The _John Gilpin_ sailed out past Sandy Hook, October 29, 1852, followed by the _Flying Fish_ on November 1st, and before the green Highlands of Neversink had disappeared below the horizon both ships were under a cloud of canvas. The _Flying Fish_ fanned along through the doldrums and crossed the equator 21 days from Sandy Hook, leading the _John Gilpin_ by one day. From the line to 50° S., the _John Gilpin_ made the run in 23 days, passing the _Flying Fish_ and getting a clear lead of two days. The _Flying Fish_ did some fine sailing here; dashing through the Straits of Le Maire, she came up alongside the _John Gilpin_ just off the Horn, and Nickels, ever famous for his jovial good-cheer, invited Doane to come aboard and dine with him, “which invitation,” the _John Gilpin’s_ log-book ruefully records, “I was reluctantly obliged to decline.” This is perhaps the only instance of an invitation to dine out being received off Cape Horn. Few men have had the opportunity to extend such unique hospitality and certainly none could do so more heartily and gracefully than the famous commander of the _Flying Fish_. His vessel made the run from 50° S. in the Atlantic to 50° S. in the Pacific in 7 days, leading her rival by two days. From this point to the equator, the _Flying Fish_ was 19 and the _John Gilpin_ 20 days. From here the _John Gilpin_ showed remarkable speed, making the run to San Francisco in 15 days, a total of 93 days, closely followed by the _Flying Fish_, 92 days from Sandy Hook. Their abstract logs are as follows: _Flying Fish_ _John Gilpin_ Sandy Hook to the equator 21 days 24 days. Equator to 50° S. 27 “ 23 “ 50° in the Atlantic to 50° S. in Pacific 7 “ 11 “ To the equator 19 “ 20 “ Equator to San Francisco 18 “ 15 “ -- -- Total 92 “ 93 “ When we reflect that this match was sailed over a course of some 15,000 miles, and that the difference of time was only twenty-four hours, one is impressed with the perfection to which the models of the vessels had been brought, as well as the exactness of the data relating to the winds and currents that had been gathered and reduced to a system by Maury, and with the skill of their captains, who were guided by his charts and sailing directions. The average difference of sailing between these two ships was less than six seconds per mile over the entire distance. Few races over thirty-mile courses have been sailed by yachts more evenly matched.