New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-06
THE NAVAHOE 4 SURPRISE.
YACHTSMEN PLEASED WITH HER WORK.

YACHTSMEN PLEASED WITH HER WORK.
NOTES ABOUT TIE CUP NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
OF COMPARING THEIR SAILING QUALITIES.
The performances of the Navahoe in English
waters have furnished the chief and in fact, the
only important subject of consideration among
yachtsmen in the last week 1t was generally be-
lleved and generally admitted on this side that
the Navahoe was not startling success Of Her
reshon Many believed before she went over that
she went on fruitless Grand In her first
In English waters however she took rank with
the Nalkyrie and Britannia, and astonished not
only the Englishmen, but the Americans. That she
mas good lighting chance of bringing back the
cups she went after doubt. The
counts of the race Of Thursday which was sailed
In a gale of wind, would at first to show that
the Navahoe could not in heavy weather, but
as a matter OF fact. they all resolve themselves
into the fact that the Navahoe split her mainsail
and broke the jaws of her gaf thereby losing the
race. 1t was an accident pure and simple, and
had nothing to do with the weatherly qualities Of
the boat Some of the dispatches represent her as
being "drven into port" by the weather. She
not driven into port but after splitting her mansail
wisely put back to port. The performances of the
Navahoe have shown that although a race is never
until it is lost. there need be no great fear
concerning the safety of the Americas Cup. As
far as the relative merits of boats which have
sailed together be judged. the four cup de-
tenders are faster boats than the Navahoe
when one considers the way the Navahoe has
sailed with the Valkyre. Americans have good
right TO expect victory for the home champion
in October 1t is most unfortunate that the Nava-
hoe split her mainsail in the of Thursday, for
n race by her In gale would have been most in
structive. that being the kind OF weather in which
the critics have predicted she could not carry her
canvas.
The Seawanhaka- Corinthan and the Larchmont
OH kDx.a hot nffa hc
by the four cup defenders The Larchmont Cup TO
be accurate. is offered by its commodore. Cauld-
well Colt. Now the two clubs exercised over
the laying out Of course over which the cup
defenders sail with any degree of safety.
Both clubs being the Sound. and their club
being there. it is of course desirable that
the cup defenders should there for the cups
offered. Now. TO lay out course on Long Island
Sound over which such boats as the Boston fin
keels can Is easy job. The Pilgrim, for
instance. with her twenty-five feet draught would
find little water in the Sound which she could
race. Even If a OF the requisite depth
laid out. the boat would have TO keep pretty well
in the straight and would not have that
freedom Of movement which the shallower ones
would have. Consequently she would be at dis
advantage. The seawanhaka people have laid out
courses between Lloyd's Neck. Penneld Reef and
Crane Neck. over these courses there is plenty
of water for the cup defenders. but they will have
to stick closely to the courses.
The question Of handicap races Is receiving
and attention. In these days when boats
are so rapidly ortbul, that the boat Of season
becomes almost useless for racing the next season.
a boat in her class having been built during the
winter against which she has not the ghost OF q
show, method must be devised 10 make re-
eattas interesting. and to induce boats TO enter.
The handicap system seems to be the solution OF
the problem. Not many years ago a boat would
hold bar aciro eifr-fy aff gsas
and year after year, and all boats were on an
equality, which made yacht race close and in
teresting Now a boat leads the fleet in her class
one season. only 10 be releGated to the ranks
the next. The difficulty in the handicap system
is the difficulty in handcapping handicap which
would be just for a boat in certain weather would
not be in certain other weather. and no one can
tell before race what the weather VIII be There
are various other difficulties. and the owners Of
handicapped boats sure 10 find fault. For this
latter reason the names OF the members Of hand-
such races. The Seawanhaka Yacht club seems
handicap races this season, and there is ntle
doubt that, If the rapid adYance Of yacht designing
orally adopted.
All yachtsmen looking forward to the
New-YOrk Yacht club cruise, which begins to-
morrow. on this cruise the cup defenders viii
all meet for the first time. and "A good idea OF
their relative merits can b. formed. The two Hos-
ton boats will not join the fleet until Newport
is reached. but there will be races in which all
four will be entered. Before the cruise is over the
be pretty well decided This viii hardly detract
from the interest IN tho trial races, however. as
each boat and each type will have it's parisans.
and in the trial races there be doubt that
each boat Will be sailed for all there is iu her.
The brush between the Jubilee and the Pilgrim
in Massachusetts Bay "A week to-day like
all such impromptu affairs tsfactory and
unconvincing 1t is maintained that the Pilgrim
got the better of the Jubilee. but conservative
people will wait until the two boats have been in
a regular race. with a regular and finish.
and when accurate time is kept. before forming
an opinion. Such race is likely 10 occur In the
course Of the New-York Yacht Clubs cruise.