Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-07-15

in the rig of the main sheet, short
distance back of the cock pit. Each
part of the main sheet extends from
the main boom sling block to the
double traveller block, connecting
thence with steel wire brides. deck
quarter blocks and cock pit bits with
convenient capstans for snug bracing
Hathaway, the Ratsey of tie HERE
shoff sail lofts, has prepared for each
yacht two SUITS of racing sails, all Of
the cross-cut style. In the working
sails are about 1900 square feet of can
vas. AS the Mineola demonstrated IN
her trial trip down Narragansett Bay,
this is sufficient in top sail breeze
to 0rive the yachts at a high rate Of
speed
But little more work remains to be
done on William X. Vanderbilt, Jr,' s
Virginia, while the Whitney flyer Yam
kee will be launched by the time you
read this.
When the Whitney yacht is finally
turned over to her owners and the four
seventy-footers are prepared for their
seasons work, there will doubtless be
some of the best racing ever seen in
this country. Partly from patriotic
motives, perhaps, and partly from an
undefinable instinct, workmen at the
Herreshoffs have already picked the
winner from among the four yachts
they have helped build. The impress
sion is strong here that the Virginia
will poke her nose across the finish
line in more races than any of her COM
petitors. Old salts, however, say the
cleyerest skipper will win most.
That those VINO pin their faith on the
Virginia have something more tangible
than hope TO cling to was shown when
the initial trial spin of the latest sew
enty-footer was held down Narragan-
sett Bay. Her windward work and
speed in stays was a revelation and far
ahead of anything shown by Cornelius
Vanderbilts Rainbow or August Bel
monts Mineola While Virginia had
better breeze, perhaps, than her sis
ter flyers, still experts who observed
her performance declare that she acted
better in every way, pointing higher,
footing faster and not burying her
rounded topsides so deeply into the
water as to hide them completely.
Nat Herreshoff was at the helm, and
William X. Vanderbilt, Jr with a
couple of enthusiastic friends from
Newport, took pointers from the skill
full designer and skipper in the art of
handling his newest creation. The sails
of Willie ks yacht fit perfectly and
she answers the slightest touch of the
helm. Her trial was the most success
full yet held.
When it is borne in mind that the
crews of all four yachts will be picked
mea representing three nations of sea-
farers, skill in handling the yachts will
probably be the chief factor in their
success. The Belmont and Cornelius
Vanderbilt yachts will have British
shippers and crews, Capt Bob Wringe,
who served on the Upton challenger
Shamrock, being in charge of the Min
cola, and Capt. Jack Parker, of the
Rainbow. William X. Vanderbilt, Jr's
Virginia viii be in charge of Capt.
Hanson, whose work on Defender six
years ago attracted considerable atten-
ton, while Capt Samuel Seaman.
Pembroke Joness former skipper, VIII
advise the owners Of the Yankee He
viii have an all-Ameriean crew, the
only distinctively American crew in the
list. those on the Virginia being Sean
dinavians of approved merit.