ICE YlACHTING ON THE HUD SON RIVER THE PouGHKEEPSIE IcE BoAT AssocIATION-PART
II
There was no ice 1boating during the season of 1879-80, a very mild, open winter. The following year the ice boats were early on the river. The Eagle of January 20, 1881, stated that the yachtsmen had already had twenty-one days of sailing. A match race had been held on De cember 27, between the Gypsie and the Fairy, an exciting race, won by a few lengths, by the Fairy. On January 13, the Snow Flake won a three-heat race with the Avalanche. On the 15th, the Gypsie won the Ladies' Pennant in an eight-mile race against the Fairy and Zip. A few days later the Avalanche won, by a narrow margin in a whirl wind finish, a match race with the Gracie. The newspaper said that the Poughkeepsie association was com posed of gentlemen of means and did not race for money, stating, "this club is not a sporting club in the American sense of the word." At this time the club had a mem1bership of thirty and they owned twenty three yachts. During the whole season the ice was unprecedentedly good for yachting. On some occasions races scheduled were called off for lack of wind. The Icicle won the Ladies' Pennant on February 16, in a race against the Gracie, Snow Flake, Avalanche, Haze, Aeolus, Fairy, Hail, Restless, Ella, Echo and Virginia. The rigging was ripped loose from the Virginia and she capsized, throwing out her sailing master, who, fortunately, was not injured. This race was on a new course, from a flag opposite the Vassar Brewery, to another flag one mile south, to a flag five miles north, near Crum Elbow. Several visitors from New York who had enjoyed the hospitality of the local yachtsmen had presented a silver tiller as a trophy. It was won first by the Aeolus on February 16, competing with ten of tlte other local boats. The next day another race was held for the tiller, and was won by the Icicle. On the following day the third heat for the tiller was held. The Aeolus led the yachts away, followed by the Icicle and the Restless. She retained her lead until approaching the out stake for the second time. Due to heavy wind she was tern-
26
