The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-23
Letter from "Dcv0tcd Yarhtmnn.,
from the Spirit OF the Timcs.J

NEW YORK, Oct. TO- 1870.
DEAR SPIRIT am really very much Disappointed
IN not seeing race between the Cambria ana some
or our able centrebOard yachts outside of SANDY
Hook, or from the lightshlp twenty miles to wind
ward and back, starting III ten Knot breeze rs Mr.
Ashbury desired. feel morally certain that there
are number ol our centreboard yachls-those that
are pnilt, spared and canvaSsed principle real
son ana consistency-that would i've just as long
aud beat the Cambria IN u gale OF wind. ! have
always been, ana am STILL or opinion that centre
board yacht, stanchy and property built, is just az
seaworthy, Just as weatherly and much more speedy
Than sharp yacht OF the same tonnage. In other
words believe that centreboard Yacht, bull 10
ton up to the Dauntess Sappho, Cambria or Fleet
| wing, would beat either OF them twenty miles ia
windward and back from the point or the Hook OF
! IRON the ligntShip.
! The great advantage the large, sharp yachts now
have over the smaller yachts OF centreboard build Ii
contained IN their power, with sheets lifted stand
ing irce Their own weight IN ten knot breeze or
from that to gale OF wind tells wonderfully in their
favor and against their lighter Opponents
am quite certain I could name six ccntrcboard
yachts now anoa that could beat the Cambria twenty
miles TO wlndward only outside OF the lghtsnp, If
The race were made dead 10 windward on thirty
minute tacks In tact. time tacxs a windwari or
race should be sailed.
That the Cambria mas done very well since she has
been In American waters there Is no denying: but [
do not think she has come up to the great cxpecta-
tons formed OF her by her owner or the more en-
thnsiasc Englisllmen. They had either very mucn
overrated the Cambria or moderated American
yachts That the Cambria ever had the ghost Of 4
chance to beat the Sappho or Dauntess, IN any KIND
OF breeze Is and always has been too apparent To
be thought Of for moment; yet with the success
gained by these larger yachts we must not rest on
our oars and think we have attained perfection .
In conversation few days ago with very prom
nent yacht builder OF this city, he remarked that
the Cambria presented some very important points
and that lie could and would improve on them.
Ina Is the true and sure way to progress; those
the ideas like to hear expressed, and, coming from
one who has broad, clear and comprehensive
opinions OF his subject, will be the next yacht
he launches to present something TO the Yachting
world that Americans VIII be proud OF. But II we
will be blind to any all things that pre- sent
| favorable features because they do not happen TO
elnanate with ourselves, then we shall make but
! Slow Improvement IN yacht building.
have examined two yachts that are now build
Ing liz the vicinity OF this city, and in Of them
There Is the same persistent feature OF eanness for
ward That Is too painfully apparent in some Of our
yachts. What they calculate TO carry sail on Is q
mystery TO me; but every one 10 their own notions
us thelr money tliat VIII pay Tor their experience
so presume they have right to use IL to suit tile IA
selves.
In reply to Mr.. voorhis' question In the NEW YORK
HERALD OF this date-"Nnat will Devoted Yocht
men say 10 thatr'- SIMPLY say just what have
always said:-Tdal Wave, you spread more canvas
than you can carry; you sail ike racehorse In
a light breeze but when it comes on To blow YOU
bury. What 10 any other yacht is or would be q
hree.knot breeze TO them Is equal to q tenknot
breeze TO you, and what 10 them would be q ten
Knot breeze TO you would be gaze OF wind, and
you would DC compelled 10 shorten sail accordingly
and from your faulty model you would wallow IN q
heavy seuWay. as 10 your comparison OF time
made under different circumstances, taking the
Dauntless and Sappho "a the basis OF your calcua-
tons, had always rated you as gentleman OF 100
much good yachting sense to draw any such conclu
sion. II the Tidal Wave Is the immensely speedy
yacht In a ten-knot breeze and upward that you
think and say she 1s you would not DC long III find
ing an opportunity TO prove IL by challenging one or
both OF the yachts you mention IN your communities
ton to the HERALD--yH., the Dauntess and Sap
photo sail a match race twenty miles dead TO
windward and back, from the point or the Hook
from Sandy HOOK Lightshlp IN ten-knot breeze, or
heavier Tor service OF plate 10 cost $1,000. have
no doubt Mr. Bennett or Mr.. Douglas would be but
too glad TO give you an opportunity To make good
the insinua.ion contained in your letter to the
HERALD OF tais date. III l had more time would
discuss the subject more fully nc this present writ
ing. VIII, however, in some future communIca-
ton, by the kindness OF the spirit, take up the
thread Of my argument and present my ideas To
those Interested IN yachting matters, with object
In view other than the advancement OF naval science
ana construction. Ever yours
DEVOTED YACHTMAN