Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-03


in the building Of Americas cup
defenders has been reached. Moth
u ing short of good sized fortune
will suffice 10 construct a cup con-
testant along the lines that have come
into vogue during the last decade ana
the time when II is necessary TO call a
halt seems to have arrived Various
statements that coming years VIII WIT
ness radical changes In international
cup racing have been made, ana II Is
very probable that Constitution ana
Shamrock II win be the last 80 Hooters
TO compete for the coveted trophy Tie
advantages OF matches between smaller
craft viii be readily seen. The sport
would thus be established on a more
sensible basis, and much healthier
tone would result
Contrary to popular belief, the hull OF
the modern cup defender does not CON
stltute the most expensive part OF the
boat. Snafs, sails and gear are the
features that now make the yachtsmen
dive deep into their pockets. The
CLOTHES that dress the lady supply
practically unlimited opportunities for
cash disbursement. and the cost OF
equipment relegates the structural ac-
count to the rear
The limit Of speed possibilities. too
has probably been reached True. Nat
Herreshoff has shown ability to build
year after year boats considerably fast
or than their predecessors; but, aside
from variations In hull and keel lines, a
vessels swiftness depends on the rela'
ton Of sail area to resistance, aud de-
slgners have attained point In the
shaving off Of weight that will permit Of
no further lndiscretIons While wooden
spars will never again take the place Of
the made up mast with boom and
gaff Of steel there Is sure to be "A re-
turn to more stability OF and thorough
ness in the forming OF these metal
spars. In the mishaps 10 Defender CO.
lumbla, Shamrock II and Constitution
the mast, however was In no way the
origin Of the trouble The fault lay
with either a whlsker. a weather
spreader or some part of the wire stand
mast stay. A stay Is form OF guy or
brace, and II is quite natural for a met
al mast TO buckle or double up when
Its support gives way placing increased
strain on the spar. Metal masts at
best are but huge putty blowers stood
on end, except that they are made Of
steel instead OF tin and are re-enforced
inside with braces and trusses.
Should the cup be won this year by
Shamrock IT, which Is very unlikely,
the chances are that America would
challenge with a 80 footer Just TO show
John Bull that II Is possible to beat him
at his own game. In the event OF the
Constitution winning It Is now fully
decided by those who ought to know
that the next challenge for the cup
whether from England. France or Ger
many, will be made In behalf OF u
footer The cup then Of certainty
would be in danger, for experts like
wall" Fife and George Watson ar,
probably without superlors in building
yachts OF small dimensions. Ameri
cans have. in fact, often been surprised
that the Britons did not throw dowI
the def for a moderate sized craft.
When Boston defended the cup will
the Puritan, Mayiiower and Volunteer
the cost was insignificant compared
with existing conditions. There wer'
many reasons for this, In the frs
place, Designer Edward Burgess did no
know the value OF his services, and hi
fees were most democratic In compari
son with the demands OF the HERE
SHOTS for designing a defender. But
then, Burgess simply drew the plans
while the Herreshoffs not only design
but build, turn out the rigging AM
make most OF the frocks that go L
adorn the queens Of the water
The cost OF Constitution, from kee
TO truck, is five times as much as Gen
eral Paine had TO spend in turning GU
the Mayfower. The general once state
that the Mayfiower involved an ex
pendIture of from $4,000 to $40 OOl
Those were the days Of wooden hulli
strongly braced, copper bolts and locus
treeneils. The expensive aluminium. To
bin bronze and nickel frames hay
made most OF the difference In cos
The replacing Of the wooden mast wit
the steel affair has also added to IN
expense. but the innovation ribs a vel
sci OF at least two tons In weight, an
that means much when yacht Ia we