New-York tribune., 1902-12-14
TO SAIL CUP DEFENDER.
LSELIN rs II hCHPSM4N
HIS Record at Ne7o- -RocheHe-Beoon
as q Bon.

The selection Of c Oliver Iselin to manage the
new Cup defender has given great satisfaction
10 the people of New Rochelle that vacbtsmen.s
home city. The defenders when sailed under
the Iselin colors have always been noored off
All View, the yachtsman's home in that city. at
the intervals Of being put through their trials
on the Sound and this has made the place in
each Of the international race years scene of
great activity and gayety-in fact the tempo
rary capital OF the yachting world
But the yachtsmen Of New Rochelle are not
more pleased with the selection OF the New
York Yacht Club than Mr. Iselin's old tutors
the oldtime boatmen OF his native town who
claim the honor OF having taught him the rudi-
rnents Of sailing. What Mr.. Iselin and his sail
ing master, Captain Charley" Barr. don't know
about handling boat. these men say, can never
be learned by any one. either in this country or
on the other side of the ocean. Some of the old
New-Rochelle boatsmen remember Mr. Iselin
when he was boy, and tell many interesting
tales about his early experiences when he used
10 sail the sloop Dare Devil which won all OF
the races on Long Island Sound and then swept
everything before her from the Jersey coast to
Newburg. It is a source of pride TO the old
crew of this yacht that their commander is for
the fourth time to sail the boat built to repre-
sent this country before the gaze of the world
tom" Weber who keeps a boat yard at New
Rochelle, was one Of Mr. Iselin's early instruct
He was with him when he sailed the Dare
Devil Mr.. Iselin. ollie" Iselin. as he was
then called, picked up his early knowledge OF
yachting about Weber's boat yard. which Is
down near the lower harbor at the entrance to
Davenport's Neck. where Adrian Iselin. the
banker, the yachtsman's father has his summer
home Thirty years ago the boat yard was a
great rendezvous for the boys of the neighb bor-
hood There We're then no yacht clubs in New
nd who
kept it at Weber's some other of the local
boat yards. Mr. Iselin first made his appear
at the yards when he a small boy.
He used TO watch the men building boats and
ask questions about the work.
It was not long before he became a daily
visitor at the boat yard and Mr.. Weber, seeing
how deeply interested he was took a special
interest in him, he has in many OF the young
men Of New-Rochelle since, and taught him
how TO rig boat and sail her After he had
mastered the elementary points. Mr.. Iselin con-
fded 10 Mr.. Weber that he was going to buy a
boat and, true TO his promise, he came around
a few days later with small cutter, which he
called the Gertrude. 1t the proudest day
OF his life when the young skipper sailed up to
the dock and made his boat fast. Then he
ganized a crew composed of the boys of the
neighborhood and challenged every boat in his
class in the lower harbor. When his crew won
a race Mr.. Iselin would give his captain SO or
$50. and tell him TO take the crew ashore and
have a good time. If he lost he would say
nothing and go home glum. In this manner the
youthful skipper drilled his crew to put forth
their best efforts and get every ounce Of speed
that was in the Gertrude out OF her when they
were in q race.
The Gertrude won about everything in her
class and then young IseIin sold her and bought
q catboat from man named Brinkerhon- Inc
TIad he Re Emma
tvventv-four feet the waterline- WEBER