The City Island Bridge Regatta of 1878

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The Town of Pelham was abuzz with excitement and anticipation as the first annual City Island Bridge Regatta approached.  The sailing yacht race was scheduled for Saturday, June 22, 1878.  A news report published the day before the race noted that entries were expected from City Island, New Rochelle, and Cow Bay, Long Island.  Prizes for the first, second, and third place finishers were $20, $10, and $5 cash.  (About $730, $365, and $183, respectively, in today's dollars.)

Race day dawned with heavy gray skies.  A steady rain fell in the morning.  For a time it was feared that the race would not proceed.  According to one account, however, "A large crowd of spectators had gathered to witness the race."  Thus, at about 12:30 p.m., the referee's boat headed out onto the course.

The course covered eight miles, to be sailed over twice.  It began from a stake boat off City Island Bridge and proceeded to a buoy eight miles distant, southeast of Throgg's Neck.

The water that day was very rough.  To make matters worse, a strong southeast wind blew against the slow current from the west.  It seemed impracticable even to attempt the race.  Conditions were so poor that only five sailing yachts appeared at the start:  Lulu (New Rochelle), Little Pluck, Nettie, Mary B. (City Island), and Susie (New Rochelle).  

At about 12:45 p.m., the Umpire Boat and the Press Boat took their positions near the starting line at City Island Bridge.  Precisely at 12:51 p.m., the starting gun signaled the first start (Lulu).  Within the next two minutes, the starting gun signaled all of the remaining four boats.

The results were bad.  Two of the three sailing yachts suffered substantial mishaps and failed to complete the race.  A third had to complete repairs on the course and, only then, was able to complete the race.

The Nettie was the first to suffer a problem.  Off Horton's Point on City Island, she carried away her bobstay and broker her rudder.  (A bobstay is a rope that is part of the rigging of a sailing vessel that counteracts upward tension on the bowsprit from jibs and the forestay.)  The Lulu soon carried away her bobstay and her mast went overboard.  Like the Nettie, the Lulu failed to complete the race.  The Mary B. was the next to suffer a mishap.  Its bobstay broke.  The crew was able to repair the problem and finish the race, but it took about fifteen minutes to fix it.  

The Mary B. and the Susie made quite a race of it.  The Susie was the first to cross the finish line at about 4:25 p.m. with a final time of three hours, thirty-two minutes, and twenty-two seconds.  The Mary B. took second place, crossing the finish line barely three minutes later at about 4:28 p.m.

In the meantime, the Little Pluck was very far behind the two leaders.  Nowhere near the finish line, the Little Pluck suffered terrible luck.  At about 5:00 p.m., about 35 minutes after the other two racers had crossed the finish line, the wind ended and there came a dead calm.  

The Little Pluck wasn't able to cross the finish line until about 6:08 p.m.  It was enough, however, to take third place and the third place prize of $5.  

Given the maritime history of City Island and its boatyards, it should come as no surprise that such sailing yacht races were a common sight off the shores of the little island.  

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"City Island. . . . 

The City Island Bridge Regatta will take place to-morrow (Saturday). At present it looks as though the race will be a very interesting one. New Rochelle will be represented by the Lulu and Centennial, and probably the Susie. City Island will be represented by the Mary B. and A. F. Vail, and two or three boats are expected from Cow Bay, L. I. Entries can be made as late as 10 o'clock. . . ." 

Source:  City Island, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Jun. 21, 1878, Vol. IX, No. 457, p. 2, col. 5.

"City Island. . . .

The first annual City Island Bridge Regatta was sailed on the 22d inst.  The day was unfavorable and the race proved unfortunate for three of the boats.  During the early morning hours the rain fell steadily and when it ceased a strong south-easterly wind sprang up and continued until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon when it began to die out and at 5 o'clock there was a dead calm.  A large crowd of spectators had gathered to witness the race, and at 12:30 P. M. the referee's boat was ordered over the course.  The water was very rough, the strong south-east wind blowing against the slow current from the west, and it was at one time thought impracticable to call the race.  However, at ten minutes to 1 the first gun was fired and the Umpire and Press boats took their places at the starting point.  The course was from a stake boat off City Island Bridge to a buoy 8 miles distant, south-east of Throgg's Point, to be sailed over twice.  The following is the time of starting, finishing and time of race:

		Start				Finish				Time
	h.	m.	s.		h.	m.	s.		h.	m.	s.
Lulu……………	12	51				Withdrawn			..	..	..
Little Pluck…	12	51	30		6	08	1/4		5	16	30 1/4
Nettie………..	12	51	43			Withdrawn			..	..	..
Mary B………	12	52			4	28	15		3	35	15
Susie………….	12	53	08		4	25	30		3	32	22

The Nettie carried away her bob stay [sic] and broke her rudder when off Horton's Point.  The Lulu had to be withdrawn on account of a mishap off Button Ball Tree; she carried away her bob stay [sic] and her mast went overboard.  Off old Tom the Mary B. broke her bob stay [sic], and it took about 15 minutes to fix it.  The prizes were $20, $10 and $5; the Susie, of New Rochelle, took the first prize.  There will be another regatta next month by the same club.

AESOP."

Source:  City Island, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Jun. 21, 1878, Vol. IX, No. 457, p. 2, col. 5.

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