The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-03

measurement
Length Of spipnsker pole. 1898 7uts
Length ofgar ...... .............. ot.at e7.a<
Length lie az. Of, t,pmsst ........ @,So Es.os
Height from the upper side OF
ihe mainhoom to the topsail
squar, root OF the sail area .,.ll4el lI8l6
naIlhR lenRth .........,.,,s,...s lO2.lSo 1Ol.p2
When It was seen that Designer Fife had
put larger sail spread on a smaller boat.
some OF tho members looked grave while oth-
ers began to figure and try to find out the re-
salt IL possible OF Flies plans. 1t was agreed
that the Shamrock had the greater driving
power and the smaller body to drive and theo-
retically it was argued she ought to win. es-
pecaly il she has. as has been stated. several
tons less lead on her keel than the Columbia.
Then the great beam OF the Shamrock was
considered and the full. powerful quarters
thought Of. 1t was the final conclusion that
the Shamrock was what might be termed a
short blunt boat that with all her extra driv-
ing power she would not go through the water
"a easily or as fast as the Columbia. and when
they had figured this to their satisfaction
they decided that it night be all wrong. but
that all would know by this evening.
The Shamrock has evidently been lightened
since she went out sailing for tho first tins
in these waters owing to the fact OF her being
shorter than the Colu m ba As has Leen stated
in The Sun the Shamrock is much longer from
the bowsprit to the end Of the boom The
forward point OF measurement on u yacht Is
midway between the lib topsa stay and the lib
stay on the bow7prit. and from that point to
the end OF the boom the Shamrock is 7.5l feet
| longer than the Columbia Most OF this gain.
| however. is in the forward triangle or the head
| sails. This is shown from the forward side OF
| the mast to the forward point Of measurement.
the Shamrock being IL feet longer than the
| Columbia. II is believed by many that a big
| head rig is not an advantage, especially when
| going to wndward. but it makes "a big differ
ence when reaching aud running.
| The spinnaker pole must no.' t. longer than
the base OF the forward triangle. # it il.
| any excess has to be added to the base line for
measurement. Neither yacht is penaIiI"d FOR
having a spinnaker pole too long. but owing to
such big head rig the Shamrock has pole
| that is GIL feet longer than that Of the Culum-
| bia and she will spread larger srunaker
when she gets or the wind for the run home.
| II the race is tn wiudwarl and return. The
challenger's gafr is 2.,H' feet longer than that
! OF the Columbia. hut the defenders topmast IL
| ga feet longer than the Shamrock's This
will be an advantage in light airs and those
| light puffs that will pass over the Shamrock
| will Just catch the Columbia II the gan 10
more than 80 per cent. of the length o! the top
| mast that excess is added to the base line.
| Here the Shamrock pays the largest penalty.
and it would seem MS II Fife had made n
slight error in his calculations. On
tho other hand. Ierreshofr has put on the
| Columbia shorter gan on n longer
| topmast and saves much taxation. Tho
mainmast Of the two yachts must he nearly
| the same size The difference from the upper
side OF the boom to the topsail halyard block
on the two yachts is G.47 feet. the Columbia
being the h CHER. This is only small fraction
| more than the difference between the two top
| masts.
The sail area OF the Shamrock is 1890
| square feet and Of the Columbia - 30. differ
ence Of :s5l square feet. The sailing length OF
the Defender in 1880 was lOO3G square feet.
Ifher length is the same this year rs 1t was
when she raced against the Nakyrie, then the
Columbia has had to allow - seconds to her
over a thirty mile course. and the Columbia
| has won every race she has sailed this year.
! having beaten the Defender enough in each
| race to save her time allowance.
1t was a busy day for Measurer IIys'op yes
ter,lay and very cold too lie worked from
early in the morning until nearly sunset at tbs
Navy Yard. It is no easy task TO measure a
modern racer. and Hyslop is particularly
pninstaking He will measure and measure
until he gets the figures right to suit himself
as well as those who are watching his work
| with the tape. The shamrock was nOatei
| out ui the Erie Basin soon after
o'clock in the morning and then tho
tug James \. Lawrence took her in tow
and pulled her around TO the Navy Yard. where
the Columbia was floating in th" big dock waltz
ing the arrival Of the challenger TN" sham
rock was anchored outside the dock and tbs
Lawrence TOOK her'u near ln'' ""'"cn h'
Flint. the tug that acts for the Columbia. II -
a strange coincidence that the captains OF the
two tugs are brothers and each II conNdert
that the yacht to which he Is attached - gong
10 win the cup, The tender Plymouth, which
had followed the shamrock. also I"un" a moor
ing near the St. MchHel- the tender Of tho