Savannah morning news., 1885-08-24
HIKERs ON THE DELAWARE.
Human Ballast That is Active and Intel-
liGent
ronl "a PhiladeLpAia "a

From The PhfildekDhtd Press.
The ''hiker'' is an aquatic racehorse, not
more than 10 feet long, without deck.
with mast away up in the bow, and
with single sail big enough for good
sized yacht. The ''hker' does not carry
any ballast except that which can move
about on two legs. In other words, her
crew Of or men are her ballast. In
order to utilize their weight 30 as to
prevent capsizing, the unknown genius
who invented the "hiker' devised the
/ following scheme: Fastened to the CEN
tire board, the mast and the lower yard of
the sail are 5 or 6 ropes, which are long
enough to hang over one side into the
water. On the ends which so over the
side are fastened bars of wood and ON
these bars of wood hang the human bal
last.
An admirable illustration of the work.
ing of this simple but rather moist device
is 6GolGed during every regatta of the
Southwark Yacht Club. The Southwark
is composed entirely Of "hikers." either
with double or a single bow. When the
starting gun is fired, from 80 to 90 racers
dip across the line as their crews franti-
cally haul up the sails. They continue
lduliuE uuAil SUN slItdQ VI thHN ha -
displayed that any spectator who was not
acquainted with the use of the apparently
useless ropes and wooden bars, which
/ seem to be only IN the way OF the men,
1 would say at once that the unballasted
/ little boats would go over before the first
quarter-mile was finished.
On they glide down the river, gathering
/ increased momentum with each moment.
1 still their progress is comparatively slow,
tnasfas hNNt - f.t
crews all sit staring at the sail aud at the
river behind. Suddenly the Tuiliing of the
water tells of the coming OF a puff OF
! wind The crew OF each "hiker' scram-
bic over the windward side and perch
/ themselves on the gunwales with the bars
Of wood in their hands. Perhaps the wind
blows steadily-perhaps it strikes them
In gust. II the former, then the men sit
where they are, balancing the craft simply
by all being on one side. But il,
especially while tscklpg, the "hiker's"
spread Of canvas above proves too much
for her and she plunges over, the Captain
yells frantically "hike over"
In an instant the ropes are stretched
taut and the wooden bars disappear over
board into the water, followed by the men
or the posterior part Of them. Only their
legs remain in the boat as they sit on the
transverse bars and hold on 10 the ropes.
Every other wave surges up to their
necxe, aud often dip 90 windward
submerges them completely, with the
exception OF their legs, which flourish
wildly up over the side OF the bOHt, but
when they reappear again the craft has
been saved from capslziEg by this sud-
den hanging out of from 500 10 over 1000
I pounds on the windward side. Some
times an entire tack across the river is
made with the crew "hiking out" in this
manner.
Sometimes, as they come about in spite
OF their efforts. the wind proves too strong
for them and the side they are sitting over
il raised high up into the air. Then Tor a
few brief seconds every nerve Is strained
as thoy pull on the ropes ard hang, almost
head downward, over the side. They may
succeed and keep the boat from oapsi2ing
or they NAV all execute a grand dying
leap AS the 'hiker' goes over and they are
thrown forward into the sail. This, how
ever, happens only when there Ia an
unusually strong wind or when bad mau-
agement is shown IN coming sbouW at
the wrong time. And, even IL they do
capsize, there is 40 harm done. Of
course. they are out OF the race. bat that
Is all. The tugs aud steamers that follow
pick them up and tow the halt submerged
boat back nome again, where she is
righted and bailed out.
On many OF the races At least 10 men
ar6 taken IN each boat. They serve 60
keep her steady as l0ug rs The breeze is
too stiff or the cruise 10 against the wind .
But N. after the buoy is rounded and the
wind dies away, the captain glances
significantly III one OF The crew. the
Yaohtsman grins, pulls on his bo0te. aud
drops overheard Perhaps he is picked
up, perhaps be- 10 not noticed m the cN-
rIfpne ent 0f the race. ana Dr. lef go take
care Of himself. ln the ease hu calmly
strikes ont Tor the shore, hnlf "a mile nHaf.
sometimes ballad zen uiru hr0 dropped
over iu this manner lr0u one boat in
order % tighten Der AND Keep her rivals
frNm crawling annad. blt woe tn iln
captain who sacrifces 200 many of bic
men. There may come up an unforeseen
Nind and bowl over tln tOn.irhfly bah.
lasted boat in roe twlnklinKof nu eye.