The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-10-23
From the London Times
The Build Of the Yacht America.

OF The characteristics of the hull of the
America, one OF her most rei,iaraIle is heI
formation at tho bow. Your reporter des-
cribes her dividing the water without q
ripple, as passing through it so smoothly
and imperep,ibiy that the wave at the bow
the crest Of broken aud fonning water
usually found at the bow when vessel IL
an rapid motion, is not to he seen; but tina,
a light feather of spray is all that indicates
her speed. This absence Of wave at the
bow Is therefore a remarkable circumstance,
aud demands our attention. BY what pecu-
larity of shape is this accomplished! Now,
all accounts agree that the shape Of the
Americas bow is remarkable; that il il n
hollow bow, or concave outwar,ls, instead
of the old convex or bluff bow, and that il
does not become convex till towards the
middle of the vessel. This is kind of bow
little in use as yet in this country, except
upon steamers, and but rarely adopted to
sailing vessels. The I itania and few
others only in England, possess the same
pecuiarity. II is technically called the wave
lane bow, aud appears to be one cause at
least, of the speed of the America This.
therefore, seems worthy Of careful atten-
tion-whetber the wave bow he good for
use and adoption.
second point in the hull Of the America
seems equally remarkable In Yachts h,h-
erto, and sailing vessels generally the great
est breadth has been about the middle Of The
length, or rather forward from that point.
In the America, the greatest breadth is to-
wards the stern, or distant about two fill
OF ihe length from the bow. In short, in
stead of the greatest breadth being at the
foremast, il is as far back as the n,ainnast
OF the schooner. This is so important q
point, that it must evidently affect the " hole
sailing qualities Of the vessel, and therefore
deserves most careful attention. 1t is also
another of the peculiurities of vessels built
on the wave principle.
A third point is the fulness of the run
abaft when compared to the finess of the
bow. The water line a the run is convex
throug hont nearly its whole length, instead
of having hollow like the how.
The fourth point is the difference between
the depth of keel forward and abafi, the
draught of water being over four feet more
abaft than forward. This, however, the
Iitania and some other vessels have in the
same degree.
Now, all these peculiarities in the water.
instead OF above it, materially affect the per
formance of the vessel, although they are
water her sIDgularly short stern, her great
sheer of deck towards the bow, her clinper
figure head, her tumble home side, all these
are minor points, which the servile i,ni,ator
may copy, hut which the wise constructor
will not be hasty to initiate. Above water
the important points are those which effect
the action of the wind on the sails. I, is
quite as essential TO ships performance
that her sails should offer the greatest re-
sIstance TO the wind, as that her hull should
offer the least resistance to the water. In
the mastlng Of the America, there is scarce
y any important peculiarly, except the
possession Of only one topmast, and the
smallness Of that one. The nIasts have
nearly the usual size and position, except,
pei haps, that they are stronger than usual.
The rigging has also the peculiarly of ex-
treme simplicity.
II IS when we come to the sails that we
Ind the most renarkable point in the out
water arrangements of the America. X is
certain that when the best of our sails will
stand and draw well within four points Of
the wind, the Americas will go within three.
This was strlkingiy proved in the match
with the Titania on thursday. Before the
wind the speed Of the vessels were not very
different; on wind, the speed through the
water seems also not to be very different
1T we lay down on paper the advantage
gained by the America from her sails stand
ing at three points instead of four, we shall
find it equal to a gain of five to four in dis
tance run, or in time on the race--a differ.
ence more than equal to that which was re-
allied. Here, then, we have point of ad-
vantage which is beyond all dispute in It's
nature, and Of an unquestionablc iInpor-
tance-the weathering qualities of the sails