Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-03
SHE IS SPEEDY.
A Short Spin. Saturday. Shows that She Is
Better Than Columbia.


spin. late this afternoon, the Constitu
ton was given pretty good test in
reaching and beating to windward with
Capt Rhodes at the wheel and Capt.
Nat Herreshoff beside him to scan the
spars, sails and rigging as they under
went Il turning up. One thing deter
mined by the trial was that the short
oning of the backstay ends was an adj
vantage. The mainmast carried a club
topsail fer the first time since her
launching.
Mr.. Duncan went to New York,
THU sday. and has not returned, so the
designer and Capt. Rhodes had things
their own way. putting the boat to as
severe n test of the tophamper as she
has had as yet.
The wind blew from north northeast
at the rate of eight miles an hour. At
$40. the anchor being off short, the
sails filled to port with the sheets close
hauled. and the Constitution shot
ahead a length on the starboard tack
coming Immediately about on the op-
posite tack and swinging around on
her heel until her head was south Of
the channel leading to Bristol Ferry.
The weather was hazy throughout the
II in but this was of little moment since
there was good breeze.
With the wind off her fore quarter
the boat footed along slowly at first
with main sheet fiat and head sheets
held to windward until half the dis
lance to Hog island had been reached,
when she began to get at a lively pace.
although having to encounter a flood
tide against her bow.
Capt. Rhodes stood at the wheel and
ably handled his charge. holding her
within less than four points of the
wind. The sails filled to the limit and
not more. The Constitution turned the
southeast point of Hog Island. two
miles from her anchorage in the har-
bor, in about IA minutes time. The
head tide was stronger as she got into
the water Of the ferryway.
The sheets were not eased away af-
ter the mainsail was gibed over to port
at the turn of the ferryway. The boat
footed along, setting the small club
topsail. This is the first of the kind
seen on the Herreshoff cup defender
1t is smaller than the ordinary club
topsail. but larger than a working top
sail.
With close trimmed sheets she reach
ed down to Sandy Point light. and then
the wind increased to nearly 10 miles
an hour. The sheets were not started
on the trip to leeward. in order to test
the top hamper thoroughly The sails
set very neatly. and the same may be
said Of everything on the boat The
New York Yacht Club pennant was
waved from staff.
1t is estimated that the boat made
nine miles an hour. reaching past San
DIV Point light. When within a mile of
the east end Of Dyer's island she wore
short around at 4.20 and as her head
began to point eastward the main
boom was jibcd to starboard and she
started out for the beat home.
Quickly she lay over to the increas-
ed breeze. rolling UP a good part of her
bronze underbody and lifting out for
ward instead of settling. as lid the
Columbia. 1t was a lively scene as she
went along. the captain at the wheel
and the crew lying on deck. There was
smother of foam under the bow but
not much.
From Sandy Point light she had a
long leg on the port tack up the bay
nearly as far rs the Mussel Fed light.
The wind hauled a tri1e to the north.
healing her off and compelling Capt.
Rhodes to tack half a dozen times.
She was back at her anchorage. at $40.
The work on the steel spars is fast
taking shape at the Hcrreshoff shops.
The mainmast is already plated. while
several pieces of steel plate are being
rolled. some in cmi-circular FORM The
now hollow cIubtopsail just put on
board the Constitution is II inches in
diameter at the center. tapering out
well to both ends.
The 10-footer Mineola. owned by Vice
Commodore August Belmont..is at the
Hcrreshoff shops being orestEauIcd.