The Nymph is 46 feet long, 8 feet beam, and 3 feet draught. She divides with the Dolphin, owned by Commodore Wetmore, the honor of being the fastest steam launch on the lake. The Dolphin is 42 feet long, with the same beam and draught as the Nymph. On October 15 there was a test of speed between the two for the champion pennant of the lake. The Nymph won by 111⁄2s. over a 7-mile course, there being no time allowance. On November 1 another race over a course of 61⁄2 miles was won by the Dolphin by 321⁄2s. We may look for good time from both the Dolphin and the Nymph in the steam race of 1889.
COMMODORE B. WETMORE.
The greatest race of all came off upon Saturday, September 22, the second and final day of the regatta. This was for the $500 cup made by Tiffany, and presented by the ladies of Burlington. It is an elaborately-made punch-bowl, with a fine engraving, on the outside, of the harbor of Burlington. According to the rules of the club, “the Ladies’ Cup” shall be a perpetual challenge, and shall be sailed for each year by the yachts belonging to the members of the club at their annual regatta. The course shall be about ten miles, and the sailing allowances, etc., shall be governed by such rules of the club, as from time to time may obtain. The course, etc., may be changed from time to time by the regatta committee as the exigencies of the club may require. They, or their successors in office, are made custodians of the cup for the club, and shall award the same each year to the successful yacht; which yacht shall have its name and the date of the regatta engraved on the cup by the committee, and shall hold it until the next annual regatta, giving bonds to the committee in the sum of $600 for the safe keeping of the same. Any damage or loss to the cup while in the possession of a yacht shall be appraised and deducted by the committee from the bond on the return of the cup, which shall be one week before the next annual meeting. Owners of yachts failing to return the cup at the time specified, shall sacrifice their bonds and cease to be members of the club. A yacht holding the cup and not competing for its possession, is considered as having competed and lost. In all races, at least three yachts must start or no race, unless a race has been postponed; but should the yacht which is in possession of the cup be a competitor, she may sail the course, without this limit as to the number starting.
The wind being from an unfavorable quarter, the course of 97⁄8 miles was reversed. It led from the south end of the breakwater, south of Rock Dunder, south of Juniper Ledge buoy, west of Juniper Island, north of Appletree buoy, and around the north end of the breakwater. Eight yachts entered the lists; the Flyaway, the Agnes T., the Ripple, the White Wings, the Burlington, the Gypsie, Phelps & Son, the Surprise, Joseph Labelle, and the Virginia, Peter Thust, the two latter being Canadians. There was a splendid start, the eight boats all crossing the line within a space of 1m. 14s. They kept well together, and on turning the Ledge buoy they were so closely bunched as to be in each other’s way. Then came more than four miles of beating. The White Wings capsized in trying to house her jib, and the Canadian boats gave up the fight. The Agnes T. had led thus far with a prospect of winning, because she was allowed 2m. 10s.—a figure that would have given her the race over the Flyaway the day before. But her narrow beam kept down the area of her sails, and she dropped out, while the Flyaway spread her gaff-topsail and shot ahead. The Burlington held her port tack well into the broad lake, the Gypsie tacking nearly as long. It was evident the race belonged to the Flyaway or the Agnes T. The latter was 61⁄2m. behind in turning the Appletree buoy. Then the race homeward was commenced. The Flyaway set her jib-topsail, and the Agnes T. set her spinnaker. It was to be a very close thing—for the Flyaway had allowed her rival 2m. 26s., and the Gypsie 9m. 50s. Had not the spinnaker gone overboard, the Agnes T. might have won.
The score stood—
Elapsed | Corrected | |||||
H. | M. | S. | H. | M. | S. | |
Flyaway | 2 | 03 | 19 | 2 | 03 | 19 |
Agnes T. | 2 | 09 | 10 | 2 | 06 | 44 |
Gypsie | 2 | 17 | 20 | 2 | 07 | 30 |
Burlington | 2 | 16 | 28 | 2 | 22 | 55 |
It should be stated that the Burlington was obliged to give an allowance of 6m. 27s. to the winner—thus making her fourth, although she was third in elapsed time. As soon as the Flyaway crossed the line there was a welcome from all the steam-whistles in and about the harbor, such as old Champlain had never heard before.
Now came an incident that showed the esprit de corps of the new yacht club. Many of the older clubs do not venture upon the Corinthian race, wherein every boat must be sailed by its owner, assisted solely by members of the club to which he belongs. Even if the members want a race of this sort, it is only after years of hard work and constant sailing contests, that it will be worth the trouble. But Commodore Wetmore had with him upon the Dolphin—the official boat—Col. W. A. Crombie, vice-commodore; Chester Griswold, fleet captain; Joseph Auld, secretary; Maj. M. B. Adams, U. S. Engineers; Captain Abbott, of the 6th U. S. Cavalry, and one or two civilians, who were also land-lubbers. It was suggested to the commodore that it was of no use to start the Corinthian race because there could be none—the Agnes T. alone offering to sail. But the commodore blew his whistles, the proper flag appeared on the club-house, and the race was started in good form—all except the boats. Then the Commodore delivered himself: “I propose to let everybody know that we go through the forms of starting every race, whether there is anybody to start or not. Next year every boatman and every visitor will know just what to expect. It is better to start our first regatta right and educate everybody up to the proper way to do these things.”