New-York tribune., 1900-09-23
VAN HOVENBERG.

The Mineola then found herself anchored Off lee
shore and in dangerous place. The owner. Mr.
Belmont. was there in the tender Scout He came
alongside the cutter and when the gale allowed his
voice 10 be heard he was understood 10 say; I
can't you off with the little Scout. but III go
and get a tug for you"
Al that time there was high. waIlsided
running in the bay, and the danger of dragging
ashore while waiting for the tug evident
WrinEe called out:
Better not mind the tug. sir; I'll slip my cable
and get out under canvas"
He did 50. getting of the lee shore under close
reefs after which he 10 TompkinsvilIe and came
to IN good shelter When the MneoIa entered the
race the next day. the biggest anchor and chain
still remained at the bottom of Sandy Hook Bay.
II was anybodys race in the general drift out on
Thursday. the 18th until the Rainbow got the fuke
that put her ahead When the fresh wind arrived
for the reach home the Mineola was outfooted in
the last three miles by both the Yankee and the
Rainbow and it was remarked the next day in these
columns that although the Belmont boat made the
best elapsed time in the reach home she was not
going her best.
That race was finished at slndown. and the
yachts came back 20 harbor after dark The nex-
day the big anchor and chain could not be found
and on the following day. Saturday. the 18th. tha
Mineola entered the Atlantic Yacht Clubs race
minus the weight Of 1850 pounds which is cal
culated by the designer to be carried in the bows
Of the boat. What happened is best told by Wringe
himself:
I couldn't do ANYTHING with the vessel. She would
neither point nor sail When I got ont into the
seaWay or the Hook she wouldn't 90 auvw here.
The Rainbow almost made the Scotland Lfghtship
hen about halfway Out ! took a tack 10 the east
ward. but even then. when l came back into the
port tack, / could not hold the Rainbow's course
AT nrSJ pointed at her, but gradually sagged down
10 IeeWard. and had TO make still another tack
TO clear the llEhtship. OF course the commodore
was aboard, and he knew what was the matter but
there hadn't been anything in the Upton Cup race
10 tell Us how damaged BIZ being out of
trim. The fact Is, we did not think that the alb
seEce Of 1850 pounds in the bows would make the
that day.
These remarks came in general conversation
about the sailing Of this fleet and made 10
excuse but TO explain the defeat, and they were
TO show how much more sensitive these boats are
TO changes of trim than most people imagine The
experience. no matter how dearly bought on the
MineoIa is Of general practical value yachtsmen
because the comparative performance Of this
boat, as sailed by Wringe. has been pretty well
gauged. and her sudden slump" calls ex-
planatfou just much If JefTies, the pugilist,
got light in the head on O. certain day ana couldn Z
knock out Mccoy.
In Fridays race with the Rainbow the lost
hOr and chain were still unrecOvered, but an
attempt made TO put a similar weight into
the same place in the boat. and Friday this
seemed to make her sail on even terms with the
Rainbow. except when Mr.. HCyt's local knowledge
as TO how lee-bow certain current secured a
long lead for the Vanderbilt boat. But after that
the Mineola beat the RainbOw's elapsed time on
consecutive legs OF the course and on every
point Of saiIinz-aH OF waich goes to show tnaL
Of trim small that they are not perccptlOie 10
the ordinary vision.