The New York herald., 1869-04-20
THE YACHT SAPPHO.
Her Recent Alterations and Contemplated
improvements.

Her Recent Alterations and Contemplated
improvements.
Great interest Is felt in yachting circles regarding
the changes made and contemplated IN the model
and rigging OF the schooner yacht SapphO. This in
teresu has assumed a wider range and been daily
growing. since her owner, Rear Commodore william
Douglas replied to Mr. James Ashbury, owner of the
English schooner yacht Cambria, in relation to the
which they should sail their respective
vessels IN the matches contemplated by them on the
other side Of the Atlantic. In obedience to this
great desire to satisfy their curiosity, many
OF the old veterans have visited this vessel at the
"box' dock foot Of Gouverneur street, where she
has been in the hands Of o bevy OF workmen for
several days Here they have speculated upon the
venture OF her change, some indulging In the
prophecy that 1t will be success while others fear
it VIII be failure" These grumblings, however
are the old story over again and again, and are OF
but little Importance. lii appearance the Sappho at
present looks decidedly rough; but to the eye OF the
Initiated it can be observed that her alterations
have so far progressed that within three for weeks
she will be in readiness TO make her toilet OF bat
tie and fly at the highest game In the great world Of
yachting.
vessels speed and AGILITY. The first of these ad-
vised and executed By Rooert Fish, who has charge
of her improvements, was to "hpn her, which I'M
portant work is already finished. This process has
resulted In widening her amidships on the water
|
feet Of the keel and upwards 10 the plank shear,
ending fore aad aft within twenty feet OF her ends
The material used in this radical change OF her
model were white oak and hackmatack and In a
mechanical point OF view, the job has been executed
with great skill. IL IL claimed that this "hpping''
will enable the vessel 10 carry her sail better
with the same ballast giving her the increased speed
sought FOR, wit her improved mode or rigging, and
add to her iease OF lie,n as the increased yeniila
ton secured Will longer prevent her tImbeis becom-
ing unsound by this work There IL but three inches
addedto TO the Sappho's width for measurements In
xntf
OF width amdshps for displacement, which cannot
DC included Ia her measurement as above.
readiness to be put into position are in length fore.
mast, scventy-nlne ieet; mainmast, eighty feet,
these dimensions being from the deck. The fore
mast VIII he placel IN the same location ~ In the
Sappb0's previous rig but the mainmast VIII have
position six inches further forward than before.
The topmasts VIII be Of the old length forty feet.
Her bowsprt which 1t VIII be remembered Is formed
on an uncommon pian-beng the continuation OF
the bow-will also remain as at frst constructed.
II the ideas now In contemplation by her owner
regarding the rake or the masts he carried into
eject their positions viii certainly be novel ones,
IA while the foremast viii have fully ten feet rake
the mainmast will be less than four, presenting TO
the eyes OF American yachtmen really something
new. Her main boom Ia SIX feet longer than the old
onc-now measuring seventy-six feet-and her new
iibboom will be thiry-eIght feet IN length.
formerly fitted has been laid aside and hemp sub
stued therefor which Will he fitted 'set up' In
the most approved manner, having In view the
Next and above all important, her sails TO be en-
trey new, will be totally different from those she was
fitted with originally. The Dimensions OF The SUBJ
joined the principal ones in her great pile OF canvas
VIII give yachtmen an idea OF what she may carry IN
contest:-Mainsail ut foot ~ feei ~ head ss feet
Foresail ut foot, 90 feet. 10 is lugsaii aud lugs aft
the mast 10 feet. Main Jlb at foot, 50 Ieet also
lugsail and lugs aft the mast feet, lib topsail.
at stay, 1885 feet; at leach SIS feet at foot CO feet
Flying lib, at sav, los feet at leach 90 feet: at foot
o. feet she will also be supplied with four English
square opsails at foot respectively co. AZ 40 and 35
feet. The boom foresail viii be 81 feet al foot ana
me nlaintopnlast taysail 81 feet on the leach so
feet ut foot and 81 feet at head Besides these she
Will be lifted with all other sails required for the
especial duty and emergencies which may be
her lot
In the matter OF the Sapphos interior fittings she
VIII also undergo great changes. Her spacious sa
loon, originally twenty.six feet six inches long, viii
he sensibly reduced, as two additional state
hve IN all OF these pleasant sleeping places sire Will
possess The eight bcrtls, that were fitted upon
either side Of the cabin VIII hereafter be used
lockers. The toilet and bath rooms, with the pal.
lery anu All other rooms, VIII remain as before. The
nDsh o tne cabln, new In every respect wiil DO OF
nald WOOD, anu The decorations OF an artistic nature.
Her monkey ran on deck has been taken OF aud |
will not be replaced.
These embrace the essential differences between |
tue sappho Old aud the Sappho new. aud when COM
pleteo sue VIII be far different craft than when she
nr5t kissed the brlny wavcs.u In her anticipated
VISIT abroad sue will be in good hands TO develop |
her racing powers, and 10 Is 10 be hoped In her con-
tests ON the other side Of the worlds pathway she |
viii he HIGH In the Inst of the competitors.
There IL glorious uncertainty IN racing. IL |
prevails as much on the "green sea as on the green
swarlo II is di0lcult 10 make race certain, and |
Will not the visiting American yacht owners TO Eu- |
r0le tile approaching remember THIS as there