Smyrna times., 1886-07-21
For the Smyrna Times.
The Next Ocean Yacht Race.

A feeling of uncertainty seems to
pervade the yachtsmen on this side to
select the proper boat to meet the Cal
Gtea, which, so far as known, will be
sent across the Atlantic by English
yachtsmen to race for the Queens
trophy this season. From all accounts
this boat is "no slouch " to be tri1ed
with any more than was her consort,
the GeneStG, sent over last year to race
for this same cup. The GdIatca is of
more displacement than the GeneSta
and therefore larger boat and more
nearly suited to these waters, an essen
tial quality to possess at the start, al
though not perhaps altogether COM
pensated for in the knife-like lines pc
culiar to the English cutter yachts and
which finds no favor in these seas, as
against the half-sharp and half-hat
lines of the Puritan type of yacht.
This may be accounted for from the
fact that the prevailing winds on this
seaboard being Off shore and very
light during at least the Summer por-
ton of the year causes the coast not
only to be a windward one, but also
not kicking up" high seas such as
beat and thunder against the rocky
headlands of the cliffs that skirt the
British Islands and requires "a narrow
and deep vessel to crawl away from
the dangerous lee of these rocks to
wndward, and safety. However this
may be, the notes taken upon every
thing connected with last seasons race
by those belonging to the Geacst0 have
nodoubt been subject to the test Of ex-
pertinent and of course one so impor
tant as the normal conditions regulat-
ing the waters here would not be over
looked. Even suppOsing that no at
tention has been pad to these normal
conditions and that the cutter style Of
yacht will be still adhered to in the
GaIatea, it will be because that with
the exception of the Puritan the cutter
yacht Geaesta last year defeated all the
crack boats belonging to the different
yacht clubs and among them notably
the DauntIess, of the New York Yacht
Club in the race from Sandy Hook to
Cape May On the other hand, if the
Purjtan's model, which is compromise
between the sharp lines Of keel-drag
pilot boat and the fiat lines of a centre
board schooner be again selected, the
race will be run precisely as to the pc
culiar lines adopted by each contestant
last year. The trial races now taking
place on this side to select the boat
most suitable has attached to it nearly
as much interest as the great event of
which it is preparatory This is due
from the presence at these trials of a
number of yachts from different parts
of the Atlantic seaboard, built express
| ly for this race in whom every conf
dence is placed of being the winning
boat. Prominent among them all is
the iron yacht Priscilla, built by the
Harlan & HollingswOrth Company, OF
Wilmington from their own plans, and
for these races. 1t is to be regretted
that this fine yacht should have last
year in her trial races with the Puritan
for the choice Of position have shown
fatal defects in one, or both Of the two
places it could only appear in, namely
the hull and rig; the more so as hel
builders would have before this ac.
quired a worldwide fame in producing
high-speed craft, which, in turn, would
assume tangible shape in numerous
orders. 1t is not known whether the
FriscttJG's inability to Outsail the Puri.
tan in these trial contests was due from
an excess of after sail, causing her tC
carry a retarding weather helm >
when close hauled on the wind, or thai
it was due to a deep lee line of lotation
consequent upon the centre of prOpul
sion Of all the sails being located toe
high and offering an increased area o
resistance to be overcome, to the Puri
tGn's equally-balanced fore and af
sails which prevented a weather helm
being carried, and a low centre of pro
pulsiOn which enabled her to &c
through the water in an upright ol
nearly so position, matters not so mucf
now since the Priscilla was not Sc
Lected to meet the Genesta last year
from these, or other defects. Since ther
she has been taken to Wilmington ant
radical changes made in her rigging
the mast being shortened as much Al
five feet, together with being moved
aft foot or more, a longer bOwspri
being also placed in, on her deck!
whatever was offering a hold for tn,
wind was either razed or removed, anC
everything attended 10 that would en-
sure the best advantage in speed
Still this tinkering with the Priscilla
rig is OminOus for the worst. Thes
changes are not susceptible of an expo
sition, that, while emitting them to b.
scientific are only inviting defeat i
they partake of the nature of empirical
trials, which they are, otherwise ther
: would not have been any necessity t
make them, neither should it be enter
tertained that the Priscilla will be en-
abled to maintain the lead by tn
sheer force of these changes havin
been made. The yachts on this sid
J, have no time margin over their Englis
: competitors to boast of since the Pur,
Q tan only defeated the Genesta in las
. years race rising minute in the dc
Gliding trial of the series, scarcel
worth noticing save only to retain tn
Queens trophy in the possession of tn
New York Yacht Club for the time b,
|, ing. And for that reason all the aC
vantages belonging to the timber on th
5 side should be got out of it. At til
best it is only a question of apple
power from expanded sails, seeking t
overcome by the aid of wind tn
"squares of resistance found on a
immersed bodies in water and whic
h bear no relation at all to each othC
save that their centres ara eouaD,o