The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-02
Tile GREAT OCEAN RACE.
DAUMrLEss VERSUS CAMBRIA.
THE START ON JULY A.

THE START ON JULY a.
The great International ocean race between the
two famous schoOners Dauntess and cambria taxes
place on Monday next at two O'Clock r. M
when the ccntesting yachts VIII sail from Ola
Kinsale Head for the lghtship on Sandy HOOK.
This race, agreed upon by Mr.. Ashbury after
lengthy correspondence, Is without any conditions
whatever and such an unsatisfactory contrivance
as "tme allowance Is unknown In The simple chai-
lenge and acceptance which, twill be remembered
were conducted through the transatlantic cable.
As the day has approached for the beginning OF
this IL has been fruitful topic OF CONVERSE
ton among yachtmen, who, with precise know
ledge Of the Two schooners have drawn various con-
illusions TO the result Speculation as to the VIC
tory Is now out Of place, as few days VIII settle
who Is to be the Wilmer OF the most remarkable
ocean struggle ever entered into by two yachtmen.
1t only remains, therefore, to point out the prob
able characteristics that win surround tho contests
the features OF seamanshp and navigation; the ext
gences Of wind and that may arise and the radi-
cally different construction embodied In each OF the
two models. or coarse IN these qualities lies the
success or failure OF tho one or the other
Speed IL the necessary attendant Of triumph, and
whichever schooner succeeds in developing this
quality IN the highest degree, together with the trim
quality Of weat,erliness, Will necessarily bear OF
the champion trophy. But 1t should be borae In
mind that speed, the object OF yacht construction
the world over, depends upon conditions OF design
rig, sparTlng canyaslnz and bailasting-thlt are
by no means settled IN marine science. II it were
possible 10 clearly and distinctly define the exact
principles upon which every neet model must 90
constructed, then, OF course, all competition on the
water would be reduced to mere question OF ex-
pertness In seamanshp aud good Judgment or ex-
perience In navigation.
Fortunately for the pastime OF yachting no stated
rules have ever been laid down, ana the problem OF
design is to-day as much unsettled as the instability
OF the gold market. 1t is upon this din renee that
the race OF Monday derives It's chief interest
We In America have long followed a general aud
national theory In the building OF our hulls which is
CALEB "the broad beam ana shallow hold" property
That is We construct upon lines that expose large
bottom surface TO the pressure OF the water, which
tends constantly TO lift the vessel bldy upright out
or the sea, and any top-heavness-that is, any con-
siderable weight aloft-acing In concert with this
upward pressure, inclnes to the vessel over
to one side or the other and lessen the quality Of
'stirness.n 10 produce another force neutralizing
this dangerous propensity or bnoyancy we give our
hulls great deal OF shoulder" the hips, as 1t
were, that produce Stiffness under heavy pressure
OF canvas. We know that with a hull embracing
these general principles ride thu sea AM not
break through IL; that we can sail on the surface
and not plunge aud dig and plough through the
waters. II must seem to any man, with no nautical
knowledge whatever, that this Is nothing more than
the primitive principle Of
FLOTATIOS.
Our yachts, by this law SIT quietly and gracefully
on the water and do not require all the complexities
necessary in deep-draught model.
Then, with such a general principle trlumphantly
sustained by the America In 1851 and by the three
brilliant victories Of the Sappbo in her recent con-
tests with the Cambria all yachts in this country
dstinctively marked.
Only one deep-hold schooner was built in this
country, and that was a ridiculous failure.
Added to this feature In our construction are ex-
qusitey fine bows which are received as necessity
In any fast vessel The quarters OF our yachts vary
ana 1t IS hardly safe at this stage OF yachting 10 pro-
nounce upon their absolute outlines proportions.
Let the reader look at one OF models. He
viii perceive fine bow, which is the entering
wedge from which the lines swell into fat bige.
often concave, often nat, often convex. lie viii also
perceive that the schoones bottom hts In the
like the hinder part Of q water fowl and tn { the
identity OF more draught ait than forward Is
almost perfect IN the fowl ana the schooner.
Now, as 10 the
ENGLISH sCHooNERs
of which the Cambria Is lair type-they are deep
tects in England say that this mode Is
necessary in English waters p irtcullriy in the Eng.
lsh Channel because OF the slort, cnopplng seaway.
But tn ire Is another reason i0r uls system OF con-
struction that has larger influence than yacntmen
usually believe. The official measurement in Eng
land, as defined by law, requires tbat the tonnage Uf
any vessel shall be found by multiplying the length
by the beam, multiplying the prodact by half tue
beain--thus assuming the hold 10 be half the beam.
This law was passed to encourage the building Of
deep vessels and The reader will rceive u YES
SCI with b am OF twenty feet might be z ven a hold
ofsf z 10 rnpa M mn
by the Official or Thames Yacht Cub rule OF tonnage.
An English vessel Il never measured at her actual
capacity ana 81 great deal has peen sad about this
subject. Engisimen are beginning to colcede their
mistake.
ont then rom Old Kinsale Head with these features
so tiiauistrically opposed to each other we shall
have race of 5000 m les, in which VIZ can prove
whether or not, on long svfugSe Ia heavy scaway,
the English model possesses IL redeening feature.
Whatever Mr.. Ashbusy's idea may he. IL Is cerlain
he no longer mas the same confidence In the Cambria
which he once had. for among ms last acts has been
to order new schooner from Ratsey, oI Cowes.
The month OF July is generally very cain and
pacific on the Atlantic Ocean fl is pre-cmnenty
the month OF quick passag 81 ana there have been
still as the bosom OF an inland lake; but OF course,
IL is impossible to say what may be- the probable
prevailing WINDS. Usually at THIS season OF the year
there Is something OF gale of The coast OF Ire and,
and 1t IL believed that the schooners VIII havea good
start ut least
me latest European steamer made the passage in
eight days, and this certainty indicates remarkable
weather. After start there may be a variety OF
Influences tnat may tel largely upon the result.
suppose the airs are very iglt, then 10 viii be con-
test with light canvas. suppose they experience
head winds. then IL will BE- peat TO wndward, and
the wcather,y qualities VIII receive sharp test
Suppose it blows gale as Is very prooaoe at some
time, thai th!cS fog settles over the horizon, 1t
would then require bur few short boards to
eparare the yachts. and IL would be MIRA
J. indeed II they ever met until 1T tleir
anchorage IN New York. suppose they thus sepa-
rae-ylsibie compet ion ceases. 40 advantage can De
token OF an adversary = bad seaDansip or M.slaps,
and the object Is 10 spread everything ard l for the
Lghtshp.
Suppose spar is carried away. 4 sail Is blown
from the bolt ropes that tbc steering gear be-
comes hopeiessiy disordcrei; then such a accidents
WILL OF course, have material influence upon the
result especially II these disasters frequently IT.
peated, they liable TO be, under most all con-
dltions OF the
IL would be useless to conceal The fact that sea-
manship is very important IN tliis contest Daily
errors, the loss OF n minute in every watch might