The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-23
NOTED YACHT DESIGNERS.
PRESTIGE WON BY AMERICANS IN
THE PAST FIFTY YEARS.

Designers Of American yachts have attracted
more or less attention throughout the civilized
world as far back as 1914, seven years before
the gallant schooner America crossed the ocean
and bore "Old Glory " in triumph to tho fore.
although opposed by the fastest yachts in Great
Britain. Furthermore, for 1fty-throe years
they have held their own and q triflo moro in
the matter Of turning out speedy yachts.
In tho yonr mentioned tho big sloop Maria,
designed by Robert Livingston Stevens, was
undoubtedly the fastest yacht afoat in the
world. She was a racing machine, pure and
simple, having two controboards with a lead
mine on hcr keel, and was launched at Hoboken
In April, 1914, from tho yard of William Capcs.
The old Maria was the prototype of the racing
yacht OF tho present day. Great stories have
been told OF her wonderful speed. Her principal
Dimensions were 10 feet over all, 20 feet 8
inches beam. and @ inches draught at the
forward point OF measurement, which was in
creased to 8 feet 8 inches ut tho stern post. In
design, her forward lines were very sharp, her
greatest beam being we'll aft of amidships. The
yacht had an enormous spread of canvas, her
main boom being 100 feet long. The spar was
hollow. 3 feet in diameter at its largest part,
and, in addition to being bound by iron hoops,
was further strengthened and secured by dag.
onal trusses. Tho foot of her single lib, which
was laced to a boom, measured 20 feet.
Tho Maria developed marvellous speed In
smooth water, and 1t is n matter Of history that
on one occasion she logged seventeen knots an
hour under favorable circumstances, but she
was never fast in a soaway. She was defeated
but once in u race. that being by the 66-foot
schooner Coquette. designed by Louis Winde.
The match was for 81, 900 n side and was sailed
in n Snoring nor'caster." starting from n buoy
In Gedney's Channel. Notwithstanding this de-
feat, American yachtsman believed in the sail
ing qualities OF tho big craft, and in 1851 there
was considerable talk relative to sending her
across the ocean to try conclusions with the
fast-sailing yachts OF Great Britain. The project
was. however, abandoned.
About this time George Steers, who had
achieved considerable success as a designer Of
pilot boats, which were already recognized by
sailor mon rs tho most seaworthy and speedy
vessels Of their size in the world, was commits
stoned by Commodore John c. Stevens of the
New York Yacht Club. associated with Hamil-
ton Weeks, George L.. Schuyler, James Hamil.
ton. and J. b. Finlay. TO build a schooner yacht
for a few races in English waters.
George Steers was born In Washington. 4. C.,
in tho year 1920. at which place his father,
David. had charge Of the construction depart
ment OF the navy yard. 10 came TO this city
when only five years OF age, and in time drifted
into the shipbuilding business, serving his APP
premiership with Smith s. Dimond. He in
herited his talent for naval architecture from
his father. and in 1si5 formed q partnership
with q Mr.. Hathorne. which continued for q
period Of nearly Ave years, at Williamsburg,
where hey built ships OF every description.
Young Steers afterward associated himself Will
his brother. James r.. and the firm eventually
became noted for excellent work and speedy YES.
sells. Steers built his first boat. n small cat,
when only II years of age. He sailed her in q
race for IA trophy offered by Commodore Stevens,
and. what is moro, won it, although opposed by
boats designed by men many years his senior.
The schooner America, which was destined to
bring both fame and fortune to the young do
signer. was begun early In 1851. Her dimen-
sions were o. feet over all, SO feet water line,
90 feet beam, and IL feot 8 inches draught. She
was rigged exactly like the speedy pilot boats
Mary Taylor and George Steers, both products
OF the teemins brain of the young designer. In
her earliest trial trip the America was beaten
easily by the old Maria. There were no specta-
tors. however, to comment on the defeat. as at
that time there was little or no public interest
taken in the sport, and except for a few men who
were Interested in tho New York Yacht Club.
which had been organized during the year that
the Maria was launched. nobody cared about the
schooner or the enterprise in which she was
about to start.
America WAS the first yacht to cross the At
lantic in either direction. What she did on the
other side is well known, and the trophy she
brought back can be seen on gala occasions in
the model room of the Now York club. After
the return OF the now.noted schooner designers
continued to improve their models. accepting at
intervals some good idea that had been evolved
working out devices OF their own that ap-
pcarcd conducive to speed and stability
ToWSss sndT and built iiptb' by {. < il. Poino2 OF BOOK.
lyn. was the next yacht OF Importance built in
nf RriiUn street in 1SHI. and wua. nm tn lhut
time, the Largest b pleasure c"me craft iSe fESr Ggii, II P, ,his
wing. Magic. Halcyon. Madeline, and others,
each ono showing some Improvement on It's pre-
decessPr; The Madeline was built IN lsGs, BY
annual kigT june 0 roxa It ws of t hos S SStti I iSas' Y Y eRG
Club III IN THAT %s, she ss really lp @iSH'iSMF "HTsssn h Of RaIoDne.
fast small boats. mostly Of the sand .bagger "
man. The Cora captured everything in sight in
tho way OF prizes. although pitted against the
ally lefeated by the Annie Cuthbcrt. a boat Of
almost the same design, and as a fact tho Cana
dian cup challenger, Countess OF DulsIin. was
David Kirby Of Rye is another designer whose
efforts have made history In the sport Of yacht
line he was responsible for the big sioop Arrow,
that proved herself superior as an all;roGnd
Hildegarde. He, also designed the Pocahontas,
a great, beamy ship that. although an excellent
sea boat, failed utterly to sustain her designers
Probably one OF the ablest and best equipped
designers and naval architects OF the present
day Is A. Cary Smith, known to his intimates AS
Old Cary" He has been designing yachts
since 1871, previous to which time he was a
marine painter.
The first boat designed by him that attracted
attention was the Vindex for Rob
ert Center. She was known as the paper
boat" for the reason that. instead OF whit
thing out a model, as was the usual Gus
tom. she was built entirely from drawings
and plans. The Vindcx was, constructed OF
iron, and embraced features that were abso
luteiy new in yacht building, such as q
housing topmast, lib set flying, on it's own luff
runners to masthead and both outside and in
side lead. Among the noted yachts that were
also built by old Cary" are the schooncrs WI
mona, Fortuna, HarhinRer, and Amorita. and the
!, sloop Priscilla, while the transforming of the
Herreshoff keel sloop Colonia into a centreboard
schooner 10 one OF his latest achievements.
Up TO tho year 1887 New York had enjoyed
the reputation OF turning out the fastest sailing
yachts. but tho next year Edward Burgess
whose name was comparatively unknown In
yachting circles, was intrusted with the design
OF the sloop Puritan for J, Malcolm Forbes. thu
yacht to compete against Priscilla for the honor