Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-24
TWO OPINIONS.
Of the Respective Merits Of English
and American Yachfs-Wrtt-
TEN Before the Race.

| Now that the great international race
between the yachts Puritan and Genesta
is over, and it is settled beyond all doubt
that the American centerboard sloop is
superior to the English deep keel cutter,
both before the wind and beating to
windward in forty-knot breeze, it is in
teresting to overhaul the opinions uttered
prior to the event both by English and
| American authorities, to see who were
correct in their forecast of the race, and
the respective merits OF the vessels. For
this purpose we give place to an opinion
uttered in the London Saturday Rerieag
OF August 29th:
WHAT THE ENGLIsHMAN sAID-''THE CEN
TERBoARD IS A VILE TYPE"
'fNow, at last, real attempt is to be
made by watch which, though not the
best English yatch afloat-for that proud
position must be conceded to the Trek
the Genegta is undoubtedly very good
one. She will sail with but small
chance of success, as she will have to
contend with a centerboard craft built
expressly for this contest.
"rhe centerboard, vile type, is for
excellent reasons condemned by all Eng
lish yacht clubs, but undoubtedly vessels
of that class have very great speed in
light breeze and smooth water.
eff the Genesta wins she will accomp-
lish very extraordinary feat, and bring
home one of the ugliest cups ever pro-
dnced by an English silversmith, and
that is saying great deal"
WHAT AN AMERICAN sAID-"THE CUTTER A
LONG WAY BEHIND"
The following communication appeared
in the New York Sun of September Cd,
dated at San Franc isco, and signed Gan
ex-Commodore of the San Francisco
Zacht Club the writer is suspected OF
being Mr.. Dick Ogden:
New York, Sept. 2, 1SS5.-Editor Sun:
For a year past ] have been under q
cloud. l have been reviled If I showed
my head, somebody hit it. The summer
ended with a cutter boom. They were
English, and therefore, superior to our
boats. Ours, no matter how deep, if
centerboard, were called skimming
dishes. It was sickening, and had to
take bacl treets in going home to avoid
this yelping and barking. There were
never to be any more skimming dishes
built-no, never. The American model
was doomed. Our neighbors over the
water had taught us how boats ought to
be built.
This year would see fleet OF cutters,
but no skimming dishes-very likely lois
of cutters will be built. the fools are not |
all dead yet, there is a large crop left.
Spring and summer came, but few cut |
tiers; two or three were imported because
they we're so English, you know. II
watched the regattas this summer, but I |!
saw no cutters in the lead. At Newport |
they said: "Give US breeze and a |
heavy sea and We will drown out you skim |
mers." The breeze came and where were
the cutters? Not one showed in advance.
II one went around the course l cid not
see her. They apologized for carrying
awayssa bowsprit or something else, it's a
way the cutters have. What's the sense
OF such length OF bowsprit curving down
ward, inviting every sea to carry it away?
Neither in the run from Whitestone to
New London, not in the regatta at New
port, not in the run to Martha's Vine
yard, not IN the run to New Bedford. not
IN the annual regatta, not in any regatta;
ahu III lile special race OF the Stranger
and Athlane where was Mr.. CUTTER
BEND, long way behind. My lord,
don't take back streets this summer.
And what about the Priscilla and Pur-
tan business? Where are the crack cut
.ers along side the two American models?
am Priscilla man myself don't like
hat concession to English cutters in the
stern. As for speed, she has
proven herself q good one, but l think
he Priscilla will beat her yet. Boston
has reason to be proud in fact Boston is
proud. 1t is said that half of Boston cot
,lorlously drunk On the news OF the Puri-
ans victory over the Priscilla; but if the
',uritan should beat the Genesta, the
american whiskey which had been ship
bed to Holland for cheap storage and to
'eat the revenue laws at home will be '
wanted, every gallon, even more"