The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-10
THE CHARM OF UNCERTAINTY.

We take it that yacht racing derives a
good deal OF It's charm as a sport from the
strong element Of uncertainty that enters
into il.
We have light weather yachts, and half
a-gale yachts, and yachts that find proven
bal luck in fiukes. Every mile of the
average yacht race calls for skill and
judgment on the part OF sailing master
and crew, beyond what is demanded in
any sport we can think OF. Horse racing
has a big element of uncertainty in it, as
everybody who "follows the races,' and
has seen favorites fall down and incon-
siderable plugs swing to the front, can
testify, but the chance in the horse race
is a matter chiefly of the condition OF the
horse alone. In yacht race the elements
of wind that may swing half around the
compass, or that may be a hurricane, a
topsail breeze, a zephyr, or die out alto
gether, all during the progress OF one
race, the factor OF currents and tides, and
of sea that may offer variety of surface
to plough through, the matter OF sail car
rying combinations-all these make a big
problem of sailing yacht In race, not
to mention the splitting tacks, the ma
nuvering for position, the "hunting for
wind" the dependence on and hope in
flukes and such things OF professional
practice and judgment that the yacht
skipper is frequently compelled to resort
to at an instant's notice to secure vantage
in yacht race. OF the sport, more than
of any other, we think, it may be truly
said that the yacht race is never won
until it Is finished.
This means the maintenance OF pecu-
liar interest in yacht events beyond what
is possible to any other kind OF sport. In
the line of athletics, hammer throwing,
pole vaulting, running and the like, we
need hardly bother to witness a contest
to know its result All we love to do is
to look up the records OF the competitors,
and we can tell pretty well who the win
ners OF succeeding contest are to be. In
rowing we may judge almost as accurately,
either from the record or, il a record is
yet to be made, from a study OF the form
of the crew or the individual oarsman.
Even in tennis, football and baseball,
where the eccentricity of the "personal ele-
ment" so frequently surprises us, we are
pretty well able to judge of the outcome
of match without seeing the match.
Of course, all these sports are full of
interest, are frequently exciting even
when the element of uncertainty is re-
duced to minimum. But, we think,
yacht race takes the palm for interest, be-
cause the elements of uncertainty are so
multiplied and are never the same in two
races. Never mind what the speed record
of one yacht may be, she may be beaten
by rival which has never made anything
like so good record. The models and
builds of the yachts may be compared, the
sail plans and sail areas may be computed,
and studied relative to one or the other,
the prestige of the sailing master and the
expertness of his crew may be contrasted
to those of the personnel in the other boat,
and yet when that is all figured up, wind,
weather and sea, and the innumerable
that may arise in long race
are never to be known or counted on, and
the yacht that has made succession of
victories over her rival may, because OF an
uncertain element that has not before en-
tered into her racing, be left astern, and
4 victory as deserved as any she has won
may go to her rival.
Yacht racing is fascinating sport. II
Is spectacular sport. With all that it |
calls for of skill, from the laying of the |
keel by the designer TO the touch OF the |
helm and the fine trimming of a great |
stretch of canvas, 1t Is a sport OF brains,
full OF nobility in its every feature, and |
attractive from its most superficial aspect.
We are to have great season of yacht
ing, to eliminate with a contest between
boats representing the ingenuity, expert
snce, and skill in craftsmanship OF the
TWO greatest nations on earth.
THE NANTASKET TROLLEY.