The yacht squadron is escorted to the beautiful harbour of Newport by the motley fleet in attendance, and anchors there with a flutter of canvas and the booming of cannon.
The ubiquitous cat-boat.
At evening the fleet is illuminated with coloured lights, the steam yachts contribute electric glare, forming a scene worth many miles of journeying to witness. Then follow races in the open sea outside Newport, after which the cruise is continued to New Bedford, and Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard Island; more racing, and then a cruise around Cape Cod to Boston, where more racing and much festivity is enjoyed, after which the squadron disbands, most of the yachts return to Newport, whilst others cruise to Mount Desert Island and beyond. About the middle of August it is usual to have more racing off Newport under the auspices of the Atlantic and Seawanhaka Clubs, and this usually closes the season for racing; a few matches, however, are generally expected in the autumn, but by the middle of October nearly all the yachts go out of commission.
Winter cruising to Florida and the West Indies usually begins soon after Christmas, returning early in April, whereby the rigours of our northern winter are avoided.
As a rule, the American yachtsman is not inclined to racing to an extent that would afford the best information and knowledge as to the design and rig of his craft. At times, however, when under the stimulus of rivalry of designers, as occurred in 1891, or particularly when there is an international contest on hand, our marine phalanx stand forth in battle array, sacrifice no end of personal effort, and stake willingly their bottom dollar.
'America' Cup Competitions
| Year | Name | W. L. Length | Beam | Draught | ||
| ft. | ft. | ft. | ||||
| 1870 | { | Magic | 78.11 | 20.9 | 6.70 | |
| August | 1870 | Cambria | 100.00 | 20.5 | 12.40 | |
| 1871 | { | Sappho | 114.40 | 27.40 | 12.80 | |
| 1871 | Columbia | 96.00 | 25.10 | 6.00 | ||
| October | 1871 | Livonia | 107.50 | 23.30 | 12.80 | |
| 1876 | { | Madeleine | 95.20 | 24.00 | 7.40 | |
| August | 1876 | Countess Dufferin | 107.20 | 24.00 | 6.60 | |
| 1881 | { | Mischief | 61.00 | 19.10 | 5.40 | |
| Nov. | 1881 | Atalanta | 61.00 | 19.00 | 5.50 | |
| 1885 | { | Genesta | 81.00 | 15.00 | 13.00 | |
| Sept. | 1885 | Puritan | 85.1½ | 22.70 | 8.80 | |
| 1886 | { | Galatea | 87.00 | 15.00 | 13.03 | |
| Sept. | 1886 | Mayflower | 85.70 | 23.60 | 9.90 | |
| 1887 | { | Thistle | 86.46 | 20.03 | 13.80 | |
| Sept. | 1887 | Volunteer | 85.88 | 23.02 | 10.00 | |
| October | 1893 | { | Vigilant | 86.19 | 26.25 | 14.00 |
| Valkyrie | 86.80 | 22.33 | 16.30 | |||
It is the earnest wish of every American yachtsman to encourage frequent and friendly intercourse with his English cousins who are working for the true interest and advancement of yacht designing. The breadth of the interlying ocean and the disparity between the winds and water of the two countries should make no barrier to closer relations, to the end that the noble science of naval architecture and its most useful teachings may find in the progress of yachting a fit subject to bind more and more closely two nations of one blood, one language, and one desire—to attain to that which is highest and best even in sports and pastimes.