Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-29
TOUCHING up THE Yachts.
Gettinr the Puritan and Genesta Ready.
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE ENGLISH BOATS
RIG-GREAr INTEREST In THE RAcE-rHE
LITTLE BETTING EVEN.

The Puritan was towed up from Staten Island
morning and anchored In Wallabout
bay, OFF the Brooklyn navy yard. With her
topmast housed, the big white sloop rode grace
tention to people on the neighboring piers. j.
Malcolm Forbes and her other owners went to
Boston on Tuesday evening and will not return
TO New York until the latter part of next week.
The object Of bringing the Puritan to Poll
Ions ship yard is to give her a thorough over
feet order. During the afternoon Mr. Burgess.
Win one OF the Poillon's, Philip Lowe, the rig
ger, and Robert Brown, the shipsmith, made a
ging, gear. &C., and noted what changes
were required. There viii be no essential
little things to be done. Mr.. Brown n said that
q part Of the iron work at the end of the, bow
spirit was found to be defective. and would be
blocks were also discovered to be imperfect.
The yacht will be at Poillon's yard to-day and
tomorrow, and win be in sailing trim again on
saturday. During the coming week she will be
tfled as often as possible in company with the
priscila to test her rigging and give practice to
The dimensions of the Puritan, as furnished
py MI Forbes, are: Length over all. 80 feet
length on the water line, 80 feet; beam amid
mast is ees heSs iee aef
bowsprit cupboard, 3S feet; length of boom, IS
feet length Of gaff. Al feet; length Of spinnaker
to be found on any full-rigged ship afioat. She
has a flush deck, with rail about one foot in
nelght, and her skylights and matches are con-
weight.
The Genesta lay at anchor Off Tomkinsville,
nieeiio asa an S an Gay yesterday was the
sail her over the course, but the stormy weather
deferred him. The opportunity was taken to
topmast was shortened three feet and her top
sail altered to correspond. II the weather is
good she will be sailed over the course to-day.
fhn al ctr of fba tn
has given her dimensions and rig follows:
Length over all, 80 feet; length at the load
water line, 81 teet; extreme beam, IS feet;
depth OF hold, 11al feet; draught, 13l.. feet;
height of mast from deck to hounds, 81 feet;
topmast from fid to sheave, 4. feet; length of
BOOM 20 feet; gait, A feet: bowsprit out6oard,
80 CLIO feet; spinnaker pole. 81 feet; club top
sail, AZ feet.
It will be observed that the Genesta is one
foot longer than the Puritan on the water line,
but her spread OF canvas is considerably less.
her tOpmaSt, having been shortened three feet,
Is now only 10 instead Of A., and her total
tan's 122 feet. Then again her boom is only
20 feet long, while the Puritan's is &c. The
Puritan will therefore have to allow her time
What the allowance is cannot be stated until
the Genesta has been officially measured, and
this will not be done until the latter part OF
next week, probably on Saturday September 5.
1t is safe to say, however, that it will not be
much above or below a minute.
The cutting down OF the GeneSta's topmaSt
almost on the eve of the races has given rise to
no end OF conjecture. The reason assigned by
her friends is that her sails have stretched in
this atmosphere and rendered such an altera-
ton necessary, but the general opinion is that
the chief object is to secure a larger time allow
ance. On this view of the matter it is
argued that no better evidence can be had
that the Englishmen are doubtful of their
ability to beat the Yankee sloop. 1t
is certainly remarkable that the rig of a
yacht which has been SO thoroughly tried as
the Gcnesta should be altered in the slightest
degree on the eve of such an important contest
It is worthy of mention, also, in this connection
That OOSprvant y:0.fitSmnn. who watched the
movements of the Genesta on her recent cruise
down east, say that, SO far from exhibiting the
slow for yacht of her size and reputation. But
SO much depends on the trim of the sails In
making boat go or not, as her skipper may
desire, that it would not be safe to form judg-
ment on those performances. There is one
thing, however, connected with her run from
Newport to New Bedford, referred to in the
Times Of yesterday. If ner skipper did not
want to make her keep up with the New York
yachts, for what reason did he set his spinna-
getting all the speed possible out of a boat.
There is little, If any, betting on the races at
present. Some money was wagered few
weeks ago at odds largely In favor of the
Genesta. but that was before the remarkable
sailing qualities OF the Puritan had been
proved. Even bets are now talked OF, and it is
not unlikely that the odds will be in favor of
Certain it i. that confidence in the Puritan is
growing daily, and with good reason. A thor
oughly scientific yachtsman said yesterday that
the Puritan was simply wonderful boat for
the Genesta hard work to come out ahead on
her strongest point, while in reaching and rum
ming she would in all probability beat the cut
ter badly.
Public interest in the races is unprecedented
All yachtsIlen who have witnessed every pre-
vious contest for the Americas cup on this
side of the water say they never saw anything
like it. Men who don't know q staysail from a
club topsail manifest an eagerness to talk about
the race In preference to any other subject.
Tug boats and steam craft, available for accom-
panyins the yachts, are already at a premium.
One party of dry goods men who chartered a
steamer a week ago for $500 have been offered
already $500 for q release.