280 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Sept. 28, 1895. 



SNAKE H. Oxford Canoe Yawl. 



evidence at the start on Thursday that the course, as well as the start, 

 would be kept clear. It seems to us that the question before every- 

 one is not whether your complaint was justifiable, but whether your 

 action in withdrawing from the contest on the grounds of your com- 

 plaint was justifiable. 



As to your suggestion that the regatta committee might have 

 ordered Tuesday's race resailed, we reply that we must decline to dis- 

 cuss the action of a fellow committee. 



In conclusion, we would express our profound regret and chagrin 

 that a friendlv contest in a noble sport, between two great nations, 

 should have degenerated into a war of words. 



We have the honor to remain your obedient servants, 



James D. Smith, Chairman, 

 A. Cass Canfield, Secretary, 

 For the America's Cup Committee. 



The Earl of Dunraven. 



The following letter completes the correspondence between Lord 

 Dunraven and Mr. Iselin: 



On Board Defender, Sept. 12, 1895.— Dear Lord Dunraven: Al- 

 though the regatta committee has given to Defender yesterday's race, 

 under the circumstances I should much prefer calling the race off and 

 retailing it to-morrow. 



I trust this will meet your views. If so, kindly answer at once. 



Very truly yours, C. Oliver Iselin. 



On Sept. 17 the following was posted at the New York Club house: 



As there was some delay in replying to the letters of Sept. 10 and 11 

 from the Earl of Dunraven, the America's Cup Committee beg to state 

 the letter of Sept. 10 was handed to their Secretary about 12:30 P. M. 

 Sept. 11, with instructions not to open the same until a decision on the 

 protest had been given by the Regatta Oommittee. 



This decision was not reached until 2:30 P. M. on that day, and from 

 that hour no time was lost in laying the matter before the Cup Com- 

 mittee, and a verbal reply was made the same evening. 



The letter of Sept. 11 was delivered at the New York Y C. house at 

 1 o'clock A. M. Sept. 12, and delivered to the Regatta Committee at 8 

 o'clock the same morning. 



On Sept. 18 Messrs. Ratsey and Glennie, with some of the crew of 

 Valkyrie, sailed for England, and the yacht will probably sail on Sept. 

 24. Lord Dunraven has spent some time at Newport, where he has 

 been most hospitably entertained, but he will sail for home on Sept. 25 

 as the euest of Mr. Laycock on the Valhalla, that yacht having sailed 

 ftom New York for Newport on Sept. 21. 



On Sept. 20 the following was received by Mr. Smith, of the Cup 

 committee, from Mr. Charles Day Rose, son of Sir John Rose, of the 

 banking firm of Morton, Rose & Co , London : 

 "America's Cup Committee, Nevj York Yacht Club: 



"I beg to challenge for the America's Cup next year. The race to 

 be sailed on conditions satisfactory to the committee. 



„ ~ . „ "Charles Rose. - 



"39 Hill Street, Berkeley Square, London." 



Mr. Rose's challenge was purely informal, but at the request of 

 Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan Mr. Smith drew up a form of preliminary 

 challenge which was cabled to London. 



The following was received on Sept. 23: 



"ihe formal challenge by mail will follow and will read: 'In behalf 

 of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, and in the name of C. D. Rose, a 

 member, the club challenge to sail a series of matches for the America 

 Cup against any yacht or vessel built In the United States.' 



"The following are the particulars: 'Challenger's owner, C. D. Rose- 

 name of yacht, the Distant Shore; length of load waterline, 89ft. ; rig 

 cutter. 1 



"The challenge will be absolutely unconditional." 



Mr. Rose is not a yachtsman, but is well known in turf circles, his 

 name does not appear in Lloyds' Yacht Register and he is not known 

 as being interested in yachting. He has, however, just purchased the 

 big cutter Satanita, and announces that the new challenger will be 

 designed by Mr. J. M. Soper, of Fay & Co., Southampton, designer 

 of Satanita, Blue Rock, Reverie and Castanet. 



Seawanhaka Corinthian International Challenge 

 Cup. 



SPRUCE— ETHE L WYNN. 



The result of the series of three to five races for the international 

 challenge cup, established this year by the Seawanhaka Corinthian Y 

 C. for yachts of y % to 2^-rating or 15 to 25ft. racing length, is still 

 in doubt, the first attempt at a race, on Sept. 21, having failed for lack 

 of wind. The second day's work in a fair sailing breeze resulted in 

 an easy win for Ethelwynn. 



The challenger was taken to Oyster Bay on Sept. 13 and overhauled 

 at Abrams's shipyard, Cold Spring Harbor; being rubbed down and 

 pot-leaded and her spars shipped and sails bent. When afloat for the 

 first time m American waters she made a very handsome annearance 

 with her mahogany deck and wales, the latter set off by the double 

 beading and gold stripe. Her rather broad transom is carved and 

 gilded in addition to the name "Spruce" in gold and blue Her bam- 

 boo spars have attracted much attention, such large sticks being a 

 novelty in this country, where bamboo is known only in the form of 

 fishing poles. Her mast is about 4^in. in diameter at the dock and 

 diminishes very little to the top. Her roller jib has not been shipped 

 and will not be used here; but it was at the Seawanhaka club house 

 and also excited some curiosity, being the first one seen in this coun- 

 ry. Mr. Brand was under way during last week about Oyster Bay 

 ut the weather was light indeed. 1 ' 



Olita has been entirely re-rigged with Young's hollow »mr««i.H 

 ails by Wilson & Griffin, and will sail in any open raws O^SePt 17 

 he was under way m charge of two young sailors, her racing crew 

 Messrp. Vaux and Burchard, being absent. In going about she proved 

 too quick for the young hand at the rider, and the result was a eaiT- 

 size. Spruce came to her rescue, and also the naphtha launch Twi 

 light, under charter by Mr Brand as his "Hattie Palmer," and she 

 was righted and towed in without damage. 



Ethelwynn came over to Oyster Bay from Greenwich on Sept 19 

 and the two rivals were under way on Friday, but with hardly anv 

 wind. On Friday night she was measured by Mr. Hyslop her water 



line with lOOlbs. of lead being 15.14, and with 1501bs. 15.24. The trial of 

 the boat without ballast and with different weights shows that she is 

 quite as fast in very light weather with lOOlbs. as with no weight in 

 her. and as the season is late and strong winds, or even an equinoctial 

 gi'e are to be looked for at any moment, it was decided to put in 

 1501bs. This would allow her tn carry 218sq tt., the square root of 

 which is 14.76, but the measurement of her sails showed less by 22sq. 

 ft. The mainsail measured but 165sq. ft., while the jib used in wind- 

 ward work measured 353q. ft., or 197sq. ft. all told. The mainsail 

 used was that made by Wilson and Griffin, a very good sail, while the 

 diminutive jib was cut after Mr. Wilson's pattern, an odd-looking but 

 good sail. Spruce was measured on Saturday morning when just off 

 the ways, a weight of 3001bs., to represent crew, being placed on board 

 her, as on the other Doat. To Mr. Brand's great astonishment she 

 came out 15.83 on the waterline, or some 3in. more than when meas- 

 ured early in June at Southampton, in spite of the fact that her lift- 

 ing bulb-fin and hoisting gear had been removed, lessening the weight 

 over lOOlbs. The final commutations, after measuring the windward 

 jib and the second of the three mainsails, showing a curious coinci- 

 dence, the measurement coming out exactly 15ft., without a fraction. 



FIRST DAY— SATURDAY, SEPT. 21. 



Friday and Saturday are remarkable for the highest temperature of 

 the entire summer, the record in New York at 4:80 P. M. on the latter 

 day being 96 degrees. Friday was hot and sultry in the extreme, with 

 a very light S. W. wind, and though Saturday morning promised 

 better with a light S. W. wind and some indications of more, the after- 

 noon was as bad as it could be for yacht racing. The two yachts wore 

 towed out by their naphtha tenders just before noon, and the steam 

 yacht Oneida with the race committee aboard ran out to the Center 

 island buoy, where the line was marked by a float and flag anchored 

 N. W. of the buoy. With the committee were Messrs. H. K. Sturdee, 

 representing Mr. Brand, and F. B. Jones, of the Indian Harbor Y. C, 

 Mr. Field's club, to represent him. The Indian Harbor Y. C. launch 

 was in attendance on Ethelwynn. The steamer Aurora came up from 

 New York just before the start with a number of yachtsmen and 



before Spruce anchored the committee decided to call the race, and 

 started in the Oneida's launch for that purpose. Com. Benedict 

 passed a line to Spruce and towed her in ahead of Ethelwynn. 



SECOND DAY. 



First Race— Monday, Sept. 23. 

 Sunday was, if anything, hotter, calmer and more oppressive than 

 Saturday, and Monday morning was but little cooler. There was, how- 

 ever, a nice S. W. breeze inside the harbor, though it was calm outside 

 at 10 A. M. When the Oneida ran out at noon there was a light breeze 

 from S.W. by W., and the mark was set a little later for a course N.E. 

 by E Spruce had been out of water over Sunday, and on Monday 

 morning early Ethelwynn was carried up the beach and laid on edge 

 in a very odd position, her masthead touching the beach. Her bottom 

 was rubbed down and polished, and when the tide was well up, at 11 

 o'clock, she was righted and launched. Only lOOlbs. of her lead was 

 replaced, the 501bs. carried just inside the forward bulkhead on Satur- 

 day being removed. Her large jib, a new sail, was not satisfactory, 

 and was not set on Saturday off the wind, but by dint of 

 ^ hard stretching of the luff rope it was improved, and she 

 * set it as soon as the course was given— a run to lee- 

 ward. The tide was still running a strong flood when the 

 preliminary signal was given at 12:30, the wind being of moderate 

 strength. The working for the line begaD with the preparatory at 

 12:40, Ethelwynn dodging about in a very lively manner to keep the 

 weather gauge of Spruce. There was not much choice of position in 

 a one gun start down wind, but still Ethelwynn flitted about to wind- 

 ward of Spruce until just before gunfire, when she jibed over and 

 went straight for the line, crossing some 5 or 6s. ahead and breaking 

 out her spinaker to port. Spruce, close astern, soon had her spinaker 

 out and drawing and blanketed the leader, but Ethelwynn luffed out; 

 however, Spruee soon got by her to windward after running off the 

 true course. Spruce now ran ahead until she was clear of all blanket- 

 ing, the wind being a little lighter. After the first 20m. Ethelwynn, 

 for no visible reason, began to gain on Spruce, and after about 15m. 

 of slow work by both was under Spruce's lee beam. Ethelwynn held 



ladies on board. There were many yachts about, from the big steam 

 yacht Corsair down to small catboats. 



A light wind was blowing, about W.S W., enough to send the two 

 boats along very fast as they worked about the line, and the tide had 

 just turned ebb. At 12:25 Messrs. Ward and Zerega started in the 

 club naphtha to lay the leeward mark, a float with red ball, the course 

 being N.E. by E., 3 miles. At 12:35 a preliminary signal was set, and 

 at 12:45 the preparatory was given, the start being at 12:50. Just be- 

 fore the start both were on starboard tack some 50yds. above the 

 line standing S.E.; Spruce paid away about 30s. before the gun and 

 Ethelwynn followed. Ethelwynn was very smart with her Bpinaker, 

 having it set and broken out as she crossed the line 53 ahead, Spruce 

 losing a little time in breaking the stops. With spinakers to port 

 they ran on slowly, the wind dropping almost as they crossed the line. 

 Ethelwynn soon ran ahead of Spruce and had a lead of 30vds , then 

 Spruce ran up and blanketed her and they did a little luffing; soon 

 Ethelwynn drew clear again. In the first hour they sailed only a 

 couple of miles, then the wind hauled to the northwest and spinakers 

 came in, Spruce taking the first of the breeze and running away, car- 

 rying a reaching jib while Ethelwynn, though she had once set her 

 large jib and taken it in. continued under her working jib. They were 

 timed at the lee mark: Spruce 2:05:35, Ethelwynn 2:07:43. There was 

 now a light wind, just enough to set them sailing instead of drift- 

 ing; with sheets in Ethelwynn walked up on Spruce, pointing and foot- 

 ing, and in a short time had made up the lost two minutes and was on 

 Spruce's weather beam as they stood in on starboard tack toward 

 Lloyd's Neck. The wind fell here, and Ethelwynn in trying to tack 

 lost her way and lay for some time becalmed and unable to regain 

 headway; Spruce, with her crew to leeward and boat heeled so as to 

 give good draft to the sails, holding her course and keeping what lit- 

 tle way she had. In a short time she was clear ahead and able to luff 

 across Ethelwynn's bows, and she held on until when well under the 

 shore she was some 300yds. ahead. Both boats stood on the inshore 

 tack each time until the board touched the sand, then made a short 

 leg off. 



They now worked the shore in short and frequent tackR, dodging 

 the strong ebb tide, gaining and losing alternately; but at 3:25 Ethel- 

 wynn was again ahead, crossing Spruce's bow when on the port tack. 

 They held on along the shore for a time, making little headway, then 

 Ethelwynn started out to cross the tide on a long port tack She was 

 carried far to leeward, and when she went on starboard tack the tide 

 was on her weather bow and swept her back to where she had been an 

 hour before— under Lloyd's Neck. Spruce worked the shore for a 

 while longer, being generally praised for so doing; but finally her turn 

 came, and with hardly any wind she met the ebb tide. The result was 

 that at 4:35 she dropped anchor well back under Lloyd's Neck and 

 just a little ahead of Ethelwynn; the latter sailed on until "beside 

 Spruce, when she signaled her tender and took a line for home. Just 



well to windward for a time, but as they neared the mark she bore 

 down for it with a lead of possibly 50yds. At 1:38 her spitiaker came 

 in and her boom jibed over and soon after she turned, the times being: 

 Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 1 39 40 54 40 00 17 



Spruce 1 39 57 54 57 



There was now a good breeze, and freshening gradually until white- 

 caps began to show when the en.t of the round was reached, off Cen- 

 ter Island buoy. Ethelwynn set her odd little Wilson jib and began 

 to open the distance, soon having a long lead on Spruce. She stood 

 inshore on one long starboard tack, her crew lying flat on deck and 

 the boat standing up very stiffly, while with both of her crew seated 

 upright on the gunwale Spruce heeled considerably. When close in- 

 shore by Lloyd's Neck at 2 o'clock, Ethelwynn went about for the 

 first time and stood up along the beach, splitting the ebb tide and 

 going very fast. In the next half hour she made a number of short 

 tacks inshore, gettiDg away steadily from Spruce, which was sailing 

 the same course At last Ethel wyDn started out to cross the tide that 

 had been fatal to her on Saturday, but now she had a fresh breeze and 

 some sea. As she went on she pointed high and rode the seas lightly 

 and easily, throwing little spray, while the bluffer bows of Spruce 

 pounded "the water badly. Ethelwynn fetched the mark very cleverly, 

 but Spruce did not allow enough for the strong ebb tide, and had to 

 make a greater number of short tacks before rounding. The times at 

 the end of the first round were: 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 3 02 02 1 22 22 05 48 



Spruce 3 08 07 1 28 10 



Ethelwynn made a good turn, but was slow in setting her spinaker 

 flying. She was so far ahead that Spruce could not blanket her and 

 she ran off very fast, though with less wind. Spruce made a good 

 stern chase, as the times show, making a gain of a minute. 



Actual. Elajjsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 3 36 58 34 56 



Spruce 3 42 03 33 56 01 00 



The windward work began with a stronger tide, but rather less wind 

 and smoother water, than on the first round. Ethelwynn etill managed 

 to increase her lead, but Spruce sailed better to windward than before. 

 The wind let up a little toward the finish, Ethelwynn finally fetching 

 the line on the one long tack across the mouth of the harbor. The fufl 

 times were: 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 4 47 15 1 10 17 02 36 4 02 15 07 41 



Spruce 4 54 56 1 12 53 4 09 56 



The steamer Aurora followed the race, some forty yachts being aiso 

 present. 



TUESDAY'S RACE. 



The course Tuesday was triangulAr, 2 miles to a leg, twice over, 12. 



