The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-08-18
MANLESS YACHT RACES.
Novel and Amusing Sport To Be on the
 Aquatic Programme at the James,


 Aquatic Programme at the James,
 town Exposition.
 It is probable that the ''manless yacht will attract a great deal of at- tention and give pleasure to thousands at the Jamestown exposition next year. Chief R. H. Sexton of the de- partment of congresses and special events is in correspondence with per- sons interested in the racing of little yachts, built on the models of the regular to carry a crew and are sailed without anybody abroad. This novel sport is quite popular on English waterways and also at points in New England. The Scotch people like wise indulge in it.
 There is in Scotland an association for miniature yacht racing which has developed the sport to high degree of merit Little yachts, not more than siv feet long, exactly conforming to the modelh of the famous craft that have engaged in the international cup races for many years past, are entered in the contests. Each yachtman handles his craft just as cock-fighting enthusiasts handle their chickens. The yacht, like the rooster, is first put into prime condition and then just turned loose to fight for itself. With sails trimmed and all things shipshape, each tiny craft sails with the breeze while the admiring admirals and com stand on shore and anxiously watch the progress of the race.
 In the big yacht race the manage ment of the yacht by the men on board has much to do with success or failure, but in the case of the minia- ture yachts all seannanshlp Is mat ter antedating the races, for when the starting gun Is fired and the boats are off and away each boat must attend to its own sailing.
 Usually the races are sailed on a course, but race on a triangular course is not impossible, even for the manless yacht Tn this event man is stationed at each turn ing point, to trim the sails for tack ing. The triangular race, of course, is much more exciting than the and also much more Sometimes the little yachts butt into each other, now and then one capslzes and again one of them will take a sudden shoot and get far out of the course.
 To sail one of these yachts success fully requires a high quality of sea- on the part of the navigator, and therein lies the interest of such a contest to the scientific person. While to the eye of the layman, view ing the race from shore, there may appear to be good deal of haphazard about the affair, there is in fact a con- siderable amount of science, shifting breezes and course cannot be taken into account, and the sudden lit- tie squalls which sometimes occur play hahvoc with a race; but on the whole these miniatures yachts races are quite interesting even to the non-tech- nical observer and they alway furnish as well as thrill.
 It is the hope of the Jamestown ex- position official that a large fleet of manless yachts may be assembled upon the exposition waters, comprising models of noted American racing yachts and European craft as well. Leaving aside the racing these little yachts will be interesting to students of yachts architecture and to the great body of exposition visitors. particular ly those from inland places, who have had no previous opportunity to inspect a yacht built upon proper lines.
 The Jamestown expositown will be the scene of the greatest series of marine maneuvers even witnessed in the world. There will be races be- tween steam and sailing yachts, be- tween the new motor boats and other types of water craft, and in the event of success in securing the manless yacht flotilla these novel contests will add to the general intest.