The annual cruise of the Boston Yacht Club is an event to which its members look forward with the greatest anticipation of pleasure.  In almost all previous years, the weather conditions have been nearly perfect, and the cruise of 1926 had the usual good fortune.  There was no rain, expect a couple of slight falls after dark, and only a little fog on two mornings.  the moon also was well set for the event.

This cruise was different from those of previous years in that a night ocean race from Marblehead to Boothbay Harbor was arranged for sailing yachts, while the power craft could go as they pleased, to join the rest of the fleet next day, Sunday, a day of rest.

The sailing yachts got away a three P.M., with a good southwesterly breeze, making a pretty start and having very favorable conditions, and being dead aft, with a heavy sea on, gave some of the yachts unexpected gybes, as happened to Vice-Commodore William. W. Nichols’ “Marigold,” with spinnaker set.  This made difficult handling  and it took nearly half an hour to get things to right.  The little “Mystic,” Capt. Clarence B. Hoyt, had the same experience resulting in tearing her sail and having other damage. She then hauled out of the race and later found a haven at Cape Porpoise.  It also went hard with the next smaller yacht, the Bar Harbor “Cricket,” Capt. Thornton K. Lothrop, The “Indra,” Rolliston W. Linscott, arrived first, early Sunday morning, her sailing time being 14 hours, 28 minutes.  The “Marigold” was net 54 minutes later, then came the schooner “Malay,” Cyrus Y. Ferris in 24 minutes followed by the “Pertrel,” Com. James R. Hodder, “Hayseed” V.,” E. G. Young; “Cricket,” Thornton K Lothrop; and “Sea Roamer,” Rear Com. E. C. Lang. The handicap gave the first prize to the “Malay.” and it was well deserved.  The times were taken by the regatta committee on the “Rambler,” Fleet Captain, Daniel C. Roberts, later assisted by Ralph E. Winslow, chairman of the regatta committee; Quincy Tucker, “King of Hull”; and the ever popular John B. Killeen. The “Sea Roamer” lost  several hours, owing to some misunderstanding.

Dr. C. J. Underhill, who kindly took the motion pictures on the cruise, and was sail on the “Sea Roamer,” was lost in the shuffle, and was found after the start at the club-house at Marblehead, with no baggage save his camera, even minus his hat.  He was, however, a welcome passenger on the “Wasaka III,” Ex-Com J. J. Martin, on which he started, staying on board over night, rejoining the “Sea Roamer” the next day.

Soon after the sailing yachts had started, the power boats got under way and had a very enjoyable run to Little Harbor, the fleet there comprising the “Wasaka III”; “Maya,” W. W. Wilson; “Priate,” F. T. Currie; “Talisman,” Dr. Dana E. Church; “Sea Otter,” Charles W. Cook; “Avocet.” Ex-Com. Arthur L. Bar; :”Dawkina,” Dr. Frederick H. Packard; “Sea Fox,” H. E. Crawley; “Vendome,” Thomas W. Best; “Meridrud,” George H. walker, facetiously called the chaplain; and sloop “Lizzie M.,” William W. Hall, which had abandoned the race.

Most of the yachtsmen spent the evening at the Wentworth, some enjoying the Saturday hop.  There Mr. George H. Pekins joined the “Wasaka III,” He is a most versatile entertainer and talented violinist, and turned out to be the social life of the cruise, entertaining the members and visitors at every port.

The power boats started after breakfast in rather straggling order.  The sea moderate at first, soon ran very high, which displeased some of the passengers on a few of the yachts, which stopped at various ports.  The “Wasaka III,” however, kept on, arriving at Boothbay Harbor soon after five P.M.., having experienced much rougher water than is usual on the Main coast in summer weather.  It was however a most enjoyable and interesting sail, although one or two of the passengers were most busy emulating the heaving ocean, and adding to its contents.

The rest of the fleet arrived early the next morning which the members spent in calling among themselves and at the hospitable club-house of the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club.

The yachts sailed at irregular intervals for Five Islands, some going outside and some through the beautiful wooded passage of Townsend Gut.  Five Islands is a very picturesque little harbor with a safe anchorage and deep water.  The power cruiser “Sum Tub II,” Robert W. Moore, Jr., owner joined the fleet here.

In the late afternoon all attended the clambake, engineered by the genial Ex-Com. Ned Boynton, who performed his difficult task to perfection.

After the feast, prizes were awarded for the run to Boothbay Harbor, and were presented by Com Hodder in his most felicitous manner.

To the “Malay” was awarded the cup presented by Chas. E. Lauriat for the best handicap time. Com. Hodder’s silver fruit dish went to the “Indra” for best actual time, as did Ex-Com. Martin’s coffee set.  Ex-Com Martin won a silver pitcher for the only power boat to reach Boothbay Harbor on Sunday.  Rear Com. Lang’s prize for the best keep log was won by Vice-Com. W. W. Nichol’s “Marigold.” Rear Com. Lang won the second prize, but being the donor, with characteristic modesty, declined to accept it, and was awarded to Capt. Cook.
 

Some speeches followed, and music by George Perkins, W. W. Hall, better known as “Old Bill” who came from his home on the hillside to join the cruise, and other talent, form club members and Five Islanders. The gathering was also photographed in various positions by Mr. W. J. Keefe of Boothbay Harbor.

Ex-Com. Martin was obliged to return to Boston at night and Ex-Com Boynton took his place  on the “Wasaka III,” staying, a most welcome addition to the crew for the remainder of the cruise.

A dance in honor of our club was also given in the village in a hall used for sacred purposes on other occasions.  It was largely attended by our members, summer visitors and native, and proved very enjoyable, lasting until the small hours of the morning, which broke with a fog, keeping the yachts in port.  The crews amused themselves by calling on each other, exchanging hospitalities, etc. The “Wasaka III” was hauled close to the wharf, and Perkins assisted by George H. Voter gave an amusing skit, taking off the charter of the Hindoo Mystic Rajah, the latter impersonated by Voter, while Perkins furnished the chin music.  The entertainment astonished and delighted the natives who crowded the wharf and banks of the shore.

The proposed sailing for North Haven was given up, and the fog clearing about on o’clock, it was decided to run to Christmas Cove, for which the club made sail, “go as you please.”  there was scarcely any breeze, so that the sailing yachts were very late in arriving, some under tow.

Christmas Cove is one of Main’s beauty spots, and the afternoon turned out to be very delightful, the yachtsmen enjoyed themselves, visiting, some being taken around the harbor and out to meet the belated sailing craft, in a speed boat at the very kind invitation of its owner.

No provision had been made for entertainment as our arrival was unexpected, but after supper, some partaking of it at the Holly Inn, a newly new hotel with most beautiful views of land and sea, a dance was improvised at the Casino, attended by our yachtsmen and the summer visitors, lasting as usual to a very late hour.

Wednesday morning opened with a very strong wind from the westward, and to those unacquainted with the freaks of summer breezes on the Main coast, it seemed a good bet that the sailing craft would beat the power cruisers into Northeast Harbor, but the usual mistake was made in starting too late, for the fine chance of a few hours’ earlier start was lost, as soon after noon the wind dropped considerably and by four o’clock it was calm.  It was a glorious sail while it lasted, the sea was unusually rough, but the yachts acted splendidly and made beautiful pictures, as the power craft which started an hour or two later, passed them.  The “Wasaka III” was the first to arrive at Northeast Harbor, followed by the other power yachts.  A dance was to have been arranged by Com. Hodder, but owing to the calm he did not arrive, none was given.

Northeast Harbor is beautifully picturesque, on either side being fringed with high wooden shores, form which amidst the foliage, hotels and cottages peep out on a most attractive manner.  In the background behind the sparkling waters on the sheltered bay are the noble outlines of the famous Mt. Desert.

The sailing yachts finding it hopeless to expect to get to Mt. Desert that night, it was agreed to end their race at Stonington.  the “Maly,” however, sailed on to Northeast Harbor, arriving early the next morning, and was awarded a special prize for seamanship.  For the run to Stonington, the first handicap prize was awarded to the flag-ship “Petrel,” second prized to the “Hayseed V” and “Cricket” having tied, and third to the “Marigold.”

The next day they sailed to Northeast Harbor with very light winds, and the prizes were won, first by “Hayseed v.,” second “Marigold,” third the flagship “Pertrel.”

That day, Thursday, the “Wasaka III” went to North Haven to pick up her owner, Ex-Com Martin, and the other power boats stayed at Northeast Harbor or made short trips to Somes Sound and Bar Harbor.

Friday was another perfect day, but with very light breezes.  the “Wasaka III” having taken Ex-Com. Mrtin on board at North Haven, went fishing, this sporting event being featured by the large number of sculpins (“grubblies” so called) being caught, the unfortunate catcher being fined ten cents each for hauling up such an unattractive and unedible fish.

One poor chap had a fine bite, but thinking it was a grubby, and to avoid the ignominy and expense, shook the catch off his hook. You can imagine his chagrin on seeing a fine silvery cod sail through the air, and with an impudent shake of his tail glide to safety in the briny deep.

Prizes make up from pools were won by Com Ned for the first real specimen, a hake a few inches long, and by Capt. Griffin for the largest , a six pound cod later appearing in the form of a chowder dished up by George Voter acting as cook, and a mighty good con at that.

As above stated this was on Friday, and I remember asking some “know it all,” who ever fist called Friday an unlucky day.  “Oh, I don’t know” he replied, “some poor fish.”

He was certainly correct in his opinion, at least for that particular Friday, for our piscatorial efforts were successful, in quantity if not in quality.

On the other hand we had spent a most delightful day and had escaped the terrific heat which had prevailed in Boston for several days previous.

That evening, the entire fleet, increased by the addition of “Vesta,” Fleet Surgeon W. H. Flanders; “Talisman,” B. P. Kinball; and “Calypos,” Prof Harlan T. Stetson, re-assembled at Buck’s Harbor, which is land locked and one of the prettiest spots in Western Maine.  The night was wonderful, the water like a mirror, and the moon rising early, nearly full, but on course alone in that particular, made a picture not soon to be forgotten by those fortunate enough to view it.

I have been dubbed “The Ancient Mariner”, and so could not help recalling Coleridge’s beautiful line;

 “The harbor bay was clear as glass
 So smoothly it was strewn
 And on the bay the moonlight lay
 And the shadow of the moon.”

The sailing yachts had made a long trip from Northeast Harbor, some arriving very late, and some under tow.

The Buck’s Harbor Yacht Club, led by their commoder, Charles E. Gibson, a former member of our club, and at one time owner of the ill-fated schooner “Black Hawk”, staged a dance which was much enjoyed by everybody.  The cruise was slated to disband here, but in reality it did not, the yachts sailing for Camden the next morning, Saturday.  Fog shut in about eleven o’clock, but all arrived safely.

In the afternoon, the fog cleared and members of the most hospitable Camden Yacht Club took our members for auto rides, which were most enjoyable.  This kind  thoughtfulness was most thoroughly appreciated. Later Com. Cyrus H. K. Curtis, commodore of the Camden Yacht Club, and a member of our club, entertained our officer and committeemen, with their wives, at dinner on his steam yacht “Lyndonia.”  This magnificent vessel is 230 feet long and one of the finest in the country.  Com. Curtis showed us all over her, and gave each guest an illustrated brochure descriptive of the ship.

The “Wasaka III” sailed at nine A.M., and after a short stop at Five Islands, where Ex-Com. Boynton was returned to his relatives, kept on to City Point, arriving shortly after three A. M.  It had been another wonderful day, with smooth seas and light winds. The evening was enchanting, the full moon rising full after a brilliant sunset, affording an indescribable picture of nature’s loveliness.

Thus endeth the Annual Cruise of 1926, the memory of which delightful event will live long in the minds of those fortunate enough to participate in it, at least until next year.

W.B.