The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-16

IOr lC6 ydCuJluS 4cNB Is 1OuSuhCCpoicp
and one of the best authorities is jacob E.
Buckhout, 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 condi-
tons a 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 's8 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
(structuraD, at the same time retaining the
maximum amount of resistance or stiff
ness This would give the greatest speed
with ten knot breeze rather than with
fair sized gale. The advantage of the
change is best demonstrated by two skat-
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
and the under surface has been ground
"hollow" with a 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
new rig TO be tried which will awaken great
INT
A well known clubman, during visit to
the south of Spain, noted the phenomenal
speed of the feluccas, with their lateen
rig, as they piled along the Mediterranean
coast, and conceived the idea of adapting
this rig, with its ;Iasnense, tapering sail, to
the ice yacht. Of course until it is prac-
tically demonstrated no one can tell what
the advantages may be, but on paper 1t
looks like possible improvement. If so,
it will 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 sloop over cutter.
The lateen rig consists of stout taper
ing mast, the sail being spread on huge
gaff or boom, which extends in an arc from
the bow of the yacht up to the top of the
lHtboO anu ldL DCg Ou' y, bnc Sail covering UHe
whole space from stem to stern This is
considered the fastest modern rig, and it
will sail closer to the wind than a catboat.
Opinions on the subject are conflicting Mr..
Buckhout adhering to the sloop rig, which,
he says, pound for pound and foot for foot,
in an average wind, viii hold its own
against any other in the world.
Another novelty likely to be seen on the
Hudson is very light boat, half boat,
half toboggan, which will be on runners
and have two large bicycle wheels at the
back. These wheels will be fitted with
spikes instead of the rubber tire, and OBJ
Grated by the small engine of a naphtha
launch. The idea sounds feasible, the
question of badly disposed weight and
great hghtness of structure being in the |
writer's opinion the only obvious draw |
backs. WILT POND. |