302 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Oct. 5, 1895. 



soon and having to luff and lose way, while Ethelwynn weDt oyer with 

 a good full. With her new j'b sheeted home she reached by Spruce, 

 the latter setting her balloon jib, but taking it Id, the wind being too 

 far forward. At 12:45 she set it again, but took it in five minutes later, 

 the wind heading them off more than ever, until sheets were hardened 

 for a beat. As they worked short tacks under the shore Ethelwynn 

 gained, but she finally tacked off for the buoy, Spruce standing 

 longer inshore before her last tack, and picking up a little. The times 

 were: 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 1 15 15 45 15 03 17 



Spruce 1 18 32 48 33 



There was now a reach to second mark with booms to port, the 

 times showing a gain cf 47s. for Ethelwynn. 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 1 S6 87 21 22 00 47 



Spruce 1 40 41 22 09 



Jibing over with a moderate breeze, they reached in and were timed 

 at the line: 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 2 03 55 26 18 



Spruce 2 06 53 S6 12 00 06 



Ethelwynn started to round with a lead of 3m. 58s., but within four 

 minutes after she passed the mark, standing inshore on port tack, a 

 fresh easterly puff broke her off and then she caught the wind on the 

 other side from the south, and had to go on starboard lack. While 

 she lay between the two winds Spruce came up and stopped very 

 close to her, then the southerly breeze prevailed and both started on 

 again, but very slowly. Out in the Sound yachts and coasters were 

 visible with sheets trimmed to a moderate N E. wind, and up Cold 

 Spring Harbor was a light south wind, but the two racers caught only 

 the end of it. Spruce set her balloon jib while Ethelwynn set her new 

 reaching jib under the working jib. At the end of tha first twenty 

 minutes Spruce was not only well up to Ethelwynn through the fluke 

 at the turn, but was gaining fast, and at 3:30 they were in very close 

 company under Lloyd's Neck shore. Spruce almost caught Ethel- 

 wynn a few minutes later, and finally got on her weather, but the 

 other managed to run out under her lee, then set balloon jib and jibed 

 over at the mark, the times being: 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 2 39 38 36 33 



Spruce 2 39 48 32 55 03 58 



The next leg was tedious and fluky, but full of pretty maneuvering, 

 in which Ethelwynn came out ahead, With booms eased off to star- 

 board for the southerly wind and sheets well slacked they reached 

 along, Ethelwynn gaining at first, but when ten minutes away Spruce 

 lapped her weather quarter and then r^n clear ahead. In a little 

 while Ethelwynn took s*topurt and ran ahead through Spruce's lee. 

 They passed and repassed, and then began a series of hot luffing 

 matches, Ethelwynn being the leader; she would luff and Spruce 

 would follow, then Ethelwynn would keep off with a rush. Finally 

 she got well clear after forcing herself ana Spruce so far to windward 

 that spinakers would draw, and they were set to port before the 

 same old southerly breeze. Ethelwynn was perhaps 30yds. ahead at 

 3 o'clock, both nearing the second mark; the wind was very light now 

 and both were rolling to a beam sea, At 3:17 Ethelwynn caught the 

 long-promised N.E. wind, over went boom and jib, in came spinaker 

 and she trimmed down for the mark, Spruce getting the same wind 

 just 30s. later. Ethelwynn had her reaching jib, while Spruce carried 

 the one big working jib that she used on the wind and when her bal- 

 looner was not set. Soon Spruce set her ballooner, but Ethelwynn 

 held her own, the times being: 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 3 26 59 47 21 00 30 



Spruce 3 37 39 47 51 



On rounding, Ethelwynn luffed and then beaded off a little for a 

 reach to the line, her new jib being set to windward of the working jib, 

 and girted by the latter. She did very poorly under these sails at first, 

 and before long Spruce, under working jib, was under her lee and out 

 clear ahead. The small jib was taken in on Ethelwynn, but still the 

 large one was too much tor her to windward, the wind now heading 

 both, and she fell astern. When 20 minutes out from the mark they 

 both trimmed down against the south wind for a beat to the finish. 

 Spruce went ahead now and her lead increased, while Ethelwynn tried 

 to carry the 36ft jib to windward and still more when her crew was 

 out on deck working to shift jibs. When this was finally accomplished 

 and the best working jib set and trimmed, she began to go to wind- 

 ward in the form of previous days, but Spruce now had a long lead. 

 They went ahead slowly in a light air, Ethelwynn standing in toward 

 Lloyd's Neck while Spruce made shorter tacks out in the Sound. 



Ethelwynn's last tack was made at 4:05, over a mile from the mark, 

 and though she came on very fast with a little more wind out of the 

 harbor, she had overstood by a few yards and came to the finish with 

 sheets a little lifted. Spruce was working up toward the lee end of 

 the line, and when she neared the mark it was apparent from the 

 Oneida that what had a few minutes before seemed an absolute cer- 

 tainty for her was now at best a very doubtful thing. Ethelwynn 

 rushed down on the line very fast, cutting it at the middle, while 

 Spruce, making two tacks within the last five minutes, was pointed as 

 high as possible, in hopes of weathering the lee buoy. The excitement 

 was intense as they reached the line, and at the last moment it was 

 seen that Spruce could squeeze by the buoy without tacking, and that 

 she would cross before Ethelwynn; on they came and the times 

 showed just 23s. in favor of Spruce. The times for the last leg and 

 for the whole course were: 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. Elapsed. Lead. 



8pruce 4 25 44 58 05 1 03 00 3 55 44 23 00 



Ethelwynn 4 26 07 59 08 3 56 07 



Fifth Day—Third Baca— Thursday, Sept. .'<;. 



WINDWARD AND LEEWARD COURSE. 



By Thursday morning the hot weather was well over, and though 

 the threatened cold wave did not reach the coast there was a decided 

 difference in the temperature and also in the force of the wind, a rat- 

 tling breeze from S.W. kicking up a bobbery in the inner harbor of 

 Oyster Bay. The question of sailing the race inside Oyster Bay or 

 Cold SprlDg Harbor was discussed by the coma ittee, there being 

 every opportunity to lay off a clear course in rough water and with a 

 strong breeze without exposing the boats so much as could be the case 

 if they went outside on the Sound. The committee was divided, but 

 finally the outside course was decided on and the yachts were towed 

 out. The conditions outsids were little or no worse than inside, the 

 course being rather under the lee of the high land on Center Island. 

 The wind proved to be S. W. by W., and the course was laid off N.E. by 

 E., 3 miles. After the preliminary signal was given at 13:15. on the 

 last of the ebb. Ethelwynn sailed up to the Oneida and hailed that 

 both parties were desirous of sailing inside. \\ hen Spruce came up 

 she was hailed by the committee and Mr. Brand said that he wanted 

 to race outside or to postpone the race until next day. The 

 latter was out of the question after waiting so long for wind, and 

 the preparatory signal was given at the proper time, followed by 

 the start at 12:30. Spruce had her reefing batten down, for the first 

 time, and her jib set; Ethelwynn was working about under a double- 

 reefed mainsail and no jib. The maneuvering was done about 100yds. 

 short of the starting line, the two working around in complicated 

 curves very close together. At one time both actually collided, but it 

 was done so quickly and unexpectedly that few on the Oneida gra.Sj.iea 

 all the details of the collision. No harm was done, but Spruce went 

 over the line with a red flag flying. As it proved Mr. Brand claimed 

 that Ethelwynn luffed and touched him while on parallel courses, but 

 Mr. Ball claimed that Spruce failed to give way as they came together. 

 Ethelwynn on starboard and Spruce on port. No protest flag was 

 shown by Ethelwynn. Once over the line, Spruce set spinaker to star- 

 board while Ethelwynn ran up a baby jib ot about P6q ft., and also a 

 spinaker. Spruce soon took the lead, at 13:30 Ethelwynn took in her 

 spinaker. At 12:53 Spruce jibed boom to starboard and set spiuaker 

 to port, Ethelwyun now having her spinaker set to starboard. At 

 1:01 Ethelwynn took in her spinaker, and soon after. Spruce, now well 

 ahead, took in hers and jibed to leave the mark on starboard hand, the 

 times being: 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Spruce 1 02 08 33 08 00 08 



Ethelwynn 1 03 16 33 16 



Spruce went by the mark with sheets trimmed and sai's full and at 

 once danced out to windward It was very clear that something was 

 wrong with Ethelwynn, as she luffed up and stopped when by the 

 mark, losing steerage way; her jib was taken in and then one reef 

 was shaken out, and she slowly forged ahead under- single-reefed 

 mainsail only, in pursuit of Sprues, now a good lour minutes away, 

 After some time a small jib was set, but the boat was d*ad, Spruce 

 leaving her faster each minute. Both made several short tacks to 

 avoid a long tow of empty barges. Spruce continued to gain until she 

 was timed at the end or the round with a lead of nearly 9m., at 2:03 00, 

 Aa Ethelwynn neared the home buoy it was clear that something was 

 wrong, and no one was surprised when she made no attempt to round, 

 but sailed up to the Oneida. In answer to a hail, Mr. Field replied that 

 they had no chance of winning and the weather was too bad for them to 

 sail the second round needlessly. Spruce had already shaken out her 

 reef, and under full sail, including spinaker, was far down the course. 

 Fthelwynn sailed in, while the Oneida followed Spruce, timing her at the 

 turn at 2:34:01, and at the finish, after a comparatively easy beat home 

 in a lighter wind and smoother water, at 3:27:27. As later events 

 proved, the wind and sea, even at the start, would have permitted 

 Etbeiw yon to have carried at least a single reef on the wind, and in 

 such wind and wes;' K er she might easily have beaten Spruce. She was 

 badly fjailed f ron» 1 lore the start, at no time having enough canvas 



or her sheets trimmed in. What she is capable of in a good wind and 

 sea was fully Droved next day. After the race Mr. Brand humorously 

 bewailed the fact that at the outset of the negotiations he might have 

 asked for a series of two out of three races in place of three out of 

 flve. Under the circumstances, nothing more was said about the 

 coliision and Spruce's protest, and the exact merits of the case were 

 left unsettled. 



Sixth Day— Fourth Race, Friday, Sept. 27, 



DuriDg the night, Mr. Ball, the helmsman of Ethelwynn, was very 

 ill; for several days he had been unwell, and the wetting and nervous 

 strain of the withdrawal of the boat against his will on the previous 

 day had completely upset him. As it happened his younger brother 

 had already arranged to sail with him in case of Mr. Field being called 

 to business on Friday. Though the two have sailed together all their 

 lives. Mr. Fred Ball had been aboard Ethelwynn on but one occasion, 

 and was entirely unfamiliar with this class of boat. In the morning a 

 doctor was summoned by telephone from Oyster Bay and prescribed 

 for Mr. Ball, but the arrival of his brother on the eariy boat proved 

 the best possible stimulant. At 6 o'clock a strong N.W. windwaB 

 blowing across the Sound, and from the roof of the cluh house the 

 whitecaps could be seen in all directions, while even inside the 

 two harbors there was enough sea for a good wetting. When 

 Commodore Bent-diet reached" the club float, having come across 

 from Greenwich on the Oneida, his first words were that the small 

 craft should not go outside in such weather, and Mr, Cromwell, 

 chairman of the race committee, who came over from Mamaroneck in 

 the powerful 35ft. naphtha launch Titania. once so familiar as a tender 

 to the 70-iooter of the same name, expressed very strongly the same 

 opinion. Mr. Brand and Mr. Sturdee wished to sail on the former 

 course, outside the harbor, but Mr. Stephens, Mr. Ball's representa- 

 tive, Mr. Field having returned to town, objected to the outside 

 course There was no question that the weather outside at 10 o'clock 

 was quite as heavy as such boats should race in. nor that a perfectly 

 fair course, with a very strong wind andagood lump of asea, could be 

 laid inside. Mr. Ball had never sailed in the harbor and had no advan- 

 tage over Mr. Brand in the matter of local knowledge. The crew of 

 Sptuce were both thoroughly used to such conditions, and were phys- 

 ically superior to the crew of the other boat, both light, men and one 

 of them still ill and the other strange to the boat, neither having tried 

 her in heavy weather. While it was not particularly pleasant to de- 

 cline to follow the English boat into any water she would sail in, the 

 manifest physical superiority of her crew and the general opinion of 

 all who had crossed the Sound that morning seemed to warrant every 

 fair effort for the inside course 



After much fruitless discussion Mr. Colgate Hoyt kindly offered to 

 run theparty outside in his cabin naphtha launch, a staunch craft of 

 85ft., and the principals, with their representatives and four members 

 of the raca committee— Mr. Wetmore having been called to town — 

 boarded her. As they passed out ot the harbor the launch took the 

 seas over her bows, the Titania an eighth of a mile ahead fairly stand- 

 ing on end at times and throwing the seas in all directions. Messrs. 

 Brand and Sturdee, with some of the committee, were by no means 

 satisfied, and still desired to go outside. Mr. Stephens objected to 

 going outside, but he and Mr. Ball stated that Ethelwynn would start 

 over any course that the eoomittee laid out, and would sail the race 

 to a finish. It was finally decided, as the launch c»me in, that a tri- 

 angle should be laid out just inside the bar and lighthouse in the outer 

 harbor, Mr. Brand consenting and Mr. Sturdee still holding out for 

 the outside course. This much being settled, the committee came 

 ashore and adjourned to the roof of the club house for a meeting, the 

 big club telescope being taken up for a look over the Sound. There 

 being only four they were divided, two holding out strongly for the 

 outside course. When they finally returned to the float, they an- 

 nounced that they could reach no decision and would leave the matter 

 to the two representatives, Mr. Ball being already under way in his 

 boat to break his crew in a little. This left the question where it was, 

 and to save valuable time the proposal to toss for choice was made, a 

 penny was thrown and Mr. Sturdee called heads and won; all hands 

 hurried aboard the Oneida's launch except Mr. Brand, who boarded 

 his boat, and they started for the Center Island buoy. On the way 

 out Ethelwynn was hailed and ordered to go outside, and both she and 

 Spruce sailed the entire distance, the former under whole sail and the 

 latter with one reef down. 



So much time had been wasted in the discussion that when the 

 Oneida reached the line at 1:45 the wind and sea were much less vio- 

 lent than in the early morning, and as she beat out to the line half an 

 hour later it was seen that Ethelwynn was carrying full sail very well 

 in spite of the light weight of both of her men. 



The start was given at 2:35, Ethel wynn making the worst start of 

 the series, 30a. astern of Spruce. The same triangle was sailed, the 

 first leg with booms well off the starboard quarter and the second 

 almost dead to windward. With whole mainsail and working jib 

 Ethelwynn danced merrily along from the start and was soon even 

 with Spruce, the latter under a single reef and her working jib. When 

 ten minutes out Ethelwynn began to luff and soon had Spruce far 

 above her course, keeping in a position to maneuver as she pleased 

 when the mark was reached. As they came down Spruce, having 

 shaken out her reef, was compelled to s'tand by the mark before she 

 luffed and made her turn, thus leaving room inside for Ethelwynn, 

 who, after making her turn short of the mark, easily passed inside and 

 to windward of Spruce. The times were: 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Spruce 2 48 03 23 03 00 05 



Ethelwynn 2 28 08 23 08 



Ethelwynn was hardly on Spruce's beam before the latter whirled 

 about, and being on starboard tack could claim right of way. Ethel- 

 wynn tacked at once and trimmed down, eating out very fast from 

 under the other's lee, and soon having a clear lead to windward. Her 

 crew were not even hiking, but lay flat on the weather deck, the sheets 

 were flowed and the boat was fairly jumping out to windward in a 

 good sea, nearly or quite as bard weather as on the preceding day. 

 In the first twenty minutes she opened a tine lead, then Spruce caught 

 a favoring puff and came up on her until in almost a moment, as it 

 seemed to the spectators on the Oneida, they were close together. 

 Then, both being trimmed down on the same course, Ethelwynn again 

 walked clear out to windward. As it afterward proved, it was at this 

 point of the race that the alleged foul on which Mr. Brand protested 

 occurred. According to him, as he came down fast on starboard tack, 

 Ethelwynn, on port tack, was approaching him, standing on until he 

 waa obliged to luff to avoid a collision. Ethelwynn at once came 

 about on starboard tack, and then, Mr. Brand having, as he claimed, 

 an overlap, she luffed out to windward of him. 



The whole incident was watched by those on the Oneida. After the 

 previous day's fiasco there was the keenest interest on the part of 

 everyone in the possibility of Ethelwynn redeeming herself, and there 

 was not a moment, especially during this first windward play, when 

 the boats were unnoticed. This particular detail of Spruce's rapid 

 gain was of course must carefully watched, and yet no one saw the 

 luffing and alleged violation of the rules. When the protest flag was 

 shown as Spruce rounded the mark 20ai. later, not even Mr. Sturdee 

 could guess what the grounds were. 



When straightened away under Spruce's lee bow, Ethelwynn, as in 

 the first part of the beat, held a better wind and made less leeway 

 soon going well clear ahead; they tacked at 3:20, Spruce first; as they 

 Stood away from the steamer it was plain that Ethelwynn was already 

 a safe oistance to windward again. At 3:31 she tacked clear of Spruce 

 the other following. They made several more tacks, the distance 

 constantly widening; Ethelwynn fetched the mark easily, out Spruce 

 failed to weather it and was forced to make a short tack to round 

 setting her red flag as she did so. The times were: 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 3 33 36 45 28 02 15 



Spruce .3 45 46 47 45 



The last leg was an easy reach, the end of the rouud betDg timed: 

 Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 3 54 39 31 03 



Spruce 3 56 24 20 38 00 25 



Ethelwynn had now a lead of 1m, 45s., but wind and sea were both 

 1 ghter inshore, and two of the remaining three legs were reaching 

 Sue set her balloon jib and eased sheets, making good speed against 

 the tide. The first mark had capsized in the sea, but the float, was 

 clainly visible, and the Oneida ran up to aid them in locating it The 

 turn was timed: 



Actual. Elapsed Gain. 



Ethelwynn 4 15 05 20 36 



Spruce .-..,4 16 13 19 49 37 00 



There was much more wind and sea out in the Sound, as was testi- 

 fieo by the larger yachts coming in from various directions for Sea- 

 wanhaka Harpor and the annual club dinner Ethelwynn had the 

 race safely in hand if no accident happened, and she was sailed boldiv 

 but carefully, her crew laid flat on deck and her sheets were slacked 

 offsetting ner take the big seas easily. Spruce was tnakin" fiarder 

 weather of it, her bow smashed the seas ana at times she jumped out 

 until one could see the keel uuder her mast. Her crew was obliged to 

 hike out in oraer to hold her up. At one time Ethelwynn hardened 

 sheets a little too much and Spruce seemed 1.0 gain, but soon she was 

 dancing away again as her sheets were bettor trimmed. The times at 

 the last turn were: 



Actual. Elapsed. GaiD. 



Ethelwynn 4 54 20 39 15 00 24 



Spruce 4 55 52 39 39 



There was plenty of wind and some sea on the reach in, and both 

 sailed very last, Spruce picking up 3f j. The fiDish was timed 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 5 11 36 17 16 



Sprues.. 5 12 46 16 54 00 34 



Ethelwynn won by lm. 10s. 



Immediately after coming ashore Mr. Brand conferred with Mr. 

 Sturdee and the latter wrote out the following protest: 



Oyster Bay, Sept. 27, 1895.— Sir: I have the honor to protest Ethel- 

 wynn's being awarded to-day's race on the ground of violating sec- 

 tions 3 and 7 of rule 34 of the Seawanhaka Yacht Club's regulations. 

 I am, sir, your obedient servant, 



H. King Stdrdee, representing J. Arthur Brand. 



To C. A. Sherman, Esq , Secretary. 



The sections referred to are: 



Sec. 3. When both yachts are close hauled or both free, or both have 

 the wind aft and have the wind on opposite sides, the yacht with the 

 wind on the port side shall keep clear. 



Sec. 7. An overlap is established when an overtaking yacht has no 

 longer a free choice on which side she will pass, and continues to exist- 

 as long as the leeward yacht by lulling or weather yacht by bearing 

 away is in danger of fouling. 



The committee at once summoned Messrs. Brand and Ball and 

 heard the evidence on both sides. Mr. Brand's claim was that as 

 Spruce was on starboard tack, Ethelwynn on port came so close that 

 he was obliged to luff to avoid her It is admitted that Ethelwynn 

 tacked, and Spruce was not forced about. The second claim was made 

 that as soon as Ethelwynn tacked Spruce had an overlap, and yet 

 Ethelwynn luffed to prevent her passing to windward. Mr. Brand also 

 claimed that the foul was nTore than technical, and cost him more than 

 the difference of lm. 10s. at the finish. 



Besides a certain amount of negative evidence in the fact that none 

 of those on the Oneida, though watching the boats intently, noticed 

 any semblance of a foul, Mr. Brand was in the position of being com- 

 pelled to prove the nearness of the boats. Mr. Ball stated that at no 

 ttmi after Spruce made her first tack at the mark were the two near 

 enough to have touched, and that he went on starboard tack in good 

 time and was so far ahead that Spruce had no overlap. In all such 

 cases the protestaut, whether right or wrong, is in a necessarily weak 

 position, provided that no contact cccurs, the onus of proof that a 

 contact would have occurred resting with him, as in the first Vigilant- 

 Defender dispute. We have no doubt that Mr. Brand was perfectly 

 honest in his contention, but the circumstances were such that he 

 might easily be mistaken as to the exact distance. He was sailing in 

 a wind and sea, biklrg out on starboard side, the boat well heeled, and 

 his own mainsail shutting out the view of the other boat save for 

 hasty glimpses under the boom. If, as he contends, Ethelwynn was 

 headine directly for him, her crew, on the port gunwale, would in all 

 probability be able to see Spruce directly ahead; they were in a 

 position to measure distance more accurately than he, and they were 

 too experienced to risk disqualification by forcing him about right 

 under the eyes of the committee. The only evidence before the com- 

 mittee was the opposite statements of the two parties, and under the 

 circumstances tbey could hardly decide otherwise than against Mr. 

 Brand. The decision was reached late on Friday night, but was not 

 announced. During the dinner several Englishmen present urged Mr. 

 Brand to withdraw the protest, and Mr. Sturdee favored this course, 

 and the decision was not announced until, at 8 o'clock next morning, 

 Mr. Brand still declined to withdraw it. 



No one who saw the race had any idea save that it was won Bolely 

 on its merits. The challenger, with a boat fitted for rough water, and 

 in fine physical condition, elated over the almost certain chance 

 of a third and final victory, was matched by two men of light 

 weight, one seriously ill and the other new to the boat, depressed 

 by the defeat of the preceding day and ignorant of the boat's capa- 

 bility in hard weather. With a grit and determination worthy of the 

 highest recognition, they followed the Englishman out just where he 

 wanted to go and led him in. While Mr. Ball naturally had no special 

 desire to sail outside, he at no time declined to do so, the objection 

 coming from Mr. Stephens, backed by the opinions of practical 

 yachtsmen who had crossed the Sound in the morning. As it turned 

 out, the sea and wind outside at 2 P. M. were no worse than inside at 

 10 A. M. ; the boats could have stood more; but the chief topic of con- 

 versation during the dinner in the evening was the wonderful per- 

 formance of the two loft, boats in a wind and sea many present had 

 sailed in during the afternoon, following the latter part of the race 

 and witnessing the last windward leg, where the wind and sea were 

 worst, and all were loud in their praise of both boats and men. 



Seventh Day— Fifth Race— Saturday, Sept. 28. 



TRIANGULAR COURSE. 



Saturday morning was a fine day, a little cool for summer and warm 

 for fall, the wind being N.E. moderate, with smooth water outside. 

 The agreement was that in the event of a fifth race being necessary the 

 two parties should toss for choice of course, windward and leeward or 

 triangular. The decision of the committee ou Mr. Brand's protest waa 

 announced about 8 o'clock, and while all were at breakfast the course 

 was decided. Mr. Kerr tossed a quarter, Mr. Sturdee called tails and 

 won, as on the preceding day. the American eagle on the coin coming 

 up on top. As a matter of course Mr. Brand chose the triangle. Prior 

 to the arrival of Mr. Field, Mr. Stephens took charge of the boat, she 

 was beached at high water and turned on edge. The centerplate was 

 found to be badly buckled, being entirely too light for rough water, 

 and the rudder, a clumsily made affair, was also bent. Some unsuc- 

 cessful attempts were made to improve both, then while the topsides 

 were sandpapered and the bottom polished, Mr. Stephens went over 

 all the brasswork with file and sandpaper, putting the stem and keel 

 band, the plate and rudder iuto the best possible condition, When Bhe 

 was again floated the immersed surface had been improved, but was 

 still by no means perfect. 



After the special races of the club were started at 11 A. M., the 

 Oneida ran out to Center Island Buoy and the launch was sent out 

 with the two mark floats. The yachts came out under full sail, but 

 with poorer canvas than in any previous trial; Ethelwynn's mainsail 

 rolled and flapped in the leech, and Spruce's was in poor shape. 



The start was given at 12:45, Ethelwynn over about 8s. ahead. The 

 wind was moderate from N E., with a comparatively smooth sea, 

 when Ethelwynn luffed around the lee mark. It was a beat to the 

 first mark, Ethelwynn gaining very fast at first, then losing a little 

 and picking up at the end of the leg. Once both had to keep clear of 

 a coaster winged out. After ten tacks Ethelwynn rounded the mark, 

 the times being: 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 1 37 37 52 30 02 15 



Spruce 1 39 52 64 52 



When Ethelwynn passed the mark her crew started to set the bal- 

 loon jib, but the gear fouled and it was five minutes before the sail 

 was drawing. Spruce was very quick with her balloon jib, the sail 

 being set sharply at the mark. 



They reached across with a good breeze and light sea, the times at 

 the second mark being: 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 2 03 40 26 03 00 45 



Spruce 2 06 40 26 48 



The next leg was run with sheets well off to port after the jibe. The 

 end of the round was timed: 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 2 33 38 29 58 01 00 



Spruce 2 37 38 30 58 



Ethelwynn had gained lm. on the last reach and 4m. on the whole 

 rouud. The beat to windward was made in sh6rt tacks, fourteen to 

 the two miles, Ethelwynn steadily gaining. There was ve y little in- 

 terference on the part of outside yachts at any time, but in this wind- 

 ward work a well-known racing 25-footermade herself conspicuous by 

 the ignorance or bad taste o£ her helmsman in crowding under the lee 

 of Spruce. At no time was either yacht interfered with, but it waa 

 necessary on several occasions to use the Oneida's whistle to warn off 

 boats that were needlessly near. 



The first mark was timed: 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 8 23 19 4 9 41 03 38 



Spruce 3 31 07 53 19 



This time the crew of Ethelwynn was ready aud the balloon jib went 

 up at the turn, the boat reaching off at a good speed. The times 

 showed a gain for Spruce of Is. in a two mile reach in a good breeze: 

 Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 3 47 50 24 30 



Spruce, 3 55 37 24 29 01 



The last leg was a procession, the lead of the American boat being 

 increased by an unfortunate fluke at the finish. Ethelwynn covered 

 the whole leg with a reaching breeze, but some minutes after she fin- 

 ished the wind shifted to the south, and Spruce was compelled to tack 

 four times to cross the line. The times were; 



Actual. Elapsed. Gain. 



Ethelwynn 4 30 09 42 19 02 54 



Spruce 4 40 50 45 13 



Ethelwynn won by lOmin., 41sec, at least 8min. of which was made 

 by fair sailing. 



The work of Ethelwynn and her crew in the last two races com- 

 pleted retrieved the reputation of both, and st owed that the boat w&3 

 faster on nearly all courses and in all weathers but a drift than Spruce, 

 the letter's best point in real sailing being on a reach. That he was 

 defeated at all is due to Mr. Brand's boat ana not to himself, he did all 

 that was possible to get the best speed out of her. 



The use 01 the Oneida as the committee boat, through the generosity 

 of Cjm. Benedict, made the work comparatively easy for the commit- 

 tee. With everything aboard the yacht running as if by clockwork in 

 its regular routine, the committee was saved much extra labor that 

 att "ds rre use of a tug or launch for this business, Com. Benedict, 

 w hile resigning the vaeht to the committee for the trial and cup races, 

 was active in assisting them in every possible way. The delay in- the 

 i aces compelled him to alter his priyate plans, but as soon as the com- 



