New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-02
A YACHTING RETROSPECT.
LESSONS DRAWN FROM SUMNER CRUISES.
RELATIVE MERITS or THE LEADING sLooPs. CUT


Club begin again show their oronzed features IN me
metropolis and prepare for winters bleaching in the
Office counting room and clubhouse, their gossip on
Yachting subjects naturally tdrns back TO tho lessons
learned from the recent cruise 1t IS true, perhaps
that many OF the amateur sailors learned no lessons
from what they observed, because they were not
sufficiently advanced in matters nautical to know
lesson when they saw one; but II IS also certain
that there arc least some yachtsmen VINO can ana
do appreciate so technical review OF the saiI"s
qualities OF tho fleet as that prepared py fFoIesSor
McVcy, of the Boston school OF Naval ATcntecurc.
who accompanied the squadron. In the mauie oi
the fall rccatss such deductions from observed per-
fOrmanccs must be Of value
Among the nrst.class sloops, volunteer, Mayhower
and Puritan the cruise simply furnished additional
evidence that the Volunteer IS by all odds, the fastest
boat OF the three whether In drift or under recied
sails. She cannot be beaten, except by a huhe'
The Mayflower 1t IS well known, has been behind
her public form for many moons and the Puritan oy
superior handling and helmsmanshp, has galhca
victories her. Last year two tons OF lead were
taken out of tho Puritan, and this year She has been
frightened up. and IS to-day faster than ever. Tho
Volunteers unheard-of career, with ten successive
victories and no defeats was broken by the Puritans
victory her in the Trophy cup race, the laucr
winning two legs in the daily runs. The Mayho"cr
Is being sailed better every day, and her practical
victory in the from Cottage CITY 10 New-BediPid
Of which she was deprived by the Regatta Com
mittce's changing the course a great feather IN
Commodore Morgan's cap. The Mayfowers sailing
master has become thoroughly familiar with the
trimming lines of h. craft Yet the Mayfower must
not be considered the equal Of the Volunteer for the
latter has more power, and her form IS easier FOR
making good Roadway against head sea-
ia dlgrcsslon may be allowed hero, an explanation
NAV Justify the use Of the word deprivcd' IN ue
reference above 20 the Naynowcrs defeat the run
from Cottage city to NcwBcdfori. The reporters
were all deck OF the Electra watching the race as
the Mayfowcr began to bear down Sow and Pigs
Buoy instead Of Vineyard Sound Lghiship The
New-York sloop far in the lead that the other
leaders had not pcccptlby begun to wear some
comment was made on Commodore MorCans sloop
heading for the buoy and Captain Wcks, the Eectras
sailing master sent sailor below wherc the Regatta
Committee were enjoying knife -andf fork 10 ask
whether the buoy the correct course Tho man
returned In a moment, and reported the ouoY al
right The MayAower took the buoy, iibcd, set hct
spilnakcr, and fairly jumped away under free wind
Then tho Regatta Committee came on deck, saw the
other four leaders bearing down the ightship and
overwhelmed by the majority probably. suddenly re-
membered that their decision made below had beon
ha,ty OF by this time it was too late to make
amends.
In tho schooner classes the third class, OF course
including those beauties the sachcm, Crawling and
Sea Fox is the most interesting. Tho battles OF
those three racers were as exciting those of the
big sloops and attracted as much attention. falr
Judgment from Observations during the cruise would
he that the sachcm cNccls in tcnknot breeze. In
light wind, and fairly smooth sea. when the Cray
ling can carry lower sails and topsa.s, her chances
arc better than against the other two In
reaching or with sheets of a t the Sachem IS more
than match for either the Sea Fox or Grayiinc'
and the Sea Fox is a shade better than the Graylng
hn nEf IN ~
The sea Fox with tho highly tunedup Graylng and
sachcm The Sachom has better sallpan tnan
the sea Fox and the Craylinc better than clfhcr
The leaders Of tho sheets 70 the hcadsaS Of the sea
Fox arc far forward and when they arc ha'teheo
in the angle Is such that the hcadsas bag out when
shectcd instead Of being fiat This is certainly
hlndrancc 10 good work by the wind. The Sea Fox
IS only three months anoa and the production Of an
amateur designer. Commodore A. Cas- Garfield She
can be improved and ought to be strengthened
enough to foot even with the sachem
In the keel schooner class the Alert surprised
everybody and the rest have not changed apprecaby
in any way Tho Alert's performance on Monday,
August 49, when a gale Of wind and heavy sea
scared the Regatta Committee out Of race, was
revelation The Alert has the stiffness of the Giiana
but more speed. and with a racing ng would be
close fit even for the sachem. Tho Alert has I'M
mcnsc surface friction and her form gives her crea'
power which enables her TO carry hugo sail-sproad
without putting lcc-ras under When the Aier'S
lcerails are soaking the rest Of the craft VIII Dc
hovc.to There was some talk OF the Alert DelhG
fitted as a racer. but her placid owner saws she was
built for fishing schooner and that IS what ne IS
going TO use her for
Among the smaller snglr-stckers tho sloop Kat
rina designed by 4. cary smith, and the cutter
BedouIn production Of John Tiarvey's. werc exceed
nrly we'll matched. In the Katrina Mr.. smith has
I,Io cf rnayir
Torrance with any yacht of her class n tho country
Her chances are best with the Bcdouin In moderate
winds and fairly smooth water. The races OF the
two Yachts have been remarkably close The Bed
ouin IS now practically oldstyle cutter, while
the Katrina considered tho latest type OF compro-
mise sloop The performance Of the Bedouin against
the Katrina look, Ike evidence for cutter advocates
10 work on and it IS not illogical 10 anticipate that
properly designed compromise keel sloop might prove
the equal Of a ccnrcboard.
The charge made by a party Of catboat sailors, of
Execution Light. that George J. Could deliberately
tried 10 run them down with his yacht the IIdesards
IS the subject OF much facctous comment among tn"
Yachting colleagues Of Mr. Gould. Tho iira in Itself
* perfectly absurd Of course and the manner in which
tho charge was worlcd In the original letter making
the accusation put It in stl ridiculous light.
Mr. Goulds e,plai alton was simple. stra' ghiforwam
and nautlcaly and the skpP"r Of the cat
carde was right The fact Is that f. IS great fad
among the smaller sailing craft Of The sound 10 indulge
I'm marine arrohatlc feats about the larger craft. II
Is looked upon a. a great thing FOR twenty foot cat
boat to eros the bows Of hundied-foOt schooner
In steam yacht circles the principal talk Just now
Is tho coming cambakc of The American Yacht club at
Milton Point which will occur about the middle Of the
month and will bc remarkable in many ways. Every
member Of the club designing little plot Of his
own 70 increase the pleasure Of the OCCASION and tho
union Of all these individual efforts Will produce sur
prsine effects.
Mr.. Secor's experimental yacht Eureka. which was
TO rcvouionize navigation, IS lying OH Brdgc-st.,
Brooklyn. IN the old Poillon yards. The Eureka was
fitted with machinery FOR Jet propulsion. The motive
power being the explosion Of petroleum gas and air.
When the trial was made some four miles hour
was obtained in speed not exactly satisfactory re-
suit Mr.. Sccor found that tho inclination Of the Jet
beneath the water caused swayng motion, which
retarded the vessel lie has therefore ripped ont the
machinery and Is having new steel castings made for
an0ther engine tho principle. The hull OF