New-York tribune., 1901-07-08
YACHTING.
HAFF TAKES ALL BLAME FOR INDEPEN-
DENCE'S DEFEAT.
MR. DUNCAN SAYS RESULT DIsPosEs OF
BOSTON BOAT AS CANDIDATE FOX
DEFENCE OF CUP.
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.1

my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1
Newport r. L. July 7-George r. Plummer. sec
retary of the Newport Yacht Racing Assoela.oh'
announces tonight that the regatta cohIhIttee
of the association will the steam yacht May
in the manaeement of the 90-footer races Ine
May is owned by Commodore Alexander van hens-
selaer of the Corinthian Yacht Club OF Phliadei-
phia The members of the regatta committee had
a meeting at the Casino to-day and decloeo thit
to-morrow's course should be triangular
The mother of Mrs. Herman B. Duryea Is serious
ly i'll in Boston. and Mr. Duryea has gone 10 tnfi'
city He is not expected TO return, ana IL ne Is
not able to perform his duties chairman OF the
race committee A Cass Garfield. of the New-YorK
Yacht Club. will take his place In to-morrows
race and the contests to follow on July 10 and L.
This committee is desrous that the yachts in to-
morrows race sail nearly as possible In the
same water 1t has been CLEANED in a roundabout
way that the committee did not think that any In
formation of Importance would have been obtained
If the independence had won yesterday by going
off a long way by herself and in that region gain
ing chance slant or fuke. The wish of the COM
mittee is to have the contests provide a fair and
trustworthy estimate of the relative values of the
racers. While, therefore. a win gained through
exclusive bit of luck apart from the other boats
may win a cup. it will not do anything TO improve
the general credit of the craft.
w. Butler Duncan, jr.. took trip over to the
Constitution to-day with his children. just ITO see
that everything was all right. On being asked
what thought of yesterdays he replied that
he thought it placed the Independence out of being
ndidate for first honors in the defence of the
cup.
On board the Independence totally different SEN
tin ent prevailed and il astonishing find her
people contented and cheerful after yesterdays
defeat. Captain Hank Half took all the blame
OF the defeat himself. He said: Il should not
have gone where L did. L took that long first
starboard tack away off from the other boats and
got out of the wind and the sailing. 1t was my
fauit.'
Mr.. Lawson went out to his steam yacht the
Dreamer and declined to say a word about yester-
days contest. The officers and crew of the Inde-
pendence do not consider that il was the boat that
was fault, and they all say that the boat never
did so badly. 1t was further explained that the
craft had yet been in conditions so badly
suited to her. The type never does so badly
in trying TO to wndward in heavy, sloppy
and with only light airs to drive her. An
officer said that since the boat was skinned for
racing there less upper weight in her. and that
it impossible. with all the crew to lee
ward TO give the fiat bottomed vessel such a list
would help to keep the sails quiet to do their
work in troublesome water. This was evident while
the in progress and it is believed on board
boat that with smart breeze TO call out the
Should be said however. that this opinion is not
held by the yachtsmen generally who are are now tSs
Independence has wind enough TO get move on
The suggestion that the independence made to
several outsiders was that she was carrying around
much weight in her to travel in the company of
strength with minimum of weight has been per
haps more fully and carefully studied out So far
as shape goes her raceabout model is undoubtedly
under favorable conditions. but she certainly
showed the movement of a heavily freighted vessel
in yesterdays racing. The rigger, Biltman,
on board yesterday shifting the straps on the big
topsail yard and club. 70 bring better ten
sions the sail He also gave the standing rig
glng a general overAauling Captain Charles Barr
and officer. Lem Miller. OF the Columbia.
paid visit Captain HaT the Independence
to-day. and Royal Phelps Carroll the owner OF the
yawl Navahoe also spent hour the vessel.
in which time they shown all over the yacht.
Constitution hole
maker while the return trip yesterday. This rent
spread about five feet. and mended yesterday.
This explains the changing OF spinnakers tho
home run. which, IN the distance, not under
stood
Considerable ballast taken out Of the Inde-
pendence to-day, also furniture ap
parently TO make her a little tender for the
breeze in o-morrow's race.