"Left Cobourg at Noon" May 28,1876: Schooner Days MCXXXVI (1136)

by C. H. J. Snider

Canadians After America's Cup—2.

COMMODORE GIFFORD'S schooner challenging for the America's Cup in 1876 was built by Capt. Alex Cuthbert at Cobourg and "cost a fortune" in the opinion of mid-Victorian Canada. All of $5,000, it was said, before he got through with her. That much for a seagoing racing schooner of 100-foot waterline would give builders coronary thrombosis today unless a thousand dollars per foot was added. And then you wouldn't get a cup challenger. They are in the million dollar bracket.

The Countess of Dufferin, as she was named, was built beside the old east pier in Cobourg. Capt. Dan Rooney, who departed this life this year, remembered that, for he, being resident in nearby Corktpwn, had the chip-gathering privileges of the shipyard as a child. He remembered her chips and shavings of clear-white pine and Northumberland County oak made excellent kindling for the breakfast fire.

The Countess was launched in May with due ceremony, and Capt. Gifford took her on tour of the lake with natural pride.

Her log book reads:

"May 28th — Left Cobourg at noon, light wind from S.W. After 2 hours it freshened from SW with appearance of thunderstorm to the W. Reached Genesee River at 7 p.m., brought up opposite Spencer House. Tug took in the (following) afternoon to Craig's Hotel.

May 29th-—Part of the passengers went to Rochester return at 2 p.m. with some of Genesee Yacht Club. Invited by that club to dine at 6 o'clock. Towed out at night by club. Light wind from NE. Becalmed all night.

May 30th—Light wind from SW all day. Made Toronto by E gap about 7 o'clock p.m. Anchored off RCY club house.

May 31st—Sailed the yacht to Milloy's Wharf (foot of Yonge street) and showed her to the public.

June 1st—Sailed out at 11 a.m. with the Mayor of Toronto (His Worship Angus Morrison, QC, MP) and other citizens to meet the Southern Belle steamer with the Mayor of Buffalo. After steamer sailed went out by Queen's Wharf round the island and back through the East Gap, nice breeze from the SE. Started early with morning

June 2nd—for Hamilton, almost a calm. Thunder squall off Oakville lasting 20 minutes, heavy rain and wind. Doused all canvas. Headwind afterwards from NNW succeeded by very light wind. Reached Hamilton at 8 p.m.

Thence the Countess sailed back to her native Cobourg, and, after further tuning up, for Kingston and the St. Lawrence River. There was nothing on Lake Ontario to serve as a trial horse. She was the largest yacht yet built on fresh water.

She entered the St. Lawrence canals below Prescott, and left them at Lachine, visited Montreal, and sailed on down to Quebec. Here she secured some seagoing equipment and a pilot for her voyage to the Gulf.

COMMODORE GIFFORD'S CHALLENGER "COUNTESS OF DUFFERIN" from contemporary Currier and Ives print.