New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-14
May Discard
Topsail Rig
For Marconii
Carolina's Experiment Like
ly TO Lead to Change
in Racing Sail Plan

1y j an La WI SllCS
VIII the New York Yacht Clubs fifty
footers, regarded by many yachtsme r
as the greatest class ever turned out
by Herreshoff, discard their present
gaff and topsail rig in favor of the
faster and simpler Marconi?
This question is being asked up anc
down the Sound and wherever yacht
ing sharps gather. Within the New
York Yacht Club it is one of the prob
lens of the hour and it has even beer
limited that considerable feeling is
animating the controversy.
The Marconi question was projected
or the yachting world at Newport one
week ago, when Commodore George
Nichols, on the eve of the classic
contests for the Kings and Astor cups
on Brenton's Reef Lightship, took his
titty-foot Carolina over to the Here
shof yards at Bristol and had hel
tltted with new mast, 1913 feet in
height from deck to truck, and one OF
those odd looking leg O. mutton main
sails which are known to sailormer
as the Marconi or Bermudian rig.
Prior to this radical change in heI
aspect Carolina had had her troubles
IN competition with the rest of the
iltty-foot class. She sailed to many
victories early in the season, but n
terry she had absorbed considerabl,
punishment at the hands of Istalena
spartan. Grayling and Acushla, anc
by the time the date for the New York
lacht Club cruise rolled around hel
been somewhat dimmed Her black
hulled sister ship, the Grayling, came
to be regarded as the feetest OF tn;
class.
Change Is Beneficial
Before Carolina was decked out ir
her Marconi regalia the ffties were
considered the most evenly balanced
class of sloops that had ever raced
anywhere in the world. They were SC
evenly matched, boat for boat, thai
races between them we're decided or
skill, luck and the ability of one skip
per to outguess the other as to weather
conditions.
This balance was destroyed in 2
measure when Cardinals rig was
changed She became another boat, sc
to speak, and was practically removed
from her class. The first thing she
did under the Marconi method of pro
pulslon was TO win the Aston Cup, de.
feating the rest of the fifties in such
decisive fashion that there was nc
question whatever as to her genera
superiority under the new rig. She
completely outclassed them in wind
ward work and proved that she was
probably trife faster in reach or 6
run.
If the drubbing they received in the
Astor Cup had any disconcerting effect
on the owners of the other fifty-foot
ers they refrained from saying any
thing about it outside of their own re.
stricted circle, but it was looked upor
as rather significant fact that wher
the race for the cup offered by Hi.
Majesty King George V was sailed OF
the following day the only ffty-footel
that went out to compete against ths
Carolina was J. p. Mofgan's Grayling
N command Of the comm odore's young
est son, Harry S. Morgan
Acushla, the property of L. Corridor
Hammersley; George NJ Pynchon's fas
lsta lena, Harry B. Plants Spartan ant
L. F. Crofoot's Virginia remained a
their moorings in Brenton's Cove. Those
owners who could be seen at the time
said that this was because of the ex
tremely unfavorable weather.
Also Wins Kings Trophy
Whatever the cause. it is fact that
Carolina and her leg O. mutton sal
had the field practically to herself and
won about rs she pleased. She tool
the Kings trophy with the same ease
that she had captured the Aston Cur
on the preceding day
The next day the rest of the ffties
went out and raced in the regatta OF
the Newport Yacht Racing Association
Carolina being the one to remain a,
anchor on this occasion. She was sub
sequently towed to Bristol, where her
cid gaff and topsail rig were replaced
but at the same time it was announced
that she would not appear in competi-
ton with her class again this summer
although it is the intention of Rear
Commodore Nichols to keep the boat
in commission. This has caused some
surprise n yachting circles, as Caro-
lima seemed to have an excellent chance
of winning the seasons CHAMPIONSHIP Z
among the ffties
Those who are familiar with the sit
uation which developed at Newport are
inclined to believe that the entire class
will be Acknowledged next year al
business is good" The cost of chang
ing rig is said to be in excess of $4,000
1t seems certain that if one or two
Of the iiftyfooters adopts the Marconi
and the others do not, the fine balance
and keen competition between these
sloops Will be destroyed