New-York tribune., 1890-08-29
A TALK WITH W. FIFE, JR
SOME VIEWS on YACHT DESIGNING.

HE DOES Net COMMIT HIMSELF ON THE KEEL
AND CENTREBoARD QUESTION.
William Fife. ir., the and partner Of "Fife d
Ayrc.' returned yesterday to this city from his trip
TO OswegO where Of his cutters has been beating
the fastest yachts the lakes In conversation with
Tribune reporter yesterday, the great Scotch yacht
builder said Il am In this country partly 10 look
around In fact, here to see more than anything
else. / shall return to scotland probably on satur.
day.
When asked regarding the possibility OF another
challenge for the Americas Cup, Mr.. Fife said do
not believe that there will be another challenge for the
Americas cup, as long as the New-Yorl Yacht Club
adheres to the present deed OF gift 1t Is manfesty
unfair. English yachts and English yacht builders
could get from the Americans in the world those
concessions which the Americans demand from the
British Under the present deed OF gift, the chaeng.
Ing boat has to send to the New York Yacht Club ts
four principal dimensions and give ten monthS
notice.
Now, IL have the four principal dimensions Of .
yacht given and | have ten months In which 10
study those dimensions and in which 10 construct
yacht, believe that could build yacht which would
beat tie one whose dimensions were sent me. At
least should have no hesitation in trying it. Ii is
easy to c seen that under the present deed OF gift the
Americans have a great advantage. The challenging
yacht IS q fixed quantity which cannot be altered.
The Americans know by the challenge almost exactly
what sort Of yacht she is. in every particular The
problem which then cOnfronts them is to build yacht
which shall be a little faster. matter at what ex-
pense of other qualities.
1T Is very much easier TO improve upon than TO
originate 1t is very much easier to build boat which
shall attain speed at the expense OF other qualities,
when the desired amount OF speed is practically known,
than It IS to originate the perfect boat do not think
the deed OF gift is fair TO British yachtsmen, and do
not believe there will be another challenge for tho
Americas Cup long il Is held under that deed
Regarding the taxation Of sail area, Mr.. Fife spohs
freely and expressed himself In favor OF the taxa
ton power alone. II you tax sail area SAID NJ
Fhe lyon leave the naval architect ' 10 builds the
hull entirely free and unrammelled. lie j. not then
Obliged to stint quality here and another there IN
order 10 get the best Of taxation of those qualities
which arbitrary rules have imposed but goes to Vox
with this one idea 10 build the very best model ne
possly can which model shall combine all the best
qualities that his ability put into her. The taxa
ton Of sail is test of his success for the oess
model Is the model that shall through the water with
the least propusivc force. This would not, as many
people seem 10 think reduce yachting to canoeing ior
yacht must combine, in order TO be perfect yacht,
or one anywhere approaching perfection. yacht III
which other valuable qualities are combined, making
a harmonious whole
TAX the power. and then LET the naval architrcs
exert his genius unrammclled on the hnli. Ihs
taxation of sail area glad 70 see. enters INTO
the formulas now employed in many of the American
Yacht clubs for the determination OF racing length.
What has done more harm 10 American yachting
and has held IL back more this year seems TO me
10 be the fact that while most Of the large clubs
have accepted the taxation Of sail area as an element
in the determination Of the racing length. they nave
not classified by racing length. They have asccr-
tained the sailing length Of the yacht by certain
formulas which take into consideration various ele.
ola 70 ha Qrh
for racing purposes. not by the racing length tnt
by the old load waterline system. The result Is,
TO say the least, rather unsatisfactory.
People will not build yachts which are measured
for racing purposes under one system ana classnea
for racing purposes under another. believe thas
myself have lost the opportunity of building AZ
least six American yachts this summer on account
of this state Of affairs. 1t is certainly inconsistent
that the system of measurement in general use by al
the best clubs in the country, and approved by all
the leading yacht smen, should be considered good
enough for everything except classification. Inc
classifying by load-waterlinc length introduces
wholly useless and artificial restraint. and never yea
have heard any reasonable argument advanced IN Us
favor
When asked If he could build boat 10 beat ts
Clara or the Minerva, Mr.. Fife said Yes, think
could am pretty sure could. In fact have 10
doubt that / can build boat that wouli beat IN,
clara aud build her the length and Of the sama
sail area. In regard 10 the Minerva vita lgntes
construction and the result of my experience since
designed her, believe that can build a boat eisAS
minutes faster than she Is. .,
The conversation then turned on the subject of heel
and ccnrreboard. But on this point Mr. Fife was noa'
commi,tal. The question was asked -, -.
Mr.. Fife II yOu wen called upon In build poii
to beat the Volunteer would you bulid her hoA
boat or Centrcb0ard = . -, =,
To this Mr.. Fife replied THAT would depend "
course, somewhat on how nv client wanted her DuiI
II would also depend. mat Is 1t the designing OF n
left to me entirely, good deal on the oouS
over which the to be sailed, ana OtheT 'oH
ditions. of course x
In short. the question of keel and centreOoaN
for racing purposes, Mr. Fife avoided direct answer;
All the yacht clubs In England now Mr.. File sa'd'
were classifying by racing length. and there was
growing tendency toward more taxation of sail ar.
and removal restrictions from the dimensions
the hull. In regard To the recent Minerya-uo>so.
races, all that Mr.. Eff, would say was; Well IN !.
recent races between the two yachts down East,
| believe call IL, the GOsSOOn seems TO have ID"
the better of IT," Ia,
Mr. Fife did not say whether he had received snI
orders for yachts while he has been over here OF ~
IL Is believed, however. that he has several oNe..
on hand and that the adoption by the New York lssas
Club of a classification by racing length VIII s ea"
q small feet OF Fife boats 10 appear In these waua
next summer. Mr.. Fife expressed himself aS Ill., lnu
pleased with the races at Oswego, and with the oou
there .,,s
Returning the subject of classification by raehs
length. Mr. Fife said that he believed that unoeE sS
existing classification the progress OF yacht ueseIn5
in America standSfill. lie also said IN icss
% the forty foot class Whether the best dmeflslons
have been reached from scientific point OF vie" "a
not. in the forty foot class Is an open question: ID
il Is almost certain that the greatest amount OF -,
for length ha. been attained What the yacht deSs.s
wants now is be unfettccd and have the oppor'un'
of obtaining the best results . ovse
When asked what dimensions should be sent ,s 49,
by challenging yacht, Mr.. Fife replied "Wateri~s