Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-09-03
CAPT. NIBlAGK 1uLS
OF EXPERIENCES
With BIG YACHTS

There is at present hero In Homo.
lulu a gentleman who took an active
part in the last America cup contest as
one OF the principal officials.
Captain \. r. Niblack OF the Naval !
station during the last cup races com.
manded the guide.boat which plays an
important part in these races. He Is a
member of the New FORK Yacht Grub.
The guide boat. as well as the buoy.
boat, is always in charge OF Naval Off
GERS who hold themselves responsible
for the accuracy OF the length OF the
course. and its compass direction.
Captain Niblack's description Of the
manner in which these races are run
Is especially interesting at this time.
coming as 1t does from such an authori.
tLtive source.
The course for each race depends on
the direction OF the wind. Just before
the race starts, the buoy.boat, which,
| like the guide.boat, is n powerful ocean
going tug, starts down the course. 1t
Is her function to fix the buoys denOt.
ing the end of each leg. These are in
| fated rubber shapes furnished with
poles carrying octagonal mirrors, the
reflection of which can easily be seen
on the water.
While the yachts are maneuvering
for a start, the guide boat starts off
In the track OF the buoy boat, II Is
her function to keep on the true course
SC that the yachts, even when they are
beating, can always readily know
where the true course lies.
This boat steams along inst a mile
OF so ahead Of the yachts On nearing
the end OF the leg, which BY this time
has been marked by buoy eft by the
buoy boat, the guide boat crosses over
on the next leg and guides the yachts
lover this in the same manner until the
whole course has been covered.
1t is an interesting fact M the press
boats are furnished with Maroon!
wireless telegraph apparatus by
which constant communication can be
kept with the shore. by this means tue
New York newspapers are able TO keen
constantly in touch with the race wish.
IL. Ave minutes.
Captain Niblack speaks Of the pres
ent body OF water by Sandy Hook as
= furnishing a most excellent course.
which is as fair to both yachts rs IL
: can possibly he. II Is so extensive a
sheet of water that small, iluky gusts
+ of wind are practically avoided. There
is thus but very little call for pilotags
or knowledge Of local waters, so that
the English visitor stands as fair a
chance of victory as the American de-
fender.
Should the English boat ever win the
= cup and the scene of the races conSas
quently be shifted to English waters,
= these conditions would be changed. The
= English sheets of water are invariably
on account of their smaller limits, sub
D ject to fluky winds coming from the
valleys on the coasts. There are also
currents to be figured with, tho almost
total absence of which at Sandy Hook
is another advantage Of the latter
!. place.
4 These conditions make succe5s,",
!. racing in English waters to a great en-
|. tent the subject of pilot knowledge and
t q thorough acquaintance with currents,
a etc. For this reason Americas chances
:. for winning out would be considerably
II less in English waters, even with q
Il faster boat, than they are under the
J. present conditions,
A |