New-York tribune., 1885-09-18

IN which pleasure yachts are especiaiiy useu'
But the perfect yacht ought to be tit not only
for fine weather and pleasure excursions, but for
the bowling storm when it comes, and for the
long pull to windward In heavy seas, which Is
at times unavoidable. Besides, it ought to be a
type Of the finest naval architecture for deep
sea work. For such work the British seamen
have urged that the cutter was far superior,
and in such test they said the Genesta would
prove the fastest boat afioat.
The test has been made. A hurriedly built
sloop in her first season, with crew scarcely
disciplined at all together and with officers and
men who had little opportunity to get ac-
ouainted with each other or their boat, never
theless has beaten the crack cutter. Moreover
the sloop has beaten in all weathers and IN all
sorts of wind, in drifting and in remarkably
fast racing IN running before light breezes,
and in climbing TO windward through q gale.
Precisely where the cutter was Thought to he
superior, the American sloOp has beaten, and so
beaten. too that it is not difficult to understand
the reason. The narrow and deep cutter must in
the nature of things lie over more with stih
wind than the broader sloop with greater initial
steadiness on the water. Only after the cutter
has tipped some distance can the weight oil
ballast on her keel and bottom become
effective to overcome the pressure of wind on
her SAIL But sails 100 feet high, when lying
over at an angle of 45 degrees, present resist
ance TO a layer of wind only 73 feet thick, so
that q sail area of 1000 square feet, slopmg
at such an angle, becomes for all practical pur-
poses sail area of less than 5000 square feet.
The sloop, being broader on the water, stands
up straighter and therefore retains larger
proportion of her sail area effectively presented
to the wind
But there is another difference and one
perhaps more fatal to the cutter. All were
astonshed when her h1ll was revealed on the
dock, and all then understood why in tackins
the cutter whipped about as swiftly rs n top.
The low, rounded bottom presented little ro-
sistance to the water, and she revolved as
easily on her midshp section rs on pivot, and
with very slight pressure. But it is not the
principle function OF a boaS to 20 about in
tacking. but TO get ahead after she has
tackled The very quality which made the
cutter go abOlt easily also makes il impossible
to hold her rs closely to the wind as'the sloop
can 90. The impact of wind on her head sails
continually tends to make her spin around like
n TOP on ncr mluUlc StCtlDi, anu the result II u
crab-likc motion lecward, in spite of all the
skill of her seamen.
The British learned much from The great
yacht race years ago in which the America won
the cup, and proceeded to revoluliOnze their
methods of construction. II is probable that
they still have the sound common sense 10
learn once more the unwecome lessons which
the latest race for the cup may teach them.
These lessons are two: that n boat ought to be
shaped like a swan, and not like u fish, its bus-
ness being TO 20 on the water, and not through
the water. Second, the principal business of a
boat is not to turn around, but to go ahead, and
therefore the rounded form of the cutter
bottom is not the one from which the greatest
speed to windwnrd can be expected. 1t has
been grand race. and all Rcn of Anglo saxon
blood may be proud OF the manly qualities
which the Genesta's owner has shown. II will
help to teach all men of the English speaking
races, to which both boats belong. and who have
n right to BIZ proud of both. how to retain here
after their supremacy on the seas where they
have no rivals.