Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-23

and six inches wide. After that race every
body reduced the length and increased the
width Of his oars. The long scull has to
take too wide a sweep through the water,
and TO get the stroke completed a man must
work too fast and too hard. The nrst and
last parts Of the stroke are of no use in
propelling a boat, but you must take the
water forward of the effective point and
leave the water astern of the limit Of use
ful power In order to allow for the way of
the boat Too long a scull wastes more
power than Is necessary in the beginning
and ending of the stroke. The longer the
oar the more strength II takes 70 pull 1t
through the water. But there is such
thing as getting the scull too short and
sacrificing speed to power Experiment has
shown the effective medium to be about
nine feet six inches. That gives speed with
out using up mans strength in useless
labor. and the spoon shape keeps the hold
to the end Of the stroke.
Windsails and Fins.
TT makes q great deal of difference.
also. what style Of boat Is used in different
sorts Of weather. For q straight-away race.
with the wind with you and blowing pretty
strong. you want to use full-built boat
that rides well out Of the water. The wind
will help you along and make an advantage
Of fifteen seconds in three miles. head
wind would keep such boat back fifteen
seconds. making in all thirty seconds differ
ence. II you find the wind against you take
a boat that will ride very low and present
little surface to the wind. If the wind Is
abeam or the race is q turn. a medium boat
Is the best.
The windsail first brought out by Clasher,
the English boat builder, on the Tyne, was
quite an invention. 1t was thin board set
UP on edge on the bow Of the boat With
you pull and lean backward you force the
forward part Of the boat down and raise the
after part so much out of the water that the
wind catches 1t. throws the stern little to
lA1x A.{,. lv.NN ~ 4.
and you have to pull harder on the wind
ward oar to keep on your course. The wind
sail corrects that fault but when the wind
Is on either bow 1t catches the sail and
To replace the windsail the fin was in
vented. This Is a small centertoard fast
ened to the bottom of the boat. At first 1t
was quite large. and placed about threa
feet from the stern. It kept the boat from
swinging of. but it interfsred with quick
turning, as 1t acted like q liked rudder. The
size WIS reduced to lessen this dsadI an
tage. Then it was moved just aft of the
center Of the boat. right under the after
end of the cockpit. and made larger. Now
the boat can be turned almost as though on
a pivot, making a difference of three
strokes on the turn, and three strokes
mean nearly three boat lengths.
Waste of Energy.
IT don't think the men of today are as
strong as the men of earlier days were
The faster time comes from the improved
boats and appliances and the better knowl-
edge how to apply strength You may call
that science or art. Look at the old style
arms and elbows turned OUT knees spread
wide apart. body bent forward between the
legs. Do you think a man can pull his best
that way? No two sets of muscles are
drawing In the same direction and some
strength Is spent In getting them into line.
But when 1 get my legs and arms IN a po-
sition to pull all together In the line Of the
along"
Mr.. Fitzpatrick Record.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick Is one of the most enthu-
siastic oarsmen in America. He at one
time held the championship of the north Of
England. He was born at ewcastle-on-
Tyne. June "a. 1850. and is consequently
not yet thirty-four years old Rowing en-
gagged his attention when a mere boy. and
at the age of seventeen he made his debut
as an oarsman. Since then he has devoted
nearly all his time to aquatic sports. In
1876 he wen the Durham School regatta
prize, given by Lord Durham, and even
then gave promise Of attaining q high
standard in rowing. In ISL at the age Of
twenty-one, he entered the professional
ranks. and defeated all the local talent In
the north of England. The next year he
won the championship OF that section. Dur
the leading English oarsmen. until defeated
in 1885 by Thomas Burton. The following
year saw him victor over Burton. The
same year he won the Thames International
sculling sweepstakes. defeating Wallace
Ross. James Ten Eyck, Albert Hamm
George Bubear and John Teere err In this
race he made the fastest time on record for
a miles minutes seconds. In 1887 he
won the single scull race of the French in
ternational regatta, defeating Charles
Brightwell, VIM. East and w. Z. Follett
by twenty lengths. The same year he came
to America. He was defeated by Wallace
Ross, less than two lengths. in a three
mile race with seven turns off Fort Hamil-
ton. New York bay. In September. 1852.
he defeated Jack Largan. ex-English
champion. Oh the Kill Won Kull. He then
decided to retire, having rowed in twenty
three races, winning nineteen of them.
AS a coacher he has wide experience. hav.
ing trained crews in this country at Sacra-
mento. Portland, Ore. Salt Lake City. the
Union Boat Club Of New York. Palisades
Of YonkerS. First Bohemian Of New York
and the Neptunes of Baltimore. He has
also contributed articles to the Spirit OF the
Times, Turf, Field and Farm, and the New
York illustrated News. and is regarded as
an authority on boating. The members of
the Potomac Boat Club speak highly OF
him. and are hopeful Of the best results
from his coaching.