New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-18
YACHTING.
THE AMERICA AND SOME OTHER NOTED
BOATS

YACHTING: HISTORICAL skETCHI1s or THE .E
Philadelphia: J. B. Lippncott Company
An Introductory chapter to this book begins
with the yachting fashions of the Greeks and
Romans and Venetians and takes the narrative
OF the development Of the sport down to the at
tempts OF Llodys. in the seventies TO rearrange
the rules for racing and rating There follows =
description of the origins and achievements of
over dozen English and Irish clubs. with a
chapter clubs in Germany, where the sport
received impetus in the Emperor's purchase of
the English challenger Thistle. which became
his first Meteor another on French yachting,
and. in its relations TO the Americas Cup, an ac-
count If the New York Yacht Club.
The description of the sail of the America to
England TO challenge all English yachts is
drawn mainly from the refreshing journal of
James r. Steers, the brother of the designer.
Mr. abe draws attention to the fact, often in
sisted upon, that the cup finally offered by the
Royal Yacht Squadron was not Queens Cup
for which no yachtsman not a member Of the
Royal Yacht Squadron would have been eligible
10 compete The sail over began June 81
1881. and made in the quick time of twenty
days and five hours with four DAYS of calm in
Cluded. The schooner lived up to the gait in the
famous around the Isle Of Wight. AS she
came off Cowes the homestretch. with the
hail from innumerable vessels on every side was
us the America first?' Yes" came the reply.
whats second" Nothing" was the answer.
The diary kept by Mr. Steers of the sail across
the Atlantic shows that the same Ia hit Of pass
ing other vessels was noted in the America be-
fore she left these shores. on the in mid
ocean such entries as these adorn the journal:
Had for dinner TODAY beautiful piece of
beef and green peas; rice pudding for dessert.
Everything set. and the way she passed every
vessel We enough To surprise every
body hoard" And another day they had
good winds. roast turkey. and brandy and
wafer top of with" Three days later the
darist in i'll humor Thick. foggy. with
rsin," the entry reads Il don't think il ever
Vained harder since Noah hoated his ark Had
to-day fried ham and eggs. boiled corn beef.
smashed potatoes with rice pudding for dessert.
Should 7 live TO get home this will be my last
trip Finally the liquor gave out and TO
relieve the distress of of the company they
broke into the cases with which John q. Stevens,
then commodore of the New York Yacht Club
and part owner Of the boat. had stocked the
bold. The commodore did not cross the YES
sci hut sailed in the famous race Mr.. Steers
has this 10 say of ham when he finally came
aboard.
] am very much dissatisfied with olde Stevens
he came on board, but steal about two bot
ties day. Al night he sits down on the cabin
floor and counts the bottles all over. When he
finds any missing he calls the steward and says.
Where the -- does my liquor go2' Il don't
know sir says the steward: THE Messrs Steers
takes some when they want any He has not
said anything TO either Of Yet. and if he
does he viii get beans" or something worse.
The America won several races after her sue
cess i'm lifting the Cup under the name OF
Camilla. As the Memphis she served in the
Confederate Navy i'm 1861. and was scuttled and
sunk i'm 81. Johns River. Florida. 10 escape
capture by the frigate Wabash. The govern
meut raised her after the war for use prac-
tice ship. and IN 1870 fitted her out as a de-
fender against the Cambria. which had chal-
lenged for the Cup Another defender was
selected. however. and General Butler bought
The Old yacht, which now lies moored al East
Boston. the property Of his nephew. This book
should prove a convenient compilation Of Eng
sh Yachting records. II is illustrated with
photographs Of about forty racing yachts