The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-19

haWser from the wharf at Palos inter-
est and Improvements in sea-going YES
sells began.
The yawl rig figures extensively n
yachting literature in long-distance
cruising in small vessels. Those who
have been shipmates with this rig advo-
cate it in preference to all others for
yachts of medium dimensions. The
yawl is the most comfortable and han
diest type of boat for cruising. 1t takes
less of a crew to handle yawl of the
same size as a schooner or sloop. The
subdivision of the sails renders them
less speedy than a sloop in light
weather, but there are many instances
where the yawl has won in a race with
surprising ease over a sloop in bad
weather. This was by reason of being
able to handle their sails easier and
quicker, CARRYING on until the squall
was nearly upon them, then luffing
quickly into the wind and lowering the
mafnsail, then fill away again under
the jib and mizzen, jogging along under
easy canvas while the crew were put
ting in a reef in the lowered sail. The
mainsail is then set again and away
she goes. While the work on the yttwl
has been going on so easily it was diff
ferent on her sloop rival. The skipper
could not take the chances of getting a
knockdown and long before the squall's
fury descends upon him he has to tuck
in couple of reefs in his big. unhandy
mainsail. And it Is no child's play
reefing big sloop in stiff breeze.
While the crew are engaged tying reef
knots the boats speed is stopped, she
drifts off to leeward, while the yawl
has been under way all the time toward
the stake boat Yachtsmen, as rule.
hate to reef. 1t is a disagreeable job
and it will frequently be delayed until
the boat is in peril. This is because
reefing a single sticker is such a hard
and unpleasant job. With a yawl the
mainsail can be lowered and put up in
stops and the craft sailed under her
other two sails. She will balance I'M
der this canvas and sail along comfort
ably.
There are other reasons why the
yawl rig is SO admirable for cruising
over the single stick boat. For in
stance, In the carrying away of sails.
A sloop close hauled, we will say, has
her jib carried away. If she is an old
style Of craft with deep forefoot she
will not steer well and will make little
if any progress to windward if the
breeze is strong. Should the accident
be to the mainsail the craft would be
In still worse plight. This would be
especially dangerous if she were on
the windward side of this Island with
the roaring breakers under her lee. She
could not work off shore under the jib
alone and 1t would only be a question
of time when the crew would have to
abandon ship. Now we will say that
the yawls jib is blown out of the bolt
ropes. All that the crew have to do is
TO lower the mfzzen and she will work
to windward under the mainsail like
a cat-boat. Should an accident occur
to the mainsail she will be able to claw
off-shore under the jib and mizzen.
Disabling of the mizzen, like the taking
off OF the jib would necessitate sailing
yawl will handle under all these COM
-binations.
The mfzzen Is a handy little sail. It
will care for itself ard is the last sail
to take In. In case the yacht has to
heave to she can do so by taking in
jib and mainsail and flattenirg in the
sheets OH lUe jIllZZ6H- 1 ne crew can
then lash the wheel amidships and play
cards in the snug cabin while the gale
lasts. for the yacht will keep her nos"
TO the wind with drv cheeks. Is it any
wonder tl-~t tNcce v-ro ~ dow, RI toe
sea in yawIs. especially those who have
oircumnavigatcd the globe single hand
ed, have unqualified praise for this rig.
One of the most recent sea adventures
was old Captain Slccum OF the SPRAY.
He rer,-iit rv-eter Vat e tNe t--~a
of a century ago and sailed alone
around the world. His boat was about
the size Of the yacht Helene. but of
course not so heavily rugged. She was
sloop rieFed when he left Boston. but
he soon found it necessary to alter to
the yawl. This is what he says after
making the change: THE yawl rig
was an IMPROVEMENT in that it reduced
the size of a rather heavy mainsail
and improved her steering qualities on
the wird" However he saws very lit
tie in his hook about the handling of
his craft. therefore leaving out some
very Interesting information to those
who are fond of the sea One of the
Eastern yacht clubs had the old craft
hauled ont and her lines taken off.
On the fTSllSh coast, where the sea
is particularly boisterous the fisher
men prefer the yawl rig. They GER
tainly possess advantages for a work
ing boat that a sloop or schooner does
not have.
Some of the local yachts if yawl rig
ged would afford their owners far more
pleasure in cruising than their present
sloop rig We would then see more of
the white-wineed fleet beyond Dia-
mond Head boldly beating around Mu-
kapuu Point on their way to the beau-
tiful Koolau lagoon. This srig would
give our amateur sailors confidence and
the cruises would be more varied, and
therefore more interesting. and the
interest in the sport greatly increased.
1t is unquestionably the peer of
cruising rigs and for use in rough wa
tiers the yawl is the queen of vessels.
Snugly canvased, strongly spared and
well balanced, the yawl for outside
work has no equal afioat.
AMATEUR.