The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-22
TO BUILD THE OFFENDER |
Herreshoffs Ready to Begin Work
ON a Cup Yacht.
Famous Firm Said to Have Made
Preparations That VIII Enable
Then, to Do 1t Qutckiy-lhi2eis 10
he More of "a Cutter Than the Vie
torious Columbia of Last Year

BRISTOL, R. I, Oct. 22.-That new
9O-footer will be built to defend the
Americas Cup and that Herreshoff Will
design, construct, and try her out as he
did SO successfully @ith Vigilant, Defend
er. and Columbia. is certain
Bristol is full of men anxious to keep
the blue ribbon Of the sea- on this side
of the ocean, ana they are loyal to the
famous yacht building firm which has
brought fame to this quiet but progress
sive little town,
Some of the men in closest touch with
the Herreshoffs and who will have much
to do with the successful execution OF de-
signer Nat Herreshoff's plans, say that an
order is expected shortly for new defend
er, and that Work will be started upon the
next Cup champion within few hours OF
the signing of the contract.
There is not the slightest doubt OF the
ability of the Herreshoffs to turn out such
a yacht, fully equipped for business by
the middle of next July. The designing,
they believe, has been done; that s, the
yacht has been planned ouI IN the head OF
Nat, the wizard, since the Columbia
Shamrock races last year. All that re-
the plans now matured in his mind and or
der the materials which Will enter into the
construction of the yacht
No other firm in the country is SO well
fitted, they believe, by virtue of expert
ence and facilities to undertake the task
and to none other should 1t be committed
at this eleventh hour, it is eontended. save
the mind which has conceived practically
all the wonderful yachts of the last dec
ade and nodded them into Cup-defending
share.
Since 1880 the Herreshoffs have gathered
i here some Of the very best talent IN the
country fitted for work in fast steam and
| sailing vessels. They have put thousands
! of dollars into their shops and brought
! their facilities for turning out the most
modern ana speedy vessels up to the high
] est point OF efficiency. The time spent on
! Columbia last year is not needed, there
/ fore for even better work on a new de-
! fender this year The contract for build
/ ing Columbia was signed September %,
/ 1888. and her keel was not cast before the
middle of January. In the meantime the
! firm was touehiHsup the old cup cham
pion, Defender Hardly anything needs be
/ done this year to Columbia or Defender TO
provide far better trial horses than Column
/ bia had for the new Cup champion.
/ AS already stated, 90-footer is the
only style of yacht the Herreshoffs have
had in mind for some time to meet Sill
| Thomas Lipton's newest challenger. AS
they went the limit last year with Column
bia. making her length on water-line the
| full ninety feet allowed under the deed oil
gift, which was, however, lightened fe"
inches by judicious ballasting, they car
hardly gain anything in that direction this
! time.
II Is believed the next Cup defender viii
be more of a cutter than Columbia and OF
slightly greater draught, giving even bet
ter play TO the speed producing tumble
homes" which stood the American yacht
in such good stead during the races las
| year.
When well heeled to a strong topssi
breeze Columbia. with all her deep ant
heavy keel, was little better than skim
ming dish, and while steadily eating up in
to the wind was covering space like a tor
pedo boat catcher.
AS Captain Nat is the oaly man in tn,
world who seems to have mastered tbs
bulbed-fn keel which was first tried in
big yacht by Stewart & Binney, the Boston
yachtsTnen who designed the Pilgrim, it il
| needless to say that the new yacht Will b
of the bulbed-fn keel type. Herreshof
knows how to so balance this keel that II
difficulty is experienced in steering. til
fault which caused the Pilgrim to go wronI
SO often as o render her useless as
racer.
Steel spars. though costly and even NOR
liable TO buckle than the sturdy Orego
pine which has adorned and assisted mos
Cup defenders. proved their worth in sue
marked degree last year that they Will un
doubtedly be an important feature OF til
next Cup defender
New wrinkles" which developed wee
by week as the Columbia took shape in til
south shop, viii undoubtedly be found i
the new boat, as Captain Nat is nothing
( not inventive, and has not been observln
;; races and racers for years without gath
ering valuable lessons therefrom.
The net result of ali this planning an
observation will necessarily be Cup de
fender as marvellous in the new century a
, Columbia was at the end of the closin
year of the last.