New-York tribune., 1899-07-25
YACHTING.
THE COLUMBIA TO co TO BRISTOL FOR
HER NEW STEEL MAST

II had been expected Mt Bristol that the new steel
mast for the Columbia would be ready yester-
day The Columbia Will go TO Bristol. where the
mast has been built at the Herreshon yards, 10
have the new spar stepped early TINS week. so
that when she races for the Newport Association
prize on Saturday July %. 1t will be with the new
spar doing the work
The large force OF workers In steel have been
puttng in many extra hours work on the big SPAR
which measures trine more than i07 feet IN
length and is about 20 inches In diameter at its
greatest thickness The working hours of the gang
have generally been from o'clock In the MORN
ing to 10 O'Clock at night.
Arrangements have been made for the steamer
Archer to come to Bristol as soon as the mast ;s
ready. The Archer will step the spar In the 90
lumbia and will also remove the large oregon pine
stick with which the yacht has so far done her
sailing. The Archer has unstepped many spars ana
also hoisted the masts for many big yachts'
When the task now about to be accomplished IS
finished the Archer will have lifted In spar OF a
design quite in these parts.
The new steel mast designed by Nat Her
reshon who has given the matter much thought
and study, and ia satisfied that 1t VIII De sue
cess The new steel mast has been so constructed
that when II is stepped the lower mast ana top
mast will be set up one spar. This arrange
ment will make IT look Ike what Is known as
a pole mast but the topmast VIII be stepped ana
housed inside the lower mast.
Tho topmast can be housed that II will go al
most ont of sight inside the steel lower mast.
Levers set into the masthead at the point where
the heel of the topmast will come are so arranged
that they can be tripped from the deck by means
of wire rigging connected with the heel or the
mast and housing the topmast will be easy as well
as sending It aoft when desired.
When in position the topmast VIII bury about
twenty feet and when the new spar is stepped a
now oregon pine topmast will be stepped with 1t.
1t will be Of lighter weight than the topmast now
in use on the Columbia and smaller in diameter
Billman and his gang OF riggers at Boston are
at the Herreshof shops preparing the new set OF
standing and running rigging for the new sparS
for the Columbia. From indications at the Her
reshons' to-day 1t looks ms though the Columbia
will probably be hauled out either to-day or 20
morrow and photographers are hoping to get good
Snaps" at her while out of water which VIII VII.
show the shape Of her underbody. The underbody
Of this boat has never been outlined in a photo
graph and the true and exact shape OF Ii Is al
most as unknown as that Of the shamrock: on On
the big cradle which runs on the marine railway
that descends under water; This cradle runs out
curely in its grip when the hauling out Is about 10
In regard to "Nat" Herreshofs invention for
housing a topmast in lower mast, IL should De
added that # the new scheme works II VIII be the
first OF the kind to prove successful This idea mas
been prominently before yachtsmen ana Duliders
worked IL out TO success. For quick housing III
short races the plan offers speedy method or re.
ducng top hamper. but for ordinary cruising ],
is often desirable in the presence OF pIoohEru hLo
weather TO strike the topmasts entirely and get
them down fiat on deck. This; OF course VIII pe I'M
possible when the upper stick mercy eo b
cruiser the new scheme offers about all tnat Is
needed IN these waters.