The New York herald., 1869-04-28
NAVAL ARCHlTECTURE-THE YACHT ME-
TECR.

From W1bes' Spirit Of the Times, April III
EDITOR SPIRIT OF THE TIMES:-
DEAR sIR-The articles, editorials and extracts
from the London Ftel6 published in your issues Of
January p ana 3o 1869; were SO well;timed and SO
much TO the ponS that was really in hopes that our
American yachtmen would improve on what think
some very excellent points. But no Here we have
Loriard, under the sole supervision and direction
OF Mr.. Robert Fish, with great expectations, which
thought that the idea progress In everything,
but more especially yachts las that Is the subject
man, had hoped that we might have the ghost of
chance with the Cambria in the proposed interna-
tional race. But as things stand tthey refusing to
meet the Dauntless) am at loss TO know where to
look for yacht the size OF the Cambria that can
compete with her. When learned OF the intention
your paper would induce him to build something
that would be credit to the country and be able to
hold the proud position OF conque-or and maintain
the reputation made by the celebrated yacht America
In English waters It seems to me that ever since
were resting on the reputation made by her and
every one who owned yacht thought she was
provement, have ut last stepped boldly forth and
thrown the gauntlet IN our very teeth. Flushed with
their victory over the Sappho IN English waters ney
are willing to sail her again, although they claim
she Is larger than the Cambria. Yet they
fuse to san the Dauntless which ia fifty tons
OF our yachtmen Know, that the Dauntess, although
the smaller is the neeter OF the two. Mr. Douglass
the now owner OF the Sappho, with b0ldness that
deserves better fate, has challenged the Cambria,
and the match will be made. Had Mr.. Douglass let
alton of the position Of her masts with the canvas
she required, It Is my opinion she would have proved
to the contrary Mr. Fish advises almost entire re-
building OF the vessels hull, asserting as his reason
for the change that she is not an abe yacht. do
not speak disparagngiy Of Mr.. Fish as a yacht
builder, but he must get rid Of some OF his old
The alterations which are to be made in the huh
OF the Sappho are opposed by the Messrs. Poillon,
her builders, and ! think by every sound thinking
man who knows anything OF naval architec-
ture. IL does seem To me that We, as yachtmen.
have simply gone from bad to worse With
one or two exceptions, there mas not been a yacht
built since the America tnat could be mentioned as
anything superior The Dauntless and Fleetwiag rs
boaraers about as far As can go and yet there
have been numDerless yachts built during the time
mentioned. Why they will not improve Dy expert
ence IL a mystery 10 me. Ny comments on the yacht
just launched are simply these:-She will not work
70 win1ward she will not 20 about easy, If at all;
one point about her that will be superior TO another
In sailing. II she works to windward wen, If size
goes about easy and quick, II she rides easy IN u
sea, II she Is rs fast she IL expected to peihen
Will give up all theorLing and say tnat anything
be made to sail with power enough TO push 1t
'' DEVOTED YACnTMAN.
From wilkes Spirit of the Times, April 2f.l
EDITOR SPIRIT OF THE TINES
Thoughts on the new yacht Meteor, built by Mr.. Fish
for Georxe Loriliard Esq, OF this city, wnich you
published April 3, was like the lrishnan at DoDDy
brook FAIR, who with shilleiah IN hand, was drag
ging hs coat tail on the " ound asking some To
not wish TO fight. was in homes soiue one Of the
many admirers Of the yacht re erred to would answer
me and give their reasons for declaring her such
splendid piece OF naval architecture and bound to he
spee edy and work 80 WELL that might In all fair
ness give my reasons for taking the opposite ground.
In the absence OF any reasons gwen for their
In all my experience with vessels for speed have
found tiat the nearer yacht balances naturally on
the watcr without weight or ballast the nearer she
IL right for what is required OF ner-speed. When
yacht Is launched witaout her spars or bowsprit,
al.a ttaf ahn .rlI. A
down, any one Is safe In saying that boat bound
sail fast II properly rgged and handled. You may
entinc principles Her ballast Is In the ccnre max
ing the centre o the yacht the pivot on which sne
weight or ballast placed in yacht there the pivot
Is. The weight makes the pivot IL IL be
fore or at or IN the centre, and It works
precisely the same IN se1wav II the ballast IL
AFT, she drags; II 1t is forward she piunQes; II
II is IN the centre she is balanced and win go over
sca as light as a cork. IL Is an established fact
known to all nautical men, that IN beating or going
about on tack the aiLer part OF the vessel sweeps
through the the fastest. turning as 1t were.
these facts as my standpoint rom that point viii
view the Meteor she - long, well cleaned out for.
resistance TO her cut, her keel Ia GRADED which Is
all right her run aft Is tolcraoy clear but her bear
ings are not wnat they should be. For this reason
almost the entire weight Of ballast Ia far, very far,
AFT OF the mainnast In make her balaace-making
just what have said tue pivot or tarning point on
her keel She will have to drag the whoe dead
weight In going about OF thirty 10 forty tons which
holds her down att, Wnile ner bow mas nothing To
support her, being comparatively lignt thus being
controlled to use immense force and strain to
do that which little science ana sklll could
perform with the greatest ease In turning. Hence
inv reason for saying she will not work easy and
muck 10 wlndward. In seaway the fault nd is
precisely on the same ground-wcight too far ait.
Standing head on or quartering her bow Will lft
very easy, too easy, being long and clear forward
snc will not be able to drag that after weight To the
ton OF the swes before she falls dead into IL. And
being 20 heavily weighted aft before her stern hits,
it IL my opinion heavy sea Will close over Il;
whereas II her ballast andshps her stern, being
light would llft the moment 1t was touched by the
wave In other words snc balances on the centre,
and bow and stern respond to each other like scale
beam evenly balanced. say she will not drive or
scud before the wind in heavy sea, for the same
reason-too much weight at, she will not mt easy;
consequently a sea viii wash over her stern before II
can INT out OF the way. say she will not lay to
easy, for the same reas0n-too much weight aft.
Her bow will rise quickly In heavy sea, her stern
will drag, and before II can liit the sea will break
over her aft the mainmast. am speaking OF this
yacht now as oeing az sea, not padding around In
mlllponds or sailing from the club house on staten
Island to the Southwest Spit thence to the Rhtshp
and back--a course TINT any OF our puny bridge
catboats can 90 over safely, although my remarks
In relation to her wlndward quaihcations will ap-
ply to her here in our quiet waters. l am wi ling to
admit that the spafs bowsprlt and rigging will carry
Yacht OF her balance; but in weighing 10 balance
"a an "A np MI