Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-15
WILL BRIGHTEN THE YANKEES"
Ailsn's Captains Remark on Her Won
IerfuI Sailing.

According to expert opinion, Ailsa, which
defeated Britannia yesterday at Cannes. is
really marvellous boat at going to wind
ward and in running with the wind abaft
the beam. She Is better than Britannia on
a broad reach. The experts have as yet
had no opportunity of seeing what she will
do when running dead before the wind.
Yachtsmen of practical knowledge agree
that Ailsa is a rara avis in light weather.
and a trial of her abilities in blow is
eagerly looked forward to.
The performance of the new cutter &C
cording to the observations of the Asso-
ciated Press man on board. seems even
more remarkable than the great difference
in time between the two yachts at the fin
ish would indicate, because the yacht labor
ed under disadvantages which could not be
appreciated ashore.
owing to the fact that Capt Jay was
suffering frcm sprained hand, Dintle the
second mate, Steered Ailsa throughout the
race. Her rigging was still stretching so
badly that the yachts full speed could not
be attained. Then again, Oh one tack, her
jib topsail had to be lowered and her top
mast rigging had to be set up Then, when
the sail was reset, the gaf was found to be
light and buckled badly.
On the last round, while reaching for the
mark boat off Aiguille Point, Mr.. Fife or
dered the main sheet to be Stacked away
until the huff was shaking and the sails
spilling in the wind. This was done in
order to relieve the strain on the gaff,
which was bending badly. Ailsa has a
heavier stick, which will be used in future
races.
Then again, Ailsa's crew were minutes
slower than Britannia's in handling light
sails, and on these stretches, where the
wind was aft Britannia lost less time, and
on one run she actually gained on Ailsa
through the smarter handling of her light
canvas.
But Tom Jay is one of the best skip
pers afioat, and AilSas crew will harden
down after few more races.
Mr.. Walker and Mr.. Fife both admitted
the possibility of Ailsa's going to the
United States after the Americas cup, but
1t should be added they were both very
modest in discussing that prospect. Rat
sey looked at the wonderful set of the big
topSail and smiled.
After the race was well in hand. and it
seen that Britannia would be badly
beaten, Capt. Jay remarked with friendly
smile: This will frighten the Yankees"
After Ailsa crossed the line. she waited
for Britannia; and when the latter had
finished, the Prince of Wales cutter was
sailed very close to Aisa and the Prince
of Wales, raising his yachting cap in the
air. led three hearty cheers for the boat
which had given his cutter the most Sc
we're beating she ever had. Those on board
Ail5a returned the cheers and the victor
iou5 cutter then proceeded to the quay,
where she was welcomed by a large crowd
of people.
1t was reported after the race that Mr.
Ogden Goelet won $4,000 from Baron
Hirscii Ailsa's victory.
During the race Messrs. Pike and Fife
displayed the greatest interest in the con-
dition of Capt Nat. Herreshoff. the de-
signer and builder of the new Americas
cup defender. They asked the representa-
tive Of the Associated Press many ques-
tons concerning his illness.
After the race the representative of the
Associated Press interviewed several prom
i..ent yachtsmen. All the members of the
royal yacht squadron agreed that Ailsa
a wonderful boat, and that she was
superior in all points to the Britannia.
They were of the opinion that Mr.. HERE
shoff would undoubtedly improve on the
Vigiant, but that he would have difficult
task to surpass Aisa. The British yachts
men said that they were astonished that
races previous to her return to the United