FOREST AND STREAM. 



world when Eriecson revolutionized naval warfare by launch- 

 ing the first monitor in 1862. On the contrary, however, there 

 exists no grounds. of eomplaint against other authors. Si ill 

 Russell, Rankine, Marrett, Bernoulli, Berlin and others have 

 paid homage to the wonderful productions of the New World 

 without stiut, and Mr. Kemp, though writing on matters, 

 close rivalry in which might offer some excuse for partisan- 

 ship, shows himself a devotee of scientific truth, and a true 

 chronicler of facts by rising above the narrow vision of na- 

 tional prejudice and taking a bird's-eye view of yachting all 

 the world over, with favor to none and full credit to those 

 who deserve it. The frequent reference to American yachts, 

 and the ready admission, when speaking of the comparative 

 performances of SeabeUe and Columbia, that: 



"ColumMa lias made VX.o miles per hour In a lower-sail breeze blow- 

 ing alit'lf jiiiifi t.lK- beam, ihe winil pressure hetug equal to SUM. per 

 square foot. StaMlt (English) under similar conditions has made 11.4 

 knots per hour * • * " 



must satisfy all that it is quite possible for an English author, 

 while treating of English yachts, to give credit to the greater 

 speed of our own, and that the fair spirit pervading such a 

 book will render it of immediate service to Americans as a 

 means of instituting comparison between the condition of 

 yachting at home and abroad. 



If we now turn our attention to a critical analysis of those 

 conditions, we do not think the unprejudiced reader will dis- 

 agree with us. It is perhaps well known to most that, while 

 with us yachting is at best only in its infancy, it has reached 

 a wonderful development in Great Britain, where the sport 

 has been so thoroughly organized, and the masses of the peo- 

 ple are so wedded to it, that yachting may fairly be termed 

 a national characteristic, influencing in no small degree the 

 habits and customs of many inhabitants of the nation. Such 

 being the case, is it derogatory to our self-esteem to learn 

 from them and to candidly acknowledge that we can do so to 

 advantage? Certainly not — the very reverse ; for surely if 

 behind our British cousins in any respect, it behooves us to 

 apply what remedies we may, so that not only in one quality 

 but in all we may be their equals or superiors. The person 

 who would, like the clam at low water, retire into his shell, 

 self-sufficient with what success we have attained, is his ad- 

 vice to be followed, and should prejudice debar progress ? 



What are the qualities necessary to the perfect yacht? 

 Safety, sea-going ability, comfort, handiness and speed. How 

 many of these do our yachts as a class possess to a greater de- 

 gree than those of Great Britain ? The solitary one of speed. 

 Our boats are not only not as safe as those in foreign waters, 

 but with few exceptions they are man-traps. They cannot 

 go to sea ; they cannot stand a sea ; they must run for a port, 

 when an English craft just gets down to her bearings; they 

 are hard on their helms, hard in a seaway, low between decks, 

 and uncomfortable except when in a mill pond ; iheir rig is 

 unhandy and dangerous; they are fast — very fast— but only 

 in smooth wafer. On the contrary, the English craft beats 

 us on all points but speed. When we want to travel fast we 

 can take the cars. Is there not some object, then, in sacri- 

 ficing speed to a very moderate extent to obtain 

 all the other desiderata? Certainly those who take 

 to yachting for other purposes than racing altogether 

 will probably think there is. There can be no reason, if in 

 the pursuit of the many superior qualities now lacking in crur 

 fleet, why we should not select a vessel approaching to that 

 type in use in England, which has stood the test of time and 

 experience on all these points, and the introduction of some- 

 thing like the cutter into our waters we hail with delight as 

 a sign of progress in the right direction ; of seamanship, navi- 

 gation, and the spirit of adventure asserting itself at. last. 

 We imagine we hear the stereotyped phrase : "The cutler is 

 not suitable to our smooth water." Aud since when is our 

 water invariably so smooth ? Are yachtsmen always to re- 

 main content within the narrow confines ot the Sound, or is 

 the sport likely to branch out and take root in every port 

 along the coast ? What, then, becomes of the smooth waters 

 of the Sound and the Juue zephyrs? When you get caught 

 in a gale off shore yon will know the value of a safe boat be- 

 neath your feet. And does it never blow? Is I here no sea 

 on outBide the Sound. In short, are not the circumstances 

 surrounding our yachting changing, and should not the type 

 of yachts be altered to suit the change. Those whose ambi- 

 tion carries them no further than the Sound may well declaim 

 against the cutter ; those who want to get off soundings occa- 

 sionally will do wisely to adopt it. The yacht should be 

 suited to your purpose. For smooth-water sailing, by all 

 means stick to the sloop ; but when we propose going to sea, 

 give us a boat we can trust our lives in ; we want no Mohawks 

 then. That there are in our waters vessels well able to take 

 the sea is true. They are unfortunately the exception, and 

 the above remarks refer to our yachts as a class. The ordi- 

 nary sloop has been found wanting in the rougher waters of 

 San Francisco, where they build their vessels differently from 

 the skimmers of the Sound. How much more, then, do not 

 we need an abler craft to go to sea in here ? A fleet of cutters 

 is destined to appear ere long in our waters, and to that the 

 fossilized sticklers for the smooth- water sailing machines may 

 make up their minds at once. If they do not think so they 

 simply cannot read the signs of the times. We want yachts 

 that shall have something more than speed alone. Wo want 

 yachts that wo can make our floating home. We want yachts 

 that can sail from the Race to the Keys. They must lie well 

 built, strongly built, rigged in sailor-like fashion, fitted out 

 with the. same care bestowed upon a frigate, and able to ride 

 out a gale in perfect safety, and with ease to themselves and 

 those on board. Until we have such craft we must grant 

 superiority to British yachts on every single point but speed. 

 We have' much to learn from English yachtsmen, aud the 

 sooner we set about acquiring their perfection in the arts of 

 seamanship and navigation the better. 



YACHTING NEWS. 



CamsE of thr Atlantto Yacht Club.— The fleet of the 

 Atlantic Yacht Club having assembled in Glen Cove Saturday 

 and Sunday, an early start was made Monday morning, Au- 

 gust 5. Orders bad been issued to the captains from the flag- 

 ship Triton, to the effeei that Now Haven was to be the next 

 harbor to make. Accordingly the fleet hove short aud got 

 under weigh at 6:45 a.m. Wind flawy and sky overcast, 

 with the tide half ebb. 'the yachts hoisted light sails, Orion 

 sporting a huge club topsail and balloon jib. All hands 

 drifted out of the harbor the best way they could in the fitful 

 calspaws, coming from all directions at intervals. Comrao- 

 lier's sloop led the way, followed by Thistle, Intre- 

 pid, Sheila, Nimbus, Dolphin, Triton, Petrel, Imperia, Vision, 

 Hope, Genia, Agnes and Peerless. A moderate breeze soon 

 made from the Long Island shore, and Dolphin, having kept 

 well to windward, was the first to benefit by it. At about 

 i wo bells in the forenoon watch the wind came out steady 



from S. S. E., and brought up theruckof schooners and larger 

 sloops with it, but the breeze .failed again. Peerless and 

 Vision in the. meantime had stood out boldly from shore, in 

 expectation of something from the Connecticut side. They 

 caught a fair streak and ran away from the rest, with only 

 Dolpain and Orion ahead, and, tacking off the north shore, 

 stood down again on the port tack for their regular course, 

 followed by Agnes and Triton. The former got" into the dol- 

 drums and fell astern, caught by the flood running on the 

 Connecticut shore. Orion had worked ahead of l>- 

 led the fleet off Eaton's Neck. The breeze freshened and Tri- 

 ton began to make a better showing. She passed the sloop 

 Vision, and hauled up on Peerless. The latter got an extra 

 puff and took the lead among the schooners iu fiue style. In 

 the afternoon the wind once more fell light and suddenly 

 chopped around to the S. W., coming out hi wholesale 

 fashion. The fleet now has a leading wind right into port. 

 Ballooning and booming out were hi order. Agnes fetched 

 up again among the leaders, and without further incident the 

 squadron finally comes to an anchor in Morns' Cove, at the 

 mouth of New Haven Kiver, in the following order i Orion, 

 6h. 35m. ; Peerless, Agnes, Thistle, Triton, Dolphin, and the 

 rest at longer intervals. The morning of August 6 broke 

 overcast and foggy, but with quite a breeze from the S. B. 

 As there was the last of the ebb left yet, it was at 8 a. m. de- 

 cided to make a start for New Lonnon. Though it, would be 

 a turn to windward all the way, the distance was not great, 

 and it was expected the fleet would make the old whaling city 

 by the evening. Imperia led out of the harbor, followed by 

 Peerless, Agnes, Vision and Thistle in a bunch. Orion carried 

 her big topsail as the day before, but when fairly outside was 

 obliged to send it on deck, a move followed a while later by 

 Triton, whose topsail would not sit jammed on the wind. 

 Sheets were hardened in to starboard, die whole lot standing 

 across to the Long Island shore. At times the fog shut down 

 so dense that it was impossible to keep track of (he 

 yachts. Orion attemped a short board to the N., but soon 

 came about again. The wind freshened and put lee rails 

 under. Agnes was first to try for the Connecticut shore, 

 followed by Peerless. Triton held nn excellent wind 

 and oulweathered the fleet, Orion aud Imperia oil her lee 

 beam and Peerless about a mile in her wake. Mr. Maxwell's 

 graceful schooner, however, turned tallies on Triton and came 

 out on her weather after several boards had been made'. The 

 craft that can put Peerless under her lee and hold her there 

 must iudeed be one of the best two-stickers afloat. Toward 

 evening the breeze fell and the fog again shut down, necessi- 

 tating a good deal of fish-horn music and bell clanging. 

 Triton led past the Bartlett's Reef ship, and with a. light air 

 bore up for the harbor, followed by Thistle and J ! 

 leader's lime being 7h. 7m. The remaining yachts tnade their 

 anchorage timing the night, Notnad, Myra and tn b a 



ing parted company and borne up for Qreanport dirt ct New 

 London is an excellent place to "provision up," her markets 

 afford the best from the surrounding country, and prices pre 

 reasonable, not as at a more aristocratic watering-plaos, in- 

 flated to the utmost. In consequence the old town has be- 

 come quite a favorite place with yachtsmen to replenish their 

 stock of soft tack, fresh grub and foe. The Atlantic fleet did 

 not miss the opportunity, and purposely delayed making sail 

 for their next rendezvous uiitill) a. m. At gun-lire bona 'he 

 Triton all hands got under weigh promptly, and with lite 

 sheets sped down the reach to the open Sound, Orion,, smart 

 as usual, again getting away with the lead. Imperia, 

 and Dope set balloon jibs, but the other sloops contented tL. •m- 

 selves with jib topsails. Off the Pequot House Peeflw was 

 picked up, and Triton sent aloft her main topmasl Staysail 

 Outside the wind freshened aud hauled a bit, so that sheets 

 were trimmed flatter. It fell again, though, and 

 from the S. W„ putting the fleet on the starboard taek. head- 

 ing for Plum Island. When uearing ihe "gut " it was found 

 impossible to lay a single leg through it, and, as the tl rum 

 through at a lively rate, it was deemed best, to avoid a tedious 

 beat and make for the passage to the eastward of [he Little 

 Gull. Triton led through with Peerless following. Once in- 

 side of Gardiner's Bay, it w«s a beat tip to harbor in a light 

 wind and ebbing tide. The flagship parted BQme of hei gear 

 and to splice. This little - ■ ched from he* the 



lead she had so well maintained on the passage across. After 

 many short boards the anchorage was made by Orion at 2h. 

 9m. 80s.; Thistle, 3£m. later ; Peerless. Aiji,,,.,, D„lphin Triton, 

 Genia, Nimbus, Imperia, Vision, Mope, and . etrel in the 

 order named. In port were found Mela, Sadie, Nomad, in- 

 trepid, Myra and Alma making a fleet of over twenty Bail, Hy- 

 ing the well known burgee of Ihe A. 1'. C. at their on 

 The New Y'ork yacht squadron made the harbor the same 

 evening, and the congregation of yachts in the snug waters of 

 Greenport was immense and something to delight the heart or 

 every nautical amateur. Pyrotechnics were indulged in at the 

 Manhassett House ashore and aboard some of the yacts i'ire- 

 works aboard ship are evidently out of place, aud the cuslom 

 should he done away with. It is dangerous, dirty, ;n< 

 altogether too much of the small boy. The morning ot the 

 8th "broke clear, with a brisk wind from the West, and Ihe 

 outlook for a fiue race was exceedingly favorable. The eon 

 ditions and course of the match held by the Atlantic Uluh on 

 that day have been given iu a previous issue Oi 6h 

 and Stueaji, and need not here be repeated. Orion did not 

 start, and so the match was robbed of one of its ollii 

 tious— a tussle betweenher and the famous Boston Thistle— {.he 

 New York craft contented herself with taking 

 ladies out for a cruise instead. Geniu, in trying lo pin; u p 

 her berth for the start, fouled Peerless' headbooms, snapping 

 her boom and ripping her mainsail, which put her racing out 

 of the question. Thistle had been on tin: waya n 

 with a clean bottom, ready to show that i: U nil , 

 handsomest craft that can sail. The start was effected at 10h. 

 50m. a. m. In the first-claBS Sadie aud Thistle got oil together, 

 and Dolphin last. It was a run down to the first mark, then 

 across to the second on the starboard tack, and a turn up 

 home. Thistle hauled round the mark first, Sadie three 

 minutes later. No change to second buoy. From there it WS9 

 Thistle's game, and she had the race in her own 

 takes something pretty smart to turn to windward with this 

 crack. In the second and third class a fine race , 

 the entries including many well-known aloops A summary 

 is: Thistle wins in first-class in 3h 25m 07s. Josfe, iu s cond 

 class, in 3h. 59m. 20s., beating Imperia, Dope, ■'■ 

 Storm Eing. Wkro-wina in tbe-tuircl class in. 8h '4m 30a., 

 hi ating Nimbus, Viking, Intrepid, Myra, Telep/i,,, , 

 Daisy, Alio,,/, ami Mab. In the evening a grind ball was 

 given at the IMiinhasseit in honor of the visiloi , 

 numerously attended. The last day ot cruise, _■. 

 brought with it a regular howler from the BOurbweai 

 seemed at last a chance of testing the crnft am 

 thing more than a mild zephyr. The , 

 much for an English five or ten, yet the numbi 



that were compelled to remainat their mooringsinGreenpoint, 

 pretty conclusively shows that even among the most venture- 

 some of our yachtsmen a large scope of prudence must, bo »i- 

 ercised when sailing the flat-bottomed craft through a breeze 

 and sea is concerned. At the commodore's gun only Triton,, 

 Peerless and Petrel, schooners, and the large sloops Dolphin, 

 Imperia, Dope and Genia hove up for a run across to New- 

 port. Ao this would bring them fairly outside ot the mill- 

 pond, aud for once put the craft on the briny bosom 

 of the grand old Atlantic, the smaller fry did well 

 to remain snugly riding to an anchor in a safe harbor. Geniu, 

 had "fished "' her shattered boom in good style and was 

 ready to start with the rest. The New York Squadron hid 

 left for New London ihe evening previous, and no difficulty 

 was found in working out of the harbor. Fortunately for the 

 fleet it was a free sheet all the way across, or one might have 

 some spar breaking or general smashing up to record. Impe- 

 ria showed the way out, followed by" Triton and Peerless. 

 Peerless " winged out," but the rest kept booms to port. The 

 little Mao was passed in Gardiner's Bay on her way back to 

 Mew York. Dolphin carried a small jib-header, the only one 

 in the fleet. Triton ran through the lot in the heavy breeze, 

 and the Petrel showed goorf speed off the wind. When 

 Peerless finally passed her, Petrel jammed her help down and 

 came out on the schooner's weather in good shape, blanketing 

 her in a way that would have been of more service in a 

 shorter run. As it was, the Peerless dropped the other 

 schooner alter a while and went into second place, setting her 

 jib topsail, an operation followed by Triton in ihe lead. The 

 sloops were now some distance astern, and leel the breeze and 

 swell. Imperia, hauls down a reef aud Genia runs by her. 

 The schooners set more sail and Triton continued to increase 

 her lead, bht seems to be a smart craft, off the wind, and 

 fairly outsails Peerless with sheets lified. Watch Hill was 

 under ihe lee. beam by half-past nine o'clock, the fleet having 

 made twenty-five miles by this time, and that against a. *tr< ng 

 flood. Ths schooners hauled up a bit aud trimmed in to port, 

 taking in some canvas, as the wind bad increased to a young 

 gale. Course. E. by N. i N. Before the Judith Light was 

 fetched there was some ground and lofty tumbling 

 in by the yachts as they "met flic heavy swell of the Atlantic. 

 Had the wind been froth the E. they Would not, have fared so 

 well, and It is a question whether they namld not have io rait 

 and run. When fairly off the Point, Triton lowered mainBail 

 aud got it over to starboard'. A nasty, short sea was met 

 with as she run into shoaler wafer, and the violent, pitching 

 of the craft, no doubt, convinced some that a smooth water 

 model is not exactly the thing for a seaway. Peerless made 

 the inner harbor by the north channel, the 'Triton passing in 

 damss About half an hour later Petrel fetched in, 

 followed by Dolphin. Imperia, Genia and Hope, under reefed 

 ■e.aie to about two hours later. In Newport harbor 

 tas met. sailing under the Atlantic colors. It was 

 resolved to disband here and allow the yachts to follow their 

 individual bent. Thus came to a close an extremely ' 

 fuJ and brilliant cruise of one of our most enterprising and 

 go-ahead clubs. Both the officers of the occasion and the in- 

 dividual members arc to be congratulated upon the consistent 

 manner in which the programme was carried out. 



Nauasset Yacht Club. - The third regular annual regatta 

 Of ibis club is to come off at Cohaaset, Mass., Aug. 24, for 

 prizes presented by gentlemen of that city. Open I" all 

 yachts not over 23ft. long. Centreboards divided into three 

 classes, yachts measuring over 21 ft. and 1 7ft.. nud under 17 ft; 

 keels iu two classes, 2411," to J'.tft. and under 24ft, Spcci J class 

 for all floats 14ft. and under on water line. No restriction «B 

 to sail in first class centreboard and both classes of keels anti 

 special class. Iu other class 



Crews, one man for every live feet and fractional part thereof. 

 No trimming by dead W*ight< Protests to be made within 

 an hour after the race. This is a good rule as it insuo-s their 



consideration while matters sue atitl fresh in the minds i ill 



concerned. Start from an anchor. Entries to be made to J. 

 R. Hawes, Jr., 103 Milk street, Boston, before 2 p, m. Aug. 



23. Prizes in cash from $40 down. Second, third and 



fourth prizes only in case three, four or Ave boats start. Re- 



gatta OummilUe : T. IJaliual, ,1. P. Hawes, Jr., C O. Weld, 

 Patrick Grant, Jr., and W. C. Haskell. This is the second 

 union regatta given this year by the Nahasset Club, aud a 

 very large list of entries is expected. Nearly all yi 

 he sailed by Corinthians, and this feature will add much to 

 the value aud interest of the meeting. A full view of the 

 match can be had irom t lie shore between Atlantic House aud 

 Kim nail's on Pleasure Beach, Cohasset, 



BiWEEpSTAkiss Matcu R- Gowajius Bay. — The sweepstakes 

 race in. Gowanus Bay, South Brooklyn, was started Aug. 8, 

 and proved a very interesting affair. (Jourse from frank 

 Bates' Club House to Bobbins Boot buoy, thence around Fort 

 Lafayette and home, sailing twice over. Distance, twenty 

 miles. The steam launch Otiose went over the course with 

 the judges and the catamaran Victor figured as " press boat." 



The starlets were as follows: 



Name. FT. in. 



BxeeiBior 21 in 



AililiB Tuyliir 21 ot 



J Saunders . .41 to 



George Iilie.m .. .3 ' 



Owner. 

 . .1 II DUkS. 



...M MiiMalmn. 



11 U Hoi 



hi in cracks that have figured iu many a inatch be- 

 fore. Tide about half flood, and wind brisk from 8. W., 

 • dead beat, to the Brat mark. Saunders led across 

 the line, with the Heel, standing off on the port tack. The 

 iirsl mark was fetched in excellent time, the whole lot work- 

 ing to windward in fine style. With booms to port, they 

 made for the second mark, which Saunders jibed around first, 

 Holmes, Taylor and Dean following. Excelsior had been 

 picking up somewhat, but suddenly capsized, probably owing 

 some of her sand bags lo windward. Sophia 

 Emma followed suit in *n attempt to jibe. Her • 

 picked up by the catamaran and the yacht towed in to Bates'. 

 . )e, with Saunders leading, Addie 



,,,/-,,. ,i id Dean astern. < in the bl 



picto < -in c ii Siderably by holding a good wind, and, with the 

 Taylor, went to the front, Saunders dropping into third 

 place. Th" two leaders had a close thing of it all the way 

 around, but the Taylor held bet owe. aud finally crossed the 

 line winner In Sh. 4 - later, Saunders 



tbiru and Holmes litBt. 



PniZBS AwabSBD —The New Y'ork Bay Regatta Commit- 

 tee have 5ns ■ , ej thf prizes to the winning yachts. 

 First prizes, 345 , second, $11.39 \ champion pennant has 

 been given to ihe winning boat in each class and a Bilk pen- 

 nant to ihe winning catamaran. 



Lakb Taobttsg.— Civic holiday, Aug. £, was celebrated 

 at Belleville, Oar, , by B yacht race among the first, second 

 and third class craft. Daunlum and Mndrjvp were tb« only 



