New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-17
YACHTING.
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MINEOI.A AND
THE RAINBOW, AS SEEN ON
THTTRCnAY
THURSDAY.

Since August Belmont's Mineola and Cornelius
Nanderbnts Rainbow sailed in the varied weathers
OF the New-York Yacht Club regatta the appear
ance and performance of the new racers have
FORMED chief topic among yachtsmen. The gem
ea opinion seems to be that the Bristol story that
the boats not able to stand up to their canvas
was not justified But opinions differ. A man who
writes much quoted yachting articles quite
sure that both vessels were too tender, and that
the Rainbow was markedly inferior in stability to
the Mineola, But the fact remains that the yachts
carried their club gafftopsaIls to windward during
heavy sQuall IN the finishing four miles of the
race, and did 1t without any trouble, making great
speed all the time. Even in the heaviest part of
the blow their angle Of heel was by no means ex-
cesstve, and not to be compared with that shown
by the Vigant when she sailed with the Britannia
Herreshon has given the owners of the new fleet a
design that is not intended to sit up all the time
like a house. but that will be suspectibe to the
influences of light airs, and make better time by
careening to them sufficiently to keep the canvas
asleep
But the question is being discussed as to whether
> the Herreshoffs have given the new owners their
fastest design in this fleet On this point Captain
Wringe himself may be quoted from a recent con-
versation had with him when the Mineola was
hauled out at the City Island yards of John
Hawkins. Here the Mineola was alongside the
Columbia and the Defender. the latter boat being
wholly uncovered, and Captain Wrfnge admitted
that the Mineola more like the Defender than
the Columbia in having her upper hull deeper in
the water. On viewing the two boats together it
could be seen that the Mineola and the Defender
have practically the same centre section, except
to depth of fin. which section, every one knows,
was much improved on for speed in the shallowness
OF the Columbia's upper hull. This point did not
escape Captain Wringe. nor could 1t escape any
yachtsman who saw the two boats hauled out to-
gether, but the skipper added that the design was
plenty good enough for design class racing
even If not so fast proportionately that of the
Columbia.
The measurements of the boats as given by Bos-
ton experts who watched the building, show that
the waterline length, while the Columbia has three
and one-third beams to her waterline length. This
of itself may or may not result in a boat that Is
proportionately slower than the Columbia 1t may
be that the Herreshoffs have given the increased
beam for the purpose Of adding speed but the gem
of comparatively narrow and celebrated yachts, is
that the Columbia went to the limit in beam when
she two feet wider than the Defender
and that any further approach to the possible
faults of the wide Vigilant and Shamrock involved
q departure from the best proofs
beating out round the Hook, the Syce and the Mira
were doing the best sailing in the fleet These two
Gardner boats, the former a 45-foot waterline and
the latter a S410 waterline, were making sugges-
launched five years ago. made seventeen seconds
better time than the Rainbow over the same
course The Vigtlant, under cruising canvas twice
cut down, and with only small working topsaiL
held the seventies in beating up the light airs
all down the Bay and the Queen Nab Launched
time allowance. Apparently about SO per cent of
yachtsmen think that these new boats are built
as fast design proportionately that of the
Columbia but different story is told by their per-
forrnance and especially by their underbodes
seen when hauled out.