No racing yachts have ever been handled with greater care and skill than were these clipper ships over courses of thousands of miles. It was the custom for the captains to change their clothes at eight o’clock in the evening and at the same time in the morning, the exceptions being in thick and stormy weather, when they would not be out of their clothes perhaps for two or three days at a time. The officers and men of the watch below were expected to be ready to tumble out on deck at a moment’s notice to make or to shorten sail. The “old man” was very likely to appear on deck at any moment, night or day, which kept the officers in a high state of watchfulness. This was the only way in which these ships could be sailed and make the passages they did. Another splendid match of this year, sailed to the eastward round the Horn, was that between the _Northern Light_ and the _Contest_. The _Contest_ was built by Jacob A. Westervelt and commanded by Captain William Brewster, of Stonington, and was one of the fastest ships owned by A. A. Low & Brother. She sailed from San Francisco for New York, March 12, 1853, followed by the _Northern Light_ on the 13th, bound for Boston. Off Cape Horn, the _Northern Light_ came up with and signalled the _Contest_, and from there led her home by three days, the _Northern Light_ being 76 days 5 hours to Boston Light, while the _Contest_ was 80 days to Sandy Hook. In 1854 the _Comet_ made the passage from San Francisco to New York in 76 days, these being the record passages from San Francisco to Atlantic ports. On this famous passage the _Northern Light_ made the run from San Francisco to Cape Horn in 38 days, and was off Rio Janeiro in 52 days, thence to Boston Light in 24 days. Her best day’s run was 354 miles. She made the round voyage to San Francisco and return, including detention in port, in exactly seven months. Captain Hatch, her commander, was a thorough clipper ship captain, who never allowed his ship to suffer for want of canvas, and on this passage he brought his vessel across Massachusetts Bay before a fresh easterly breeze, carrying her ringtail, skysails, and studdingsails on both sides, alow and aloft, until she was off Boston Light--a superb marine picture, and one seldom seen by landsmen even in those days.