The Great Regatta That Went Nowhere
A day of high hopes for Seattle's sailing enthusiasts ended in a drifting match as the wind completely vanished from the Sound.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The international sailing regatta failed of a successful culmination yesterday only through the failure of the elements to do their duty. The wind obstinately refused to blow, and in consequence not one of the entries finished within the five-hour limit and the race was declared off. The boat coming nearest to accomplishing the desired feat was the Ripple, a jib and main sail sloop, which was over a mile out when her time expired. There was no lack of interest in the event. All of the yachtsmen had their friends and admirers, who turned out to watch their champions carry off glory galore. Nor was this backing confined to Seattle alone. Port Townsend sent down a large delegation on the steamer Wildwood, which followed the sailing course to give its passengers a view. Tacomans also were well represented. From this city a number of launches, sailboats and rowboats carried spectators to the scene of the race, while the steamer Eliza Anderson also had a large party aboard.
“The wind obstinately refused to blow, and in consequence not one of the entries finished.”
Yachting remains a core part of the Seattle identity, though modern sailors on the Sound are arguably just as subject to the whims of our infamous regional 'fluky' wind conditions. The civic pride shown here by residents of Seattle, Tacoma, and Port Townsend highlights the era's reliance on the 'mosquito fleet' of steamers to knit the inland sea together before the era of bridges.
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