The New York herald., 1875-12-25
ICE YACHTING.
Preparations for the Sea-
son Of 1876.
NEW AND NOVEL CRAFT.

the exciting sport OF yachting skates fully naugu-
rated for the Until few years since this
fayorte winter pastime but little known outside
the towns that line this noble river, but now II has
assumed dignity among the outdoor recreaons the
year second to none. It has with many gentlemen
fully and satisfactorily supplied the place. during the
months of ice of their yachts and salboats compelled
TO be renquished this period OF the year. and clubs
being formed rapidly in various sections Of the
United States that there is great promise Of It's future
Many OF the ice yachtsmen hereabouts and the chel
officers OF the New Hamburg and Poughkeepse clubs
are convinced that as amusement, ice yachting is
only in It's infancy and that many years will elapse
before all nne sheets Of will be spped with
or more Of these odd craft that, unGar fair con-
ditions, can beat an express train out ofsight
PREPARATIONS THE SEASON.
Since last spring, when the New Hamburg Club so
nttngly closed the with offering a challenge
pennant to sailed for this winter by all or any of
leo yachts In America there has been the greatest RI
valry among the Of the boats in this vicinity TO
keep the prize within their home club. To this end
they have made improvements In many OF their boats,
and altered and rearanged others that there but
little doubt that it will take smart craft and fearless
sklful TO carry tho prize away from this
section OF the Hudson. The that does 1t will be
warmly applauded and In advance be set down for
downright specimen Of pluck and coolness for there
can be no question that the boats the Hudson
wonderful In their construction being light, st1
and fast From the rough concerns OF score Of years
ago. when common boards and joists and ordinary
skate runners were used, there is now symmetry OF
proportion the very best of material and finish the
finest that the most expert workman produce Not
alone have the several of the Ice yachts herea
bouts been engaged general ovcrhaulng Of them for
few weeks back but two three ones have been
constructed, the important being those owned by
Commodore Irving Grinneil, of the homo club and In
the building of these boats much interest has been
manifested and the hgeliest speculation viii undoubt
edly follow the working Of of them, as IN its rig
there is an important departure from old and ostab
lished custom.
CENTENNIAL GcB YACHT WHIP.
The first the yachts recently built by order oil
tho liberal and enthusiastic Commodore of the New
Hamburg Club is his Centennial boat which is to be
sent to Philadelphia in the early spring. here to be
hbited at the great show in Fairmount Park The
struction of this craft was response invitation
Of the Centennial Commission received at tho close
Of the clubs last ice yachting season. This is most
beautiful boat every respect She Is soop rgged and
built ofcean white pine the side pieces being cased with
black walnut ornamented with gilt beading the centre
keeson is strengthened with black walnut truss the
deck of narrow closely oned strips ofred cedar and
spruce while the ironwork throughout is all hand
somely ncke plated In every particular this is 1ne
specimen OF a Hudson River Ice yacht can be built
II doubtful If Commodore Grinne will put her the
ice this season, much he would like TO- it is his
desire to have her without scratch for the Exhibition
The dimensions OF this leo yacht which has been
named Whit, as follows:-Length Of boat proper
1e eet6 inches length all lend of boom top Of
bowsprt Al feet width runner plank 1o feet canvas
to be carried S1e square feet If this yacht placed
in the conspicuous position - deserves in the Exhibit
tion buildings viii have many admirers while at the
prominence more than ever before this hcalthfu and
exhiiaratng sport
The second of the boats built this by Com
modore Gnnne is the catrigged Flyaway. She
finished but day two since, and is entirely different
In many important respects from any yacht yet
constructed. This craft built the Commodore's
own place in this village in accordance with his own
ideas and plans. The two principal points in her
struction are:-First that she is catrigged, a rig
never before attempted save by Commodore Grnnei
himself last winter experimental way; second,
that she bears about the the resemblance TO the
ordinary model OF ice yacht that rowing shell
boat does to sloop's yaw That Is, she is built very
long and her side pieces continuing till they in
terseot the centre keelson at the bow, thus
giving her the appearance of a boat
than these craft usually assume, and decidedly
raklsh aspect Her mast is stepped two feet forward
OF her inner flank, and her boom only projects two
feet over her stern. The Fyaway, like the Whit ~
built also Of white pine with decks of alternate strips
OF black walnut and pine, and she is furnished with
brass mountngs making elegant and durable finish
Tho dimensions OF this the queerest Of all the queer
ice yachts yet constructed, folows:-Length
10 feet; width of plank, Is icet inches; BOOM "a
feet; gaH feet inches hoist II fett spread Of can
vas 342 square feet Commodore Grinnell has great
hopes Of this craft and really, in the expressive Ian
guage OF one of the oldest and best ice yachtsmen
the Hudson, ''she Is pceler and will prove his
opinion ugy customer for OF the largest first
yachts for according TO the New Hamburg rules,
the Fyaway just falls into the second class.
Commodore Grnneii's experience with cat-rgged ice
yachts above referred TO, il limited TO last winter.
Then with his little experm craft, Pun he
the first prize in the second class annual regatta and
then enough 10 convince him that this character Of
rig, properly balanced as regards sa and length OF
boat superior to the old sloop rig particularly in
beating TO wIndward. Hence the Commodores ''new
departure y and all the ice yachsmen herea5outs as
we'll as those further up the river, waiting with
much interest iof the season TO open in order 10 test
the novel experiment. Commodore Grinnell conf
IDENTIFY predicts that tive years hence ice boat,
on tho Hudson al least VIII be sloop rigged.
''CHALLESGE PESSAST or AMERICA"
Besides the usual regattas be sailed during the
there expected to be some cracking
for the "ice Yacht Challenge Pennant OF America, " q
pr1c manufactured in March last by order Of the New
Hamburg club and then offered for competition this
THIS pennqnt is OF dark blue silk, thirty feet
Ions ana gotten up IN the most tasteful and elegant
us4arer Running It's entire length in letters Of gold
$40 wCfcs which tell s character and purpose IL
was assrred 20 be trophy under certain conditions,
aaaN $40 world, and with good ice there must be a
struggle the hrst time IL sailed for. In order
Hsi 49, conditions under which the New Hamburg
at 0Ftred this pennant the world may be recalled
~ following circular, exclusively published in tho
hsAtkp ou The 27th OF March last, ls repeated:
certain dag y BE- known As the Ice Yacht Challenge
bcal 1lah oi New Hamburg Dutchess county " and is
hereby offered Tor competition nl ice yacht clubs in
America AID Europe 20 be sailed for subject the follow
lnh conditions
+ This ha is always to be considered as challenge aag
and become the individual property Of any club
winning t.
The club holding the flag is liable be challenged dur.
10 Yachting by organised club in this
country Europe the challenge bo IN the OF the
club aud sent through s secretary in writing to the Secre
Of the club challenged and such challenge or cha
lenges accepted and sailed for In the order in which
they respectively received The club receiving
tht challenge Immediately appoint committee oil
three or this who shall appoint the day start the
their time settle all questions connected with
proclaim the winner and from the decision Of
this committee there shall be appeal Tho club chalepg
ing than boat II preferred Tbs
club holding the Gag with one or moro boats Al
option
Any challenge for any other purpose that exist
unsettled between the club challenging and the club
challenged sailed for before the for this hag
can take place between them.
All this tag shall be satlod the annual
the club chaenged but the ies such
be proper condition for sailing upon the race
be sailed neutral course said