96 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Feb. 26, 1885. 



CANOE YAWLS AND CRUISING. 



IN the Forest and Stream of Now 4, 1881, appeared the lines of a 

 little canoe yawl, the Gassy, designed and used b? Mr. Gen. F. 

 Holmes, of Hull, England, aud the following extracts from a letter 

 of Mr. Holmes, give some further particulars of the boat and her vis: 



I can, after another season's experience of the boat, thoroughly 

 indorse all 1 have said in tier favor. In company with another 

 boat of similar build I had a verj successful cruise last vuuiuier. 

 I first brought my boat by rally "and by train to Hull, the ex- 

 pense and trouble in transit hems: hardly any more than for a Rob 

 Eoy canoe. Tn Huh both onv boats were out on board steamer and 

 conveyed to Port Yarmouth, where we got them into the water and 

 loaded stores. As we lived on board, cooking, etc., in the boats, our 

 stores wore necessarily somewhat numerous. The broads and rivers 

 of that district being pretty well sheltered, we each had our racing 

 sails, and to economize space in the boat, used lead ballast under floor 

 boards. The boats row easily, iu fact, I would rather row my boat 

 with her 3ft. -tin. beam, iban'paddle a Mersey canoe 2ft. Hin, broad. 



"The two boats being very equal in sailing qualities, our cruise was 

 a perpetual regatta on a small scale. The Gassy proved herself the 

 faster boat to windward, especially in very narrow waters and strong 

 breezes, while the Alice, with nearly fifty per cent. more, ballast, rise 

 of floor (and straighter k celt aud one inch more draft, ran faster 

 especially in light breezes, and would squeeze round a point better. 

 The Gassy rows also considerably more lightly. We both used tents 

 of undressed material of the rTalrri kind and simple construction. 



"On a former crui«e (1882) in Denmark with a smaller canoe yawl 

 (no centerplate). the same friend accompanying me in a 12ft. R. C. C. 

 first class canoe, we used a shore tent, but lam bound to say that for 

 comfort, both in sleeping ana cooking, the shore tent isn't a patch on 

 the boat tent. 



"My usual cruising' ground is the open sea off a sandy beach and 1 

 have to launch through the surf, which is sometimes rather heavy. 

 With an oilskin coat on one can generally get out pretty dry, as the 

 well is small and iu case of a breaker coming on board the long fore 

 deck is a great advantage. The boat is quite steady enough for 

 one to stand on the deck even when the water is not quite smooth. 

 The boat alone weighs 224 pounds, centerplate 70 pounds (lead ballast 

 only used for racing rig, 1)0 pouuds). With my wheels I can launch 

 the boat alone at low water (200 yards) but I don"t do so if I can help 

 it as you may suppose. The boat's worst fault is her tendency to 

 yaw when running in troubled water. She is, however, so delightfully 

 easy on her helm when close-hauled, and so quick in staysfor narrow 

 waters that lam willing to part with a little steadiness. In addition 

 to the Mersey land of a yoke (for steering) which 1 now connect with 

 a hollow brass rod with ends screwed in. I often use the boathook as 

 a Norwegian tiller, which is handy, especially when there are two in 

 the boar, as either can then steer. A sculling crutch on the quarter is 

 often useful. 



"To remove strain f rorn f orestay when racing mast is in use, I used a 

 piece of wood. A, hinged to mast' near heel, with a tripping hue, B, 

 secured on deck. 



"The best form of connection of lug yard to mast is shown here. 

 A double halliard sets the large lug sail well. I used it on my canoe 

 this year and was fairly satisfied with it. A downhaul is necessary. 

 I have used your uphaul for centerboard and found it work very 

 well. 



"I am glad to hear of canoeing prospering so well in your country, it 

 seems to be in rather a poor condition in some parts of England. Our 

 little club is threatened with dissolution in consequence of the boat 

 house on the Humber side being required for shipbuilding purposes, 

 and onlv last summer two races fell through in consequence of the 

 apatny of the members. Geo. E. Holmes." 



Hull, England. _^^^^^^___^^^_____ 



JaMittg. 



THE FIRST CUTTER ON LAKE MICHIGAN. 



ST. IGNACE, July 2. 1883.— Everything was putaboard the lolanthe 

 by 4 P. M. of a beautiful July day in '83, and at 5 a sailor whom 

 I had engaged to pilot me out of the Straits of Mackinac reported for 

 duty. After eating our supper in the forecastle, iu which our little 

 oil stove did its duty by making us a warm cup of tea, we cleaned up 

 everything and prepared the lolanthe for her maiden race with a 24- 

 foot sloop and a number of Mackinac boats which were w&itiag 

 about, anxious to show the inhabitants how easily they could get 

 away with the "cutter." The builder of my boat assured me of suc- 

 cess, but the well-known reputation of the Mackinac boats made me 

 somew r hat incredulous as to our ability to beat them. It was my first 

 experience aboard a cutter with metal outside, having always sailed 

 a genuine skimming dish. 



We weighed our anchor and were soon under way with all lower 

 sail set The lolanthe is 28ft, over all, SEUft. waterline, 7ft. beam, 

 and 4ft. 6m. draft. This part of the Straits of Mackinac is about 

 eight miles wide, and the beautiful Mackinac Isle about five miles 

 south. We headed for the Isle. Rigging and sails being new and 

 untried were very troublesome. Ronald, the builder, had the tiller, 

 and having built 'and sailed a boat of the same dimensions in Scotland, 

 knew how to get the best out of her. The wind being on our star- 

 board quarter, we held the main sheet well in, to practice a little de- 

 ception on the boys, and as they began to draw away from us their 

 spirits rose with the freshening breeze, and the "heavy-ballasted., 

 too-much draft" cutter was fast lowering in their esteem. We let 

 them get a good start, and as they drew away they kindly offered to 

 tow us', and exhibited rope for that purpose, though we were ungen- 

 erous enough to refuse their kindness. After they thought they had 

 it all their own way we quietly paid out the mainsheet and began to 

 draw on them. It was amusing to see their confusion, but we couldn't 

 help it. And when we got down to real sailing in the lively thrash to 

 windward, they were the most disgusted, unwilling converts one can 

 well imagine. Suffice to sav, when they got back we were smoking 

 our "prime Durham in a brier bowl." with sails furled ready for con- 

 gratulations which, strange to say, w^e didn't get. , 



An eaily start being contemplated in the morning, we turned in at 

 8 P. M.. and tucked ourselves away on the "just too comfortable for 

 anything" berths in the cosy cabin, and were soon vieing with each- 

 other in the art of snoring. The faint light of early dawn was but 

 lust piercing the dense fog when I stuck my head out ot the cabin. 

 The water like a millpond, not a breath of air, a sixty-mile outside 

 run before us, and no good anchorage till the end was reached, Hashed 

 through my sleepy head. But Louis awoke, we washed in the cold, 

 reviving water peculiar to this region, and downmg a hasty lunch 

 stretched our mainsail to just a breath of air, hoisted the anchor, and 

 with jib set moved slowly away, as though lolanthe was loath, to go 

 abroad from the land of her birth. 



But slowly we moved out until away from the laud, the fog disolv- 

 ing before the united action of wind and sun. We caught the breeze 

 from Lake Huron and soon were driving along under a fine topsail 

 br-seze to grand old Lake Michigan. At 9:30 A.M. sighted Vvagushance 

 Lighthouse, and at 11:30 were abreast of it. The wind now shifted to 

 the S. W., and necessitated beating. A short, choppy sea soon fol- 

 lowed the freshening breeze, and it did my heart good to 

 yacht go through it. Not a drop came aboard except the w ind-blown 

 spray from her clipper bow. . 4 . 



At' 3 P. M. we were off Little Traverse Bay. The wind had been 

 constantly and so steadily increasing that we hardly noticed it until 

 an unusual line of combers in the distance warned us of much greater 

 wind. We hove to, and having lowered the jib and foresail, attempted 



to reef the mainsail, when we found the. unwieldy proportion of 10ft, 

 of boom over the stern. No foot line or proper reefing tackle, and 

 no time to rig one, So we had to down the sail, which was hardly 

 done ere the gale was upon us. Setting the foresail we stood on for 

 a time, going to windward in a gale under foresail only. Where 

 would your shallow draft have been there? The gale kept increasing 

 in fury, and as the harbor for which we were bound (Charlevoix) was 

 not very safe to enter in a gale, we put about and made for Harbor 

 Point. 



Oh, ye deluded flatboatmen ! had your hand been upon the tiller 

 when she was heading up to those big combers, and felt theease with 

 which she cushioned into the. sea. imparting no vibration to the 

 yacht, throwing the sparkling waters to the right and left, keeping 

 her deck as dry as a parlor floor, and felt how stately she seemed to 

 stand up to the tempest of wind; having a decided 'will of her own, 

 and that to mind the dictates of that deep and narrow rudder, un- 

 mindful of the vicious temptings of the sea to throw herself into the 

 trough of the waves, you would think as I do, there is but one yacht 

 and that a cutter. 



The fifteen or more miles to Harbor Point were soon covered, and 

 we glided from the turbulent and angry waters into the finest harbor 

 on Lake Michigan, whose wonderfully clear and sparkling waters, 

 completely land-locked on three sides, afford shelter to many a storm- 

 beaten craft. We dropped the anchor in three fathoms, and after 

 putting everything in shape and changing our rain-drenched clothing 

 for warm, dry. shore clot lies, we launched the punt and went ashore. 



Harbor Springs (more commonly known as Little Traverse), is situ- 

 ated just behind the point, and boasts of a fine hotel for the accom- 

 modation of summer visitors who teem by the hundreds this season of 

 the year in this health-giving location. To the hotel we steered, and 

 being the first to supper and the last to leave, 1 rather think they took 

 us for well dresed tramps. On returning to the yacht we noticed a 

 little black schooner which had run in out of the storm anchored near 

 us. It proved on closer inspection to be Little Frank, a description 

 of which might interest some aspirant to suiglehand yachting on a 

 large scale: Little Frank (so named because of his very diminutive 

 size) is known all overihe. lake as a little Portuguese sailor, who for 

 about twenty years has sailed singly and alone a 55ft. schooner which 

 curies topsails. He makes long runs without making port and how 

 he manages in a storm is a mystery to every one but himself. 



Feeling very sleepy we turned in at !) 1\ M. 



The early boom of cannon next morning announced the glorious 

 Fourth of July, which to us was very uneventful, as we were all day 

 making the twenty miles to our destination; our only celebration 

 being made by frequent blasts on the fog horn because of the dense 

 fox existing. 'The last straggling firecracker had about had its say 

 when lolanthe was ushered into the beautiful harbor of Charlevoix, 

 where for a time, at least, she was at home. 



In conclusion, permit me to add my feeble testimony to the comfort 

 and peace of mind and thorough contentment which comes fiom 

 a clear conscience in having a yacht in which you at ail times fed 

 safe, and on which dependence is placed in times of emergency to the 

 utter exclusion of fear. And, further, the cutter is the boat for the 

 great lakes without a doubt. For the violent, choppy sea which an 

 ordinarily heavy wind invites, on such short notice, too, is best 

 guarded against' by the deep and heavy keel yacht. And as for the 

 rig. from my experience with the double head sail its extreme handi- 

 ness in all weathers and thoroughly shipshape appearance commends 

 itself to me above any others. G. H. Winans. 



Kalamazoo, Feb. 10, 1885. 



"BLOW YE WINDS HEIGH O I" 



THIS is the title of a most welcome little volume which has just 

 made its appearance. It is welcome because obviously from the 

 pen of an adept who is more than a mere chronicler of passing events. 

 From first to last the author kives evidence of his own live interest 

 in yachting affairs which he views and interprets from the standpoint 

 of a thorough saiiorman in wholesome sympathy with the manly and 

 ennobling side of the sport. To him a rough and tumble bout to wind- 

 ward in a wild looking sky, with the sea ruuniug furious and the 

 vessel plunging in up to the bits, is not so much a fright-in spiring task 

 to be shirked, as a job to be undertaken as a contest with nature in 

 dead earnest with a view to winning reward iu the satisfaction de- 

 rived from success in the issue and the scope afforded to personal 

 prowess. Moreover, the yarn retails the actual doings of a famous 

 ten-ton racer, aboard of which we are induced to feel perfectly at 

 home, thanks to the author's own familiarity with the vessel and 

 his naive way of interweaving many a pointed little passage hinging 

 upon the domestic economy and the social surroundings of jovial 

 companionship in the snug cabin of the bright little flyer. 



To Americans this book is moie than welcome. It is highly in- 

 structive. For its spirited pages and handsome illustrations reflect 

 the all-round experiences of life aboard a representative English rac- 

 ing cutter of such small tonnage and cost, coupled with the utmost 

 return possible in the way of intense yachting life that the near future 

 should see many like vessels in our own waters. The book offers 

 pages of evidence of the tremendous gulf which still exists between 

 the childish methods of following the sport in small boats on this side 

 of the Atlantic, and the incomparably superior attraction of the bold, 

 dashing, adventurous enterprise, the robust bodily and mental vigor 

 of the British style of buccaneering the high seas in a way which puts 

 to shame the nursery toys to which we still cling in ignorance, and 

 our puny counterfeit efforts at yachting, the merest fringe about the 

 real article. And when we read how the gallant little Nereid, Lilly, 

 and a whole bunch of similar vessels got embayed in Bangor Roads, 

 and how they successfully cleared out of a touch and go scrape, then 

 we can appreciate at one hound how superlative the qualities of Brit- 

 ish yachts must be to accomplish what one of our centerboards could 

 no more do than fly to the moon. Read this passage and let each 

 answer for himself what would have become of our light draft traps 

 in alike situation. Fancy a centerboard with that lubberly execra- 

 tion, a "bobbed" jib tied down to bowsprit end, suddenly slipping^ 

 paying broad off down on the reef before gathering way, aud then at 

 the critical instant, fancy putting round the light-weight trap against 

 the steep sea piling in ! Our sloops, indeed 1 They would have cutthe 

 usual contemptible figure the moment downright work and worth is 

 demanded, for they are but the froth of the shipbuilder's art, and far 

 from being the substance. Let me quote the book : 



"As the auebor touched the ground we were hailed by a friend on 

 board the Sunshine, but could not make out what he said, though 

 we wondered much the reason which kept our friend out of his 

 warm berth at this hour of the morning, and also the cause of the 

 animation visible on board the several other yachts iu our neighbor- 

 hood, each having a few hands on deck. But tired after our passage, 

 we were too fagged to trouble ourselves much, and having helped 

 the crew, who had been roused up, to stow canvas, we sought our 

 well-deserved rest, heedless of the threatening look of the dawn and 

 the heavy swell wdiich was rolling right into our anchorage, which, 

 as we learnt afterwards, was the. cause of the wakeful state on board 

 our brethren. The fact was, having but just come out of a heavy 

 sea, the comparative change was so great as to lull us into fancied 

 security. Meanwhile, the Lily had ranged alongside and also let go 

 about twenty yards inshore of us, and bailing them a good night, we 

 went below. Any of my readers wmo were riding in Bangor Bay that 

 eventful night will not easily forget the squandering which took 

 place at break of day. We had slept our hardest for but an hour, 

 when the ever-watehf id skipper, who had kept on the alert, aroused 

 us at live o'clock with the information that we had best get out of 

 the bay as soon as possible, and on slipping on a few things and com- 

 ing on deck, we found the need of an im mediate flight only too neces- 

 sary, for oh I such confusion met our half-awakened gaze! 



•'The wind had piped up to the strength of a gale,which blew 

 straight in from the open sea, We were diving bows under to the 

 butt's end, shoveling masses of solid water along the decks until 

 everything was awash. Around us the fleet were in various stages of 

 confused endeavors to spread canvas and get underway, wdrile two 

 or three lucky ones were, already disappearing under just a shred of 

 canvas around the point, for the shelter of Carriokfergus. On board 

 our neighbors the anxious-looking crews were in a state of excited 

 animation and struggling with spars and sails which had broken 

 adrift, the sea continually drenching over them, On board Britannia 

 on our quarter, and nearer the shore, a solitary figure was clinging 

 with terror-stricken face to the mast, and the yacht had already 

 dragged so near the breakers that we expected every moment to see 

 her go ashore. We could not get underway ourselves on either tack, 

 as we. had the Lily to starboard and a cruising yaw! to port, which 

 barred our passage, so we were compelled to look on until one or the 

 other had cleared out, which the former was preparing to do with all 

 spted. . . . Meanwhile it was with the greatest difficulty we were 

 able to get the storm jib on the outhaul [Imagine a sloop bobbing her 

 jib at bowsprit end.— C. P. K.] as it tookus all weknew occasionally to 

 hold on and prevent ourselves being washed overboard. Butat last we 

 managed this and to get the trysail close reefed and ready for hoist- 

 ing . . The Lily was now on the point of making a start, and 

 we watched her anxiously as she filled away for a short board toward 

 the rocks, which were but twenty or thirty yards under her lee. [No 

 centerboard would have dared a like cast. She would have driven 

 bodily down upon the danger before gathering enough way to come 

 about with certainty in such a sea.— C. P. K.J When as close as she 

 dared venture, her helm was put down and with just enough way to 

 bring her round she came up to the wind, when at a critical moment 

 a sea struck her and threw her off again toward the rocks, and we 

 thought for a moment she was gone; but recovering from the shock 

 she came up again, and shaking for a moment in the wind, gradually 

 paid off again and filled on the other tack, aud after a narrow squeak 

 hung up to windward out of danger; another board and she was 



making good way, and at last weathered the point and was away 

 after the others for the shelter of Carricktergus. [Now how- much 

 would a little centerboard sloop recover aud 'come" up again after 

 being cuffed off by a sea with scarce way enough in the first place to 

 come round at all? — C. P. K.J 



"It was our turn now, and, careful of every inch of water, we 

 sailed her well up to the spring wdiich we had attached to the cable, 

 intendiug to slip it, let go, and hold on a few yards toward the rocks 

 over the same course as Lily had taken. [How much way would a 

 light sloop have on, with only a few yards' sea room, after having 

 paid way off on her center before coming miter control of the wheel 

 at all?— C. P. K.] 



"When within a few yards of the breakers, with just enough way 

 to bring us well round, we put the helm down, and with our hearts in 

 our months waited to see the good little ship shoot up into the wind 

 for the pmch; but there was doubt only for a moment longer, and we 

 fell away on the other tack and were safe, as we could weather the 

 yawl easily, and the way the Nereid then clawed out to windward 

 through the heavy seas was truly a marvel." [How much would a sloop 

 be likely to claw^ with bobbed jib tied down beyond any one's control, 

 and say the peak of mainsail? I rather think she would have clawed 

 like a crab, sideways and ashore.— 0. P. K. | 



"Two or three short boards enabled us' to weather the point, and 

 wdth the water drenching over us in smothering showers we reached 

 away after Lily. Another hour found us riding in welcome shelter 

 at last, and after a good breakfast we felt none the worse for our 

 hardship." [It should be remembered that Nereid was about 36ft. 

 loadline, and Bangor Bay exposed to the full sweep of the North 

 Channel and Firth of Clyde.— C. P. K.l 



After studying this and many similar passages in the book, the 

 American reader will no longer wonder why the British have devel- 

 oped their narrow beams and given our flat featherweight traps the 

 go by. The time is now at hand when we are beginning to yacht 

 about the coast in small craft much after the fashion prevailing 

 abroad. The work we are asking from our yachts is far more exact- 

 ing than the trivial bumming about the Sound with a chance of get- 

 ting out to wade ashore and hunt up a native to walk out to the trap 

 and reef her down for you. A corresponding change in our small 

 yachts, at least in those intended for service and not for counterfeit 

 play, is a demand of these times, and in no way can we obtain a 

 clearer understanding of the superior power and reliability of the 

 small British cutter than through the pages of books in which actual 

 life on board is so faithfully, gracefully and trenchantly portrayed as 

 in the volume under review. As the Governor of North Carolina said 

 to the other of South Carolina, "It is a long time between drinks." I 

 wish there w 7 ere less intervals between the appearance of the charm- 

 ing yachting logs hailing periodically from abroad. I thirst for their 

 advent like a man parched in the desert for water, and there are. 

 others beside myself With the same longings. Not the least com- 

 mendable feature of the book are the illustrations. Autotypes, pho- 

 tographed from original paintings in India iuk, are scattered through 

 the volume, contributing greatly to an elucidation of life afloat in 

 a ten-tonner. In the latter portion, exciting events transfer the 

 scene to the decks of a sixty-ton cruising yawl, which, being too large 

 for Corinthian management, is given over to a regular crew, and the 

 immediate Interest in the vessel becoming proportionately less, the 

 author helps himself out with a liberal introduction of flirting aud love- 

 making. Though written with facile sketchy pen, often humorous 

 to a degree, and exhiuiting keen insight into human nature, the chap- 

 ters devoted to the Hesperus's doings seal ce equal the leaves from 

 Nereid's log. I should have preferred following Dick Porter round 

 the coast: in the ten-tonner, for the love business, nice enough in its 

 way, is after all ten-ibly evanescent in this world, whereas a passion 

 for yachting, once it has a hold upon the. devotee, grips in mer day by 

 day, never letting go its hold this sideof the river Styx, where Charon 

 stands ready to pole us across in his dugout. While the first half of 

 the book deals with fact, a suspicion is raised that the spooning on 

 Hesperus's deck derives its interest from drawing pleasantly on 

 fiction. 



Published by Hunt & Co.. 119 Church street, Edgware Road, Lon- 

 don, England." Price probably a dollar and a half. C. P. K. 



THE CONSTRUCTION OF CABIN TOPS. 



IT would be hard to conceive any method of construction that 

 would be weaker and less mechanical than that of the centerboard 

 sloop, in which, besides the keel being further weakened materially 

 by an opening in its weakest part, the streugth that a deck affords is 

 also destroyed by cutting off all the deck beams in the center of the 

 vessel. These weak points, inherent to the centerboard, are usually 

 made still worse by the construction of the cabin house, which adds 

 nothing to the general strength, and is apt to leak on the least provo- 

 cation. Any one who has watched the canvas on top of a, sloop's • 

 house when under full sail, has seen l he way in winch the whole 

 structure twists and wriggles, and the canvas rises and falls in swells. 

 In place ot the ordinary construction of heavy cartas and one 

 thickness of matched boards, a better method in many eases is simi- 

 lar to that employed in double skin bouts. The top is composed of 

 three layers of wood, the first, say of one-quarter inch thick, being 

 laid diagonally across the earlins. and the second also lying diagon- 

 ally over it, crossing about at right angles. The top is now painted, 

 or better still, coated with marine glue, over which, while, wet, can- 

 vas is laid and drawn lightly. The canvas is next painted on top, and 

 a third layer of thin stuff, teak or mahogany three-eighths inch thick, 

 is laid. The three layers are now riveted together with copper nails 

 spaced closely together. This roof, especially if well crowned, will 

 be very strong without the aid of! earlins, and the latter may be 

 lighter and spaced further apart than usual. In building the top 

 several moulds may be pu t in to keep the shape until it is completed . 

 The same method is also available in the construction of hatches and 

 other parts which must be strong, light, and not liable to warp. 



THE NEWARK Y. C. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



After reading Mr. Kmihardt's remarks on "Headquarters and a 

 Policy," I am tempted to say a word for the Newark Y. C, as in 

 several ways we as a club would meet his approval. 



This club has been in existence but a little more than two years, 

 and during that time we have had a most satisfactory and healthy 

 growth, not only in members, boats and finances, but in an increased 

 interest iu all that pertains to a manly pursuit of the sport, We are 

 of a necessity restricted to the ceuierboard boat, owing to the shal- 

 lowness of our bay and river, but while we are thus limited in our 

 choice we try to have the best of the kind. 



Our boats generally leave of a Saturday afternoon for a cruise m 

 company and return by Monday morning. We have a commodious 

 and comfortable club house 60x20, two stories and at;ic, which is 

 divided into a meeting room, locker room and bath room on the sec- 

 ond floor, the first floor is a spar and work room, and the attic makes 

 a most excellent sail loft. We keep the house open the year round, 

 and being well lighted and warmed and well supplied with hooks and 

 papers, and only about fifteen minutes' walk from the center ot the 

 iit\ , ft is the favorite resort for all of our members, day and evening. 



Our boats with one exception are all under 35t't., and are manned 

 and sailed entirely by club members. We are now making prepara- 

 tions for our next season's work afloat. Our regular spring club re- 

 gatta will take place on Decoration Day, and our second annual open 

 regatta early in June, to wdiich we will invbe one and all, guarantee- 

 ing to all a fair race and no favors, and competitors and prizes worthy 

 ©f the best efforts of all our Corinthian yachtsmen. PAS-sr.-.u'. 



Newark, N. J., Feb. 10, 1885. 



A BOOK ON SMALL YACHTS. 



AS an auswer to numerous inquiries we state that. a new volume on 

 "Small Yachts" is now in preparation. It will appear in April. 

 Further notice will be given as to exact date of publication. This 

 volume is intended to cover the field of small yachts, including under 

 that term all classes of boats which can be effectually sailed and 

 supervised by their owners and friends with perhaps one pain" hand 

 for the larger vessels. Well-known examples covering the entire 

 range of type will be illustrated in their lines, rig plans and accom- 

 ,: i Uli greater detail and finish than heretofore attempted 



jusimila obc; bions. The body of the work will consist ot more 

 than seventy handsome plates, 11 by 18 inches, with full descrip- 

 tion as guides from which to select or to use as a basis for 

 introducing modifications according to individual preference. Tins 

 portion will comprise centerboard eatboats, keel catboats, light 

 displacement centerboard sloops, heavy centerboard sloops, light 

 draft keels, deep draft keels, beamy cutters, melium cutters, 

 narrow cutters and schooners. Also sportmg boats, such as the 

 Sharpie and buckeye. All the varieties of rig will be represented, 

 These examples are from models aud designs of the best authoriue, 

 in America and abroad. The cabin and deck plans., i„ great ie,i 

 and fully shaded, will constitute an especial feature. There will also 

 be chapters devoted to the care of such yachts and rnnchother infor- 

 mation having a direct interest and value to the .owners of small boats. 

 The author is Mr, C. P. Kunhardt, 



THE AMERICA'S CUP.— Mr. A. Gary Smith has now in hand the 

 plans and model of a sloop, which will be considered by the New 

 York Y. C. at their meeting to-night, at which Commodore Bennett 

 will be present, Proposals for estimates have beeu sent to the lead- 

 ing builders, so that if it be decided to build from the plans, wort 

 may be commenced at once. The work will be contracted I'm under 

 penalties for delay, which will insure an early completion of the con- 

 tract. 



