Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-04
YACHTS AND YACHTING.
Facts by Man Who Knows
About Both.


THE LECTURE OF EDWARD BURGESS AT THE
NATIONAL MUSEUM LAST NIaHT-HIsroRY OF
rAcHrINo IN THIS couNrRY AND ISoLAND-
RESULT OF TEE AMERIcAs VICTORY.
Mr.. Edward Burgess, the weil-known yacht
designer from Boston, whose wonderful success
in planning racers has done 90 much for yacht
ing Interests in this country, gave delightful
lecture ct the National Museum last night on
the subject Of Yachts and Yachting" The big
lecture room was crowded by an enthusiastic
audience, who were anxious to see and hear
the man who designed the Mayfower, the Pill
grim. the Puritan and host of other flyers.
Mr.. Burgess said he would like to give full
account Of yacht building but that the subject
was so much larger than one would think at
first as to make that impossible. So he con-
fine d himself simply to the giving of a brief
chronological history Of the art OF yacht build
ing. He began by saying that the word yacht
Is OF Dutch origin, as is also the word schooner
The boy Of tradition who first said 'there she
schoons." as vessel was launched. invented
the verb and not the noun, as is generally sup
posed. He simply made play on an already
existing word. We do not have to 60 back
very far to get at
THE EARLY HISTORY OF YACHTS.
King James is said to have built such q vessel
for his son, and in the literature of two hum
died years ago We find quite frequent reference
to yachts. Two hundred years ago three
Jacobite plotters seized a small smack and
sailed down tho Thames, but they wero soon
overtaken bya sweet little yacht" as tho
small vessel belonging to the Earl Of Derby,
the son OF the then prime minister. was called,
and the plotters were taken to the Tower Of
London and punished. Thus we see that speed
In yachts was desirable then as now. Despite
the success OF yachts they we're not at all COM
mon previous to this century, and we find in
old writings all yacht owners referred to As
wise and eccentric"
THE FIRST YACHT CLUB
was founded in 1725 and Was known as the
Royal Court Yacht Club. In 1915 the Royal
Yacht Squadron was founded and in 1924 the
Royal Northern Yacht Club was organized.
YACHTING IN THIS COUNTRY.
We ind no mention Of yachts in this country
earlier than the first part of this century.
Capt Crowninshield took his yacht, ono of the
first, il not the first, around the
tour Of the Mediterranean ports,
where she attracted much attention
She was known as Cleopatra's Barge. The
frst race in this country was sailed over the
Nantucket shoals and was between a Boston
boat, the Sylph, and New York boat the
Wave, and was won by the latter. In 1874 the
New York Yacht Club was organized with nine
members and nine boats.
EFFECT OF THE AMERICAS VICTORY
Mr.. Burgess referred but briefly to the his
tory of the America and her great race, az, he
said it was probably only too familiar to his
hearers. He described at some length the
effect OF American boats on English yachts
after the Americas victory. From then until
toward the class Of yachts they had in 1886,
when they came over to sail for the Americas
cup. In this country the Herreschoffs wero
making successful series Of small yachts, each
better than the one before.
Mr. Burgess gave on interesting account of
the various races for the Americas cup. In
1850 there were some remarkably fast yachts
IN this country, mostly of the skimming dish
order, but up to the time of the Genesta there
were no large sloops as compared with her.
THE PURITAN.
In the Puritan, Mr.. Burgess said, he had
tried to make not so much a racer as a good all
round boat that would act we'll in all kinds of
weather. During the winter Of 'S7 Gen. Paine
decided that in the absence Of the Mayhower,
which was in England at the time, he would
build new yacht to meet the Thistle. The
Puritan was of the same dimensions as the
Mayhower and differed from her only in detail
But she was a lucky boat, which the May
flower never was. The Puritan was launched
S on delightful day under all favor
her first race, all good omens in a
a yachtman's eyes. The victories of the May
flower and tine Pilgrim have had even more in
fuence on English yacht building than did the
success OF the America. The English have al
ready discarded the Thames tonnage rules
which makes possible all manner Of improve
ments in the building of yachts across the
water.
At the conclusion Of his lecture Mr.. Burgess
exhibited an interesting series OF stereoptican
views illustrating the development of yacht
building, and also number made from photo
praphs of the recent international races that
aroused the greatest enthusiasm frCm his audi
ence.