The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-16
Classification of Schooners
and Shops.
THE CHALLENGE CUPS.
The New Yachts Now
Building.
Extensive Alterations and Changes in
Last Years Fleet.

The seasons OF the year have nearly all some
particular pasrime or amusement that Is especially
enjoyed during the months that they embrace and
that Is congenial to the temperature OF the
weather. Winter has its special pleasures, when
the huntsman dons his scarlet, the sportsman
takes his gun and the skater travels the ice. In
summer and autumn other branches OF recreation
come into season, and yachting, boating, horse
racing case ball and cricket receive their fair
amount OF attention.
Yachting, or pleasure sailing, Is one OF the most
popular OF the above sports-that Is to say among
residents or seaboard cities. Thirty years have
passed away since the organization OF the New
York Yacht Club, when q few gentlemen owning
small vessels, which they used exclusively FOR
pleasure sailing comprised the yacntsmen Of the
United States. Time, however, has effected mar
veous changes, and as the country grew
rich and prosperous so the little yacht neet
increased in numbers and dimensions, and at the
present day there are over 500 vessels belonging to
the yacht clubs of the United States, representing
several million dollars Of capital. They comprise
vessels Of all kinds OF capacity, from the stately
schooner OF 800 400 tons to the little sixteenfoot
open sailing boat In point OF speed they are the
queens OF the ocean, as, ever since the year in
which the America carried OF the Queens Cup,
beating neet OF seventeen or eighteen OF Eng
lands 1eetest skimmers or the sea. they have car
red whip from their topmasts that has never
been hauled down to any foreign yacht anoat
During the past few years the English schooner
yachts Cambria and Livonia, that visited these
waters, were easily beaten on nearly every occa-
SION; and, on the other hand our representatives,
the Sappho and others, that have crulsed in Eng
lsh seas established q reputation for speed that
has preserved them from superabundance ofchal-
tnt osf hoir fha dvnro oofJi
under the nag of ST. George,
The organization OF the New York Yacht Club
gave start to yachting all round the country, and
now we have number OF first class clubs, such as
the Brooklyn, Atlantic, Eastern, Boston, Portland,
Crescent city, San Francisco, Pensacola Seawan-
haka and others that own fast, seawortny crafts,
capable OF cruising in any waters.
THE PROSPECTS FOR 1874
are not quite favorable as In 1870 1871 and 1872
when some fifteen or twenty large yachts were
generally In course OF construction, and interna-
uonal matches formed part OF the seasons pro-
gramme but still, II one may judge from the sue
cess OF the past year. there is every to look
forward to an equally brilliant condition OF AFFAIRS
Last spring, when yachts were being overnauled
and put In order preparatory to going into COM
mission, everybody appeared TO think that yacht
ing was going to be dull; but on the contrary, the
season was very lively and wound up with some
very interesting racing. In the absence of the
Commodore and Vice Commodore OF the New York
Yacht Club Rear Commodore George L. Kingsa and
was In command, and that gentleman proved him.
sell perfectly equal to the task, making the annual
cruise q complete success and one Of the most en-
joyabe features OF the season. Tie Brooklyn and
Atlantic were also very fortunate, and commanded
respectively by Commodore Jacob voorhis and
Commodore ). Roger Maxwell each mustered .
1or Haaf in II
gattas
THE TWO FEATURES
OF the coming season that are at present attract
ing most attention among yachtsmen are the
classification OF schooners and sloops by the New
York Yacht Club and the proposed Corinthian race
Of the Seawanhaka Yacht Club OF Long Island. The
classification OF schooner yachts is q measure that
has been under discussion for several years, and
since the growing popularity Tor a class OF vessel
OF a size approxmatng to the Ider Magic, Fleur
de Lis and Eva has eliminated in the addition to
the club Of such yachts as the Ariel, Clio
Faustine Peerless, Cornelia and Comet some
such arrangement became necessity It
was found to be nearly impossible to frame
code OF time allowance that would equalize the
respective chances OF two such schooners as the
Sappho and Peerless, in contest sailed in ten
knot breeze and q light summer breeze In one
instance the large vessel would completely over
power the small one, and. Uice versa, in light air
the little schooner, under cloud OF canvas,
would glide rapidly through the water when her
antagonist would be barely moving. In conjunc-
ton with the classification OF schooners the New
YORK Yacht Club has also done away with time al
lowance, so that arge and small Will meet IN their
respective classes on an equality.
THE CORIETHIAN RACE
this year originates from q species OF regatta OF
the same name that bave been mucn In vogue
among English yachtsmen, and In which yachts
Up to last year the seawanhaEa .facnt CLUB has
only owned small cabin and open boats, which, in
accordance with rule IA Of their sailing regula-
tions-'The owner OF each yacht must, In ali re-
gattas and races, steer and direct the management
OF his own yacht'-were always handled BY their
owners During the past season the schOoners
ARIEL Peerless Tr.con and Idler have joined their
neet and now the club propose TO offer $500 cup to
be sailed for In the latter part OF August at Newport
over the Block Island course and under Corinthian
rules. The will be open to yachts OF all yacht
handled entirely by members of the club under
whose nag they sail No professionals viii be al
lowed on board the yachts with the exception OF .
pilot; but, Ia case OF fog or some other mishap,
II his advice Is accepted or asked, that yacht be-
comes disqualified for the race. Five yachts are to
derstood that the ldler, Palmer and Peerless nave
concluded to enter, there viii doubtless be very
e trouble ~ S Magic S
race as they would fI not require such heavy work
lelne, Dauntless, Alarm, Columbia, &c.
THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB
have q very lively season In prospective IL the
yacht owners wish TO make IL so, as there are
plenty OF cups to sail for provided the yachts only
put In an appearance. There has been change
In the of1cers OF the club, ana the annual regatta
viii be sailed on the 1lth Of June. At the annual
meeting, held on the evening OF the first Thursday
lions that nxed the classification OF schooner
yachts on Satisfactory basis.
First class schoonen-An measuring 1000 cubic feet and
second clan schoonsn-All measuring less than 1000
First ciss sloops-AI measuring 1000 cubic feet and
,.--,--.s.-o., 40 ~, l..
feet
The old rule, a. regards the NUMBER OF men 70 oe
allowed in \ race. was partly restored. SO as to
allow an unlimited number 70 the two classes OF
scnooners ana first class sloops, put connninx
second class sloops 10 one man 10 eacn ~ CUBIC
feet and fractional part thereof
regulation as TO size OF small ooats 70 DC car
Sicd was adopted ~ iollows;-
rt~~~ ~lssu RI than Is feet In