New-York tribune., 1920-07-13


while she was being towed through
caused the managers of the America
night to send her once more to dryd
in the first international race on Th
When the Herreshoff cup yacht left
the yards Of the Morse Drydock and
Repair Company in Brooklyn on Satur-
: day it -as believed that she was in
perfect trim to meet the British chal-
lenger. She was towed to Sandy Hook
hy her tender, the steamer Montauk,
ard anchored in the sheltered horse
shoe.
No attempt was made to give her a
zeal workout under sail on Sunday, but
when her great wings were raised yes
terday and she heeIed over under the
wind pressure it was discovered that
from stem to stern below the water
line her metal hull was coated with a
thick covering of, oil and dirt that
had the consistency of gelatine.
Hull Draped With Canvas
The waters about the month of the
Morse drydock were seen to have a
varicolored surface of oil when the
defender was launched, and to avoid
picking this up q huge canvas tarpaulin
was draped about her hull. After she
was taken in tow and was within a
mile of Bell Buoy No. 12, off Robins
Reef, the waters appeared to clear on
the surface anc it was decided to re-
move the canvas to facilitate the tow
ing.
Whether the white sloop collected the
oil coating before or after the canvas
-oA yc l-x
investigation yesterday of surface con-
dtions in the Lower Bay and in the
vicinity Of the Hook convinced the
Resoiute's managers that the waters
there carried g thick layer of oil.
The oil, while not so apparent to the
eye, was found to be almost as thick
as it was in the upper reaches of the
harbor, where many oil burners were
anchored. The investigation on the
part Of the Resolute's men developed
the fact that bathing at Atlantic High
lands and many Of the Jersey coast re-
sorts as far south as Ocean Grove has
been suspended at various times within
the last two weeks on account of the
oil-covered waters.
Harbor patrol men who have been
assigned to the duty of policing the
course over which the cup races will
be sailed declared last night that it
would be almost impossible for either
yacht to go to the mark on Thursday
win clean hull. They said that oil
burning steamers are entering the port
Of New York every day and that it is
their custom to clear their engines and
lead pipes by allowing the liquid fuel
to flow overheard. AS oil burners are
ships the waters of the lower bay are
almost constantly coated with grease.
Goes to Staten Island To-day
The Resolute's managers found that
it was impossible to remove the layer
Of dirt and oil without drydocking the
boat and a telegram was sent to the
Staten Island Shipbuilding Company
asking whether berth was available
there Immediately A favorable reply
was received and the defender will be
taken TO the Staten Island plant day
in tow Of her tender.
Yachting men familiar with condi-
tions in the lower bay say that the
treatment TO be received by the Reso-
lute vii probably have to be repeated
with the Shamrock, as she is sure to
gather q layer of oil on her hull before
Thursday morning when she starts for
the line.
When Sir Thomas Upton laid his lat
New York Yacht Club the officials of
that organization urged that the inter
national contests be held over the
Brenton's Reef course, off Newport
Z. |. Considerable correspondence was
carried on between the Royal Ulster
Yacht Club and the New York club
about this question, but the challengers
held out for Sandy Hook and finally
carried their point. This was undoubt-
edly because atmospheric conditions off
the Hook were best known to the Brit
ishers and fhe Shamrock " was de-
signed TO make the best of them.
The fact is that if the fourth Sham
rock could not win over the famous
Newport course there is small chance
gaas she could achieve victory at Sandy
noos twenty years have worked vast
snanges IN maritime and other condi-
uons IN this vicinity, and the oily ex-
perience Of the Resolute is only an in
alcatlon that the New York Yacht Club
o1mcials were right when they decided
sAat tne historic cup course was no
'01ger suited for the racing Of yachts
.ne shamrock was put overheard
eaaIiy Yesterday afternoon at the Morse
SA'pyard with the measurements of her
Spsrs ana sall area still undete rmined
ms understood that Professor Harold
Webb, official measurer of the New
iork Yacht Club, will take these fig
Sfes to-day al the Upton anchorage in
Sandy Hook Bay.
me challenger. brilliant in a new
osas o. clover green, was slipped out
Q, the drydock shortly before 2 O'Clock
wnAe throng of spectators and ship
w'lgnts cheered her on her way. She
wore wore much larger canvas "apron"
san was used on the Resolute, the
submerged ends of it giving protection
lr0W the oil auan u ho,- lorne- I..ol