New-York tribune., 1886-05-05
TINE 1IIOU1 \CE

1t is the feeling Of many American yachtsmen
that the request of Mr.. Beavor-Webb for a
larger time allowance for the Gaatea ought
not to be granted On its face the proposition
looks fair enough, taking the mean of the two
time-scaes seeming reasonable compromise.
But the question arises whether in contest the
initial object of which is to settle controversy
between the advocates of two radically differ
ent systems of yacht building, American yachts
men can afford to make concessions the elect
of which is to deprive them of advantages which
they claim to be due to the system OF boat
building they uphold. Mr.. Beavor-Webb refers
TO the greater spread of the Puritan's canvas
as 4 reason for increasing the Galatea's time
allowance. But is it a reason? From the Eng
lish point of view heavy spread Of canvas
nav be a positive defect, since they say the hull
that takes so much sail to drive 1t must be IN
ferior in model to that which is driven by less
sail. 1t is true that with such reasoning the
Puritan's victories last year might be! con-
sidered proofs of her inferiority; and the Eng
lsh haI not got as far as that idea yet.
From the American point of view, however,
the ability of boat to carry press OF sail, so
long AS she makes good weather of it, is proof
of the excellence of her model; and when, as in
the Puli:an's case it enables her to beat all her
opponents, it is a proof toerably certain to be
accented by the world a. large. 1t must be
admitted that the differences between American
and English theory On this head are so radical
that it is very difficult to find common standing
ground between them. Yet if it is conceded
that the principal aim of the race is to de-
termine which is the best model, it seems
reasonable contention that all the several adj
vantagcs claim ed to proceed from and belong to
the model should have full and fair play And
since the form of the hull determines the
an cunt of canvas that can be safely and Judi
ciously carried, and since therefore the amount
of canvas carried is of the essence of the con-
troversy it may be plausibly argued that the
Puritan ought not to yield any special time
allowance-it might be said no time allowance
at all-on this ground.
If the Galatea Is the better model of the two
it follows that the spars and sails her model
allows her TO carry represent also the best ar
rangement. As this is clearly the implied IL not
expressed contention of Mr.. Bcavor-Webb and
all who stand with him, we are somewhat at
loss to understand the meaning of the demand
for more time allowance. If the question at
issue were simply which Of two boats could go
the faster, without regard to anything else,
then the plea of Mr.. BeavorW Webb would be in
order But that is only part of the question
or rather it is only the means adopted to de-
termne the crucial point; that is. which is the
best model foy yacht building. Ii the English
model is so superior that with less sail it can be
driven faster, the obvious way to demonstrate
that superiority is to let the boats sail on equal
terms. If the Puritan is to be handicapped the
result of the race clearly will fail to show the
best she can do And another word must be
said All this talk about time allowance and
difficulties of the course is suggestive OF
anticipated defeat. 1t looks too much like try
ing to pick out a soft place to fall upon. When
the America went over to English waters she
as ked no favors suggested no allowances OBJ
iected to nothing but just went in and chal
lenged and beat the whole British yacht fleet.
If our cousins have any boat that can turn the
scale-the Galatea, the Irex or any Other-we
should like to see them put her at our crack
boats as the America was put at them.