The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-04
Swimming, Boating and Other Sports.
Many of Them to Take the
Visitors Time Up Pleasantly

gone over carefully, every flashing must
be made fast. The strain on mast and
rigging IL terrific. and the crews take no
chances, for they know that the sight
est weakness will spell disaster.
At last the boats begin to come out
into the harbor to be tried before the
race. What surprises the American visitor
when first he sees them is the immense
amount of canvas they carry. They are
only fourteen feet one inch over all. hut
the mast is twice as long as the boat. the
bowsprit longer, and there is nearly as
much sail on the boom as on the mast,
and when the spinnaker is set another
great cloud Of canvas is added. No limit
is put on the sailspread. because the
dingi.s are handicapped only on their
measured tonnage The racers range
alongsid. the le.ward stake boat in the
order OF their measurements. and in a
short time are sent away. Then begins
the fight for supremacy. There is little
difference in the boats themselves. and
victory usually depends .i'u. the rela-
tive skill OF the crews.
Each boat carries four men and a boy
all amateur sailors. The lattsr's work
is to bail. for the boats are not decked.
and frequently sail with their runwales
under water. The chief member of the
crew Is the Conner. who sits opposite
the mast. tends the jibsheets. and watches
every move of his ntagonists. Next to
him IL the man VINO ntllhltS tilt
ballast. then the one who holds the main
sheets and finally the hclmsman. The
boy sits in the bottom and balls contin-
ually but IL the wind soft-ns and II IS
necessary to tighten the boat he jumps
overheard. trusting TO some friendly
spectator to pick HIM up
Bermuda wind Is tricky, hence the
conner watches every ripple that ind!-
Gates a change in its strength. Sometimes
heavy pun comes and the four men
stick their bare toes in the cleats and
lean so far out over the windw1rd side
that their backs trail in the water. The
man with the ballast puts a ffty pound
piece OF lead on his chest and another on
his knee, but despite this the dngy takes
in water fast II is hard wet work Tor
the bailer.
Then the wind suddenly goes. but not
before the conner" divines the change
4 word from him tells the crew that the
boat is coming quickly 10 an even keel
The ballast man shifts his weight inboard
the others sir of the gunwale 10 ease
their craft and she shoots into the wind
as the helmsman luffs. They drive her
hard with each heavy gust OF wind. while
the mast buckles like a whip and every
rome Is taut. The game Is 10 "outwind
the other fellow and drive him on his
course. so that he will lose distance or
each tack.
Then they round the windward stake
boat and break out their sp!nnakers. II
Is ticklish work. for the boats roll under
the increased weight alof, The crew
huddles aft with the ballast TO prevent
them from buryng. Often the speed /:
80 great that hulls are not visible abov.
water and the men appear TO be sailing
between two curtains OF foam.
So they go. but sometimes the vino
proves too strong. The dingy fills with
water and slowly settles until mast ano
sails disappear beneath the tinted water
All dingies carry buoy and coil OF