Outing; Vol. XIII.; October, 1888 to March, 1889 / An Illustrated Monthly Magazine of Recreation.

by Various

THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB CRUISE OF ’88.

THE annual cruise of the New York Yacht Club grows in importance with increasing years. From the organization of the club, far back in the forties, its history has been a progressive one. Its vessels have won a reputation for their fleetness the world over; members have attracted the attention of all aquatic sportsmen who love

“A wet sheet and a flowing sea,

And a wind that follows fast;”

and the club pennant of the red cross, with the single star sparkling like a gem in its deep azure field, is known in every harbor of the maritime world. Well may the members of this famous old club look back upon its record with pride, and well may Elbridge T. Gerry, the present commodore, rejoice in his proud position as commander of as magnificent a fleet of pleasure boats as ever sailed the waters blue of old ocean.

Great strides have been made, since the establishment of the club in 1844, not only in the sport of yachting, but in all things else besides. It probably never dawned upon the vision of Commodore Stevens, in those early days, when from his quaint little castle on the point of rocks overhanging the Elysian Fields, in Hoboken, looking out on the waters of the Hudson, as they rolled on to the Narrows and out into old ocean, that the club would make so proud a mark in the history of a pastime which the lovers of daring deeds so fondly cultivate. A great city has grown up since then all around him; buildings now occupy the space where, in those early American yachting days, leafy groves afforded shade to yachtsmen, and long lines of wharfs take the place of the gentle grassy slopes, kissed by the waters of the Hudson. All is changed since then. Even the old club has undergone a transformation. The fact, however, remains that the keystone of its success, the brightest gem in its diadem of honorable record, is that which was won in ’51, when Commodore Stevens’s America sailed away from the whole fleet of English yachts and carried off the Queen’s Cup.

This aquatic feat did much to permanently establish yachting in this country. It was a surprise to the well trained, brave and skillful sailors of the tight little island that Yankee sailors, after an ocean voyage, should beat them in their own waters. But they took the America’s victory in good part, and though it was a difficult pill to swallow, they got it down with a smile, for your true Englishman is always manly.

“Yankee Doodle had a craft,

A rather tidy clipper,

And he challenged, while they laughed,

The Britishers to whip her;

Their whole yacht squadron she outsped,

And that on their own water;

Of all the lot she went ahead,

And they came nowhere arter.”

From those early days in the fifties, until the war broke out the New York Yacht Club grew strong in membership and vessels. Its cruises and its regattas became popular, the latter especially, for they served to afford a pleasant day’s amusement to people who enjoyed a holiday on the water. Many of our best known men and grand old merchant princes were devoted yachtsmen. What cruise was complete without rare old Moses Grinnell on board some one of the flyers of days gone by? When the war broke out, did not many of these same yachtsmen lend a hand in the struggle for the Union? If we mistake not, James Gordon Bennett put his vessel, the Rebecca, into commission, and did service himself on board, off the Southern coast. Hundreds of other instances might be cited to prove the patriotism, daring and pluck of “the men who went down to the sea in ships,” even though these ships were pleasure craft, and the men who sailed them simply on pleasure bent.

When “the cruel war” was over there came renewed interest in yachting. Then the challenges from the other side were received. English yachtsmen looked with longing eyes across the ocean and declared their readiness to do battle for the possession of the America’s cup. With the true spirit of sportsmen American yachtsmen met their Island brethren with equal ardor to defend the possession of the prize—the greatest yachting trophy of the world.

The races in which the Cambria, Livonia, Genesta, Galatea, Thistle, Columbia, Sappho, Puritan, Mayflower, Volunteer, etc., took part, are too well known to the readers of OUTING to require more than a mere passing notice. These contests form proud chapters in the history of the club of which Elbridge T. Gerry is commodore.

No less important pages in its history are the great ocean races, in which the Vesta, Fleetwing, Dauntless competed, the Dauntless and Cambria’s ocean race, and again, the race in midwinter between the Coronet and Dauntless, when the Atlantic was in its most angry moods. The famous schooner Sappho, owned by William P. Douglass, ex-vice-commodore of the club, was another fair skimmer of the briny deep that carried the burgee of the club with honor in any and every contest in which she was entered in home or foreign waters. And so the list might be strung out in a magnificent array of the names of those white-winged beauties of the sea that muster in the roll of Commodore Gerry’s fleet.

For the nonce, let us turn from the past and look upon the present. Let us survey the fleet of this season as they came together in the harbor of New London, on the morning of August 9. Never did the famous old rendezvous present so brilliant an aquatic spectacle. The event was ushered in with a clear, bright blue sky. As the day grew older the scene grew in activity. Fifty-three sailing yachts and twenty odd steamers responded to the sunrise gun, and sent aloft the club signal to kiss the breeze that stole out from the southwest almost as gently as summer zephyr laden with the odor of the sea. It was not the piping breeze loved so well by your true yachtsman, when close-reefed sails and housed topmasts are the order of the day. At 10.47 the preparatory gun was given from the flag-ship Electra; ten minutes later the signal gun to start. And what a busy scene presented itself! With anchors weighed and all sails set, the magnificent fleet began to move out of the harbor into the waters of the ocean, with the Puritan, true to her record, showing the way over the line, closely followed by the Grayling, Troubadour and Sea Fox. It was in this way the annual cruise began.

As the squadron passed the flagship Electra, a beautiful picture was presented to the eye. The wind being light, the yachts had all available sails spread, and the view at the start was of an almost solid mass of canvas.

Before going further it will be well to give an explanation regarding the races that took place from New London to Newport, from Newport to Vineyard Haven, from Vineyard Haven to New Bedford and thence to Newport.

DEAD BEFORE THE WIND.

A feature of past cruises has always been this racing from port to port. Until this year, however, the arrangements in connection with it have been eminently unsatisfactory, both as regards methods of starting and the way in which a large yacht arriving first at the common destination would be disqualified on time allowance and the victory awarded to a smaller vessel. The methods of former years having then proved inefficacious in deciding the actual merits of the competing boats, Commodore Gerry, Vice-Commodore C. H. Colt and Rear-Commodore E. D. Morgan resolved this year to present prizes to that yacht in each of the eleven classes which made the best record in the runs from port to port. These prizes consist of handsome lamps of solid silver resting on ebony stands. On one side is an inscription of the names of the donors, while on the other the New York Yacht Club flag is represented. All the eleven prizes are exactly alike. A novelty of the trophy is the fact that the lamp may be lifted from its receptacle, when the stand forms a handsome cup with two handles. These prizes did much to stimulate the energies of the captains, and some fine races resulted.

Twenty minutes instead of the usual ten were allowed as starting time in these contests. Soon after the fleet had started the wind gradually died away, and for half an hour the water was scarcely ruffled, but the Commodore’s proverbial good luck did not desert him long. Soon sufficient breeze returned to carry the yachts bowling merrily into Newport harbor. The following table tells the story of the day’s run:

FIRST CLASS SCHOONERS—THIRTY-FIVE MILES.
	Start.			Finish.			Elapsed Time.			Corr’d. Time.
NAME.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.
Ambassadress	11	06	00	5	33	35	6	27	35	6	27	35
Dauntless	11	09	33	4	42	37	5	33	04	5	33	04
Norseman	11	05	25	4	52	05	5	46	40	5	45	31
Palmer	11	12	54	4	32	05	5	19	11	5	15	34
Wanderer	11	09	45	5	10	55	6	01	10	—	—	—
Alarm	11	06	00	4	48	30	5	42	30	—	—	—
SECOND CLASS SCHOONERS.
Intrepid	11	09	45	4	46	27	5	36	42	5	36	42
Gitana	10	56	00	4	43	40	5	47	40	5	46	26
Montauk	11	09	45	4	29	05	5	19	20	5	16	40
Columbia	11	13	30	4	52	58	5	39	28	—	—	—
THIRD CLASS SCHOONERS.
Sea Fox	11	01	12	4	10	52	5	09	40	5	09	40
Sachem	11	09	45	4	19	20	5	09	35	5	07	49
Troubadour	11	00	40	4	24	19	5	23	39	5	21	18
Varuna	11	03	04	5	11	30	6	08	26	6	05	52
Miranda	11	07	58	4	26	14	5	18	12	5	15	26
Grayling	11	00	40	4	24	25	5	23	45	5	18	50
Atalanta	10	56	30	4	44	33	5	48	03	—	—	—
Elma	11	12	30	3	40	33	5	28	03	—	—	—
FOURTH CLASS SCHOONERS.
Marguerite	11	02	07	5	51	45	6	49	38	6	49	38
Iroquois	11	05	03	4	21	48	5	16	45	5	15	36
Magic	11	08	35	4	44	29	5	35	54	5	33	44
Halcyon	10	56	00	4	38	18	5	42	18	5	40	42
Princess	11	16	10	5	29	23	6	13	13	—	—	—
FIFTH CLASS SCHOONERS.
Harbinger	11	11	32	5	03	14	6	51	42	—	—	—
Triton	11	09	40	5	28	27	6	18	47	—	—	—
Lotus	11	17	00	5	05	14	6	48	14	—	—	—
Azalea	11	14	38	5	37	52	6	23	14	—	—	—
Lydia	11	12	08	5	28	27	6	16	19	—	—	—
Whim	11	06	00	5	32	40	6	26	40	—	—	—
Clio	11	17	00	5	50	37	6	33	37	—	—	—
FIRST CLASS SLOOPS.
Volunteer	11	08	54	4	21	32	5	12	38	5	12	38
Mayflower	11	50	20	4	16	03	5	10	43	5	09	56
Puritan	11	02	07	4	08	39	5	06	32	5	03	14
THIRD CLASS SLOOPS.
Katrina	11	12	30	4	26	42	5	14	12	5	14	12
Bedouin	11	05	03	5	35	55	6	30	52	6	29	23
Fanny	11	05	15	4	20	12	5	14	57	5	11	28
Pocahontas	11	01	30	4	47	04	5	45	34	5	34	34
Nonpareille	11	09	45	5	36	43	6	40	58	—	—	—
Huron	11	11	00	4	52	18	5	41	08	5	34	04
FOURTH CLASS SLOOPS.
Hildegarde	11	03	53	4	27	02	5	23	09	5	23	09
Dare	11	10	27	5	52	02	6	04	55	6	00	00
Medusa	11	10	50	5	21	24	6	10	34	6	02	22
Whileaway	11	06	00	4	35	17	5	29	17	5	22	52
Thistle	11	09	45	5	12	45	6	03	00	—	—	—
FIFTH CLASS SLOOPS.
Athlon	11	14	08	4	50	25	5	36	17	5	36	17
Cinderella	11	09	40	5	54	04	5	44	20	5	43	36
Gaviota	11	15	31	4	54	06	5	38	35	5	37	28
Bertie	11	08	22	4	47	11	5	45	49	5	40	55
Concord	11	11	00	5	51	17	6	40	17	6	34	17
SIXTH CLASS SLOOPS.
Regina	11	05	30	5	07	00	6	01	30	—	—	—
Nymph	11	08	56	5	27	47	6	18	51	—	—	—
Crocodile	—	—	—	5	13	25	—	—	—	—	—	—
Iseult	—	—	—	5	01	40	—	—	—	—	—	—

WINNERS—First class schooner—Palmer; second class schooner—Montauk; third class schooner—Sachem; fourth class schooner—Iroquois; fifth class schooner—Lydia. First class sloop—Puritan; third class sloop—Fanny; fourth class sloop—Whileaway; fifth class sloop—Athlon; sixth class sloop—Regina.

In the evening red lights were burned on the yachts, lighting up the harbor and producing a fine effect.

The next day, Friday, August 10, the race for the Goelet cups took place over the Sow and Pigs course, off Newport Harbor. At 10.20 the preparatory gun was fired, there being at the time a light northerly wind. Ten minutes later the starting signal was given, and the Volunteer crossed the line in the lead, with the Mayflower second. Then came the Miranda leading the schooners, followed by the Sea Fox and Sachem. At West Island Light the Volunteer had established a lead of half a mile with the Mayflower still second, followed by the Palmer, Sea Fox, Puritan, Sachem and Katrina in the order named.

At the Sow and Pigs lightship the order was somewhat changed among the leaders. The Sachem had taken the lead and the Mayflower had tailed off. The order and time as the yachts rounded the lightship were as follows:

Sachem, 3.27.33; Volunteer, 3.37.32; Sea Fox, 3.43.15; Puritan, 3.45.58; Miranda, 3.48.26; Grayling, 3.49.07; Katrina, 3.49.51; Iroquois, 3.50.30; Palmer, 3.51.27; Troubadour, 3.53.22; Mayflower, 3.53.32; Dauntless, 3.55.46; Montauk, 3.56.36; Magic, 3.59.00; Ramona, 3.59.30.

The Katrina had the race in hand at this point, and she increased her lead to the Hen and Chickens. During this run of four miles, the Katrina gained three minutes on the Volunteer and Puritan, proving herself to be a remarkably fast boat. Just as the boats reached the Hen and Chickens buoy the wind dropped again, shifting round to the southwest. The time at this mark, so far as taken, was as follows:

Sachem, 4.40.03; Volunteer, 4.44.49; Sea Fox, 4.48.36; Puritan, 4.51.00; Grayling, 4.52.01; Katrina, 4.52.38; Miranda, 4.58.21; Mayflower, 4.58.53; Iroquois, 4.59.33.

The Katrina was 5m. 44s. ahead of the Volunteer by corrected time at this mark. The Sachem and Volunteer having rounded the mark some four minutes ahead of the next boat, the Sea Fox, had an immense advantage by the shift of the wind, which came just after they turned the buoy.

It was now a beat to windward to Brenton’s Reef and the finish line. The wind freshened and hauled more to the westward and became a good steady breeze. The Sea Fox in this beat pointed very high—her pointing was something remarkable. The time at the finish was as follows:

	Start.			Finish.			Elapsed Time.			Corr’d. Time.
NAME.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.
Volunteer	10	30	57	6	52	32	8	21	35	8	21	25
Sachem	10	32	09	7	12	57	8	40	48	8	27	48
Grayling	10	33	40	7	19	34	8	45	54	8	29	22
Katrina	10	33	17	7	19	49	8	46	32	8	35	10
Puritan	10	32	47	7	15	35	8	42	48	8	39	07
Sea Fox	10	31	58	7	23	34	8	51	26	8	40	23
Mayflower	10	31	51	7	33	05	9	01	14	9	00	21

Miranda, 10.31.53; Palmer, 10.32.25; Montauk, 10.32.40; Troubadour, 10.32.52; Intrepid, 10.33.32; Magic, 10.33.49; Dauntless, 10.34.25; Elma, 10.36.00; Iroquois, 10.36.38, and Ramona, 10.40.00; not timed.

In the schooner class, the Sachem won the cup, beating the Grayling 1m. 36s. on corrected time. In the sloop class, the Volunteer won, beating the Katrina 13m. 44s.; Puritan, 17m. 31s.; Mayflower 38m. 46s., corrected time. Katrina beat both Puritan and Mayflower.

On Saturday, August 11, a start was made for Vineyard Haven, Martha’s Vineyard. Once more every yacht was accurately timed from Newport, this being the second of the runs from port to port for the class prizes.

SEA FOX—OWNER, A. CASS CANFIELD, ESQ.

Again did the Puritan take the lead at the line, closely followed by the Lydia, Clio, Montauk and Volunteer. Everything went smoothly till the Mayflower and Grayling came along, and then occurred the only accident or collision of the cruise of ’88. Immediately after crossing the line the Mayflower was directly behind the Grayling and was sailing a trifle faster. Almost before any one realized that an accident was about to happen, the Mayflower’s bowsprit caught the end of the Grayling’s mainboom. This of itself was nothing serious. The sloop Regina was, however, right ahead of the Grayling, and by the Mayflower pressing upon the Grayling’s boom, the latter’s stern was pushed to windward, her bow swung off, and in a moment her big bowsprit struck the Regina’s mainsail just abaft the mast. The little sloop keeled over to starboard, when her topmast snapped, and the rigging came rattling down on her deck. Three of the guests on board the Regina became excited, and jumped overboard, and then immediately started to swim for the boat which they had just left. Lines were thrown from the Grayling and caught by the swimmers, but the big schooner did not lose her headway, and the men grasping the rope were towed through the water.

The Electra, Grayling, and Mayflower soon had boats out, the Electra’s gig being first. By the time the excitement had subsided all the yachts had crossed the line, and the faster boats were rapidly moving to the front. Soon the Volunteer passed the Puritan and took the lead, which she kept until almost to the line, only to be defeated by the Puritan, after having victory apparently within her grasp. The way in which Commodore Forbes regained the lead was a clever piece of work. The Volunteer was leading and was encountering a strong head tide; but the Puritan and others were rapidly overtaking her, not being bothered with the tide, while they had the full advantage of the wind. The Puritan was soon equal with the leader, and though not gaining, was gradually working toward the shore away from the current. Meanwhile the Volunteer had dropped anchor, not being able to make any headway. As soon as the Puritan came near the shore and out of the strong current, she slowly moved toward the line, and crossed it a victor. The results of the day’s run were:

FIRST CLASS SCHOONERS.
	Start.			Finish.			Actual Time.
NAME.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.
Norseman	10	46	06	7	58	00	9	12	54
Palmer	10	47	07	7	59	45	9	12	38
Alarm	10	47	35	8	13	50	9	26	15
Dauntless	10	49	25	8	16	20	9	26	55
Wanderer	10	51	00	8	41	00	9	50	00
Ambassadress	10	51	35	—	—	—	—	—	—
Ramona	11	00	00	7	51	15	9	51	15
SECOND CLASS SCHOONERS.
Montauk	10	41	58	7	55	30	9	13	40
Gitana	10	44	00	—	—	—	—	—	—
Columbia	10	46	17	8	02	58	9	16	41
Intrepid	10	47	35	—	—	—	—	—	—
THIRD CLASS SCHOONERS.
Troubadour	10	43	30	8	34	30	9	51	00
Sea Fox	10	43	47	7	21	17	8	37	30
Sachem	10	44	43	7	23	45	8	39	02
Miranda	10	45	15	7	31	23	8	46	08
Grayling	10	48	08	7	21	17	8	33	09
Varuna	10	51	00	—	—	—	—	—	—
Elma	10	58	55	7	53	40	8	54	45
FOURTH CLASS SCHOONERS.
Iroquois	10	43	16	7	30	43	8	47	27
Halcyon	10	45	00	8	06	25	9	21	25
Marguerite	10	47	35	8	37	00	9	49	25
Magic	10	49	10	7	53	00	9	03	50
Clytie	10	51	00	—	—	—	—	—	—
FIFTH CLASS SCHOONERS.
Lydia	10	41	15	8	36	15	9	55	00
Clio	10	41	41	8	35	00	9	53	19
Harbinger	10	45	48	8	11	11	9	25	23
Lotus	10	57	00	—	—	—	—	—	—
Whim	11	00	00	—	—	—	—	—	—
FIRST CLASS SLOOPS.
Puritan	10	40	53	7	14	25	8	33	32
Volunteer	10	41	58	7	22	45	8	40	47
Mayflower	10	48	08	7	49	22	9	01	14
THIRD CLASS SLOOPS.
Pocahontas	10	42	40	8	12	35	9	29	55
Katrina	10	42	40	7	52	23	9	09	43
Huron	10	44	28	—	—	—	—	—	—
Bedouin	10	48	08	7	26	52	8	38	44
Fanny	10	50	37	—	—	—	—	—	—
Vision	10	54	22	8	34	30	9	40	08
Nonpareille	10	54	49	8	44	25	9	48	36
FOURTH CLASS SLOOPS.
Whileaway	10	45	48	—	—	—	—	—	—
Hildegarde	10	47	55	—	—	—	—	—	—
Thistle	10	48	08	8	26	00	9	37	52
Medusa	10	49	35	8	40	00	9	30	25
FIFTH CLASS SLOOPS.
Athlon	10	44	32	8	05	06	9	20	34
Bertie	10	45	48	—	—	—	—	—	—
Cinderella	10	47	35	—	—	—	—	—	—
SIXTH CLASS SLOOPS.
Crocodile	10	44	28	—	—	—	—	—	—
Regina	10	46	40	—	—	—	—	—	—
Nymph	10	52	20	8	08	58	9	16	38

WINNERS—Schooners—First class, Alarm; second, Montauk; third, Grayling; fourth, Iroquois; fifth, Harbinger; Sloops—First class, Puritan; third, Bedouin; fourth, Medusa; fifth, Athlon; sixth, Nymph.

ELECTRA, THE FLAGSHIP—OWNED BY COMMODORE E. T. GERRY.

⇒
LARGER IMAGE

During Sunday the fleet lay at anchor in Vineyard Haven. At a meeting of the captains, held on board the flagship Electra, it was decided to abandon the cruise to Marblehead for this year and to accept the offer made by the Newport citizens, of cups, to be sailed for over the Sow and Pigs course before the cruise terminated. It was also decided to go to New Bedford on the day after the race for the Martha’s Vineyard Cup, and then from New Bedford to go to Newport and sail the race for the cup offered.

Monday, August 13, was the day set for the race for the Martha’s Vineyard Cup, but after the flagship Electra had taken her position ready for the start the Regatta Committee decided to postpone the race. On Monday, therefore, the yachts lay anchored in Vineyard Haven, while their owners enjoyed themselves at Cottage City.

IROQUOIS—OWNER, T. JEFFERSON COOLIDGE, ESQ.

On Tuesday, the day was clear and bright, with a wind strong and fresh from the southwest. It was an ideal yachting day. The result was the finest race of the cruise.

The prizes were a series of valuable cups offered by the citizens of Martha’s Vineyard, as follows: $250 for keel schooners, $250 for second-class centre-board schooners, $200 for third-class centre-board schooners, $250 for first-class sloops, $200 for second-class sloops, $150 for third-class sloops, $100 for fourth-class sloops and $100 for fifth-class sloops.

The course gave a beat to windward of eighteen nautical miles to and round a stakeboat off Gay Head and return to starting line off Cottage City.

The starting signal was given at 10.10, and the Puritan was again first over the line. The Alert was next, closely pursued by the Sea Fox and Grayling. General Paine was aboard the Alert, and it was generally believed that his presence did not keep her back at all.

The wind increased shortly after the start, and soon a heavy sea came rolling in from the eastward, striking the big sloops first. The Puritan was still leading, but the Mayflower seemed to make better weather of the seas, and soon passed to leeward of the Puritan.

About the same time the Grayling ran through the Sachem’s lee, and the Sea Fox was holding a splendid wind and going fast through the water. She was to the windward of both the Sachem and the Grayling. Soon after the start the schooner Palmer carried away her fore gaff, but she held on under whole mainsail, fore topsail and jib. The Grayling and Sachem had it hot for a while on the starboard tack; the Sachem got a little the best of the bout. The Alert now hoisted a small maintopmast staysail and came along at a slashing pace, apparently outsailing all the schooners. The first mark of the course to be turned was the bell buoy off Nobska Point, which was turned by the leaders as follows: Puritan, 11.17.30; Mayflower, 11.18.45; Sachem, 11.21.10; Sea Fox, 11.22.05; Alert, 11.25.00; Grayling, 11.29.00.

On the way from Nobska Point to Gay Head the wind rather moderated, topmasts were sent up, and reefs shaken out on most of the boats. The time taken at Gay Head stakeboat was as follows: Puritan, 12.42.50; Mayflower, 12.47.00; Sachem, 12.50.30; Alert, 12.52.22; Sea Fox, 12.53.26; Grayling, 12.58.32; Miranda, 1.01.45; Montauk, 1.14.00; Iroquois, 1.06.30; Katrina, 1.09.55.

It was a free wind from Gay Head to the finish off the Sea View House at Cottage City. All the yachts sent their kites up soon after turning, and all made splendid time. The Alert was at a great disadvantage here in not having any spinnaker or balloon topsails on board, so that the Miranda was able to overhaul her. The race between the Sea Fox and Sachem was most exciting and very close; the Katrina also pulled up on the Bedouin, but not enough to save her loss outside. The Grayling did not do as well as usual in this home run; she was outsailed by both the Sachem and Sea Fox. The finish line was crossed in the following order: Puritan, Sachem, Mayflower, Sea Fox, Alert, Grayling, Miranda, Montauk, Iroquois, Bedouin, Katrina, Intrepid, Troubadour, Hildegarde, Halcyon, Bertie, Athlon, Vixen, and Usher.

The following tables show the result:

FIRST CLASS SCHOONERS.
	Start.			Finish.			Elapsed Time.			Corr’d. Time.
NAME.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.
Alert	10	10	44	2	21	32	4	10	48	—	—	—
Intrepid	10	11	43	2	44	14	4	32	31	4	30	10
Miranda	10	11	45	2	27	55	4	16	10	4	05	14
Palmer	10	17	58	Did not finish.
Ramona	10	10	24	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
SECOND CLASS SCHOONERS.
Sea Fox	10	11	23	2	20	08	4	09	45	4	08	23
Grayling	10	11	25	2	26	23	4	15	03	4	10	34
Sachem	10	11	48	2	17	08	4	06	20	4	04	33
Montauk	10	13	23	2	29	46	4	16	23	4	16	23
Troubadour	10	15	00	2	47	20	4	32	20	4	28	47
THIRD CLASS SCHOONERS.
Iroquois	10	12	10	2	34	12	4	22	02	4	22	02
Halcyon	10	14	59	3	10	38	4	55	39	4	54	54
FIRST CLASS SLOOPS.
Puritan	10	10	16	2	12	58	4	02	42	4	00	07
Mayflower	10	13	14	2	17	44	4	04	30	4	04	30
SECOND CLASS SLOOPS.
Bedouin	10	11	25	2	37	39	4	26	14	4	24	43
Katrina	10	14	26	2	42	37	4	28	11	4	28	11
THIRD CLASS SLOOPS.
Hildegarde	10	14	11	3	09	43	4	55	32	4	55	32
FOURTH CLASS SLOOPS.
Bertie	10	13	41	3	26	42	5	13	01	5	07	59
Athlon	10	20	00	3	59	45	5	39	45	5	39	45
FIFTH CLASS SLOOPS.
Vixen	10	16	30	4	01	30	5	45	00	—	—	—
Hesper	10	16	48	4	03	47	5	46	59	—	—	—
Thistle	10	16	54	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Winners and prizes: Alert, $250; Sachem, $250; Iroquois, $200; Puritan, $250; Bedouin, $250; Hildegarde, $150; Bertie, $100, and Hesper, $100.

On Wednesday morning the fleet started for New Bedford. The wind was a regular sou’wester, and fast time was made.

The preparatory signal was given at 9.50, and ten minutes later the starting gun was fired. The race abounded in exciting manœuvres, and much good seamanship was displayed. It was a grand sight to watch the Sea Fox, Grayling and Sachem contesting for first place, and so close together were they at the finish that all three crossed the line within one minute.

The following table shows the actual results of the race:

FIRST CLASS SCHOONERS.
	Start.			Finish.			Elapsed Time.			Corr’d. Time.
NAME.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.
Ramona	10	04	30	3	40	45	5	36	15	5	36	15
Palmer	10	20	00	3	54	04	5	34	04	5	31	59
Intrepid	10	02	56	3	42	42	5	39	46	5	37	21
THIRD CLASS SCHOONERS.
Grayling	10	00	56	3	03	07	5	02	11	4	58	38
Sea Fox	10	01	21	3	02	18	5	00	57	5	00	57
Sachem	10	02	15	3	03	09	5	00	54	4	59	27
FOURTH CLASS SCHOONERS.
Iroquois	10	01	21	3	26	15	5	25	54	5	23	54
Halcyon	10	02	09	Did not sail the course.
FIFTH CLASS SCHOONERS.
Lydia	10	02	59	5	09	23	7	08	24	—	—	—
Clio	10	01	21	4	07	14	6	05	53	—	—	—
Harbinger	10	00	38	Did not sail the course.
FIRST CLASS SLOOPS.
Puritan	10	00	35	3	03	40	5	02	05	4	59	26
Mayflower	10	02	19	Did not sail the course.
THIRD CLASS SLOOPS.
Pocahontas	10	02	52	3	56	20	5	53	28	Not meas.
Katrina	10	07	00	3	14	37	5	07	37	5	07	37
Bedouin	10	05	24	3	13	13	5	07	49	5	06	13
Fanny	10	11	27	Did not sail the course.
FOURTH CLASS SLOOPS.
Hildegarde	10	10	12	4	06	30	5	56	18	5	56	18
FIFTH CLASS SLOOPS.
Athlon	10	04	00	4	48	52	6	44	52	6	44	52
Bertie	10	01	16	4	35	10	6	33	54	6	28	43
Cinderella	10	01	31	4	39	56	6	38	25	6	37	39
Concord	10	04	12	Did not sail the course.
SIXTH CLASS SLOOPS.
Nymph	10	03	53	Did not sail the course.
Pappoose	10	04	30	5	07	31	7	03	01	—	—	—

WINNERS—First class schooners, Palmer; third class schooners, Grayling; fourth class schooners, Iroquois; fifth class schooners, Clio; first class sloops, Puritan; third class sloops, Bedouin; fourth class sloops, Hildegarde; fifth class sloops, Bertie; sixth class sloops, Pappoose.

In the evening a meeting of the captains was held on board the Electra, after which a reception was given to the captains and their guests by Commodore Gerry. On Thursday the fleet remained in New Bedford harbor, and on signal all hands “dressed ship,” and the quaint old harbor, with its whaling vessels along the docks, presented a very pretty sight. During the afternoon cutter, gig and dingey races were rowed. In the evening the visiting yachtsmen and their friends were received by the local club.

When the preparatory signal was given on Friday morning for the final run of the cruise, the wind blowing fresh from the southwest, caused most of the yachts to house topmasts and tie two reefs in their mainsails. The Grayling crossed the line first, followed closely by the Puritan and Lydia. The great surprise of the day was the way in which the Mayflower “walked away” from the Puritan and all the others.

After the finish the yachts continued into Newport harbor. The results of the day’s run were:

FIRST CLASS SCHOONERS.
	Start.			Finish.			Elapsed Time.			Corr’d. Time.
NAME.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.	H.	M.	S.
Palmer	10	23	52	3	14	18	4	50	26	4	47	37
Intrepid	10	22	13	3	20	24	4	58	11	4	53	37
Dauntless	10	22	13	3	42	25	5	20	12	5	20	12
Ramona	10	31	29	4	35	22	6	03	53	6	03	04
THIRD CLASS SCHOONERS.
Sachem	10	23	00	3	06	08	4	43	08	4	43	18
Miranda	10	33	17	3	26	20	4	53	03	4	51	11
Grayling	10	21	07	Did not finish.
FOURTH CLASS SCHOONERS.
Iroquois	10	24	20	3	34	35	5	10	15	5	10	15
FIFTH CLASS SCHOONERS.
Clio	10	22	20	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Lydia	10	21	15	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
FIRST CLASS SLOOPS.
Mayflower	10	23	17	2	30	04	4	06	47	4	06	47
Puritan	10	21	12	3	03	48	4	42	36	4	40	40
THIRD CLASS SLOOPS.
Bedouin	10	25	45	3	12	26	4	46	41	4	45	32
Katrina	10	23	55	3	10	55	4	47	00	4	47	00
FOURTH CLASS SLOOPS.
Hildegarde	10	21	45	3	59	54	5	34	09	5	38	09
FIFTH CLASS SLOOPS.
Bertie	10	22	29	4	07	19	5	44	50	5	41	03
Cinderella	10	24	30	4	27	44	6	03	14	6	02	40
Athlon	10	22	29	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Active	10	32	55	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
SIXTH CLASS SLOOPS.
Papoose	10	25	29	4	41	22	6	15	53	—	—	—
Nymph	10	27	05	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Kelpie	10	35	00	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

WINNERS—First class schooners, Palmer; third class schooners, Sachem; fourth class schooners, Iroquois; first class sloops, Mayflower; third class sloops, Bedouin; fourth class sloops, Hildegarde; fifth class sloops, Bertie; sixth class sloops, Pappoose.

On Saturday and Sunday the yachts remained in the harbor, and their owners spent the time in Newport.

On Monday, August 20, the 50-mile race for the cups offered by the citizens of Newport was sailed, but the wind being very light the event caused much disappointment. The run was to be before the wind, and so the big sloops lowered their spinnaker booms as they came toward the line. The Puritan crossed first, and next came the Fanny, noted for her light-weather qualities, then the Dauntless, followed by the Alarm, Hildegarde and Volunteer in the order given.

The Volunteer gradually gained on the leader, passed her adversaries one by one, and shortly before rounding the stakeboat was first. The wind was light, and variable all day, and died out at most inopportune times. The Volunteer alone crossed the finish within the time limit.

At colors on Tuesday the fleet was formally disbanded, and so ended the very successful cruise of 1888.

SACHEM—OWNERS, MESSRS. C. D. OWEN AND JESSE METCALF, PROVIDENCE, R. I.