Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-05-09
HE FAyORS THE cENTRE-BOARO.
A Wilmington Shipbuilder Talks on
the Coming Yacht Race.

a wilmington Snlppuli1Sf iHiNS
the Coming Yacht Race.
Timely Protest Against tho Deep-water
Keel for Racing in American Waters
what Is Feared should the Defender
Type be Chosen to Race for the |
Americas Cup.
In the following communication from |
James B. Scott of this city is shown |
that gentleman's emphatic arguments |
against the choice by those interested in |
the coming yacht race between |
American and English cutters, for the
Americas Cup, against the selection OF
anything that does not include tue
American centre board theory. MIR.
SCOTS arguments will be read with
particular interest:
Editor Gazette Dc Journal: Compare
lively very few are aware OF the TACT
that in the races to be held next fall OIL
| Sandy Hook between American and
| British yachts for the possession OF the
famous racing trophy-the Americas
| Cup-one contributory factor will play
very important part in assuring ucc 1888
| to either contestant, viz: ocean currents
and their influence on deep draught
yachts.
All the indications so far point con-
clusively that the struggle for the world
renowned trophy will be undertaken
next September on entirely different
lines and tactics heretofore governing
the great races.
For the first time in IA years the
American yacht will enter the races
shorn of that cherished appendage, the
centre board; that is il the defender now
| building be selected.
! Much can be said against this being
done, not however for structural
reasons, for really vessel is more able,
more staunch, and, Trilby-like, quicker
on her heels in stays, than is the centre
board yacht.
But these are not absolutely vital
points. The ability of yacht to go
about quickly and dash away on the
stretch with everything drawing means
gain of seconds, or minutes later on,
perhaps too when sorely needed. How.
ever, what is gained in going about
quickly when sailing close-hauled on
the wind may be irretrievably lost when
point after point is taken on the debtor
side in the hopeless drift to leeward
because of the effect of some contrlbu-
tory cause.
If the photographic charts of the
English and American coast lines are
examined, what is seen? On this side
the strong northward sweep Of the gull
stream paralleling the coast its entire
, length from the capes ofsFlorida to the
banks of Newfoundland. The defec-
: ton is well known Of the gulf stream
to the eastward by reason of the wall
like barrier of the great Newfoundland
table. GLANDS, lifting themselves from the
: depths of the sea and giving direction tc
! the mysterious river of the ocean.
! Between this powerful surface stream
: and the American coast line a strong
submarine Arctic current is known Il
. exist so dominant in its influence as t.
! be contributory cause in seriously at
fecting the sailing qualities of deep
, draught vessels.
y Almost the reverse of this takes plac'
= off the coast of Great Britain. Their,
:. the gulf stream spreads out fan-like ant
!. loses the force acquired in the journe,
across the Atlantic. Again the absenc
!, of under.currents from the North give
- to the coast lines the freedom from
y swIrls and eddies so common along til
= coast over here. Properly in this stat
of current conditions may be found til
} real merit of the shallow.draught vesse
provided with centre-board over one o
- deeper draught and no centre-buard.
y The action of the movable board
4 always on the principle of fulcrum
=; The partial vacuum that the board ere
= ates in being moved causes the water b
rush against the board with tellin
effect, forcing the hull closer in tn
=, direction of the wind exactly on tn
-, 70 same basis that the rudder does on tn
~ creation of a partial vacuum. On th
-, other hand the deep-keeled vessel i
40 heeling over presents an acute angle
80 the line of flotation against which tn
80 Inducements have greater effect tina
~ they could possibly have with IL
y lighter-draught hull.
This is the one great redeeming qualit
of of the board. its creation OF VI
~ CUM and that peculiar waterline 10
NJ nation expressly known as the " skin
~ ming dish"
w The trial races last year developed Il
!" fact that ait is nuts for the undo
n current to get hold of deep-reachil
- fins" in a dance to leeward WHITTIER
n but happily the glorious old-timel
G Puritan, bIaytlower, Volunteer al
nn Vigilant, clearly demonstrated, by the
victories, that beaten paths are us
"a rule the safest way across moor"
~ JAMES b. SooTT.
"a WILMINGTON, May cd, 1895.
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