The Wilmingtonian., 1886-09-11
The Race te 1.lle Bermudas.

The Race to 3he Bermudas.
In many respects Lieutenant Henn's chal-
lenge to American yachts for race around
the Bermudas is gilmore Importance than the
race for the Queens cup.
Certain New Workers. are immensely STIR
red up over the matter. One writes tren-
chantly to the Herald as follows The day
of the yacht race is at hand, and yet nothing
is done as to the acceptance of Lieutenant
Henn's Bermuda challenge. 1t is disgrace
full. After the yacht race its acceptance.
equally with its rejection, will be in bad
taste. Now is the time to stake it up"
Here is the questioa, arc our "single stick
ers" mere pond or river boats, exaggerated
in size and crews by 'parvenue purses" or
are they really seagoing vessels English
''twenty tonners" are found all over the
Mediterranean. They cross "Biscay" in all
weathers, and English sailors believe they
will outweather, odtreach, outrun and out
live, in sea voyages, any American centre
board of three times their size.
An English cutter yacht goes through the
water instead of Gas with an American
sloop) tossing about on top of it like a chip.
Her stability is wholly that of weight (bal-
ast). Hsnce her motions are easier and
slower (like pendulum's) than those of a
centreboard boat consequently there is less
violent jerking and wear and danger to hull
and spars. The stability of the centrehoard
boat decreases as her plankshear touches the
water and then vanishes. On the other hand,
a cutters stability increases and is most en-
ergetically exercised to right her when she is
on her beam ends, and, knowing this fact a
cutter man don't feel obliged to keep one
hand to look out ior himself aud the other
for the ship, but does full work just when
the Yankee sailor is most "scary." In
''reaching," the wide, beamy Yankee boat
not only has the disadvantage of forcing such
broad mass Through an opposing sea, but
both from the wind and from Gripping"
wave is always just on the verge of calamity
while a ''knock down" is small matter to
an English boat.
If Americans believe they own single stick
seagoers that won't rack themselves to death
in short voyages, will make time in a seaway
and will come up easily after a "knock
down." pray use the influence of the Herald
to induce them to exhibit practical test
of it to lady (NIrs. Henn) who has crossed
the ocean to see what our boats are.
Undeniably, the writer makes some tell
| ing points--apl tie sarcasm of the sugges,
tion that the Herald's influence may ''inducs
them to exhibit practical test of it to q
to see what our boats are" is a browning cut
at us.
Americans cannot afford to rest on thei
laurels until the Bermudas race is sailed
The old question remains open still.
The structural qualifications of boat
should always be allowed as Necessary coudi.
tion of its all-around superiority. If oul
yachts are not capable of standing the
rough handling of Atlantic waves they art
disqualified to rate as yachts, The cham
pion yacht of America should be a thorough
sea-gcing craft not simply fast pleasure
boat orracng machine.
We are not at all sure that these disquale
cations exist in regard to the four leading
sloops. But if the disqualifications do no
exist the implication does, aud we are bounC
to attempt to dispel it as long as Lieutenan
Henn's Challenge hangs over our heads
there be any genuine belief in the minds o
our yachtsmen of the ability of the cen
tire board sloop.