18 BULLETIN 127, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



are of comparatively limited dimensions, and many of them are 

 only steam launches, used for harbor service or for cruising on bays, 

 sounds, and rivers, some of them are of large size and fitted in 

 every way to make distant voyages, as, indeed, many of them have 

 done. 



Aside from the ordinary purposes of pleasure, many men doing 

 business in the large seacoast cities, and having residences accessible 

 by water at a considerable distance, find it more conducive to their 

 comfort and success to own a small yacht on which they can make 

 their daily trips to and from the city. Many prefer steam yachts to 

 sailing vessels, because of the certainty of arriving at any particular 

 destination at a given time, and possibly also in some instances be- 

 cause of certain other advantages to be found on a large cruising 

 yacht sumptuously fitted up for the accommodation of its owner and 

 his guests on long or short voyages. 



The collections in the National Museum representing this class 

 of vessels is only a limited one, a small nucleus around which it is 

 hoped may in time be gathered much material that will serve to pre- 

 serve a tangible historical record of this branch of American naval 

 architecture. 



The competitive races which have taken place in the United 

 States between the yachts of different clubs and of the same club, 

 as well as between American and foreign yachts, have not only 

 proved interesting but instructive in the highest degree. The 

 knowledge gained by experts in observing these friendly contests 

 has led to a development of speed in sailing vessels far beyond what 

 might reasonably have been expected a few decades ago. 



Among the incentives which have prompted the highest effort on 

 the part of yacht designers, sail makers, and yachtsmen, none rank 

 higher than the international races which have taken place between 

 British and American yachts since the America won the " Queen's 

 cup " in 1851. British yachts have repeated^ challenged for this 

 cup, which has now become the emblem of the yachting supremacy 

 of the world, and the fact that it has been successfully defended 

 for so many years evidences the skill and high attainments of those 

 who have had to do with designing, building, and sailing the de- 

 fenders of the cup. 



In the meantime there have been many changes in American 

 sailing yachts. The schooner has been a favorite with American 

 yachtsmen from the start, and notwithstanding the sloop Maria early 

 demonstrated the advantages which a " single sticker " may possess 

 in the matter of speed, even our cup defenders for many years were 

 schooners. 



The early yachts, and particularly the America^ were deep keel 

 vessels. As has been mentioned, they were of the pilot-boat type, and 



