The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-08
PRAISES THE BOATS THAT
CAN CRUISE AND RACE
New York Yacht Owners Interesting Lecture
on What Constitutes an
Ideal Craft

hollow and built up. I think she pos
sessed the only thoroughly successful
hollow wooden boom that has been
built over 80 feet in length.
After America and her contemporar-
les Una and Julia, the American model
changed very decidedly. These boats
were deep, substantial vessels, with
fairly large displacement, fine ends and
perfect balance. Their successors were
boats of moderate displacement, great
BEAM faint bilge and large sail.
In general, we can say that in New
York yachting was confined to the
Lower Bay and Long Island Sound. Al
the same time large yachts were built
of the keel type, which boats, however,
with the exception of the Sappho, pos
sessed no particular characteristics or
merit. While they went to sea occa-
sionally, they became distinguished
mainly by the courage and pluck or
their owners and sailing masters.
one of the most notable improve
ments in yacht designing was develop
ed in Kitten which was production or
John Harvey, of Wyvenhoe, England
She was a boat with a very shallow
forefoot straight keel, from the stem
to the forefoot, and a very marked
rake to her sternpost-about 90 de-
erees She was the first boat to repre-
sent the ballast principle combined
with small surface.
Her successor, on a large scale, was
Jullanar. This boat was refinement
of Kitten in that she had more eX-
IRENE cutaway to the forefoot, YER
teal sternpost placed fully 20 per cent
from the after end of the LOAD water
line.
balanced.
was fast in light winds, and is today a
wonderful performer in rough water
at sea.
These two boats. Kitten and Julian
ar. were the forerunners of the mod
ern short keel, which has been carried
TO such an extreme at the present time
the length of the keel now being deter
mined by the length which is necessary
for the ballast.
The first boats after Fannie, Column
bia. Magic. etc, worthy of mention are
the Ellsworth boats. Comet. probably
while not necessarily the best podl
Ellsworth turned out. is certainly the
most distinguished She represented
contrary 70 previous practice, boat
of larger displacement than usual
small surface and finer ends Whlie as
a model she was remarkable pod''
she had the assistance oil Joe Els
worth. the brother of the designer, who
was probably the first man in America
TO make yacht racing 4 science. Com
bjned With unusual skill in boat hand
ling. Joe Ellsworth possessed great
knowledge of tides. winds. eddies and
currents. At times this knowledge
vas OF such value that Comet al
though not in race was known TO
sail around the entire feet. and be at
anchor with her sails slowed when the
first boat came in.
Following Comet was Fanita, Gray
ling Montauk Rand others. Grayllng
for many years was the queen OF the
fleet. Montauk had the distinction, IN
til two years ago. OF holding the rec
crd over the New York course
Among the smaller boats there WAS
very great rivalry. On the staten Isl
and shore the Seawanhaka Y & Wa
developing the cutter type-oolh tii7
English and American styles on the
Long Island shore they were develop
ing the Ellsworth boats
The Ellsworth productions represent
al boats of considerable displacement
and beam. but moderate draft me
boats on the staten Island shore-the
cutters-were generally OF mario"
beam and large displacement.
Proba bly, one of the best races ever
sailed in New York Bay was the race
between Valkyrie-a modified boat de-
signed by Cary Smith-and Oriva, an
English boat of moderate beam.
AT the end OF the race these boats
finished within a few seconds of eacn
other: at no time during the race We're
they separated more than few
lengths This race suggested that a
combination of beam and draft was
conducive to comfort. room and sea
going qualities. without being detri-
mental 20 speed.