32. Any yacht wilfully disobeying or infringing any of these
rules, which shall apply to all yachts whether sailing in the same
or different races, shall be disqualified from receiving any prize
she would otherwise have won, and her owner shall be liable for
all damages arising therefrom.
Should a flagrant breach of these rules be proved against any
yacht, her sailing master may be disqualified by the Council for
one season from sailing in any race held under the rules of the
Yacht Racing Association.
CRUISING TRIM.
33. When yachts are ordered to sail in cruising trim,
following rules are to be strictly observed:
The Yacht Racing Association. 237
1. No doors, tables, cabin skylights, or other cabin or deck
fittings (davits excepted) are to be removed from their places be-
fore or during the race.
2. No sails or other gear are to be put into the main
cabin.
3. Anchors and chains suitable to the size of the yacht are
to be carried, one at the cathead, which anchor is not to be un-
shackled from the chain before or during the race.
4. Yachts exceeding thirty and under seventy tons, shall
carry a boat on deck not less than ten feet in length and three
feet six inches beam yachts of seventy tons and over, their
usual cutter and dingy.
5. No extra hands, except a pilot, beyond the regular crew of
the yacht, are to be allowed.
APPENDIX.
The Yacht Racing Association further recommend for the consideration
of Sailing Committees :
ALLOWANCE TO SCHOONERS AND YAWLS.
1st. That as mixed races are no satisfactory test of the rela-
tive speed of yachts, whenever possible, the different rigs should
be kept separate ; but when mixed races are unavoidable, the
following rule shall be observed :
The tonnage of schooners and yawls to be reckoned for time
allowance as follows: viz., schooners at three-fifths, and yawls at
four-fifths of their actual tonnage. In calculating the deduction
for difference of rig, the tonnage by certificate to the exact frac-
tion to be used. In computing the time allowances from the re-
sult, ^ and over to be considered a ton. Schooners and yawls
to be allowed to- enter in classes at the reduced tonnage.
FLYING STARTS.
2nd. That flying starts should be adopted when practicable,
but no time should be allowed for delay in starting.
238
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
NO LIMIT TO RACE.
3rd. That any limit to the time for concluding a race should
; be avoided as far as possible.
CLASSIFICATION.
4th. That the classification of yachts should, when practica-
ble, be as follows :
Not exceeding ........ 10 tons.
Above 10 tons and not exceeding . . 20 "
" 20 "
40 "
" 80 "
80 "
COURSES.
5th. That as distance is an important element in the calcula-
tion of time allowance,'the marks and Flagboats should be placed
so as to mark as accurately as possible the length of the course,
for which time is allowed.
ROUNDING MARKS.
6th. That in heavy weather it should be arranged, if practi-
cable, for yachts to stay instead of gybe round marks.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE KULE OF THE ROAD AT SEA.
The Field, London, April 8, 1876.
THE ALBERTA AND THE MISTLETOE.
The papers relating to the collision between the Alberta and
the yacht Mistletoe were issued a few days ago. Amongst the
inclosures is the following from Rear-Admiral Robert Hall, C.
B., Secretary of the Admiralty, to the Commander-in-chief at
Portsmouth, communicating the decision arrived at by the Lords
of the Admiralty as to the responsibility of the officers of the
Alberta in regard to the disaster :
" ADMIRALTY, Dec. 28, 1875.
"SiK : With reference to the report of the Court of Inquiry,
which was held in pursuance of the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty's order of the 30th August last, into the circum-
stances of the collision between Her Majesty's ship Alberta and
the yacht Mistletoe, I am commanded to acquaint you that my
lords have not taken any action in the matter pending the result
of the Coroner's inquests upon the bodies of the persons who
were unfortunately drowned on the occasion. I am now to in-
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
form you that my lords desire that you will acquaint Captain H
S. H., the Prince of Leinengen and Staff Captain Welch that,
having given careful consideration to the report of the officers
who formed the court, and concurring generally in the finding at
which they arrived, my lords have come to the conclusion that as
the attention of Prince Leinengen is frequently and unavoidably
taken up by the attendance on the Queen during the time Her
Majesty is on board the Alberta in crossing the Solent, the con-
duct of the navigation is properly left to the staff captain, and
that the latter officer must be held responsible for it. My lords
further consider, in accordance with the finding of the court,
that the course steered by the Alberta should have been such,
that she could not have been brought into collision with the Mis-
tletoe through any alteration of course made by that vessel ; and
my lords cannot therefore acquit Staff Captain Welch from
blame in not having exhibited sufficient care and attention so as
to have avoided all risk of accident, and he is to be reprimanded
accordingly. My Lords are satisfied that after the collision
every effort was made with the utmost rapidity for the preserva-
tion of life. I am to add that, in dealing with this matter, my
lords have taken into consideration that Staff Captain Welch ha&
now for a great many years been in charge of the Alberta on
the occasion of her Majesty crossing the Solent; and that, up to-
the time of the unfortunate occurrence above referred to, no
accident of any kind has taken place, and that his proceedings-
have given entire satisfaction. I am, &c.,
ROBERT HALL
"Admiral George Elliot, &c., Portsmouth."
The Field, London, September, 1876.
BALMORAL, August 30, 1875.
DEAR LORD EXETER : It has appeared in the course of the
inquiry, at Gosport, that it is a common practice for private
yachts to approach the Royal yacht, when her Majesty is on
The Rule of the Road at Sea. 241
board, from motives of loyalty or curiosity. It is evident that
such a proceeding must at all times be attended with considera-
ble risk, and in summer, when the Solent is crowded with vessels,
such manoeuvres are extremely dangerous. The Queen has
therefore commanded me to request that you will kindly assist
Her Majesty in making it known to all owners of yachts how
earnestly the Queen hopes that this practice, which may lead to-
lamentable results, should be discontinued.
Believe me, dear Lord Exeter, yours faithfully,
HENRY J. PONSONBY,
The Commodore of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, E-yde.
The Field, London, May 27, 1876.
AXIOMS FOR YACHTSMEN.
We cull the following from the New York Nautical Gazette :
" Don't Don't stand up in a boat ; don't sit on the rail of a
boat ; don't let your garments trail overboard ; don't step into
a boat except in her middle; don't rise in a boat before you are
alongside ; don't pull under the bows of a ship it looks green,
and the consequences might be fatal ; don't forget to ' in fenders '
every time you shove off ; don't forget that a loaded boat keeps
her headway longer than a light one ; don't make fast with a
hitch that will jam ; don't lower away with the plug out; keep-
the plug on hand by a small lanyard to it, so that it cannot be
( led astray ' and have to be hunted up when needed. Do. Do
hoist your flags chock up nothing betokens the landsman more
than slovenly colours ; do haul taut all your geer ; do see that
no Irish pennants ' are flying adrift aloft ; do have a long scope
out in a gale ; do see that your crew keeps in its place and does
not boss the quarter deck ; do keep your men tidy and looking
sailor-like ; do limit the ' cocktails ' aft, and pay more attention
to working ship ; do keep to leeward of competing yachts when
you are not in the match yourself; do learn to be your own,
242
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
skipper and navigator it is not so difficult and impossible a
thing to acquire ; do read the Nautical G-azette if you wish to be
considered any kind of a yachtsman."
NEW THAMES YACHT CLUB.
THE RULE OF THE ROAD AT SEA,
NAIL THIS UP IN THE FORECASTLE READ, MARK, LEARN ANJ
INWARDLY DIGEST IT.
" When both side lights you see ahead
Port your helm, and show yours Red.
Green to Green or Red to Red
Keep your course and go ahead.
*' If on your starboard Red appear,
It is your duty to keep clear,
To act as judgment says is proper,
To port, or starboard, back, or stop her,
" But when upon your port is seen
A steamer's starboard light of Green,
There's not so much for you to do,
If Green do port, keeps clear of you.
" Both in safety and in doubt
Always keep a good look out,
In danger, with no room to turn,
Ease her ! stop her ! go astern !"
With the COMMODORE'S compliments.
Northwood Park, Cowes.
CHAPTER XVII.
ME. LOUBAT'S SECOND EUKOPEAN CHALLENGE.
The American Register, Paris, April 15, 1876.
THE ENCHANTRESS.
The following letter, which has been addressed to the editor
of Bell's Life, cannot fail to interest many of our readers :
PARIS, April 12, 1876.
To the Editor of Bell's Life, London.
SIR. My attention has been called to the following lines,
which appeared in your paper of Saturday, May 29, 1875 :
The American Enchantress is bound on a Norway cruise,
and has turned up racing business a very profitable move, more
than likely.
I beg leave to repeat the offer that I made through your
columns (August 15, 1874) that, if it should be agreeable to any
member of an organized European yacht club owning a schooner
yacht of at least 300 tons, Royal Thames Yacht Club measure-
ment, to sail a match for a one hundred guinea cup, with the
Enchantress, over H. R. H. the Prince of Wales's Challenge Cup
244
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
course, according to the rules and regulations and time allowance-
established for said course, I shall be most happy to sail such a
match on any day after the 15th of August next.
The race to take place on the appointed day, without regard
to wind or weather, and to be play or pay.
This offer remains open until the 15th of May next.
I am Sir, your obedient servant,
J. F. LOUBAT.
BelVs Life in London, London, April 15, 1876.
INTEKNATIONAL YACHT CHALLENGE.
We have authority to announce that Mr. J. F. Loubat, owner
of the American schooner yacht Enchantress, New York Yacht
Club, is willing to repeat the offer made in " Bell's Life," in Au-
gust, 1874, respecting an international sailing match over a fair
open water course. Mr. Loubat's challenge is as follows :
" If it should be agreeable to any member of an organized
European yacht club, owning a schooner yacht of at least 300
tons, Royal Thames Yacht Club measurement, to sail a match
for a one hundred guinea cup with the Enchantress, over H. R .
H., the Prince of Wales's Challenge Cup Course, according to the
rules and regulations and time allowance established for the said
course he (Mr. Loubat) will be most happy to sail such a match
on any day after the 15th of August next. The race to take
place on the appointed day without regard to wind or weather,
and to be play or pay. This offer remains open until the 15th
of May next.
Mr. Loubat's offer is couched in fair, sportsmanlike terms,
but unfortunately, through restricting the weight to 300 tons,
there would be but the Boadicea, Elmina, and Guinevere eligible
to compete with the Enchantress. The Guinevere's past per-
formance would, of course, cause her to be regarded as the
English representative vessel, but now that she has dropped to
the cruising class racing in her case is out of the question, and
Mr. Loubafs Second European Challenge. 245
neither the Boadicea nor the Elmina is equipped for racing.
There is Mr. Adrian Hope's new schooner Fortuna, up to the
size, but we have nothing to justify us in supposing that she is
intended for other than a cruiser, and we are, therefore,
afraid that, as in the case of Mr. Loubat's challenge of August,
1874, the present will be also allowed to pass by unnoticed by
English yachtsmen.
The Field, London, April 15, 1876.
THE AMERICAN YAGHT ENCHANTRESS.
Sm: My attention has been called to some remarks which ap-
peared in print some time since relating to the Enchantress hav-
ing "turned up racing."
I beg leave to repeat the offer that I made through your
columns August 15, 1874, that, if it should be agreeable to any
member of an organised European yacht club owning a schooner
yacht of at least 300 tons, R. T. Y. C. measurement, to sail a
match for a one hundred guinea cup with the Enchantress over
H. R. H. the Prince of Wales's Challenge Clip course, according
to the rules and regulations and time allowance established for
said course, I shall be most happy to sail such a match on any
day after the 15th of August next, the race to take place on the
appointed day without regard to wind or weather, and to be play
or pay. This offer remains open until the 15th of May next.
PARIS, April 12, 1876. J. F. LOUBAT.
Land and Water, London, April 15, 1876.
CHALLENGE FROM YACHT ENCHANTRESS.
I beg leave to repeat the offer that I made on August 15,
1874, that if it should be agreeable to any member of an organ-
ized European yacht club owning a schooner yaeht of at least
-300 tons, R. T. Y. C. measurement, to sail a match for a one
hundred guinea cup with the Enchantress over H. R. H. the
Frince of Wales's Challenge Cup course, according to the rules
246
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
and regulations and time allowance established for said course,.
I shall be most happy to sail such a match on any day after the
15th of August next; the race to take place on the appointed
day, without regard to wind or weather, and to be play or pay-
This offer remains open until the 15th of May next.
J. F. LOUBAT.
Hunt's Yachting Magazine, London, May, 1876.
CHALLENGE FKOM THE YACHT ENCHANTEESS.
I beg leave to repeat the offer that I made on August 15,
1874, that if it should be agreeable to any member of an organized
European yacht club owning a schooner yacht of at least 300
tons, B. T. Y. C. measurement, to sail a match for a one
hundred guinea cup with the Enchantress over H. B. H. the
Prince of Wale's Challenge Cup course, according to the rules
and regulations and time allowance established for said course, I
shall be most happy to sail such a match on any day after the 15th
of August next; the race to take place on the appointed day r
without regard to wind or weather, and to be play or pay. This-
offer remains open until the 15th of May next.
J. F. LOUBAT.
The New York Herald, New York, April 16, 1876.
SPECIAL DESPATCH TO THE HERALD BY CABLE.
Herald Bureau, No. 61 Avenue de 1'Opera,
Paris, April 15, 1876.
A YACHTING CHALLENGE.
Mr. J. F. Loubat publishes a challenge to any Europeai
schooner yacht of 300 tons to sail a match for a hundred guinea
cup against the Enchantress, of the! New York Yacht Club.
Mr. Loubafs Second European Challenge. 247
Galignani's Messenger, Paris, April 18, 1876.
We are requested to reproduce the following communication
addressed to the editor of BeWs Life in London :
" PARIS, April 12, 1876.
My attention has been called to the following lines, which
appeared in your paper of Saturday, May 28, 1875 :
"The American Enchantress is bound on a Norway cruise
and has turned up racing business a very profitable move, more
than likely.
I beg leave to repeat the offer that I made through your
columns (August 15, 1874), that, if it should be agreeable to
any member of an organized European yacht club owning a
schooner yacht of at least 300 tons Royal Thames Yacht Club
measurement to sail a match for a one hundred guinea cup, with
the Enchantress, over H.K.H., the Prince of Wales's Challenge
Cup course, according to the rules and regulations and time
allowance established for said course. I shall be most happy to
sail such a match on any day after the 15th of August next.
The race to take place on the appointed day, without regard to
wind or weather, and to be play or pay. This offer remains
open until the 15th of May next. Accept, etc.,
J. F. LOUBAT.
The American Register, Paris, June 27, 1876.
THE YACHT ENCHANTKESS.
The Sport calls particular attention to the challenge of Mr.
Loubat, which it published on the 19th of April, and which also
appeared in our columns, and says that its readers will be sur-
prised to find that no English yacht has yet decided to race with
the Enchantress. It will be remembered that she came out to
Europe to sail for the Prince of Wales's Challenge Cup open to
English and American yachts. The race was to take place on
the 6th of August, 1874, but on the 5th, Mr. Loubat was oifici-
248
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
ally informed by the Royal Yacht Squadron, that Mr. Mulhol-
land's yacht, the Egeria, having sprung her gaff, the only yacht
ready to sail against the Enchantress was that of the Duke of
Eutland, the Shark ; and as, according to the terms of the Prince
of Wales's gift, three starters were required, there could be no
race, unless Mr. Loubat would defer it until Friday. To this
request he readily acceded. On the day selected the Enchant-
ress broke down, and notwithstanding his subsequent challenges,
in 1874 and 1876, Mr. Loubat has not yet been able to have a
race.
CHAPTER XVIIL
THE LOUBAT CAPE MAY CUP KACE.
The New York Herald, New York, March 26, 1875.
NEW YOEK YACHT CLUB.
The second general meeting of the New York Yacht Club
was held last evening at the club rooms, Madison avenue and
Twenty seventh street Commodore Kingsland in the chair.
MR. LOUBAT PRESENTS A CUP.
The Secretary presented and read the following letter from
Mr. J. F. Loubat, owner of the schooner Enchantress :
PARIS, February 20, 1875.
To the Commodore, Officers and Members of the
New York Yacht Club :
GENTLEMEN: Should it be agreeable to the New York Yacht
Club, I should be most happy to present the club with a $1,000
cup, to be sailed for on the second Thursday of October, 1876,
by schooner yachts of 100 tons and upward, belonging to any
organized yacht club in the world.
250
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
All yachts to be measured by a person appointed by the New
York Yacht Club, according to the club measurement; time
allowance to be the same as that for His Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales's Challenge Cup yacht race, i.e., twelve seconds
per ton ; the New York Yacht Club regulations to be adhered
to ; no entrance fee. Course, from off Owl's Head, New York
harbor, to and around the Sandy Hook Lightship, leaving the
same on the starboard hand, thence to and around the Lightship
on Five Fathom Bank off Cape May, N. J., and return to the
Sandy Hook Lightship, leaving both on the port hand.
The owner of any vessel winning the prize will be required,
before the prize is delivered, to sign a declaration that the sail-
ing regulations have been strictly conformed to.
I remain, gentlemen, your very obedient servant,
J. F. LOUBAT.
This cup was accepted, with the thanks of the Club, and
referred to the Regatta Committee, with power to arrange term*
and necessary details with Mr. Loubat.
The election of new members being in order, forty-one gen-
tlemen were added to the roll of the club. Adjourned.
The New York Times, New York, August 23, 1876.
A NEW CHALLENGE CUP.
The silver cup ordered by Mr. J. F. Loubat, owner of the
yacht Enchantress, of Tiffany & Co., for presentation as a token
of regard to the New York Yacht Club has just been completed
and is now on exhibition at Tiffany's salesrooms, in Union
square. The cup, with the base, is forty-two inches in height,
and is entirely different from any yet made by the firm. It is
ornamented in the Renaissance style, with a broad base, tapering
gradually to a fluted, basket-like top, ornamented with laurel
wreaths. Two heads are wrought at the terminus of the neck,
The Loubat Cape May Cup Race. 2 5 1
between them being gold anchors, the cordage of which entwines
the body of the cup. The handles represents the prows of
barges, imitative of the early Eastern craft. From each side of
these prows heavy gold chain cables are run into holes at the
bottom of the bowl. The standard of the cup is decorated with
a group of anchors, its broadest portion being ornamented with
the heads of nymphs rising from leaves of water lilies. The
resting base of the cup is made of rich ebony, ornamented on
one side with a broad shield trimmed with palm leaves, and in-
tended for future inscription. The side of the cup itself is
engraved with the name of the donor, and the Club to which the
gift is presented. The cup will be sailed for during the second
week in October, in a regatta open to yachts of 100 tons and
upward, of any club in the world.
The New York Herald, New York, October 15, 1876.
YACHTING.
The Race to Cape" May Lightship and Return for the Loubat Cup. The
Schooner Atalanta Wins Light and Variable Winds Throughout the
Race.
The yachting season came to a conclusion yesterday with the
finish of the race for the Loubat Cup. It is a matter of regret
that the Atalanta and Idler were the only two competitors for
what is, without doubt, one of the handsomest pieces of plate
ever offered as a prize in a yacht race, but the lateness in the sea-
son prevented many yacht owners from entering their boats, as
they had already laid them up for the winter. The result of the
race astonished most yachtsmen, as they had made up their mind
that the Atalanta was no match for the Idler, the heroine of so
many aquatic triumphs. Probably, with the exception of Mr.
William Astor, the owner, and some few of his friends who were
aware of the excellent sailing qualities of their yacht, the Atalanta
had no friends that cherished a hope of her coming out ahead.
She certainly won the Kane regatta last year, but that was hardly
252
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
considered a fair test of her merits, and then her antagonist on
this occasion owned a reputation for speed in all weather second
to none in the country. The race to Cape May and back, though
not exactly a thorough trial of the qualities of the two yachts,
certainly gives the Atalanta the right to a position in the front
rank of our flyers, and take her in a race of twenty miles to wind-
ward and return it would be hard to find any boat of her size
that would not be badly pushed to beat her. Of course the Ata-
lanta was favored by the wind going down to the Five Fathom
Lightship, but coming back both yachts had about the same
breeze, and then she appeared to make the fastest time. Mr.
Samuel S. Colgate, the owner of the Idler, is naturally very much
disappointed at the result of the race, as he felt pretty confident
of winning, but next season he will probably be able to have
another trial over a course where the speed of the two yach
will be thoroughly tried.
Early this season Mr. Loubat sent a communication to th
New York Yacht Club offering a $1,QQO cup to be sailed for
over the Cape May course under certain stipulations mention
in the following circular:
ct-
:
)r
1
NEW YORK YACHT CLUB, Oct. 2, 1875.
The race for the Loubat Ocean Cup, for schooners, will be
sailed on Thursday, October 12, 1876, and is open to schooner
yachts of all nations of 100 tons and over; time allowance to be
the same as that for His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales'
Challenge Cup yacht race i. e. 9 twelve seconds per ton. New
York Yacht Club regulations to beadhered to No entrance fee.
The course will be from off Owl's Head, New York harbor,
over the regular regatta course of the New York Yacht Club, to
and around the Sandy Hook Lightship, leaving the same on the
starboard hand; thence to and around the Lightship on Five
Fathom Bank, off Cape May, and return to Sandy Hook Light-
ship, leaving both on the port hand.
The start will be made at three o'clock p. M., and the time of
the competing yachts will be taken as they pass between th<
n tiie
The Loubat Cape May Cup Race.
judges' boat and the Long Island shore. The signals for starting
will be given from the judges' boat, as follows : For a prepara-
tory signal, one gun, and the club signal will be lowered; ten
minutes later, for the yachts to cross the line, the same signals
will be repeated. No yacht's time will be taken after the expir-
ation of fifteen minutes from the second signals, unless instruc-
tions to the contrary are given on the day of the race.
The owner of any vessel winning the prize will be required
before it is delivered, to sign a declaration that the sailing regula-
tions have been strictly conformed to.
Entries must be made to the Secretary of the club at the club
house, Madison avenue and Twenty-seventh street, on or before
Wednesday, October 11.
G. L. HAIGHT,
Chairman Regatta Committee, N. Y. Y. C~
C. A. MINTON,
Secretary N. Y. Y. C.
The fact that the race was to be sailed with time allowance
is said to have deterred some of the large keel schooners from
competing, but considering that it was a race of about 228
miles, twelve seconds per ton did not make much differ-
ence.
THE RACE.
On Thursday afternoon a number of gentlemen who were going
to participate in the race for the Loubat Cup left the city by the
two o'clock boat for Stapleton, Staten Island. On arriving there
the two competing yachts, the Idler and the Atalanta, were tack-
ing about, waiting for the starting signal. Mr. S. M. Mills,
accompanied by Mr. G. L. Haight, the chairman of the Regatta
Committee, went on board his schooner yacht Vesta, which he
had kindly placed at the disposal of the judges, and getting
under weigh stood across toward the Long Island shore and let
go her anchor off Owl's Head. It was a beautiful afternoon, and
although a trifle more wind would have been an improvement
there was a light southerly breeze that gave promise of strength-
254 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
ening. In order to lose no time Mr. Gr. L. Haight gave orders
to fire the peparatory signal, and at 3 h. 15 m. P. M. a gun was
fired that gave the racing yachts ten minutes to get ready. They
were both under main and foresail, main club topsail, jib, flying
jib and jib-topsail. The second gun was fired at 3 h. 25 m., and
then the yachts came up toward the imaginary line between the
Vesta and Owl's Head. The Atalanta was the first to cross and
make a reach across to the Staten Island shore on the port tack.
The Idler followed two minutes later on the starboard tack, hug-
ging th,e Long Island shore. The following is the time of the
yachts as they crossed :
TIME.
YACHT. NAME. TONNAGE. H. M. S.
Atalanta Mr. William Astor 145.56 3 32 30
Idler Mr. Samuel J. Colgate .... 191.26 3 34 30
I
The steam yacht Ideal was out to see the start, and followed
behind the racers. As soon as the yachts had crossed the line
Mr. Mills weighed anchor, and the Vesta accompanied them a
a short distance outside the Narrows. The wind was rather
variable, as on the Staten Island side it appeared to have a little
westing, while off Long Island it was nearly southwest.
The Atalanta made a short leg on the starboard, and then
stayed and headed again for Staten Island, fetching to the lee-
ward of Fort Wadsworth. She then stretched across toward
Fort Lafayette, but the tide was running flood, and she only
crossed the Idler's bow about 300 yards ahead. She tacked
under the lee of Fort Hamilton and made a stretch back, and
only just succeeded in weathering the Idler. On the next leg
she again opened the gap, and going in stays headed well up to-
ward Gravesend, from whence she reached out in the bay. Re-
turning on the starboard tack the Atalanta crossed the Idler's
bows, the latter giving way; and when they came together again
the Atalanta tacked under the lee of the Idler, as the latter had
the right of way, and the pair ran alongside of one another up
to Murray's Dock, when they went about, the Atalanta off the
Idler's weather beam. After a short contest the Idler gradually
y
ERSITY
The Lo^lbat Cape May Cup Race. 255
eat up to windward and came out off the Atalanta's weather bow.
The Idler was well handled and out manoeuvred the Atalanta,
which would probably have done better to pass under her stern
than to tack under her lee. The breeze was still steady, but
appeared to be hauling more to the westward. Both yachts
now headed toward the Quarantine ship, and the Idler was do-
ing good work, forereaching and going to windward of the Ata-
lanta. Off Quarantine Island the Idler broke tacks and stood
to the eastward, the Atalanta holding on the port tack. She
finally stayed off the Hospital ship, and making a stretch to the
eastward crossed the Idler's wake about a quarter of a mile
astern. The sun was just setting and its golden rays were illum-
inating the autumnal tinted foliage of the woods on Staten
Island. The Atalanta tacked and followed after the Idler, both
yachts making a long leg on the port tack. On the next stretch
they weathered the Southwest Spit buoy, passing as follows :
Idler, 6 h. 00 m. ; Atalanta, 6 h. 05 m.
They both then gave a little sheet, and the Atalanta set a stay
sail. They ran very quickly past the point of the Hook, and
with sheets lifted made fast time on their road to the Lightship.
The night was rather chilly, and the breeze appeared to be fresh-
ening every minute. They ran down to the Lightship with their
booms to port, and the Idler turned first about five minutes
ahead of the Atalanta. The yachts then parted company, and
the Idler stayed and stood in shore on the port tack, and the Ata-
lanta trimmed in her sheets and headed off southeast. The
breeze began to edge round to the westward, and in about three-
quarters of an hour the Atalanta was laying her course and skip-
ping along at a fast gait. At midnight Barnegat was southwest
from the Atalanta, and at 1 h. 30 m: A. M. it bore west by north.
The breeze then begun to let up, and at 3 h. 15m. the Atalanta
sent up club foretopsail and balloon-staysail. The Atalanta must
have passed the Idler about 3 h. A. M., as the latter was then
well in shore, near Little Egg Harbor, with hardly any wind.
At 4 h. 05 m. A. M. Little Egg Harbor bore west northwest, and
presently the gloom of night began to pass away and daylight
256 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
coining up disclosed the Idler some seven miles astern of the
Atalanta. The breeze was then about west northwest, but very
light, and the Atalanta was making about two or three knots an
hour, running a couple of points free. At first the Idler ap-
peared to be closing up the gap as her hull became more
apparent, but after an hour or so she went back, hull down.
At 6 h. 05 m. A. M. Absecom Light bore west northwest, and
shortly afterward the breeze freshened a little, and the Atalanta
was making about four knots. The morning was bright and
pleasant, with a pretty hot sun, making it more like an August
than an October day. At 8 h. 30 m. the breeze began to die r
and the Atalanta sent up a balloon staysail and set a balloon jib.
The Idler was still some six or seven miles astern, evidently not
much better off in the way of wind. The sea was as smooth as
a millpond, and there was just sufficient breeze to give steerage
way. At 9 h. 43 m. the lookout on the Atalanta sighted the Five
Fathom Lightship.
For the next two hours there was a light fanning breeze from
the westward and about 11 h. A.M. it hauled round to the north-
ward. The Atalanta winged out, but it did not do her much
good as the wind died away entirely, For the next half hour
there were little catspaws of air coming from all directions and
finally a light breeze settled down from south southwest. The
Atalanta then trimmed down on the wind and after tacking
around for about an hour and a half rounded the Five Fathom
Lightship at 1 h. 37 m. P.M. She then headed for home, starting
at first under all her light canvas, with her booms to starboard.
The breeze gradually strengthened and she slipped along at
about a four knot gait. The wind coming more aft the fore
boom was shifted out and she went along wing and wing. In
the meantime the Idler was tacking around and trying to weather
the Lightship, a feat she finally accomplished at 3 h. 23 m., just
1 h. 46 m. behind the Atalanta, equivalent to about seven miles.
The Atalanta trotted along on her course, improving her gait as
the breeze freshened, and the Idler sank lower and lower on the
horizon, until at last 5 h. 05 m. P. M. she disappeared all to-
The Loubat Cape May Cup Race. 267
gether. Absecom Light then bore west, about ten miles distant-
After passing Absecom Light the Atalanta sent over her f oreboom
and hauled up a couple of points, skipping along at about an
eleven knot gait, on the port tack. The breeze was now pretty
fresh and dead on the beam, so that the main sheet stood a little
trimming down. At 10 h. 25 m. P.M. Barnegat Light was north-
west, and at 11 h. 05 m. it was bearing west about a point and a
half abaft of the beam. Toward morning the breeze lightened
up a little, and the Atalanta finally rounded the Sandy Hook
Lightship at 4 h. 01 m. 30 s yesterday morning, the winner of tne
Loubat Cup. She was well handled during the race, and Captain
S. "W. Freestone and his mate^Charles Johnson, deserve credit for
the way they worked her light canvas. Captain Feter Roff and
Captain Dan, of the "Wanderer, were also on board lending
a helping hand. The Idler rounded the Lightship at 6 h. 54 m.
and followed the Atalanta, which had started immediately after
rounding for Staten Island.
The following is the time of the race :
Start. Finish. Actual Corrected
time. time.
H.M.S. H.M.S.. H. M. S. H. M. S^
Atalanta 3 32 30 4 01 30 36 29 00 36 19 52.
Idler 3 34 30 6 54 00. . . .39 19 00. . . .39 19 00.
The Atalanta therefore won the cup by 2 h. 50 m. actual time y .
and 2 h., 59 m., 8 s. corrected time. She was built by David
Caril, of City Island, on about ten feet of the keel of the old
Calypso that was destroyed by fire. She left last night for Hhine-
beck on the Hudson, where the owner Mr. Astor has his country
residence. Mr. Astor intends to start shortly for a cruise in
Southern waters.
CHAPTER XIX.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Field, London, October 6, 1877.
THE ENCHANTRESS SOLD.
Mr. J. F. Loubat has disposed of this yacht to Major
Williams.
TJie Illustrated Sporting Lh^amatic Time*, New York, June 12, 1878.
YACHTING OF THE UNITED STATES,
The lover and amateur of this time-honored pastime of yacht-
ing cannot help, if he be at all observant, feeling joyous and en-
couraged at its rapid progress in American waters. Indeed one
has to watch the press to possess a correct idea of its rapid ad-
vancement. In every section of the country not only in the
harbors, bays and rivers of the older States, but on the little
lakes, bayous and inlets of the most distant part of our country's
broad domain, the white wings of the yacht and pleasure-boat
and their picturesque beauty to the panorama. We have been
led to this brief reflection by indulging in a retrospective glance
at the number of yachts which have been built, and the many
yachting organizations which have been formed around us during
the past twenty years. As an ardent amateur of the pastime, it
Miscellaneous. 269
affords us heartfelt pleasure to record this fact ; and we sincerely
hope the prevailing spirit will never culminate until the Ameri-
can yachting marine outnumbers as it now outsails the world.
It is not "many years since those who evinced an interest in
aquatic matters could almost enumerate the pleasure-craft
throughout the country. Then, the yachts belonging to the gen-
tlemen of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Mobile,
New Orleans, etc., were familiarly known to all amateurs of
yachting. Now, the case is far different ; the increase and influ-
ence, especially of the clubs located in the vicinity of the me-
tropolis have given an extraordinary impetus to yachting recrea-
tion in every locality. Clubs composed of vessels of large and
small dimensions, are found in every seaport of our land. In-
land places and the harbors of our great lakes, as well as the
river towns and villages, attest and give practical evidence of our
assertion.
The New York Yacht Club, the pioneer club of the country,
has performed yeoman service in developing the pastime; and its
signals and vessels have conferred an unfading lustre upon our
yachting annals. As we are now in the regatta season, it may
not be inappropriate to briefly recall some of the principal
events which adorn and honor the yachting record of the United
States. First of all, in regard to its importance and to the name
it won for us, from the en tire yachting world, must be mentioned
the America's visit to Great Britain. Of her beauty of model
(a monument to this hour of the lamented George Steer's genius
and talent as a naval architect ;) of her hollow victories over
England's crack yachts, in fleets and singly, not one being able to
give her a decent race, we will not dilate, as it long since passed
into familiar and glorious American yachting history. The gal-
lant little schooner is now the property of General B. F. Butler,
and has proven herself as hard to beat in modern times, notwith-
standing all modern improvements, as she was in the days of
Auld Lang Syne. Long may she fly the legend she so nobly
won when she distanced the British fleet. " The Yankee's ahead r
the rest nowhere ! "
260
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
The sloop yacht Silvie's visit to England in 1853, although
not resulting in any great amount of sailing honors is worthy of
mention as Mr. Louis A. Depau, her owner, after starting in a
regatta which he did with reluctance, as the wind was very light,
and the whole sail turned out a drifting, instead of a sailing
match. She came in second, the Julia, a craft about half her
size coming in first. The Silvie was a centre-board sloop, of one
hundred and six tons, eighty feet long, twenty-four feet beam.
The second prize, a cup, was won by the Silvie, but Mr. Depau
wishing to gain some honors for his sloop and the New York
Yacht Club, before returning across the Atlantic, naturally de-
sired another and more satisfactory test. In the regatta above
alluded to, all the yachts approaching the tonnage, and douole
the tonnage of the Silvie, were nowhere, among them being Mr,
Weld's champion schooner Alarm. Mr. Depau in the hope of
getting on another trial, made the following proposition to-
English yachtsmen :
First. " That the cup awarded to the yacht Silvie should be
sailed for by all yachts in the Royal Yacht Squadron, or of any
other yacht squadron in England, the Silvie to remain at anchor r
or if the committee desired, she would enter for the race with the
understanding that the distance must be performed by the win-
ning vessel in a certain number of hours, according to the
distance to be sailed over, in order thus to determine that the
race was sailed with a good breeze."
Second. " The Silvie would sail any yacht in the Royal
Yacht Squadron a round race, one-half distance to windward, for
any reasonable amount of money, according to above rule con-
cerning time.
Third. " The Silvie would sail any yacht for the honor of
the American flag."
As may be imagined, the Silvie did not get any other chance
from a people, who, as George Wilkes says, are accustomed to
" hive their victories," and soon after she voyaged to Russia and
" up the straits ;" from thence returning to New York. She
Miscellaneous. 2 6 1
crossed the Atlantic in sixteen and one-half days, returning in
thirty-five making the homeward voyage under shortened sail in
'consequence of carrying away her bowsprit and main boom. The
SiMe, now rigged as a schooner, hails from Boston, and flys the
signal of the Eastern Yacht Clubs. She was built by George
Steers.
u Another event, second only in importance, and perhaps not
second but superior in its beneficial effects upon this country's
yachting status was the renowned mid-winter ocean race across
the Atlantic of the schooner yachts Henrietta, owned by Com-
modore James G. Bennett, Fleetwing, owned by Messrs. George
and Frank Osgood, and the Vesta owned by Messrs. Pierre and
George Lorillard. The America's hollow victories placed us
ahead of the world in speed and model ; while the ocean race
silenced forever the sneers and criticisms of those who were ac-
customed to deride us as " sunshiny or feather-bed yachtsmen,
whose craft seldom ventured off soundings or outside the Light
ships." The manhood and daring of our yachtsmen, and the
staunchness and sea-going qualities of our yachts, have never
been lampooned since by any yachting writer of intelligence.
The course was from Sandy Hook lightship to the Needles Light
on the western end of the Isle of Wight, in the English Channel,
for a purse of ninety thousand dollars, thirty thousand dollars
for each yacht.
The Henrietta is a keel yacht of 205 tons, the Fleetwing, a
keel of 212 tons, and the'^Yesta, a centre-board of 201 tons. The
Henrietta won the race, although the Vesta and Fleetwing had
defeated her in match races of twenty miles to windward and
return, off Sandy Hook. A race of three thousand miles is
evidently as much a test of skillful navigation as it is of speed.
Mr. Bennett crossed on the Henrietta, and Mr. George Loril-
lard on the Yesta ; it was one of the closest and fastest races ever
known between sailing vessels, and all three yachts after separ-
ating, the first night, outside of Sandy Hook, and never sighting
<each other in the interim, arrived at the Needles within a period
of a little over two hours. This race will be forever memorable
262
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
in American yachting annals, and no subsequent yacht sailing of
either a hazardous or peaceful character, can ever cast it in the
.shade or dim its lustre. Of a truth, it forms a picture upon our
yachting escutcheon to which both our old and young yachtsmen
will always revert with true joy and satisfaction.
Happily for our limited amount of yachting literature, this
notable event has been portrayed in a highly talented manner,
which insure for it, as it richly deserves, something more than
an ephemeral existence. Colonel Stuart M. Taylor, who shared
the perils of the voyage on board the Yesta, has written " The
Log of the Yesta," which was published in five numbers of the
Aquatic Monthly, and we venture the assertion that no superior
or more beautiful composition on a yachting subject has ever
been printed on either side of the Atlantic. Colonel Taylor, a
true Knickerbocker gentleman, for many years an energetic
member of the New York Yacljt Club, is now Recorder of the
City and County of San Francisco, and we most respectfully
salute him, feeling fully sensible that the " good cause " of yacht-
ing in our land possesses no warmer defender, no more talented
advocate, and no sincerer disciple.
Of the two voyages of the schooner yacht Sappho, to En-
gland from New York we shall speak at another time in the
first of which she was defeated by entering in a regatta, as the
Silvie did, and could not get any other chance from our cousins-
before the yachting season was over. But on her second visit,
sailed by Captain Bob Fish, she literally " came the America
over them,'' duplicating that celebrated schooner's performances
and triumphs, and distancing all competitors in Brittannia's own
waters, showed the greatest yachting on the globe how squad-
rons were defeated and fields were won.
The cruise of Mr. Loubat's Enchantress, an elegant specimen
of this country's yachting marine, lasting some two or three
years and visiting all navigable foreign waters, would be highly
entertaining. Distinguished people everywhere were entertained
handsomely by her hospitable owner, and she carried creditably
the New York Yacht Club's time-honored signal all over the
Miscellaneous. 263
world. Neither must it be forgotten that, with Bob Fish at the
helm, she set her racing colors and challenged any yacht in
England, upon their own time allowance, for which handicap an
American model could not get a customer, and was obliged to go
into Winter quarters. " PEVERLLY."
Sunday Times and Noah's Weekly Messenger, New York, July 14, 1878.
A YACHTSMAN ON SHORE COLUMBIA'S HISTORICAL MEDALS*.
Mr. J. F. Loubat, so favorably known as a leading yachts-
man of the United States, from his ownership and long cruisings
in his schooner-yacht Enchantress, one of the largest and most
elegant yachts ever launched, has just published the above work,
which for patient research, ability and good taste evinced in its
composition will render it always invaluable to the student of bib-
liographic reminiscences of our land. The work was commenced
in 1862 ; the author has therefore devoted sixteen years to its
accomplishment, and made the generous outlay of twenty-five
thousand dollars to place the magnificent volumes before the
literary world. It is truly gratifying to know that this work has
been accomplished in such a thorough and talented manner ; and
that the historical facts, as depicted, leave scarcely anything
for the future, student to do, but to familiarize himself with the
data and record so plainly set before him.
In these volumes are remembered and honored our naval he-
roes, Paul Jones, Preble, Decatur, Bainbridge, Hull, Burrows,
Porter, Macdonough, etc.; and on land, Mad Anthony Wayne,
Brown, Kipley, Miller, Scott, Gaines, McComb, Andrew Jack-
son, Zachary Taylor, and many others whose names and deeds
enrich our country's patriotic annals.
*THE MEDALIC HISTOBY OF THE UNITED STATES OP AMERICA, 1776-1876.
By J. F. Loubat, Member of the New-York Historical Society, &c. With
170 etchings by Jules Jacquemart. Two volumes. Text and plates. New
York. Published by the Author. 1878.
264 A Yacht smans Scrap Book.
Yachtsmen will not miss a thorough inspection and perusal
of page 447, vol. I, which contains an etching of the first-class
life-saving medals given to Col. J. Schuyler Crosby, now consul
to Florence, and Carl Fosberg, for saving the life of Miss Edith
May, and endeavoring to* rescue the late Miss Adele Hunter and
Commodore William T. Garner and his wife, at the sinking of the
yacht Mohawk, in New York Harbor, July 20, 1876; awarded
June 8, 1877. Many of our readers may remember that the late
Mr. Louis B. Montant and Mr. G. G. Howland, also exhibited
on board the Mohawk, heroic conduct, and a perfect disregard of
self during this sad fatality. Many thought they would be re-
membered also, and perhaps they would have been, if the atten-
tion of the government had been directed toward a public recog-
nition of their bravery during this time of peril.
The perseverance which Mr. Loubat has exhibited in the
preparation of this history, stamps him not only as an accom-
plished but as a most indomitable historian ; and his tact and ju-
dicious system as a collector is evinced in almost every paragraph
of this truly great work ; and that his years of labor and re-
search have been pursued con amore, is apparent on every page.
Our first national token was struck in honor of George Wash-
ington, as a reward of the government for his capture of Boston
in March, 1776. From this medal to the one awarded to John
Horn, of Detroit, for life-saving, by the act of June 20, 1874,
our national medals number just eighty-six. Our struggle for
independence is commemorated by seventeen; the war of 1812
by twenty-seven; the Mexican war by four, and medals to
ex-President Grant and the late Commodore Vanderbilt for
services during the late civil war render the enumeration
complete. A large number of the first medals were specimens
of the skill of the most accomplished French engravers, such as
A. Dupre, Duvivier, and Gatteaux.
Later medals attest the admitted skill and talent of Andrieu
Gayrard, Paquet, Rembrandt Peale, Barber, and other engrav-
ers of the highest reputation. One of the most talented review-
ers connected with our metropolitan press thus speaks of this
Miscellaneous. 265
portion of Mr. Loubat's labors : " The engravings and designs
are of all degrees of merit, from the rude and monstrous carving
of the * Red-Jacket Medal ' to the finest examples of numismatic
art. Mr. Loubat arranges the medals in chronological order, and
not only tells the story of each one, but gives a biographical
sketch of the person honored by it, an account of the designer
and engraver, and a complete transcript of the official documents,
reports of battles, etc., which the medal was struck to commem-
orate. Some of these documents he tells us are now printed for
the first time, and we need hardly say that they give his work a
high historical value. These descriptive and documentary pages,
together with a copious introduction in which he tells of his long,
patient, and ingenious search after missing medals, and gives a
narrative of the agency of Franklin, Jefferson, Humphreys, and
others in procuring the preparation of American medals in Paris,
make up the first of Mr. Loubat's stately volumes.
" The second volume contains 170 etchings, 85 plates, by
that renowned master of his art, M. Jules Jacquemart, of Paris,
whose etchings of the best pictures in our metropolitan museum
of art render his name familiar to New Yorkers. The printer
of the plates, A. Salmon, of Paris, is deserving of mention for
his perfect style of working off the etchings. The hand-made
paper, of superb linen fabric, was manufactured expressly for
Mr. Loubat, at Rives. The letter-press is the work of Francis
Hart & Co., of New York, and its execution reflects great credit
upon the head of this house, Mr. Theodore L. De Yinne. In
this work the most experienced judge is left nothing to criticise
in its elegant type, superior press work, and perfect arrangement.
" The following letter from the President of the New York
Historical Society pays an intelligent and deserved tribute to
the work :
NEW YORK, 76 University Place, May 29, 1878.
MB. J. F. LOUBAT, LL. D., etc. *
DEAR SIR: I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of the copy of
your splendid work on the Medallic History of the United States,
"which you have sent to, me for our Historical Society; and I do
266
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
not hesitate to anticipate its formal action, and return at once a
most cordial acknowledgment in its behalf. The Society will
be proud of this achievement of one of its members, and the
distinguished service you have rendered in this truly magnificent
contribution to our nation's history; and will not fail to join in a
grateful recognition of the large and liberal spirit in which you
have designed the work, and the generous manner in which you
have successfully carried it out.
With great respect,
Your obedient servant,
FREDERICK DE PEYSTER.
It has been our duty and pleasure for many years to chron-
icle the generous and earnest doings of Mr. Loubat, as one of
the representative yachtsmen of the United States; and in his
cruisings and ownership of the elegaEt schooner yacht Enchan-
tress, no gentleman has contributed in a greater degree to
elevate and dignify this country's yachting marine; yet it is
comparatively but an ephemeral pastime after all; and Mr.
Loubat's fame will live in the historical and standard literature of
America as the Author of the " Medallic History of the United
States," when the names and records of our most celebrated,
yachts have been long forgotten.
c. A. P.
THE XK\V YORK PILOT
From the Painting presented to Mr. J . /'. l.ouhat, hy the owners.
)AT J. F. LOUBAT, No. 16
I
I
I
I
CHAPTER XX.
THE NEW YORK PILOT BOAT JOSEPH F. LOUBAT
NO. 16.
6,
8 V~
7 K
i 88O.
1 KCLA-/L/
. 77L.
E. COMFORT,
W. J. BAREY,
j. MCCARTHY,
M. J. MARIGA.
268
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
The New York Herald, New York, December 19, 1880.
LAUNCH OF A PILOT BOAT.
THE JOSEPH F. LOTJBAT ADDED TO THE SANDY HOOK FLEKT.
At Ellis' shipyards in Tottenville, S. I., a number of persons
gathered yesterday morning to assist in the ceremonies of launch-
ing and christening pilot boat No. 16, of the Sandy Hook pilot's
fleet. The boat is a schooner, like all her sisters of the fleet,
and was built by Jacob S. Ellis, at an expense of $13,000, for
pilots Electus Comfort, W. J. Barry, James McCarthy and
Maurice J. Mariga. Her length, over all, is 88 feet, breadth of
beam 21 feet 2 inches, depth of hold is 9 feet, and her burden,
by carpenter's measurement, 140 tons.
The party, consisting of the four owners, all their friends of
the force of pilots who were ashore, ladies, the Eckford Social
Club, of Brooklyn, and Mr. and Mrs. Bradish Johnson, jr., and
a party of their friends were on hand early in the morning, and
as the vessel was started on her ways Mrs. Johnson smashed the
traditional bottle of champagne (extra dry) on the bows and
christened the gliding boat the "Joseph F. Loubat." The name
was chosen, it should be said, out of compliment to Mr. Loubat,
the yachtsman, whose contributions to the benevolent societies
of the pilots has earned him their friendship, and Mrs. Johnson
was chosen as the vessel's sponsor because of her relationship to
Mr. Loubat, she being his cousin.
The launch was accomplished at a quarter of ten A. M., and
was a reasonably successfully one, the vessel sliding gracefully
down to a point below high water mark. She did not float, but
stopped above the water, and it was found impracticable to coax
or drive her further down. The next high tide, however, floated
her off, as a sailor remarked, "high and dry" and she swam like
a cork in the water.
The Joseph F. Loubat is one of the handsomest of all the
fleet in appearance, and is furnished and fitted out in the most
thorough and comfortable style known to the pilots. So far as
The New York Pilot Boat, Joseph F. Loubat. 169
can be judged by her model and general appearance, and by the
favorable start in life which she received yesterday, she will, as
pilot boat No. 16, prove a credit to the gallant fleet that is already
known the world over.
The New York Times, New York, December 19, 1880.
A NEW PILOT-BOAT LAUNCHED.
A large number of persons gathered yesterday in Jacob S.
Ellis's ship yard, at Tottenville, Staten Island, to witness the
launch of the new Sandy Hook pilot boat, Joseph F. Loubat.
A special train on the Staten Island Railway conveyed a large
number of pilots and their families to Tottenville. When the
blocks were knocked from uuder the vessel, she glided down the
ways, but before her bow slipped off her stern became stuck in
the mud.
Mr. Ellis announced that pontoons would be placed each side
of the vessel, and that she would be floated at high tide. The
Loubat is larger than any pilot boat now in the service. Her
dimensions are as follows: 74 feet keel; 88 feet over all; 21
feet beam; 9 feet hold; draught of water, 11 feet. Her cabins
and state rooms are finished with hard wood, and she is fitted up
with all the latest improvements. She is owned by Staten Island
and New York pilots, and will take the place of Pilot boat No.
16. Capt. Comfort, of Brooklyn, will command her. The total
cost of the vessel is about $11,000.
The World, New York, December 19, 1880.
A NEW PILOT-BOAT LAUNCH.
The new Sandy Hook pilot boat, Joseph F. Loubat, was
launched yesterday at Captain Jacob S. Ellis's yard at Totten-
ville, S. I. When the blocks were knocked from under the ves-
sel she slid easily down the ways till the bow floated, but then
the stern stuck in the mud, and pontoons will be needed to
270
A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
free her. She is the largest of the pilot boat fleet and will take
the place of No. 16. Her dimensions are: Length along the
keel, 74 feet; length over all, 88 feet; beam, 21 feet, and draft,
11 feet, and she cost $11,000. Captain Comfort, of Brooklyn,
is to be in command.
CHAPTER XXL
THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN EGBERT FISH.
The Sun, Neic York, January 18, 1883.
A FAMOUS YACHT BUILDEK.
DEATH OF CAPTAIN ROBERT FISH WHO FASHIONED THE SAPPHO AND
THE ENCHANTRESS.
Captain Robert Fish, the yacht builder, died at his home in
Pamrapo, N. J., early yesterday morning, 70 years old, of dis-
ease incident to age. His father, David Fish, kept a boat-house
at the foot of Roosevelt street, in this city. Robert finally
opened a shop in Front street, and in 1840 he removed to 404
Water Street. In 1850, he established his yard at Pamrapo.
Among his earliest achievements were the Annie, a cabin yacht,
built for Anson Livingston, and the cabin yacht Julia for Dr.
Patten.
What he considered his greatest triumph was the remodel-
ling of the Sappho, a schooner of 300 tons, the work of another
builder. She was sent to England, and in the international races
at Cowes, was defeated.
She was brought back and sold to W. P. Douglass. Captain
Fish puts hips on her, widening her in such a way above the
bilge strake that she had much greater stability and was able
to stand up under a much greater press of canvass in a stiff
breeze. He gave the masts a greater rake, and shifted them so
272 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
as to make her steer more easily. Her ballast also was shifted^
leaving her a little by the stern, In 1870 she returned to Cowes
and won three successive races, defeating the famous English
yacht Cambria. Captain Fish was in command during the races.
Among other models made by Captain Fish were those of the
Eva, the Enchantress, and the Meteor. The Eva was built for
George Lorillard, and was never defeated. The Enchantress wa&
built by Pine of Greenpoint for George Lorillard, One of her
famous races was that of October 9, 1873, from Owl's Head
Point around the Lightskip off Cape May and return. It was a
scrub race, yachts, working schooners, and pilot boats participat-
ing, but the Enchantress carried off the cup, valued at $1,000.
J. F. Loubat was the owner of the Enchantress at this time. Mr.
Loubat afterward made an extended tour of European waters in
the Enchantress, with Captain Fish in charge. While on this
trip he noticed a number of yachts of familiar model in an Eng-
lish fleet. Asking a member of the club, a stranger, where they
came from, he was told that they were made after the model of
a Yankee yacht called the Truant, built by one Fish in New
York. The Truant was built for Moses H. Grinnell.
The Enchantress challenged all England, but there were no
takers. The Meteor tried to get a race at Cowes, but she
failed. In 1873 she sailed for the Mediterranean, and from the
English Channel to Lisbon she was logged at seventeen knots* an
The World, New York, March 24, 1887.
A WOULD READER, E. F. F., writes to know something about the speed
of transatlantic sailing ships and yachts. A ship captain could not tell the
truth about his own ship if he tried. It is not that he is untruthful. He
may be a second GEORGE WASHINGTON, but the moment the speed of his
own vessel is called into question he forgets the day he started and nlways
omits the day he arrives in telling the time of passage. There is no " offi-
cial time " of sailing vessel's crossing the Atlantic Ocean, except in the
races of the Cambria and Dauntless to New York and the Henrietta, Vesta
and Fleetwing to the other side. Even for the Sappho's time we have to
depend upon the unsupported testimony of her sailing-master. There was
no starter, no starting gun, no judges and no one to receive her. It is the
same with the Bed Jacket's time. Either made the passage in about thir-
teen days. The report, or rumor, that the Dreadnought made the run
from Sandy Hook to Queenstown Bar in 9 days, 17 hours, 3 minutes, has
no more foundation than LOCKE'S story concerning the inhabitants of the
moon.
The Death of Captain Robert Fish. 273
hour. By an error made by the navigator the Meteor ran
aground near Cape Bonn, on the coast of Africa, and was a total
wreck. Mr. Fish was among the Arabs some time, bat eventu-
ally reached home.
The Challenge, built from Mr. Fish's model, had a record of
seventeen and one-half knots an hour. Louis Lorillard's yacht,
Wanderer, was built at Greenpoint from a model by Mr. Fish.
She was 104 feet on the water line, 23 feet beam, and 8 feet
depth of hold.
Among the famous open boats built or modeled by Mr. Fish,
were the Fulton and the Bob Fish. The Fulton woo in the fam-
ous races of New Jersey against New York. The Bob Fish was-
built for Bergen Point owners, but afterward she became the
property of Colonel Yarian of this citj^. She won a number of
races.
The funeral will take place from the Methodist church, Pauo-
rapo, at 3 o'clock' to-morrow.
The Sun, New York, January 20, 1883.
AT CAPTAIN EGBERT FISH'S FUNERAL.
The snow was falling yesterday when Captain Robert Fish, the
yacht builder, was buried in New York Bay Cemetery, Pamrapo,
N. J. "We were sailing/' said the Rev. R. M. Alysworth, who
conducted the services in the Pamrapo Methodist chnrch, "over
the troubled ocean from which Captain Fish has landed. His
life, filled with activity, was a romance. Travelling in many
lands, in different classes of society, he made friends wherever
he went."
On the coffin lay a wreath and an anchor of white flowers,
one of which was the gift of J. F. Lonbat, formerly the owner
of the schooner Enchantress, which Captain Fish modelled for
Mr. Lorillard. Captain Fish sailed with Mr. Loubat for three
years. The pall-bearers were Captain Joe. Ellsworth, owner of
274 A Yachtsman s Scrap Book.
the sloops Admiral and Captain and other yachts ; William
Elsworth, E. 0. Allaire, Jr., Daniel and Jasper Cadmus, of Parn-
rapo, and Peter Stewart, sailmaker of New York. Among those
present were Messrs. J. F. Loubat, Samuel H. Pine, shipbuilder
of Brooklyn ; W. J. Jones, of Jones & Dobb, ship painters ; New
York ; Jas. Stewart, sailinaker, New York ; Philip Ellsworth, who
modelled the yacht Montauk ; A. Carey Smith, yacht designer ;
Elia Morton,* W. Bishop, ship plumber, New York, and W. B.
Nichols, of East Seventy-fourth street, New York, for whom
Captain Fish built the Julia, the Gumming, and other yachts, and
for whom, at the time of his death, he was about to build a
yucht, of which he hr.s left the model.
The World, New York, January 20, 1883.
FUNERAL OF CAPTAIN FISH.
The funeral of Captain Robert Fish took place yesterday
afternoon from the West View Avenue Methodist Episcopal
Church at Parnrapo, N. J., the Rev. Robert M. Aylsworth,
the pastor, officiating. The chief mourners were Mrs.
Robert Fish, the widow ; Mr. John Fish, the son, and
the Misses Hattie and Evelyn Fish, the daughters. Among
those present were Mr. J. F. Loubat, former owner of the En-
chantress, modelled byCaptain Fish; Captain Wm. Burril, of Ho-
boken;Mr. Fraccis, of Bloomingdale, inventor of the Francis life-
saving car and the earliest employer of Captain Fish ; Mr.
Samuel Pyne, Captain Frank Hopkins, Mr. A. Cary Smith,
Captain Philip Eles worth and Mr. Elia Morton. After the
dose of the services the casket was opened and all present in the
church defiled past it and took a last look at the remains, which
were immediately after conveyed to the New York Bay
Cemetery at Greenville, where, after the reading of the burial
service by Mr. Aylsworth, the interment took place.
THE END.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
BERKELEY
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OV I
8
BY
9Sep'64/ c
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SEP 1 '64-10
LD 21-100m-9,'47(A5702sl6)476
77^77
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