New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-29
AMONG THE YACHTSMEN.
PROBLEMS ABOUT STEAM VESSELS


sequence has been that the races have been confined 10
unlmportant contests between soops and cutters Of
| small dimensions comparatively. The principal IN
terest among yachtsmen has centred in the new
Burgess productions in the class between thirty and
forty foot lengths The Corinthan Yacht Club has
brought forward the Rosalind and saracen which
have as yet not measured their qualities of speed
The Eastern club last week had bad luck its
cruise the feet being hampered both by fogs and cams
The Marguerite Of that feet proved herself an able
sea-boat, though her qualities In heavy water were
doubted by her friends before the cruise, and she
viii prove 10 be among the fastest company among
the feet schOoncrs any water.
Steam yachting was the talk among yachtsmen
all the since the regatta Of the American Yacht
Club, which those who know has been somewhat Of
disappointment The fact that the Atalanta's cup was
not won because the necessary eighty nautical miles
| were not covered within five hours of the
causes Of dissatisfaction The largest yacht among
the contestants George scotts Stranger came with
In less than four minutes Of the coveted prize, but
the miss was as good as a mile.' Only five fnishers
out of small field of six yachts IS certainly small
showing.
The expected display Of speed Of the booming little
steam-launch Buzz, owned by W. W. Ames, did not
ma erallze, and this was another flaw In the pro-
gramme as carried out 10 Is true that the odd
proved machine which was built by carriage maker
and claims a novel shOvelwinged screw It's pecu-
larlty, astonshed those on board the committees
yacht Viola, by running away at right angles at
phenomenal speed but the she travelled and the
time taken in travelling that stu wrapped
in deep mystery. II IS certain that tlANFecord OF
forty miles according to her masters satementl IN
about three hours is nothing remarkable.
The latest addition to the steam-yacht feet is
Burgess boat built for o. b. jennings of NewYork.
| In bo- th.a ia
built of steel and is 11s feet the waterline She
has been furnished during the week with compound
engines of the triple expansion type, 300 horsepower.
and with only feet beam and eight feet draft
she is expected to show her stern some of the old
timers. At any rate she IS beautifully finished and
with her mahogany fittings and luxurious cabins will
be welcomed by the Ncw-York Yacht Club people.
among whom she is intended TO occupy position.
The mahogany finish OF a yacht seems to be the
proper thing Just The ideal OF the class is the
new arrival say When in name, partner to the Now
Then, which last years sensation. Tho say
When was anchored in Milton Point Harbor the
day Of the American Club and was expected 10
make somewhat OF circus" In an Informal way
among the craft engaged in that little competition.
To neophytr, the say When at first sight looks as
II she had had her first coat of paint red al that, and
was longing for more covering even in this toriid
season. Upon approaching her, however, Is
brilliantly polished, and certainly giving better
effect at close quarters than at distance. The
smokestack, and In fact every rail and companion
laddc IS made Of highly polished brass and all COM
bnes to dazzle not accustomed to such luxury.
II is the gossip, however, yachtsmen. that the
Say When Is less of failure regards speed.
Six minutes after the rest Of the steamers
crossed the line IN tie American races
the pride of Norman L. Munro took hand, and
Engineer W. A. Gray instructed 10 be ready for
a squirt when It was called for The mahogany
beauty certainly passed the stakeboat at marvel
lous speed and disappeared from sight in wonderfully
short time, but she did not return Captain Torrey
is quoted as saying that he thought the finish was at
New-LondOn without turn at Stratford Shoa- The
course had been advertised for month, and the fact
Is that the Say When had not Overtaken the Stranger
and susquehanna when the latter turned the outer
stakebost, where Engineer Haswen was stationed
The mention of Engineer Haswon Involuntary
reminds one of the time allowance system I'm az
steam-yacht races. There some persons, and
among them may be mentioned a wel-known captain
Of the United states Navy, interested in local yachting
who think time allowance entirely our Of place in
steam-yacht races Small yachts certainly built
on such lines and with such consideration Of their
purpose, that their racing qualities are out OF pro-
portion to those Of their larger colleagues, and the
taking into account of the lengths on the waier-line
/ Is
IS on these grounds, tabooed by many yachtsmen.
The Haswcu allowance, on the other hand, IS con-
sidered far more Just in that it takes into account
the tonnage, grate surface and boiler pressure.
ms tead Of merely the lines and dimensions OF the
vessel
1t was undoubtedly due to these Determinations
that the entries In the American regatta were 50
limited for the interest in the sport IS certainly higher
than ever There were number of steam-y yachts
D,F, rl,c nj
compete, though they In good trim. Beside
these there were a number of smaller steamcraft.
not in the class OF any Of the races, though fast
enough among themselves. Captain ]. P. kennedy's
Viola is not newcomer, but when she has soapfat
under her boiler and a coored person Sitting on her
safety-valve she surprises even her old friends
The most unconventional yachtsman in NcwYork
IS Jordan L. Mott. He Uniform, and acts, If
he does not feel like guest on board his little gen.
the Puzzle. The other day he related with gusto an
incident which occurred to him at tho American Club
house. He was with a crowd of his friends and with
his customary generosity took them all into the buffet
and ordered a whole basket Of champagne. While
waiting for the liquid 10 be iced, he grew meditatye
and forgot his company and when the wine was ready
TO be served he surprised TO see In the room not
a soul whom he knew. or to whom he could OFFER
hummer He was mystfed. and the captains eig Of
tire Puzzle was loaded with vino shortly Thereafter IL
IS whispered however, that Mr. Motifs constituency
took offence at his meditatvcncss and left him to his
thoughts
Last wears international contest proved remark
able incentive the general interest In yachting az
fairs and it IS surprising to one who makes business
Of looking up interest in yachting to find his iabors
so easily repaid. NEWCOMERS try their best TO enjoy
th, sport In a frst-cass manner, but II that Is I'M
possible they devote themselves 10 the cultivation OF
the cat-boat. The talk Of a probable reaction from
Of Ioct has. "a be
any foundation whatever, and the great American
public is clamoring for another opportunity 10 add
the laures OF American nautical engineers, American
yachtsmen and American crews.
Henry Bryants cruising steamer Alert, which h
himself designed, has turned out to be all that he
anticipated, and perhaps little more. He has had
the Alert which, by the way, IS name weighted with
antiquity on two weeks cFnise and she has proved