Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-05-27
The Winning Yacht.

Fiom the New York Tribune.
Some facts in connection with the Ameri-
can yacht Sappho, which hns just beaten
the famous English yacht Cambria, are of
interest at the present time. The first time
she visited Eng gland it was not to race. as
was generally supposed. Her masts had
been reduced, high bulwarks put on. and
in other points she was fitted to successful
ly withstand the heavy weather likely to be
encountered in doubling Cape Horn, for her
owners intended to send her into the Pacific
to be sold but as she had ample time to
get down to Cape Horn for the most favor
| able season, even after run to Cowes, aud
thinking she might be sold there, I ere she
was first sent. She sailed on her first voy-
age in command of Capt. Baldwin, a retired
shipmaster and merchant, who had former
~ sold vessels for the same owners. Her
crew consisted, beside the captain, of two
officers and six men before the mast, not
one of whom had ever been previously at
tached to a yacht, having always sailed in
sqnare-rgged vessels. She had no racing
sails, and had not even square-sail, vet
she made the passage to Cowes in fourteen
days, that port being 23l miles further than
Queenstown, so that her first passage was
about the same as that of the Danntless.
Captain Baldwin having so much confidence
in the Sappho. after hersplendid run across
the Atlantic under such unfavorable circum-
stances, allowed himself to be hurried into
a race without the preparation that is al.
WAYS requisite, noteven disturbing her stone
ballast. thrown in at New York. 1t was
kh. xv,eh IF tho IN c,,rJ
expedient to test her speed in English wa
tiers, to send over thorough Yacht sailing
master with an experienced crew that had
been accustomed to fit yachts for racing as
well as sailing them.
The course of the first race being around
the Isle of Wight, subject to strong and I'M
equal currents. the race depended as much
upon the skill Of the pilot as upon the speed
of the yacht. A majority Of the crew we're
English sailors hired FOE the occasion only
a dav or two before the race. and the result
was defeat. The Sappho did not belong to
the New York Yacht Club, nor did she rep
resent the Club in any way, and it was so
stated by Capt. Baldwin at the time; vet
the English press loudly applauded what
they considered national triumph.
The owners Of the Sappho did not have
their faith in the yacht shaken a particle.
and believed she was the fastest keel boat
in the world and, knowing that Justice had
not been done her, ordered her home to put
her in racing trim, with the intention cf
sending her back to England with an
efficient Yachting crew. confident that she
would redeem herself and the reputation of
American yachts.
In the meantime Mr.. Douglass having
witnessed her performance at Newport,
where she beat every keel yacht in the
regatta of the New York Yacht Club, pur.
chased her for voyage to England and IN
the Mediterranean. Previous to her sail
ing, she was put in complete racing trim,
under the supervision Of Mr.. Fish. Her
high bulwarks were taken off. her masts put
in. her wire rigging changed for hnmp, ard
also nv the advice Of some Of tie friends
of Mr.. Douglass, she was "hipned' to en-
able her to carry more sail. The Chipping
or "shou|dering.' as it is termed in Eng
land, is done by swelling ont the midship
section near the ~ater-line. and tapering of
gradually fore and aft. In her case il was
carried out about fifteen inches, and taper,
ed off to about thirty feet each way.