The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-31
ICE BOATS IN HOT BATTLE.
Canada and the states Testing for speedy
Entries.


From the Chicago Chronicle.
While the majority of yachtsmen
seek the rudy hearth fire during the
winter months and sigh for summers
return there is a race of hardy sailors
who exult in Jack Frost's piping gales
and find as much pleasure in ice boat
ing as do their brethren in languid
, summer cruising The winter sport is
constantly growing in popularity and
bids fair to soon number as many devo-
tees as its marine rival.
Already the ice sailors season Is we'll
under way and '9s promises to be
memorable year in the history of the
sport The Western states. Canada and
the Atlantic seaboard are each testing
their speediest racing craft and ere the
ice breaks up the question of superb
GRITTY will be settled.
In the East the season practically
opened with the new year. and 1898
found hundreds of fleet racers spinning
over the famous New York courses.
The Hudson river. Orange lake and the
Shrewsbury have afforded excellent
sailing since that time, and the merits
of new boats are now well determined.
Canadian and Western clubs have been
even more fortunate as their lakes con-
gealed two weeks before the Eastern
waters. Still, matters are equalized by
the fact that the Eastern yachtsmen
have been less hindered by snow.
The trophy which Will reward the sea-
sons fastest flyer is an old, tattered
pennant that for Il years has served az
the goal of every ice sailors ambition.
Canada and the West look with longing
eyes upon this emblem of supremacy
and are planning to capture 1t with
their fleet craft. Several Canadian
racers are sure to be seen on the ice
bound waters of the Hudson ere long,
and the intending invaders feel conf
dent of bearing home the coveted prize.
Out on Lake Pepina, widening of the
Mississippi river on its way through
Wisconsin. n fleet OF speedy boats is
racing and the fastest product of
Western designing skill is likely to be
pitted against both Fasteners and Ca
nadians. making triangular race OF
exceptional interest.
The meeting of American and Canadt
an racers on the Hudson Will not be
the first time the two nations have
come together in this branch of sport,
Two years ago the Kingston Yacht
club offered handsome silver chal-
lenge cup. The Canadian critics care
fully compared the merits of the diff
ferent native yachts and settled upon a
winner, but the American Ruth upset
all their calculations by showing a
clean pair of heels TO the sWlftest or
Last year the Spook of Cape Vim
cent n. Y, repeated the trick. and
proved conclusively the superiority of
the American model over that used
across the border The Kingston sports
men are stout-hearted, and despite
double defeat will make another effort
to recover the cup.
Among the Hudson river boats
available to meet the Britisher are the
Spook. last years victor: Ruth, Flirt,
and several others OF almost equal
speed. Even If the st. Vincent craft
should be worsted, the Orange lake and
rior array of flyers with which TO van
uuish the Kingston champion.
The Western racers are an unknown
quantity. The Irene, winner of the
Northwestern championship two years
ago; the Serious. holder of the Wiscon-
sin cup, and the Reindeer are the speed
Jest of the lot and will compete in trials
this winter for the honor of challeng-
ing the Eastern cracks. The Irene and
the Reindeer are particularly fast and
able and many believe equal to any
thing the East can produce.
The past few years have shown a
great Improvement in the ice yacht. Of
late designers have realized that an Ice
boat sails faster on an even keel than
with the windward runner five feet aloft
and wooden racing craft are far better
balanced than the old type of yacht.
The old-timers We're also oversparred
and t.---Ssing has been simplified TO
good advantage.
A majority of the boats are sloop-
rugged. The lateen sail plan Is also
used to some extent. with here and there
a cat to break the monotony.