The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-05-06
THE NEW YACHTS
THE CONSTITUTION AND CROWNIN-
 SHIELDS INDEPENDENCE.
The Former an Improved Columbia Nothing Cared About Her Lasting Qualities-E Everything Sacrificed for speed-How She Diners from the Last Cup Dcfendor-Boston Boat should bs Fast in Smooth Water.

Fast in Smooth Water.
 Bristol, R. l., May 5.--In spite of the precautions taken by the Herreshoff company to keep dark the secrets of the design of the Constitution which Is to be launched tomorrow. through various sources. all the essential points of the cup defender are known. Against force of skilled mechanics, all sworn to secrecy, searched fore and aft daily to guard against the carrying of the tiniest camera known to science in the inmost recesses of their garments and pledged by the code of honor to reveal nothing, the news gathererers have had a hard time of it.
 There is no doubt that MT. Herre- shoff has good deal yet concealed up his sleeve. It Is his object to advance with deliberation, as the whole story of his marvellous craft shows most conclu- sively to the intelligent observer. Wig liant was succeeded by Defender, De- fender by Columbia, and each was a trifle better than the prototype and each one by all odds far superior to the Val- kyrie l. and ii. and the Shamrock. Nat Herreshoff is wizard at yacht design- ing. His methods are mathetmatically progressive. He tantalizes his oppo- nent. He built that amazing epoch making forty -six-footer Gloriana for E D. Morgan, the boat that won every race she sailed in during her first sea- i, Inv the "QSn another wonder, just little faster than Gloriana. After this his cup defenders were produced.
 The Constitution Is by no means new experiment. She is an improved Columbia. A couple of feet more beam, a little more length, both on the water line and the overhangs, a judicious fin- ing away fore and aft, a larger sail plan, perhaps little more lead-these are the clements which, in the natural course of Herreshoff events, should make her the conqueror of Columbia. The boat is a most artful modification of a. successful model with view to further improvement
 Herreshoff cares nothing for the last ing qualities of the vessel he turns out. 'Ine DeI6HuSE, JuSI JaliilhAOA eo5 with her aluminium topside' plates clap ped close to the bronze plates Of the underbody, without any care to prevent oxidation by galvanic action has met her fate. To-day a. Newark, N. J., iunkman owns her. But Defender did exactly what was wanted of her, and nowadays there is no sentiment about a yacht. no matter how illustrious her achievements.
 Tn Justice to Mir. Herreshoff it should be said that the hulls of his cup ,defend- CTS. have always held their own. Masts and gaffs have frequently been shat tered. But in the supreme test hull, spars. rigging and sails have survived storm, stress and strain, and have in every way demonstrated the astounding talent of Nat Herreshoff. A lot of rubbish has been written about John B. Herreshoff, the blind man, being the designer of the cup defenders. A little reflection will throw doubt on this. The subtle touch of the blind, however, ex- ouisite in it's skilful development, could never produce the wondrous form of racing ninety footer. But the senti- ment appealed to the thoughtless mass es and the belief may be said to be al- most general.
 Broadly speaking, the Constitution, being d more powerful craft, should beat Columbia just about as much as Columbia beat Defender. A solid east ing of about ninety tons of lead constl- tutes her keel, or fin, to which is bolted her canoe-like superstructure of bronze plating and steel. framework spidery in construction as it may, seem at the first