Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-16

In organizing and building up the Amerl-
can Yacht Club for the purpose Of en-
couraging the sport OF racing steam ves-
sells. This was when the ATLANTA was
the speediest yacht on either side Of the
Atlantic. and as there was no private
craft which could then compete with her
in a long race. the effort TO boom tina;
particular branch Of yachting fell short.
During the last two years repeated
Efforts have been MADE 10 bring some
Of the smaller steam yachts together.
but without success Several times the
owners Of the Namoose and Norwood
have issued challenges TO each other.
but nothing ever came of IL, because the
course could not be agreed upon. The
Norwood Is a small boat. fifty feet in
length. and is purely a racing machine.
In any kind of seaway she would be At
great disadvantage, and In fact In
only the smcothest kind OF water can
her maximum speed be developed. The
Norwood's owner always insisted upon
racing upon the placid waters Of the
Hudson while the owner Of the Vamoose
contended that Long Island Sound would
afford a better test Of the boats. The
Namoose is a much heavier boat than
the Norwood. and would be more at
home in rough water than her rival.
THE NORWOOD'S RECORD.
The Norwood claims record Of 205
knots an hour. which is almost railroad
time The authenticity Of this record
has been doubted. bat it Is quite possible
that the little craft is capable Of MAIN
tanning that sneed for a short distance.
1t is a question however whether the
Norwood can continue stesming at any
thing approaching that speed for the
distance Of eighty mites The vibration
OF her engines when turning the screw
al such q terrific rate is a great strain
on the hull Of the boat. and some ex-
perts have declared ihat IL the Nor
wood keut NJ her record-rate FOR two
hours and a half II would almost shake
her 70 pieces For this reason there IS
considerable doubt about the Norwood
being started in the race. as her owners
would not care TO injure her in an effort
10 win the custody Of the Morrill, Chai-
lenge Cup for a year.
THE FAMOUS YANKEE DOODLE.
The yachts which are almost certain
70 start are the NamOOse. Yankee
Doodle Rex. and Judge. The Yankee
Doodle has been famous for years as the
Buzz. The boat is credited with a re-
cord Of 295 miles per hour, and in a short
distance race is probably one OF the
swiftest crafts afoat. She is owned in
Philadelphia, and time after time her
owners. the Mcbride Brothers, have
Haunted rich wsgers in the faces Of rivals.
but there seems TO have been a general
disinclination on the part OF the other
yacht-owners to meet the boat with the
musical name.
The Yankee Doodle. however. Is
credited with possessing the same draw
back as the Norwood. and that Is the
question OF her ability to steam a long
distance under heavy pressure. She is
a light boat. and every inch Il racing
machine, and eighty miles may prove too
far for her stability.
VAMOOSE CAN GO \ DISTANCE.
About the Vamoose there is no doubt
that she can steam eighty miles at her
utmost speed, but in short distance races
the Yankee Doodle would probably de-
feat her with ease. The yacht that can
steam the race in three hours Will prob
ably be the winner. Notwithstanding the
records claimed by all four OF the proba-
bic starters.
Considerable interest is attached 10 the
race aside from its settling the question
OF which Is the fastest steam yacht Ia
the country, for the reason that this
promises 10 be an exceptional year for
steam yachts owing TO the large numbei
Of new ones and the fact that the Giral-
da. Harry McCalmonts boat. Will soon
be here with her owner, who is one Of the
syndicate building the Valkyrie III.
RECORDS WILL BE BLASTED.
The race Will have its humorous fea.
lures also, for It il sure TO blast many
records. Mr.. L. ID. Fox. the owner Of the
Rex, has claimed that his boat steamed
thirteen miles in fifteen minutes, which
IS at the rate Of ifty-two miles an hour.
OF course, it was not claimed that the
Rex could keep this pace for an hour, but
a mile in a minute and eight and half
seconds Is pretty swift time for boat.
The G!ralda. the English yacht, Is
bound to make something of sensation
when she reaches here. There is no
American boat of her size that can touch
her in the matter of speed. She is a big
ocean-going yacht, and she made record
AT Nice last winter of small traction
under twenty-three knots an hour. ms
is phenomenal time for boat OF her size.
when the Gould yacht ATLANTA some si>.
years ago steamed eighteen Knots an