The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-08

The following interesting lecture was
delivered by Mr.. William Gardner, of
the firm of Messrs. Gardner & Cox, ma
val architects, New York City, before
the Yachtsmens Club, Monday even
ing, December so:
In introducing to you the history or
the changes which have taken place
in racing yachts, it seems to me unnec-
essary to antedate the period of our
first racing of international reputation.
Our first boat of great Importance we
all know was America. Previous to the
construction of America our boats were
built on what is known as the Gods
head and mackerel-taiP' plan. The
forms of these boats were developed
from the forms of fishes, and up to that
time it had been considered that the
form best adapted for moving beneath
the surface of the water was naturally
best for movement on the surface.
America represented decided de-
parture from previous yacht designing
in this country, in that she had an eX-
tremely long bow and short run THIS
was an acknowledgment that surface
resistance was totally different from
the resistance under water. The IDEA
was not new, nor the application new.
Americas success was due to the fact
that in connection with the long DOW
there was a decidedly raking keel,
which brought the center of lateral re-
sistance well aft, combined with the
center of buoyancy, and at the
same time the center of anea
of sail was carried further aft TO cor
respond with the buoyancy and central
lateral plane This produced as
whole a remarkably successful boat.
Added TO the improvements in model
were to be found the fiat sails, which
were practically unknown at that t';l'e.
The success of America was not die
to any single novelty, but she was the
result of a combination of new ideas
and carefully thought out principles all
OF which were syumetrical and produc-
ed perfect combination.
At the time of the appearance OF
America a boat had been already bullt
in England which possessed very ad-
vanced ideas. This was Mosquito. she
sailed in the race against America but
owing to her grounding, the actual re
suits of her speed compared with
America We're not known. She was
considered, however, fully the equal Oh
America. Mosquito possessed many o.
the new features of America, but hef
sails We're not so good, and her lore
foot was unquestionably too deep
One of the most interesting boats
produced at about that period was ON
cahi. This vessel had a full biige, an
extremely hollow cardboard and a broad
keel The object was to carry the bal
last very low, which they certainly sue
ceeded in doing Owing to her lateral
ri ;Sv1Io
failed to score brilliant success. How
ever, she represented the beginning OF
the modern ballast fin. She was one oil
the products of the Stevens. and was
an example. showing the advanced ideas
the Stevens possessed at that time
Maria was another product of the
Stevens, and possessed many remark
able features. She was altered SeNeraI
times, and while the various models OF
Maria are still in existence, it is at TINS
day very difficult to tell which is the
original model and which the later SUP
stituted models which were used IN al
teration. However, there is among the
several models one which deserves at
tention and comment This boat mas
waterline of about 10 feet, with con-
vex waterline and convex bow-Very
similar to Shamrock IL
The fore end, however, was at least
> feet inches wide at the forward emu
on deck. but was circular in form. IN
stead of square, as shown on sham
rock II.
In reaching Maria was certainly
wonderful vessel. In going ITO wind
ward she was not so successful-due
probably to her hollow bow. Her sans
were the first ever made, so far as we
know. with the seams running in
horizontal direction. and her spars, SO
far as we know, were the first hollow
spars ever built. Her mast was hoi-
low and was bored. Her boom was