The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-08
RATSEY'S PERFECT SAILS.
THE SHAMROCK SHOWS SOME NkW
AND WONDERFUL C4NTA6


breeze. and while she sailed we'll and fast
those who saw her were not so favorably i'm
pressed with herd Performance as they were
with the previous OF hibitions. They thought
the Columbia would have been q winner In a
race that had been sailed under similar condl-
tons, Early In the day there was q calm. then
little wind came from tho south south east.
gradually increasing in force until 1t blew
about seven knots an hour. A long ocean
swell came in from the south but did not
appear to bother the yacht. She went over
the water In the same smooth way that has
characterized all her sailing OF Sandy Hook.
After sailing around and getting her sails in
shape. she made two tacks to windward for
about five miles. Then she made a reach to the
westward for about the same distance. and thon
Rybing her boom over. reached about Ave
more miles to the Sandy Hook Iightship.
1t was. OF course. hard to estimate the speed
OF the yacht She sailed fast under the condi-
tons but the Columbia has shown herself to be
such wonder In light weather that It was
thought that at the end Of the i've mile beat
the Columbia would have had a material lead
When reaching. however. the Shamrock
showed to better advantage and on tho third
leg OF the course she outfooted the press tug
which followed In her wake at about ten miles
an hour. 1t must be remembered that the
condition Of the Shamrock's hull. which
must be foul. would seriously hurt her
speed in the light wind OF yesterday. Then
again the yacht 10 not yet In proper trim
1t 10 very doubtful II she was sailed for all she
was worth, either as Capt Hogarth paid more
attention to the sails OF the Yacht and to her
trim. than he did to the tiler. 1t was a day
spent In practice and sail stretching and was
Just the sort Of weather that was wanted for
the new pieces Of canvas that were used for
tho fret time. With the exception OF the
mainsail which was tho same one abe has
used all the week. the sails were new. They
were credit to Thomas Ratsey who made
them. Their At was absolutely perfect. and
Ratsey himself seemed to be we'll satisfied.
The captains OF the yacht Hogarth and
Wrnge. were put on board from the tender
Plymouth at 9:45 o'clock. They had been in
conference with Sir Thomas Upton and
Messrs. Fife and Ratsey on the Erin and as
soon as they boarded the racing cutter. pre-
parations were made for getting under way,
line was passed to the Shamrock from the
tug James A. Lawrence and at 8 so the anchor
was hosted and the tug started out. The
Erin at once followed. The big mainsail
was set at 1898 o'clock and then
the line was cast of and the yacht
sailed out under her mainsail. lib and fore
staysail. After sailing about for a few
moments-or rather drifting about. for
there was no wind-the yacht laid, to
and the club topsail was sent up. This
sail 10 called jaekyarder on the British boat.
1t is wonderful piece Of canvas and when It
was set 1t covered completely the space be-
tween the topmast and the gar and fitted per-
fectly. 1t is made Of Sea Island cotton duck
a very close weave. The tack hsuls down to the
auxiliary spreader and com pletely Oils In the
below " he gam Th.rs ana .as
"a the sail running from the clew to tho lufr and
the cloths run at right angles to the club |
leach above the seam so that they are at right
angles to each other at the, seam. By this |
T Tbs Stub .pars tower way above tho topmast
Of CAPT HosartS the fore sst stay 40 s saH
was taken in and a balloon foresail set In It's |
Place. The canvas used in thi, sail is extremely
tho clew trims about ten feet at OF the mast
The foot OF tho sail is cut circular and comes |
Gown Gown very near the deck so that 1t catches
At II o'clock there was a very light southsrly
nG Rasg w! Msrs oD ;hs
iiuiiy; The shamrocE sailed about IN this sway way
promptly hoisted the nag that said Thanks"
Victoria and the Ko.niSs on louise pssssd out
and each saluted the yacht,
sh 1t breeze rh from the south
hois.ed and the Yacht reached to the eastward
on the port tack. This big sail was only used |
the jib and fore, stay sail set again. For hall
an hour the yacht sailed about IN the light air |
and Sir Thomas Upton chevslsr Do M h hnn
t board s tho rsShanrock, This is the hrst tins
these Wato. IT, Fe On one board the
EEIh 70 watch the performance OF the yacht:
and on the port tack she stood Tor the Scotland
Lightship. The wind had backed to the south |
sailed and s;n " 6S sp%s b & % 5
point, of the wind, and she was footing fast |
considering the lightness OF the breeze. Her
Ii~was Kept full ali the time. 'oN ;Ufsa
Hamilton dropped the log over the rail and the |
RAJ. The Yacht hssled very iittie in he |
but linz sa s h heel .9
was 70 S5s gs ao,,,: and 4, no iol9wns wave.
about. She SPIN around like a top and was of |
was realized that she had altered her course.
she ssIG on th ,ba tax ak nn 22 oeoGk
wndward since she started fsry FAN 'i tm 20
az Of the beam reached east BY north. sheets |
DO ogened Up q, bit to keep up with |
O'Clock when she was. gybed and with the |
Hook l.ightship. On this point Of sailing she |
went still faster. The wind had increased in |
force to about seven knots and the Sham rock |
drew away from the Press tug which was doing |
its best to keepup with her. She passed the |
Sandy Hook Lghtship at 2:23 o'clock. and then |
heading into the wind her sails were lowered |
and shortly afterwards she took line from
her tug and was lowed to her anchorage in the |
Horseshoe, the Erin following. Sir Thomas |
Upton again expressed himself as well salts |
fed.
The Shamrock will go out again this morn !
ing and will probably be sailed over a course |
so that some idea can be had Of her speed 1t |
is hard to Judge the speed OF yacht when il is |
sailing alone, and there is no doubt that she |
will do better than she has shown Whan sailing
against another yacht She is being thorough
ly tried in systematic way by those In charge,
and they are finding out exactly what she can |
do. There Is an apemometer on board the Erin, |
and the force OF the wind is carefully noted all
the time the yacht Is being tried. A log Is al
ways carried on the Shamrock and this gives
the speed at which the boat is travelling SO that
it is very easily figured Just what she can DO
under the various conditions Of weather. The
trim Of the boat H. Of course. noted and before
the cup races are sailed it will be known Just
how she sails best and in what trim to put her
for the contests.