FOREST AND STREAM. 



57 



excluding 33 honorary members. The list of officers for 

 187S is as follows i I'res., Henry B. Kice; Vice-Pres., Albert 

 G. Baxter ; Capt., Charles U. Williami | Lieut., tohn O 

 bhaw. Jr.; Tress., Edw. D. Blfl Ed, B. KobinS) 



Directors -Frank Beabury, A. B. Ellis and Wl 



Thoiruavy ecmBisteof twenty-tfcree boats, from eight-oared 



barge down to single sheila. Anent BOme I umored dissatisfac- 

 tion in the club, the following resolution, adopted Feb. 10 

 with but one dissenting voice, will explain itself: Revolved, 

 That recently printed articles misrepresent both the parties 

 and the feelings of the members of the club, and that Lhe re- 

 lations between the club and the association have always been 

 Of the most friendly nature socially, and of the most satisfac- 

 tory nature Snam 



P. A. it. A.— The Pacific Amateur Rowing Association in- 

 cludes at present the St. George Boat Club, of Oakland, with 

 22 members and IS boats; the Neptune Swimming and Boat- 

 ing Club, of Han Francisco, with 37 members and 3 boats ; 

 the Pioneer Rowing Club, of San Francisco, 2~> members, 15 

 boats and 3 canoes ; Ariel Rowing Club, of San Francisco, 

 15 members with 3 boats ; Undine Boat Club, of Sacramento, 

 wit u3U members, S boats and 1 canoe; California Theatre 

 BoatCbili, of San Francisco, 33 members and 4 boats; Alert 



: Vallejo, 31 members, 4 boats and 3 ■ ■ 

 Columbia Bowing Club, of Oakland, 31 members and 3 boats; 

 and the Farragut Boat Club, of South Vallejo, with 13 mem- 

 bers and live boats. The organization will do much to har- 

 monize all rowing interests on the Pacific, and we look for a 

 vapid increase in the. membership of the individual clubs. 



Columbia College Boat Ci.cu.— The following are the 

 officers of this club for tin- year: Pros., J. T. Goodwin ; 

 Vice-Pres., Cyrus EdsOn; Beo'y, O. I\ Brhaydj Cape., 0. 

 Eldredge ; Directors— R. 0. Cornell, F. Rees, Uolbrook and 



THE LACHINE SLANDER. 



Manoiiestkb, Eng., Jan. 26, 1879. 

 Editor Fobbst and Stream •. 



The onslaught upon Mr. Hanlan (and the Hanlan Club) is 

 one unworthy of notice, except so far as to brand the whole 

 as a contemptible and malignant falsehood. The facts are 

 that the Lachine race was as honest a victory for Mr. Hanlan 

 as any oarsman ever won. All the criticisms based upon the 

 belief that this was not the case are idle and worthless. The 

 Hanlan Club unfortunately has several members who 

 " squealed " because their share of the gross earnings was not 

 larger. A contemporary of yours has shown a weakness 

 hardly creditable in its comments on this whole matter. Mr. 

 Hnnlau refused to have one of its editors for referee in the 

 Plaisled-Haulan race at Toronto last year, and this may ex- 

 plain the venom that flowed from his pen lately. At any 

 rate I know all the facts from first to last, and can assure you 

 —1st, that Mr. Hanlan honorably and honestly won the La- 

 ctone race ; 2d, that the Hanlan Club has been worthy of 

 every confidence in all its acts, and that it includes in its 

 membership some of the best men in Toronto. 



Onis Who Knows. 



The above letter from a gentleman who knows more of the 

 Lactone race and the Hanlan Club than all the would-be 

 slanderers and scandal-mongers put together will explain it- 

 Belf, and we are ready to add to it our fullest indorsement. 

 If there ever was an utterly unfounded and basely concocted 

 scheme to ruin the reputation of two groat oarsmen and their 

 backers, out of potty spite and temper soured by financial 

 loss, the attempt made in the gratification of vicious spleen to 

 smirch the fair names of Hanlan and Courtney and to drag 

 them down to the low level of thieves in the public's estima- 

 tion, is certainly one of the most barefaced libels we have had 

 to record for a long time. Concerning the quality of man- 

 hood and that sense of honor which seeks to stamp the best 

 oarsmen of America lit subjects for State's prison in prefer- 

 ence to accepting an honest defeat, we have nothing to say. 



ROUGH WATER YACHTS. 



East Boston, Jan. 81, 1879. 



ElUTOE FollEST AND StBBAM I 



We should be pleased through yoiir columns to answer the article 

 written by " Hedge" in your number of Jim 23, 1879. " Kedge" 

 aays that Gael might outrun Smibeam, •' aa she is four feet longer 

 on waterline.'' We have yet to learn that the difference between 

 24 feet 6 inohee and 27 feet 7>£ inches is not 3 feet 1J inch, in- 

 stead of 4 feet. In our race with Sunbeam we did. not sail on water- 

 line measurement, but according to the rules of the Boston Yacht 

 Club, wherein it is stated that one-third of the overhang shall be 

 added to the length on the waterline. Of the thirteen clubs in and 

 about Boston only three Bail races by this rule. When the race 

 was first proposed itjwas understood by us that we should suit al- 

 lowiug Snub, mi difference in Length on waterline, but when 

 Dame together' to maka arrangements for the raes we found that 

 ui in would sail under no other rules than those of the B. Y. 

 C, thereby giving her the advantage by oue minute and si 

 seconds, making in all seven minutes thirty seconds allowance ; 

 when in reality we should both have sailed, on our own merits, as 

 we were the smaller boat— Suvh.'o.a measuring 5.4;; tuna and Gael 

 .ns; but of course this point admits of considerable diver- 

 sity of opinion. Then came the point in regard to starting to 

 windward first ;this was just what ws wanted, but when we carno 

 to consider it and found .that it the wind was off shore we should 

 bejobliged to go over the course twice in order to get homo, thought 

 it unreasonable, consequently our opposition to atarting to wind 

 ward first, providing iht wind was off shore. N" ' 



on this point ae mi tl ' ■.■■ n .■■.' question. The reason was that 



by going to windward lirst she wuuld have an advantage (she cal- 

 culated to hea. i "t gat such a lead that wo could 

 never catch her running buck), but hmv she was 10 get His beyond 

 the ■ jinpreheusion of myself, the judges and some of the most 

 competent yachtsmen we have among us. Consequently the 

 -. started theraci tea mil '< wag that 

 moorings in Boston were not ranched until newly midnight. 

 "Eedga" questions our ability to Btand up la a to but th 



Boston Gtbbt, in regard to tin Dorclv I iftl tooi place 



August 80, jot last yeai t most reuurakable 



events of the regatta was the fine race which was sailed by the 



lapl, MacCurroiek. t)l East Boston. She is a keel sloop, 



and yesterday was classed in the first class. During the sharp 



squall she stood up nobly to her work and throughout the raoe 

 showed fine sailing qualities. So well did she sail that she not only 

 won the race for her eliis8, bur she beat lhe winner in the centre- 

 boards by nearly two minutes actual time." " Kedge" asks why 

 wo put Sunbeam'* folks (o the expense of losing time and money. 

 They had no expenso whatever, other than getting the boat ready. 

 For at the first raoe James Alexander, Esq., tendered his steam 

 yacht Dolphin to Capt. MacCormick for the use of the j ndges ; and 

 for the second race that was to bo, theexpense of rhe steam yaeht 

 Psyche was to be equally divided kto pay one-half and 



Gael one-half — which she did do, but the Sunbeam's part was paid 

 by the referee, r. K. i'eabody, Esq., consequently our surprise 

 that " Kedge" should mention such a thing. 



Now, for tho first trial outside the light. On arriving at Boston 

 light at 9:30 a. m. we fouud Sunbeam lying to the pilot's buoy so 

 we vonnded to and dropped anchor. In the meantime the judges 

 had steamed alongside of Sunbeam to find out whether or not they 

 would waive the right to start to windward first, the wind being 

 off shore; but finding that they would not, wo wore ordered to run 

 dead to leeward, and they, after going to Point Allerton buoy, 

 ■ould ruu out, catch us and give ns the distance. Before we had 

 got under weigh it was a quarter before ton, the wind was W. by 

 8., and being very fight we calculated that unless the wind fresh- 

 ened it would be all of half past twelve before wejcould run off the 

 ten miles. On leaving the light Gael was leading Sunbeam by a 

 conplo of lougths, .but gradually crept away from her. Wc were 

 now some distance ahead, when one of tho crew said that Sunbeam 

 was rounding to. Supposing they had lost something overboard, 

 or parted something, we kept on, but in a few minutes were bailed 

 by some gentlemen from tho yacht Enter prist, who had oomo up 

 ifitb ■■-■'>,. about the time she rounded to and was fast over 



hauling us. Wa hove to and when she came up we asked what was 

 the matter with Sunbeam, to which they answered, " They judge 

 themselves ten miles off, as they got the bearings of the fights." 

 We then looked at our clock and the hands pointed to 11 :05 A. M., 

 so we said it was impossible for us to run. ten miles in one hour 

 and twenty minutes. There was not aa much wind at this time 

 as there was an hour and a half later, the timef Kedge'' refers to 

 when he Bays : " As tho wind was not over four knots, we were 

 in a quandary about starting." We ran over to the Dolphin 

 (judges' boat) and asked how far wo had run, and they told us 

 five and a half ruUea. Wo kept on, and the Enterprise went back 

 and told Sunbeam, and they started after us again. " Borne little 

 delay was caused in getting the flag buoy in position," says 

 11 Kedge." Ton minutes before Sunlieam arrived the buoy was in 

 position and the judges waiting. " We had beaten our opponent 

 in three fair trials, and were to lose all or gain another triumph," 

 continues "Kedge." The first was at the Isle of Shoals, the fh'Bt 

 season of Gael ; the seoond was Capt. Weston's outside raoe, 

 under tha auspices of the Dorchester Yacht Club, in the tall of 

 1877, wherein we had calms and three or four shifts of wind, and 

 the third we cannot find, unless we refer to tho raoe at Strawberry 

 Hill the latter part of last seaBon, whore tho Gael beat Sunbeam 

 some two minutes over the allowance. After the whistles had 

 been soimded from the Dolphin, Sunbeam crossed the line, stand- 

 ing " up to her work in splendid style," with a four -knot breeze 1 

 Two minutes and a half later we crossed. Sunbeam went to the 

 northward and westward, as the wind was west, and not south 

 weBt as " Kedge " states. Gael went to the southward and west- 

 ward. After standing for some time on this tack, Sunbeam went 

 about, and a few minutes later Gael did. After tacking we had 

 Bailed not more than five minutes when, to our disgust, we were 

 headed off one point by the compass. This of course favored 

 Sunbeam (as one of her crow acknowledged to me that it was a 

 luoky thing for them) oo much that she was over a half-mile dead 

 to windward of us, but Sunbeam tacked, after standing on a little 

 further, coming out on our weather beam. We were now both on 

 the port taek, and bad sailed but a few minutes when we saw that 

 we were outwiuding our opponents, so immediately tacked to the 

 southward aud westward; again. Sunbeam, kept on until wa were 

 almost in her wake, then she tacked, placing herself on our 

 weather beam. We were now both heading southwest, half west, 

 with our ttaTboard tacks aboard, aud about four to five miles 

 from the buoy. Here let me quote from " Kedge " again : " We 

 outpointed and outsailed her for niue of the ten miles to wind- 

 ward, and but for a favored slant that Gat-l got from the south- 

 ward, the result would have been different." We find it rather 

 hard to agree with "Kedge" iu this respect especially, as we 

 sailed right ont from under Sunbeam's lee and up across her bow. 

 As for his saying that Gael got a slant to the southward, it is sim- 

 ply one of the poor excuses the defeated yachtsman almost always 

 has to fall back upon. Now, every man knows, who Bails any 

 kind of craft, that it is not at all probable, oven if possible, that 

 with the wind from tho westward, both boats heading southwest, 

 and of course on our starboard taek, we could get a slant to thi 

 southward that would not head as off rather than favor us j and 

 as Sunbeam was to windward, would not she bo ju3l as likely to 

 get the benefit of any change in the wind that would favor 

 However, the wind, did not change at that time, as wo both had 

 to beat clean up to Point Allerton buoy, and wheu we rounded 

 boomed out our spinnaker, and steered oaBt by west, allowing toi 

 the ebb tide. But when one-third tho way back to the judges' 

 boat the wind hauled a little to the southward ; not enough, how- 

 ever, to cause us to take in from the weathor side our spinnaker- 

 booin ; but the wind was gradually increasing, and wo were per- 

 ceptibly running away from SUnbeam, and the result was as 

 ■'Kedge" stated— Gael beai ona minute and thirteen 



seconds over (lie unjiial alloft'allfta. " Hedge " argues that we bad 

 to sad more than twenty-five miles; also, that there was not a 

 live-knot breeze • still we wont over the coarse in live hours and 

 fifty-five seconds. Wu must; also not forgot that had tho race 

 been any shorter Gad would have been declared tho winner and 

 the money bora, as the race would haye been sailed within the 

 stipulated time, live hours, Immediately on the arrival of Sua- 

 : iptains went on board the judges' boat. The judges 

 then stated in just what iinia the race liaii bBen sailed, and would 

 ,i to call it a race, providing both boats were agreeable, as 



it had boen - I bo in i the required time; but Si 



being agreeable to the arrangement the. judges deckled it ■• no 

 I that the day was not what was called for, 

 and would like tho stipulations six knots or more, so on agree- 

 ment tha articles were altered." They were never altered, for 



when it was proposed to us we knew that to get six knots out of 

 either boat there would have to bo a strong breeze, consequently 

 few miles outside the light tho wator would be quite rough, and 

 it wouldjbo next to impossible for either of us (o go ten miles to 

 idward and roturn in four honrs^nd ten minutes. It is cer- 

 tainly amusing to see how Inconsistent "Kedge" is: "Under 

 me circumstances we are willing to admit that sho can outrun 

 I, but going to windward she cannot touch one side of the Sim- 

 beain.r shortly after 12 m. Sunbeam crossed the line ; " two and 

 a half minutes later Gael crossed." "In that one hitch we had 

 made over double the distance we had on the start"— 2>^ plus 

 2>£=5 minutes. " Three minutes later wo rounded Point AUortorn 

 buoy and hoisted kites." Eive plus three equals eight minutes iu 

 going to windward alono ; deduct tha two aud a half minutes that 

 wo were not allowed to count (two and a half from eight leaves 

 five and a half minutes actual time, and on the run back to the 

 judges' boat wa boat him the difference between 5m. 30s. and 8m. 

 43s,, whioh is 3m.J13s. added to the 8m. that we beat him going 

 to windward, making in all 11m. 13s. Still he says that Gael can- 

 not touch one side of Sunbeam to windward, but might under 

 some oiroumstanoes outrun her, when we really beat her mora 

 than twice as much going to windward than wo did off the wind. 

 Tuesday, Oct. 14.— No wind and a flood tide. How did Sim 

 beam expect us to gat anywhere ? We waited at our moorings at 

 East Boston; until nine o'clock, and, seeing no prospeot of a 

 breeze, got on board thaj steam yacht Psyclw and rau over off 

 South Boston Point to find out what was going to be dono. The 

 judges came on board and proposed waiting awhile to see if any- 

 thing would turn up to warrant our starting. After waiting an 

 hour or so and getting no Bigno of any wind, the judges went on 

 board the Sunbeam to talk it over. In a short time, however, 

 they returned and said that Sunbeam waB willing to call the race 

 off and asked tha sailing master of Gael if he was willing, to which 

 he replied that he could do nothing of the kind, as he was not an 

 interested party financially and had no authority to do bo ; they 

 would be obliged to see Capt. MaoCormick. So tho judges indefi- 

 nitely postponed the race until they oould see him, and wore then 

 to notify Sunbeam of the result, which notice they received with 

 their stakes. Sunbeam finding there was no wind offered to sail 

 Gael tor a box of cigars, but thBy had something better to do than 

 drift around all day, because if there is anything a yachting man 

 abhors it is certainly a calm. Bat had the judges^but said tha 

 wd we should have immediately taken;,?unbeam in tow, run over 

 for true! and taken both to tho light. If " Kedge" considers Baej, 

 showed plain signs of backing out by not being at the light at. 9 A. 

 M., whsra was the Sunbeam ? " Why wa$ Gael so reluctant to put 

 in an appearance ?" Because there was not wind enough to giye 

 her steerage way, so we took a steam yacht, hunted up Sunbeam 

 and judges to fiod out what could be done so we could be in readi- 

 ness. She] was not and never will be afraid of .being beaten by 

 Sunbeam as long as G-ael is owned by the present owners. And as 

 to the rough Jwator, there was a dead calm, so I was not aware 

 there was any. " Why did Bho challenge us and put us to the ex- 

 pense and loss of time ?" Tho challenge was issued because it was 

 publicly statod through the daily papers that Sunbeam had never 

 been beaten aud that until she was she should be considered the 

 fastest boat in Boston in going ten mlleB to windward aud return 

 outside Boston lightw " She never made an appearance the day 

 appointed bp the judges." Did not the judges also appoint an 

 hour of meeting ? Was either of us there ? Jf o ! because there 

 was not wind enough to get ns there ? " Under the circumstances 

 who was entitled to the prize ?" No one ! as there was no race. 

 The consolation prize the Gael received was simply a congratula- 

 tory shake of the baud and an expression of sympathy at our mis- 

 fortune in not getting in within the prescribed time when we were 

 only so few seconds behind it, or " too slow," as "Kedge" oxpreses 

 it. "Onrraca will never come off, bocauao they decided (from 

 former trials) that our olaim to being the fastest boat to windward 

 is just and they backed oat at last." We are inclinod to think that 

 " Kedge" is the judge who decided that question, consequently do 

 not consider it worthy an answer. He is right, however, in stating 

 that the race will never oome off ; not for the reason he gives, 

 though, but because Sunbeam is owned by the present owner. Tho 

 Gael will sail the Sunbeam as soon as the latter changes hands, 

 for pleasure, simply to test tho speed of both boats by appointing 

 three days daring the season, aud let the weather be what it will 

 and the boat that wins two of the three be declared tho fastest. 

 Or if it would be more agreeable will deposit $100 to be covered by 

 Sunbeam. With tbiB article we end all communications with 

 •'Kedge." or the present owner of Sunbeam, and as the public 

 have now seen both sides of the question we leave it entirely iD 

 their hands to decido which is the faster boat. 



Johk. F, Lovejov. 



OUR CORINTHIAN CUTTER. 



Lynn, Mass., Feb. 10, 1879. 



Enrron Foukst and Stbeam : 



As " Martin Gale" has published his drawings of a cutter accord- 

 ing to his own ideas, I suppose it is opon for criticism by those 

 who may diffor from him. In tho first place ho gives only 9ft. 

 beam for a boat 36ft. oyer all, or 30 in the water, and hangs 4 tons 

 of lead on the keel. NjOw every man who has had actual experi- 

 ence for any length of time, and handled a yacht in heavy seas or 

 a nasty chop, knows that a yacht of such dimensions, with such a 

 weight hung on her, cannot help burying herself every time she 

 gets into a heavy sea. Thero is not. displacement enough to carry 

 such a weight in such a place. In the first place she is not a deep 

 boat, although sho is narrow. It is about time that yachtsmen 

 began to appreciate tho fact that the keel is not boat. According 

 to lhe drawing in the paper, the keel amidships is something 1J£ 

 ft. deep outside the garboards, leaving less than 4ft. for the body 

 uf the boat, aud this body made practically still bo much shoaler 

 by the depth of the curve given to her timbers, that her bottom 

 is only a little over 3ft. wide at two feet boltiw her water-line. If 

 you will stop and consider this fact— how much deeper is she than 

 aflat boat whoso body draws ouly 2ft. of water and has 3! .,11. of 

 keel, and with the same beam ? Suppose tho latter has 4 tons of 

 load hung on her keel, why won't Hue be as able as tho ouo illus- 

 l rated ? And again as to room : ne gives his yacht 2>^ft, of free- 

 board ; can he give any valid reasou n hy a wider boat should not 

 have as much or more ? My experionoo is that a narrow boat re- 

 quires less freeboard than a wide one, as sho has to heel at a much 



