The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-01-28

for ice yachting news IS Poughkeepsle,
and one of the best authorizes Is jacob n.
Buck hout, designer and builder OF many
of the swiftest ice yachts in commission.
For the past four years there have been few
important changes from what Is known as
the 1886 model When this was introduced,
and developed under extraordinary condl-
tions speed of fifty miles an hour, it
seemed as if superlative excellence had been
reached This belief proved unfounded.
Such high rate of speed required unusu-
ally strong winds, and SO the S6 model,
satisfactory as it was over the old types,
did not give the desired rate of speed in an
ordinary wind, which is the one great es
sential for success in club racing.
Recognizing this fact our designers turn
ed their attention to reducing the weight
(structuruD at the same time retaining the
maximum amount of resistance or stiff
ness This would give the greatest speed
with a ten knot breeze rather than with
fair sized gale The advantage of the
change is best demonstrated by two skatr
ers-one with the wind behind him breaks
the record, and then meeting another man
on a circular track is beaten by him and
wonders why it is. Many have been the
devices tried skate blades have been ground
different from the old straight edged blade,
and the under surface has been ground
''hollow'' with view of diminishing the
leeway in reaching, which of course in
creases the speed by just SO much. Not
here, however, do the improvements stop.
Hitherto the sloop rig has been deemed the
latest and most satisfactory by ice yacht
experts, but this year there is promise of a
l..,t t,.inJ h ipb wi
interest in ice yachting circles.
A well known clubman, during visit to
the south of Spain, noted the phenomenal
speed of the feuccas, with their lateen
rir. as they piled along the Mediterranean
coast, and conceived the idea OF adapting
this rig, with its immense, tapering sail, to
the ice yacht OF course until it is prac-
ticaliy demonstrated no one can tell what
the advantages may be, but on paper 1t
looks like possible improvement. If so,
it viii come from the maximum spread OF
the sail being low down, just above the
hull which is another adaptation of the
theory of what constitutes the advantage
in speed of a sIoop over cutter.
The lateen rig consists Of stout taper
ing mast, the sail being spread on huge
gatf or boom which extends in an arc from
the bow Of the yacht up to the top of the
mast and far beyond, the sail covering the
whole space from stem to stern This is
considered the fastest modern rig, and II
will sail closer 10 The wind than catboat
/ Opinions on the subject are conflicting, Mr.
[ Buekhout auhering To the sloop rig, " hIch
/ he says pound Tor pound aud foot for foot
/ in an average wind, will hold its own
against any other in the world
+ Another novelty likely 10 be seen on the
+ Hudson is a very light boat, half boat
/ hall tonnggan, which will he on runners
aul have two large bicycle wheels at th'
hack These wheels viii he lifted Will
spikes instead 90 the ruhher tire, aud op
Grated bY The small engine Of naphthl
aaash tins idea sounds feasible, th'
question ol hadly disposed weight aus
pltat llgutuess ai structure hrlus 10 th'
writer's opinion the ouiy Obvious draw
h4cks VIII T. Pahp