THE MAYFLOWER-GALATEA CONTEST, L886
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THE MAYFLOWER-GALATEA CONTEST, l886. \The artist has chosen that '' part of the race of September -jt/i, when Mayflower" set her balloon jib, immediately upon rounding the Lightshipi] N YACHTS AND YACHTING WITH OVER ONE HUNDRED AND TEN ILLUSTRATIONS FRED^ St COZZENS AND OTHERS CASSELL & COMPANY, Limited, 739 & 741 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. THE MAYFLOWER AND GALATEA RACES OF 1886. BY CHARLES E. CLAY, Author of “ Bermuda Yachts and Dinghies,” etc. English yachtsmen have made another so long will America continue to hold the effort for the recovery of the America s Cup, yachting “blue ribbon.” It is not e^nough a trophy that has come to be regarded as for Englishmen to send one boat after the emblem of the supremacy of the seas, another of the same type, just because each and that effort has met with a defeat more successive aspirant is claimed to be better disastrous and humiliating than that which than her predecessor. Change and modify attended the unsuccessful attempt of the the model from the bitter lessons that have Genesta last year. been taught us, and then, and not till then, Scarcely had Sir Richard Sutton berthed may we hope to compete with some reason- his favorite in her snug winter quarters able prospects of victory. than Lieutenant Henn challenged for the The general supposition among us in ensuing year. In this he was more patri- England to-day is that, given a gale of otic than wise, for, while nobody denies wind and a heavy, choppy sea, and there that the Galatea is a thoroughly represent- is nothing like a deep-keeled cutter with ative type of the highest development and an enormous weight of lead attached, to perfection of the English model, yet it thrash to windward. This may be undoubt- cannot be conceded that her performances edly the case with regard to the types of were enough, if any, superior to those of boats with which the majority are familiar; the Genesta to warrant her owner having but it does not apply to the newest type any valid grounds for supposing his boat of the American centerboard sloop, a type could do what her sister had failed to not known in British waters, nor to Eng- achieve. lish yachtsmen ; and recent trials and the If Lieutenant Henn felt enthusiastic most thorough tests go to prove that the enough to enter into a competition that for Mayflower in a sea way is superior in many the past thirty-six years has baffled the of the most essential qualities of a rough- highest naval architectural talent of Great weather craft she does not bury and ; Britain, would it not have been more ^^hang” so long when pitching as the prudent to have set to work during the English model she has a quicker recovery ; built after the winter and a yacht more and rides over and not through the sea ; type and model of the one that had van- she points up as high, and eats her way quished the Genesta, built by the same as well to windward, besides being faster. designer, and embodying every principle But I am afraid I have digressed some- contained in his own boat ? Surely Mr. what from the object of this paper, which Beavor Webb is not so hopelessly wedded is to give a description of the actual inci- to his own designs and ideas as not to dents of the all-absorbing races, rather than perceive and appreciate the good points a dissertation on the types and merits of and qualities in the productions of a rival, the contestants. and a successful one at that. If the results No sooner was the challenge received of the last two years’ contests point to any than the leading clubs of the country set conclusion at all, it is that the decided about seeing that nothing was left undone success of the American boat is not due, to retain a prize they had so long and so one iota, to the favorable condition of successfully owned. They might very wind and wave, as is the universal howl of naturally have said : “Well, the Galatea is the rabid cutter men, but is inherent in the no better than the Genesta; and the Puritati superiority of the principles involved in can do for the new-comer what she did for the construction of the model, and I con- her sister.” But that is not the spirit of tend most emphatically that so long as the American never rest con- people ; they English yachtsmen go on building a V- tent with what they have the future is ; shaped, leaded plank-on-end type of boat, always sure to produce a better article than simply because “ they are so much better the best of the present. This noble spirit adapted for our waters,” without ever of emulation brought four competitors into giving the American type a fair trial, just the home lists of them two were old ; T03 104 THE MAYFLOWER AND GALATEA RACES OE 1886. trusty, stanch, and fairness could dictate, was handsomely favorites ; the Puritan, bearing the laurels still fresh upon her made. with every The first of the three courses to sailed \'ictorious prow ; the Priscilla, be defect altered, but still a novice eager to over (if three trials became necessary), gain her maiden honors the remaining was the one known as the regular New ; debutantes were the latest skill of the York club course, which, starting from a line off Owl’s Head in the inner builder’s art ; the Atlantic, which, however, bay, leads never fulfilled the anticipations of her out through the Narrows, rounding buoy designer, and the queenly Mayflower, the Zyz on the port hand, and then on and fairest sea anemone that ever bloomed on around Sandy Hook lightship, and home American waters. All honor,then,to Boston, again round buoy 8^, finishing off the her birthplace, and to Mr. Burgess, her Staten Island shore over a line some- skilful designer. what to the northward of Fort Wadsworth. The trial races were most satisfactory, This makes a splendid all-round course and proved beyond a doubt that the of thirty-eight miles, and is eminently cal- Mayflower wzs the queen of the “big four,” culated to try the various points of sailing and to her shapely hull and tapering spars on, off, and before the wind. Over this might be entrusted the glorious distinction course the sloop is supposed to have a slight of doing battle for her country, let come advantage, as comparatively smooth water what might. To the New York Yacht and light winds are generally the rule on Club, the oldest and leading yachting or- these waters. ganization in this country, was entrusted The second and “outside course,” as it the honor of making the arrangements is called, is a twenty-mile thrash to wind- necessary to bring the impending struggle ward from the Sandy Hook or Scotland to a fair and impartial issue, and well did Lightship, according to the direction of the they perform their task. The gallant wind, with a run back. These conditions visitor was consulted on every point, are favorable to the cutter, and chosen to and every concession that courtesy and make things square. Should each boat win ’ From Captain CofTin’s account in the Nm' York li'or/a. THE MAYFLOWER AND GALATEA RACES OF 1886. 105 one of the first two races, the deciding certainly the fastest of its size. Our course would be a triangular one, but as it courtly host lost no time in welcoming us on this year, the bearings need board the launch we were speedily puffed was not needed ; not be given. out to the larger craft, and in a few min- utes more good Captain Band was heading THE FIRST RACE, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7. the Stranger full steam down stream, The all eventful expectata dies, so eagerly “To join the glad throng that went laughing along.” longed for by enthusiastic thousands, dawned with anything but a promise of We did not lack for company; every /con- fine weather or favoring gales. A dull ceivable craft was bound our way, front the leaden curtain hung over the busy city. leviathan excursion steamers with decks Flags drooped limp and motionless against massed black with people, tp the tiny skiff their poles, and with a heart full of misgiv- piloted by its solitary occupant. And now ing I awaited the arrival of the Stranger at we are amid the flower of America’s float- the Twenty-third street pier. Off in the ing palaces, and close beside us steams the stream lay the steam yacht Electra, while Atalanta. Beyond is the Corsair, with Lord darting backwards and forwards her saucy Brassey aboard. Ahead, astern, and on little launch conveyed on board the guests every side are seen the gleaming hulls of of her owner, Elbridge T. Gerry, the com- beautiful yachts, the Oriva, Orienta, Ttlhe, modore of the New York Yacht Club. Puzzle, Radha, Magnolia, Vision, Speedwell, Soon, down the river from Mr. Jaffray’s Ocean Gem, Theresa, Oneida, better known country plate on the Hudson, came the as the Utowana, Viking, Wanda, Nooya, Stranger, not only one of the handsomest Falcon, Electra, Vedette, and largest steam yachts in the world, but ‘Cum multis aliis quae nunc praescribere longum est. ’ From Captain Coffin’s account in the New York World, io6 THE MAYFLOWER AND GALATEA RACES OF 1886. The flyers of other days, too, are there, This was a very smart and seamanlike the Rambler, Columbia, Ambassadress, Tidal manoeuvre, but in my humble opinion it Wave, Montauk, Ruth, Priscilla, Dauntless, was an error in judgment, for, had the cut- Carlotta, Fleetwing, Mischief, Republic, ter taken the leeward place, with her pace Wanderer, Wai'e Crest, Gaviota and a host at the time, she could have stood the detri- of their fair sisters, whose names I could ment of the blanketing for the short time not get.