The morning times., 1896-05-24
Wealthy Owners of Fine Yachts Ex-
pend Thousands of Dollars to OBJ
tain Sails of Extra WhiteneSS-
Chemicals Dear as Gold Are
Used by the SailmakerS to Pro-
duce the Effect.

EAE S2oo. coo year VIII Toe bic 10
M ugureas d va aCHisInan OF any prom
% ineuce this season. Those anna
teurs who imagine that a paltry
SIC. 900 will see them through a season are
a source Of amusement 10 the experienced.
There is not man in America, perhaps IN
the world who knows more OF yachts and
yachting than Winfield SCoU EUIu. he is
the sworn chum and bosom friend CT viii
liam X. Vanderbilt He invariably accom-
panies the millionaire in his Valiant cruises
and when lie decl"res that il takes $780,
600 yearly TO keep fiTst-rate yacht afloat
he speaks with knowledge OF the subject
that caLIot he questioned.
When il comes 10 racing the expenses
fairly gallop away with The princellest or
incomes Therefore, supremacy with the
keel implies so far as this year is concerned,
the expenditure of a ra jahs ransom. The
sails alone almost represent tnaU equiva-
lent.
THE NIAGARA'S COSTLY KEEL.
To illustrate this more thoroughly, let
Howard Gould's tanned Niagara be oonsid-
cred. The young heir began her with
round hundred thousand. he rut fin keel
10 her, costly contriyance in itself. Ma
hogany was employed for the outside plank
ing, and as she is siXty-five feet over all
and twelve feet as to beam the expenses
for wood may be readily comprehended.
The most skilled labor was employed, which
means $50 4 week for a journeyman.
The brouze OF the lin and rudder would
have paid for house and lot. Mr.. Gould
has not told exactly what she cost him.
Niagara is a small affair, but when racing
she eats up $4,000 spin.
The sails OF a yacht Will cost, for the
small racing class, say 0,0G0, but large
boats with fiue white sails viii require
$50. 900 for the sail account. or course
they can be equipped for. much less. You
can buy sails rather cheaply at this time,
10 fact, but tor that matter cigars are
cheap, too. The item OF sails runs into
thousands, not On account OF the material
in them, which is sometimes high-priced,
though. but in coGs equence of the labor they
eutail They must be adjusted with the
greatest mcety to catch every puff OF wind-
yet this very delicacy renders snap OF
the woodwork very liable.
Then there are the duplicates, the sewing,
the cordaGe. and the trimmings. That is
why no exact limit can be placed upon the
cost of sails. But whether the amount is
few hundred or many thousands. enc race
viii as likely as not end them, or a any
rate uece essitate repairs.
The famous RatSey charges immoder-
atcly for tbs services. He billed" Dun
raven for $4,000 for his advice and
handling while In this country. IL was
said. and hc freely admitted that 1.-The
makin's was 'arf," which, being interpreted,
meant that he cha rged as much for his pat
terms as for his sailcloth.
THE COST OF SAILS.
SaHClothS, as the salts call it, or canvas,
wien silk shot. is elaboratey made. The
yarns must be boiled repeatedly. Special
treatment is necessary to get that exquisite
white so desirable in the wings of yacht.
Sometimes Sc. 600 is added to the cost OF
sails for a yacht on this account. IL acid
chloride of lime or other preparation Of
chlorine be used the fiber VIII suffer great
ly. Yet If certain chemicals are not EN-
ployed the white effect is missed entirely.
Hence the thousands that must be spent
sometimes before canvas albescent enough
to suit a Gould or a Vanderbilt can bc OF.
tained. If color be no object, the cost is
materially lessened.
The sails of all yachts have the same
general design, but the detail varies ac
curding TO size ana character, whether fol
racing or pleasure. A small affair like Mr.
Gould's Niagara is sloop rigged, having &
topmast ana bowSprit. ShG ought to carry
a large press of canvas. however, includ
ing mainsall, topsails, jbs, balloon-stay
sal and spinnaktr. The cloths should D'
stretched from luff to leech. THE sides ol
sail are III general called leeches. Tie
weather or side edge where the wind ell
tiers the sail of any but square sail is
called tie luIf and the other edge the after
lecchD.
The bowsprlt ought to project, il allow
able, about eight feet from the knlghthead
The Yacth Racing Association rules al
10 bulkheads and finishings must he strictly
complied with. Even this is costly, as
only experts can do it.
The wages of q skilled crew are always
high. George Gould sailed across the AT
lantic With a complement of twenty mel
last wear. He pays ont about $4,000
TO his crews annually. Mr.. W. X. Wander
bIlt is very liberal 10 his crews. They COS
him $40, 900, il is said, when he took tha
famous party TO the Mediterranean.
the yacht goes on pleasure tours, like JohI
Jacob Astor's, the cooks list is heavy
That official gets 5000 for the season
but he pays certain items himself.
that rate, including ice, provisions, uphol
stering. and the like, 100000 would carr.
an Astor or Vanderbilt through a cruise
but no more
COSTLY VIGILANT
The big boats carry far more sail thai
Niagara or craft like Cornelius Wander
bit, jr.s. If yawl rugged, canvas become
heavy item. An impressive idea of thi
is afforded by such a yacht as Vigilant
with boom 10 port, spinnaker to starboard
spanker, gaff-topsail and glib set, wheI
flying with her ensign at the Jiggermast
When, however, a millionaire goes il
for racing, his expenses are just abou
double those OF a pleasure season. Mr.
nrlt1 faTall mot p