The New York herald., 1922-12-31
Yachts for Ocean Race Differ in Sail Plan;
Duke of Leinster Intends to Handle the Ketch
BY ARTHUR +. ALDRIDGE.

ny ARTHUR r.. ALDRiDGE.
The Duke of Leinster and Commo-
dore William Washburn Nutttne, l.. r.
G. s., have practically decided on the
type of yachts they will sail across the
Western ocean next summer and al
ready they are getting bids from build
ers for the construction of the hulls.
They have agreed that the hulls shall
be Of the same design and have accepted
the plans drawn by William Atkin.
These call for boats 40 feet long over
all, 32 feet inches long on the water
line, III feet breadth and the displace-
ment is Is tons. The vessels have been
very carefully worked out and the Duke
and Commodore Nutting have made
many suggestions of details that their
experiences have taught them make for
seaworthiness, ease of handling under
all conditions and comfort.
Each yacht will spread $50 square feet
of canvas but the rigs will be different.
The Duke will have his boat rugged as
a ketch and the Commodore will rig his
as schooner Commodore Nutting
freely admits that the ketch has many
attractive features for venture of this
kind, but he crossed the Atlantic twice
with a ketch rugged yacht and now
wishes to study the schooner rig. Each
type his its good points. The schooner
will be at her best when the wind Is
over her quarter. She should reach very
fast. The ketch will be at her best
turning to winwind and will also be good
when dead before the wind. In heavy
weather this rig is regarded as ideal
and the vessel can be made quite snug
under jib and mizzen with the mainsail
lowered.
Designer Atkin has drawn two pic
lures of the yachts to scale, which are
given herewith They show the differ
ences In the rig and also what sturdy.
stanch little hulls will be built. The
pole mast with jib headed sails was
discussed, and, while each adventurer
freely admitted that such rig would
be advantageous in many ways, there
was an objection because the masts
would be so high SO they will be
rigged with gaff headed fore and main
sails, except that the mizzen on the
ketch, which is small sail. will be
triangular in shape with no gaff or
course, all the plans made are really
only tentative and 1t Is quite possible
that some changes may be made before
they are finally accepted.
To End Race mt Cowes.
It has, however, been definitely
agreed that the race shall be from New
York to Cowes. This is about $500
miles. II has also been agreed that two
men shall be on each yacht. the captain
and one other. The Duke at first
wished that he and the Commodore
should be alone on their respective
yachts, but this perhaps would be court
ing disaster. and he has agreed to one
man in eack crew. 1t Is possible that
this may be changed before the time for
the race and each boat be handled by
three men. This, however. is small
detail.
For auxiliary purposes a small gaso-
line engine will be installed on each
yacht. Commodore Nutting will use an
American built engine of about ten
horsepower and the Duke one OF SINH
lar power but English built. The
amount OF fuel to be carried on board
will be limited, perhaps sufficient to
run the engine for about twelve hours.
Engines of this size would give a speed
of only about four miles an hour. so
that should the wind be of any fair
strength 1t would be much better to
sail rather than use the engines. The
idea of the engines is to give the navi-
gators something that they can use
should they be drifting amlessly at
sea or when near land find themselves
drifting ashore. These details are yet
to be discussed.
ocean racing, whether with large or
small yachts. always has been regarded
by yachtsmen as the peak OF their sport.
Sailing over fixed courres well within
sight of the land is often fuu Of excite
ment, through sharp squalls or hard
blows. These races. however, are short
and IL is the contest over long dis
tance. one that will take the yachts out
OF sight of land and perhaps keep them at
sea for several days, that really proves
the seaworthiness of the vessels and the
ability of those who are in charge. Such
contests call for able vessels we'll built
well SPARED and rugged, furnished with
supplies for days many more than tho
trip is expected TO take and handled by
men who are capable and expert navi-
gators and sailors and who fear nothing
such racing has really been fostered
by American yachtsmen. IL is very
probable that yacht races over Ions
| courses were sailed In the early histort
OF the sport, but It was three American
yachtsmen who first raced across this
| Atlantic. and they raced, too. in the
worst season Of the year, starting ir
| December.
Yachting had practically been dropped
| during the civil war and when peacc
was made several large sshooners were
built The owners OF these yachts raced
often over different courses between the
Delaware Capes and Newport, and tir
Ing OF this sport. George and Franklin
| Osgood owners of the schooner Fleet
wing, and Pierre Isorillard, Jr.. owner "A
the schooner vesta arranged = race fol
o. big stake. Tleerwing vas vessel OF
| 206 tons, modelled by J. H. Van Deusen
| Veqta was of gOl tons and WAS modelled
and built by David Carl. The summe1
racing IN two seasons had failed e
satisfy the owners of these two yachts
and just at the beginning OF winter IN
| 1886 they made matcifthe agreement OF
| which was as follows:
George and Franklin Osgood bet
Pierre LoriIiard, Jr.. and others $50, ,000