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

Chico was successful in reaching il
strong breezes. Pixey was nearly al
ways successful going to windward
and was an easy winner in ligh
| wind. This was the first real conteS
| between the keel boat of extreme type
| and the ballast fin.
| Succeeding these two boats we FIND
Vencedor and Syce. Vencedor was &
ballast fin, similar to Ell Chico; Syct
was supposed improvement on Pix
ey. Syce demonstrated as regards the
two boats, that the keel boat of heI
type was very much superior to the
ballast fin. A majority of the most
modern boats-the successful cup de-
! tenders included-have all been boats
of that type. In fact. when the rules
were changed in England, and it was
found advisable to increase the area OF
the midship section, the garboards of
some of the ballast fins were filed, and,
| strange to say, Independent of the re-
| duction in their measurement, the
speed of the boats was increased, due
to filling the garboards.
The Boston knockabouts are proba-
bly, the best developed boats in existence
I today They have been built under
| specified conditions, and are the result
| of gradual improving development
| by NUMBER Oh designers oil IOllON lIIS
| up the same conditions.
| These boats are of the keel type-the
ballast fin not having been success
| full.
| The present racing boats are distin-
| guished by full waterlines, easy gar
| boards, very considerable displace-
ment and extremely short keels. In
| fact, as stated before, the length of the
keel is probably determined by the
| amount, location and form of the lead.
1 doubt if the keels will ever be made
| shorter than they are today
| Among the present racing boats We find
| a very great variety of models at and
above the waterline. Some are very good
sea boats and some are not. The sea-
/ going qualities seem to be a matter al
| most entirely of Individual design, both
| inn lines and in construction.
| The general feeling is that the present
| type. of boat is dangerous, and If the
| opinions of the owners are to be fol-
| lowed, any one who is called upon to
| judge would certainly have very confus-
| eds ideas. At any rate, the opinion
among many is that it has been consider
! ed advisable to change the rules in such
way as to discontinue the present type.
Several boats have been built-both of
! large and medium size-that have shown
such weakness in their racing that they
have been considered dangerous.
TO those who are familiar with the
principles of naval architecture and the
proper construction of boats, it seems
unfair to condemn type on the results
Of the performances of these boats; for
no. matter what bad qualities they may
possess in form, they certainly were not
constructed in accordance with the prin-
ciples of modern naval architecture and
until boat that has been constructed
properly has failed, L do not consider
that the type should be condemned.
We have among us few boats that
have been wonderfully successful in rae
ing in England. They have all crossed
the Atlantic on their own bottoms-some
without a hitch of any kind. A few
years ago these vessels would have been
considered extreme racing machines, and
those who have had the good fortune to
be on board of them in bad weather, and
who are familiar with the boats of the
older types, can thoroughly appreciate
how much superior they are for any
purpose, as compared with the older
boats.
These boats represent modern ideas as
regards the convex bow, the long but
rounded stern, and the moderate surface
They seem 20 be built to steer with any
sail you put on them, and they have
been known to handle well with staysaiI
jib and jib topsail, and no other sails
set. Ihis Is certainly a guarantee that .
they viii lay to in bad weather at sea-
In this country many condemned the
convex bow This judgment has been I
reached by passing on a few badly de- ,
signed boats; but il is my opinion that :
the most perfect sea- boat in existence
today IS the boat that represents nearly !
at OF the qualities of the modern racer :
not carried to an extreme. and those who s
ire familiar with the performance of De- +
ender in a beat to windward at sea, in i
his country, or the performance of Me- !
he in, d.
and, l feel viii verify my statement. =
Lhey are magnificent boats, under these
n any other conditions; they are dry,
bile and are totally free from the pound
ng qualities that mar other boats. | Z
Several boats have been designed late 3
v in England of the older type, possess -
ing the old clipper bow, but from re-
orts have received none of these boats
ompare in sea-going qualities, speed or y
andiness with Meteor. And from the
eports of yachtsmen, whose opinions are :
Torthy of consideration, I am told they =
re years behind the times. 8
1t is true that the fun bow, under GER q
ain conditions, is not good: but when q
arefully and thoughtfully designed you
ill obtain a steadier. faster and drier q
oat than can possibly be obtained by G
eturn to the clipper bow of ancient his q
Dry. q
CRUISING YACHTS G
The general opinion has been that :
oat five or six years DID, or more is a e
God cruising yacht: while a boat of the =
resent day whatever the day may be) q
lay be a good rater. but IS sure to be a q
cor cruising boat q
Mr.. Smither's definition of the cruising g
oat is: A boat that is not fast enough ! q
win races. 81
In this country we have built a good 3,
any famous cruising boats, and in their "a
4y they certainly were very successful. ! =
mons them are Intrepid, Irouuofs and =
ampa, all of which have covered thou =
,nds of miles of open water =
In England probably the most modern s.