2S4 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Sept. 14, 1806. 



superofficious. On the contrary, they were disposed to be 

 obliging, but the requirements of the law are such that it 

 is not easy for the United States dog in Canada. An offi- 

 cer of the customs was present at the trials. His instruc- 

 tions were to collect duty on every dog which did not 

 compete. It is probable that the boys will get back with- 

 out being assessed, but there was a feeling that holding a 

 field trial in Canada made a dog uneasy. 



One evening, while the Continental Field Trials Club 

 was holding forth at Morris, Man., a bear, one of three or 

 four killed, was brought into town by some residents. As 

 he lay in the wagon in the solemn majesty of death, he 

 brought to mind the terrible deed of slaughter which his 

 kind had wrought on man. I was glad he was dead, for 

 sometimes men sally forth to kill a bear and come back 

 shorn. The bear is fierce and terrible in his wrath. This 

 bear would weigh about 401bs. Two or three farmers 

 killed the old bear and three cubs with pitchforks and 

 said ha, ha. Yes, the bear is bad medicine. 



At a committee meeting of the Continental Field Trials 

 Club, held at Morris, Man., on Thursday, Sept. 5, it was 

 ruled that the winners of first prizes in the trials on 

 chickens this year were eligible to the club's trials on 

 quails this year, this exception being applicable to this 

 year only. There were many good reasons for this action. 

 By limiting the winners to those of this year, the con- 

 cession applied to but a few dogs. A win on chickens has 

 very little reference to competition on quails, since a good 

 chicken dog is not necessarily a good quail dog. 



slight lead at the start Valkyrie soon gained a clear position, and 

 though Defender shortly after ntade up what she lost, the two were 

 very even on the true windward work; when they could nearly lay a 

 course in a slightly stronger wind. Defender went away very easily 

 and made some 3m. in the 7 or 8 miles to the mark; once around and 

 off the wind, with sheet well eased and balloon jiptopsail set, the wind 

 still very light, she made another 5m., finally winning by 8m. 49s. cor- 

 rected time. No small part of this is due to the easy performance of 

 the hull in the rough water. 



The preparations were completed on both sides by Friday night, the 

 last formality being the measurement. On Sunday Defender went 

 into the Erie Basin drydock again and was thoroughly polished, while 

 her topsides, the white paint on which was in a very poor condition, 

 were painted a very decided light blue, a new color in Cup racing. 

 Everything was stripped from bel >w, even to the closets. On Monday 

 she left the Basin for New Rochelle. Valkyrie was docked on Tues- 



ments of the two yachts were taken, the work being concluded about 

 4:30 P. M. Prior to the measurement each yacht had shipped about a 

 ton of lead in pigs. 



During the whole day the yard was thronged with yachtsmen from 

 New York, Boston, Montreal, Oswego, Toronto and the West, every 

 detail of the measuring being watched with the closest attention. The 

 official figures were reported by Mr. Hyslop to Secretary Oddie and 

 posted in the club house on Friday evening, as follows: 



Valkyrie. Defender. 

 Feet. Feet. 



Length on load waterline 88 . 85 88 . 45 



Length from after end of main boom to 



forward point of measurement 186.02 181.79 



Length from fore side of mast to forward 



point of measurement 78 . 94 73 . 55 



Length of spinaker boom 78 . 94 73 . 36 



THE AMERICA'S CUP RACES. 



First Race— Windward and Leeward. 

 Saturday, Sept. 7. 

 It depends on the chances pf the weather on the day set for the sec- 

 ond race, Tuesday, Sept. 10, whether we shall be able to give to our 

 readers the news of more than the first of the series of three to five 

 races. With a punctual start and a good breeze the result should be 

 known in New York by a late hour in the afternoon; in case of a post- 

 poned start or a slow race, however, the result will be known too late 

 for this issue. 



The first race was sailed on the date originally set last winter, Sat- 

 urday, Sept. 7, and resulted in a striking victory for Defender. Like 

 nearly all contests for the Cup, it was a light weather race, but under 

 conditions very different from those which have so often maintained. 

 The average conditions, in which most of the Cup races of the past 

 ten years have been sailed and most of the postponements made neces- 

 sary, are clear, warm weather, a very light southerly or westerly 

 breeze, at times falling to almost and often quite a flat calm, and per- 

 fectly smooth water, whether Inside on the Bay or outside of the 

 Hook. The conditions on Saturday were quite different; the weather 

 was warm, but the sky was clouded much of the time, and though the 

 sun shone hot and bright at intervals, there were several light showers 

 of rain. The wind was light, far too light for every one, but at no 

 time did it fail entirely. It blew about six miles per hour at the start, 

 an hour later it had increased perhaps a couple of knots in speed, and 

 held to the finish. There was no drifting in smooth water, but at all 

 times both yachts had a light breeze. 



The most important difference of conditions, however, was the sea, 

 an ugly roll, caused by the easterly wind offshore, that sent the peo- 

 ple below on the steamers, many of those who had paid for $3 worth 

 of fun getting at least $100 worth of misery. Its effect on the two 

 yachts reminded one of the old days before the sloop had disappeared, 

 and when Gracie, Fanny and Vixen were racing against the new cut- 

 ters Bedouin and Oriva. On such a day the cutters always won, the 

 wide boats being rolled about until they lost what little wind there 

 was, while the narrow and deep craft went along steadily and surely 

 with sails always drawing. This time the wide boat suffered in the 

 same way, whUe the narrow one kept her sails full and went through 

 the water far easier. 



The course as laid out was dead to windward, east by south, but a 

 shift in the wind in the middle of the course made a long and short leg 

 to the outer mark and an easy reach in, there being no spinaker work. 

 In this shift Valkyrie was placed at a slight disadvantage. With a 



ETHELWYNN. DjfenJer of the Seawanhaka Cor. Y. C. International Challenge Cup in the 15 t. Half-Rater Class. 



From a Photo by B. C. Bill. 



day and the hull thoroughly cleaned of all paint, a gang of men from 

 the yard working all night. She was coated with a black composition 

 below, but the topsides were painted white and the cove and carvings 

 at each end were re gilded. The copper on the lead was polished 

 and the hull smoothed off very carefully before painting. On Wednes- 

 day some carpenters were set to work under her counter, and the 

 ridge of the horn timber was planed down, to reduce the length of 

 waterline. Though not shown in the various exclusive designs pub- 

 lished, the line of the horn timber is not straight, but quite concave, 

 and this planing made it still more hollow. The report at once went 

 out that the yacht was over or dangerously near the 90ft. limit, and that 

 the planing was necessary, but such proved to be very far from the 

 fact. She remained in the dock until early Friday morning, when she 

 was floated and hauled out to make room for a British steamer, being 

 then made fast just outside the dock gate. Here she was boarded by 

 Lord Dunraven with his two daughters, who were joined by Mr. N. G. 

 Herreshoff, and about noon by Mr. John Hyslop, the official measurer. 



Before the work of measurement was begun, Defender had come in, 

 accompanied by the steam yacht Neckan, with Mr. acd Mrs. Iselin 

 aboard. After a consultation between the principals, the work of 

 measurement was begun with Valkyrie's waterline; her crew, to the 

 number of sixty, including Lord Dunraven, his daughters and Mr. 

 Watson, Mr. Kersey and Mr. Glennie b»insr stationed on deck amid- 

 ships. A f ter this work was completed by Mr. Hyslop under the eyes 

 of Messrs. Watson and Herreshoff, the same operation was performed 

 on Defender, she having fifty men on board, then the spar measure- 



THE COURSES FOB THE CUP RACES. 



Sandy Hook Lightship. The outer circle represents a radius of 15 nautical miles, for the windward and leeward races, and the Inner circle 



a radius of 10 miles for the triangular races. 



Length of gaff 59.00 64.00 



Length of topmast 55.98-1-6=44.78 57.42—1-5=45.94 



Height from upper side of main boom to 



topmast head block 129,80 125.48 



Square root of sail area as per rule 114.14 112.26 



Sail area, square feet. 13 027.93 12,602.30 



Sailing length, per rule 101.49 100.36 



Valkyrie allows Defender 29 1-10 seconds. 



The waterline lengths were a surprise, both yachts coming under 

 89ft The sail area of Valkyrie is over 400aq. ft. in excess of De- 

 fender, the two far outclassing all previous yachts. The time allow- 

 ance is very little under the half -minute. This time Valkyrie wastes 

 nothing in length of spinaker boom. She has the shorter gaff by 5ft. 



The following notice was posted in the New York Y. C. house on 

 Sept. 5: 



The America's Cup Committee has arranged that the first race shall 

 be sailed on Saturday, Sept. 7, and that one day (not counting Sunday) 

 shall intervene between each race, unless changed by consent of both 

 the competing yachts. James D. Smith, Chairman. 



This makes the dates Sept. 7, 10, 12 and possibly 14 and 17, making 

 no allowance for postponements. 



The general conditions of the races, as agreed upon by Lord Dun- 

 raven and the Cup committee, are as follows: 



The match shall be decided by the winning of three out of five 

 races. 



Courses.— Starting from Sandy Hook Lightship, first race to wind- 

 ward or leeward and return. Second race, equilateral triangle. Third 

 race, to windward or leeward and return. Fourth race, equilateral 

 triangle. Fifth race, to windward or leeward and return, the starting 

 line and compass bearings to be announced as early as practicable. 

 In every case the course from the starting line to be laid to windward 

 if possible from the Sandy Hook Lightship. In case the course as re- 

 quired by these conditions cannot be made out from Sandy Hook 

 Lightship, the regatta committee may provide some other suitable 

 starting point, and, in this caBe, the preparatory signal will be given 

 about half an hour later than the time named before starting from the 

 lightship. 



Length of Courses.— The courses shall be, as nearly as possible, 30 

 nautical miles in length. 



Start.— The starting signal shall be given at 11 A. M., and this time 

 shall not be changed except as follows: First, by the Regatta Com- 

 mittee, as described in the preceding paragraph for changing the 

 starting point; second, by the Regatta Committee, in case of fog; 

 third, in caBe both yachts consent to a postponement, in which case 

 the Regatta Committee shall determine the time of the start; fourth, 

 in case of accident, as hereinafter provided. The preparatory signal 

 shall be given ten minutes before the starting signal, and, in case of 

 change of time to start, a preliminary signal shall be given fifteen 

 minutes before the preparatory. At the starting signal a yacht may 

 cross the line. The exact time at which a yacht crosses the line during 

 the succeeding two minutes to be taken as her start, and the end of 

 that period as the start of one crossing after its expiration. If a race 

 is not started by 1:30 P. M., the Regatta Committee shall have the 

 right to declare the race postponed for that day, but no race shall be 

 started after 3 P. M. 



Time of Making Races.— Any race in which the elapsed time of the 

 yacht finishing first exceeds six hours shall not count, and must be 

 resailed. 



Load Water Line Length.— The challenger having named 89ft. load- 

 waterline length, the condition of 1893, limiting any excess to two per 

 cent. (2 per cent.) thereof, is covered by the condition limiting single- 

 masted vessels to 90ft. load water line, as expressed in the deed of gift. 



Time Allowance, Measurement, etc. — The system of measurement 

 and time allowance, embraced in the rules at present in force in the 

 New York Y. C, shall govern the races, except as hereinafter 

 modified, and with the proviso that any excess of loadwaterline 

 length over 89ft. shall be counted double in calculating the racing 

 length for time allowance. 



Date of Races.— The first race shall be sailed Sept. 7. One day shall 

 Intervene between each racing day, unless changed by agreement. A 

 race of one kind shall be repeated until finished. 



Accidents. — In case a serious accident to either vessel occurs prior 

 to the preparatory signal she shall have sufficient time to effect re- 

 pairs before being required to start, or if such accident occurs during 

 a race, before being required to start in the next race. 



Representatives of the New York Y. C. : 



The America's Cup Committee name as the representative of the 

 New York Y. C. the yacht Defender. 



A referee shall be selected only in case some question demands his 

 services. 



Manual Power.— Manual Power only shall be used for working the 

 competing vessels. 



Measurements.— The competing yachts shall be measured with all 

 the weights on board, dead or alive, which they intend to carry during 

 a race, but shall not have on board more persons all told during any 

 race than are permitted by New York Y. C. rules. Waste tanks or 

 water tanks, if carried, must be filled with water at the time of 

 measurement, the boat carried to be not less than 12ft. in length. 

 The restriction of the New York Y. C. rules as to floors, bulkheads, 

 doors, water tanks, bar anchor and cable is waived. 



Alteration in Measurement.— If either yacht, by alteration of trim 

 or immersion by dead weight, increases her loadwaterline length, or 

 in any way increases her spar measurements as officially taken, she 

 must obtain a remeasurement by special appointment before the next 

 race, or failing in this, must report the alteration fb the measurer at 

 the club house at 10 P. M. of the day before the race following such 

 alteration, and must arrange with him for remeasurement, and, if re- 

 quired, be in the Erie Basin by 7 A. M. of the day of said race, and 

 there remain till 8 o'clock P. M., if necessary, for the purpose of re- 

 measurement. 



