338 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[May 17, 1888. 



of the ballast water on the other or windward side, pulls, depresses 

 her back to her equilibrium, the two agencies— on one side, the lee- 

 ward pressure of water against air; on the other side, the weight 

 of the water that is being lifted— overcome the possibility of cap- 

 sizing; and in order that the craf frshall not sink it overwhelmed by 

 a sea, an air chamber is inserted in the bow, one in her overhang 

 astern and a few above the herths, in such a manner that no 

 desirahlo space is lost. 



A remarkable feature of this system consists in the fact that 

 the boat does not carry her ballast; on the contrary, the ballast 

 carries her by her inner bottom, the top of the ballast chambers. 

 The weight of the water in these is felt by her only when it be- 

 comes a desideratum to windward immediately the boat heels, to 

 leeward the sea presses against the air cushions to bring her to 

 an upright position again. 



Surely, the captain has reversed the old adage: 



"Little hoats should keep near shore, 

 Larger boats can venture more." 



My little craft, supplied with a floating anchor and an oil dis- 

 tributing attachment, an invention from Middletown, Conn., to 

 hold her nose to the wind, will ride out like a thing of life a gale 

 that would prove disastrous to the large vessel. 



My object in penning these lines is to bring to the notice of the 

 many readers of the Forest and Stream this innovation, in order 

 that my fellow yachsmen and yacht huildcrs may investigate it and 

 that we may cease to jeopardize lives and avoid disasters with the 

 systems in vogue, that mar, too- often, the pleasantest of all rec- 

 reations, yachting. 



Let it be recorded that in the. latter part of the 19th century it 

 was the custom to encumber vessels with lead and iron for bal- 

 last, to obtain stability, with immense, spars and sails to propel 

 these through the water, until it was discovered that water act- 

 ing upon air, were the proper mediums to do this with less sail 

 pressure and establish an imperishable vessel on the sea. 



Wilmington, Del., May 8. E. O. Wiener. 



SEAWANHAKA CORINTHIAN Y. C. 



THE third regular meeting of the S. C. Y. C, was held on May 

 13, With Rear-Oom. Ellis in the chair. The proposal to allow 

 clubtopsails in Classes V., VI., VII., VIII., was not passed. Mr. 

 Hyslop offered a motion to amend the table of time allowances 

 by taking \ t of the theoretic speed in place of 4 |„, which was 

 adopted. The secretary, Mr. D'Oremieulx, spoke on the subject 

 of the need of a national yacht racing association, and offered 

 the following resolution, which was adopted: "Resolved, That 

 the committee on yachting interests he and hereby are requested 

 to consider the expediency of the formation of a general yacht 

 racing association, or of one to include the principal clubs of the 

 Atlantic coast, such formation to include as far as possible a 

 uniform classification, a uniform system of measurement, and 

 uniform racing rules. They are hereby authorized to add to their 

 number, appoint sub-committees, represent this club officially at 

 all meetings with representatives of other clubs, and to do any 

 and all things which may become necessary to accomplish the 

 object in view. They are further requested to consider the pres- 

 ent method of measuring sails and the ratio of sail area to l.w.L 

 length in the present system of measurement of the club, in its 

 equitable bearing upon the different types of existing vessels, and 

 the sparring and canvassing of safe and seaworthy racing yachts, 

 and to report their conclusions to the club." 



This Committee, consisting of Com. Canlield, Measurer Hyslop, 

 and Mr. Wm. Krebs, was appointed at the first meeting of the 

 year. In connection with the motion Mr. D'Oremieulx spoke at 

 length of the present needs of American yachting, of some intel- 

 ligent direction by those most interested, and of the three great 

 wants: 1st. A uniform classification for yachts in all the principal 

 clubs, enabling owners to build intelligently to any given class, 

 and to race in the same class and with the same boats, all along 

 the coast; alluding to the attempt in this direction made first 

 by the Seawanhaka C. Y. C, last year, the result being that now 

 B.U almost uniform classification exists in the Seawa-nahaka, East- 

 ern, New York, Atlantic and Larehtuont clubs, 2d, A uniform 

 svstem of measurement which, however, need not of necessity 

 iiivoivea uniform table of time allowances; the sail, area and 

 length rule first proposed by Seawanhaka C, Y.C, in 1883 is now 

 in use by the Eastern, Knickerbocker and the Lake Y. R; A. of 

 Lake Ontario, and with some modification by the New York Y. C; 

 and the T, R. A; of Great Britain. 3d, The formation of an Ameri- 

 can or Atlantic Coast Y. R. A,, to be simply a legislative body, 

 modeled on the plan of the British Y, ft. A , and designed to 

 cairy out the same ohjects, the principal of which are uniform 

 racing regulations for all clubs, the possible formation of a board 

 of supreme control, arbitration and appeal; and the securing of 

 Uniformity in all details of yacht racing. 



LARCHMONT Y. C. 



THERE are very few clubs of any kind that at the end of hut 

 eight years can show such substantial evidences of present 

 prosperity "and future, success as the Larchmont Y, 0. laid before 

 its members and guests, who to the number of some 400 gathered 

 about the new house and grounds on Saturday last. The club was 

 founded in 1880 by a few owners of small craft who lived at Larch- 

 mont Manor and sailed about the harbor. These men contributed 

 £5 each toward building a landing stage in the Horseshoe, a small 

 shoal pocket in the shore. The Larchmont Boat Club, as the 

 young organization modestly called itself, soon found friends 

 near by and at the same time became known to yachtsmen about 

 New York, and in a season blossomed out as a full-fledged yaeht 

 club, with a fleet of open racing boats. The Horseshoe was given 

 up, a house on shore chartered, and the boat landing moved to the 

 east side. The club house was in turn replaced by a larger one, 

 which the club has occupied for some years, a fairly comfortable 

 place, but far too small, as the membership limit of 400 was com- 

 plete, with a strong effort under way to increase it to 500. The 

 manv races of the club, the scrub races that were constantly 

 sailed bv the smaller yachts being no less important than the regu- 

 lar club events, made the place a favorite with racing men, and 

 the leading New York yachts, large and small, were in time added 

 to the fleet. 



A couple of years since it became evident that some radical 

 step must be taken to secure larger quarters, owned entirely by 

 the cluh, and a number of schemes were canvassed. The boldest 

 of these was one proposed by a few of the loading men. Com. 

 Alley, Ex-Com. Munroe, and others, hut the extent of the scheme 

 at first, alarmed many of the members. The proposal was to pur- 

 chase the Carver estate and mansion, adjoining the property on 

 which the club house then stood, but to the east of it. The esti- 

 mated cost of the whole scheme was upward of $100,000, a heavy 

 deht for a club of 400, but its promoters had considered the matter 

 long and carefully, and when they finally laid the details before 

 the club their plans were accepted. The necessary cash was 

 raised by the issue of bonds, which were promptly taken within 

 the club": the Carver property was purchased, and last fall the 

 work of remodeling the house, and grounds was begun. 



A new sea wall was first built in front of the grounds, an iron 

 bridge from it leading to the landing stage 2JX50tt., with a second 

 stage at another part for the loading of ice and supplies for the 

 yachts. On the high ground back of the sea wall, commanding a 

 view of the harhor and Sound, including the race courses of the 

 club, is tile Carver mansion, a very handsome building erected in 

 1882. This of itself was too small, so a wing 70 x 34ft. and four 

 stories high has heen added on the east side, a wide piazza run- 

 ning along the entire front of the old and new buildings. In this 

 wing are the kitchens, a large dining hall on the first floor, and 

 two stories above for guests' rooms. The main building contains 

 a large entrance hall, from which open a neat little parlor, used 

 as a committee room, and thesmokingroom,with French windows 

 overlooking the Sound; the bar, a small dining room and the toilet 

 rooms occupy the rest of the floor. On the second floor is the 

 library, a large, handsome apartment commanding a wide view 

 of the Sound and the opposite shore, the rest of the house being 

 divided into rooms for the members, each neatly furnished, with 

 the servants' quarters in the upper story. On the beach are hath 

 houses with fresh water showers. The plans for a second wing 

 are now ready, and will ultimately he needed. 



On Saturday at 4:30 the members gathered about the house, 

 with a large numher of guests, were formed into ranks, headed 

 by Com. Lowcry, and to the music of Cappa'S 7 th Reg. Band they 

 marched to the first home of the club, over in the Horseshoe. 

 Here the ceremonies were commenced by a farewell to the place, 

 the band playing "Old Lang Syne" as the procession moved on to 

 the second house. After calling in turn at the third house, the 

 one in use for the past five years, the hand struck up "The Girl I 

 Left Behind Me" as the procession approached the new building. 

 When the big flagpole in front of it was reached a halt wa3 called, 

 and;Com. Lowery broke out the colors, the hlue and white vertical 

 stripes, with a salute of three guns and many hearty cheers for 

 the club and its officers. In the evening a dinner was served, the 

 first in the new hall; after which came a musical entertainment. 



In the harbor during the day were Vice-Corn. Eaton's cutter 

 Rajah; Thistle, sloop, Mr. Wm, Ziegler, Euryhia, sloop, Mr. C. 

 W. Prver; Mischiet, sloop, E. S. Auchinclose, and Dauntless, 

 schr., Vice-Corn. Colt, New York Y. C. The latter vessel ground- 



ed on the Hen and Chickens in entering the harbor but got off next 

 tide. The festivities were sadly marred by an accident early in 

 the day to the club janitor, John Lunbladt, who in getting ready 

 one ofthe guns discharged it while standing in front of the muzzle, 

 the wad passing through the upper part of the leg. He was 

 promptly attended by Fleet Surgeon Allen and two other doctors 

 and removed to a hospital in New York, where he died on Sun- 

 day night. The sad accident was aggravated by the fact that he 

 was a general favorite with all the members. The success of the 

 Larchmont Y. C. is due very largely to the hard work of a few of 

 the leading members, among whom Ex-Com. Augustiu Munroe 

 deserves the first mention, as he. has given his time and much 

 hard work to the club's interests from the first inception of the 

 original plan in 1880, and has been specially active in the superin- 

 tending the present improvements. 



A NEW METHOD OF SETTING TOPSAILS. 



A PATENT has just been granted to Mr, Chas. A. Post, of the 

 sloop Beatrice, Corinthian and Seawanhaka 0. Y. C, for a 

 new method of sotting the ordinary gaff topsail, by which it can 

 be taken in from the deck without the necessity of sending a hand 

 aloft to cast off the lacing, and avoiding all flowing of the sail at 



the masthead. The luff of the sail is provided with iron hooks, 

 shown in the drawing, sewn to the luff rope at proper intervals, 

 while the ordinary wooden hoops are on the topmast. In setting 

 the sail, a hand at the masthead drops a hoop over each hook in 

 succession as the sail is hoisted, but in lowering the sail the hooks 

 disengage themselves, so that the luff is released from the top- 

 mast, the sail being taken on deck. The weight of a man aloft is 

 sometimes a serious matter when it is blowing so hard that a gaff 

 topsail must be taken in, especially in small craft, but by this 

 method it may he avoided entirely, all the work being done on the 

 deck. 



LAKE ONTARIO.— Belleville, May 5.— Editor Forest ami Stream: 

 I am really at a loss to know what I have done to call forth the 

 powerful sneer of your correspondent "Starboard Tack," who 

 evidently "knows too much that isn't so" and does not know much 

 that is true. Let me say simply, in order to set him right, that 

 the Atalanta has not needed any exeuseslfrom or repudiation by 

 me on account of defeat, as she has only been beaten decidedly on 

 her merits once, namelj T , by the Norah here in 1886. True she was 

 for two years owned in Brighton; it is equally true that she was 

 enrolled in other clubs besides the B. Q. Y. C, and that when 

 those other clubs claimed her record as theirs, I disputed the 

 claim on the ground that she was built here, first enrolled in the 

 B. Q. Y. C, and that her then owner first joined that club. The 

 Merle has plenty of inside ballast as well as her outside lead. The 

 Cyprus is not a "dark horse." She was beaten in every race of the 

 L. Y. R, A. round last year. The reason why I have not consid- 

 ered the Hamilton cutters as in the "first flight" of the second 

 class is that, in my opinion, they are too small to compete suc- 

 cessfully with the Merle and lolanthe, which are built pretty well 

 up to the limit of their class. Of the Hamilton fleet I have a high 

 opinion from what I know and have read of them, particularly 

 the White Wings. Again, the lolanthe is not a new type, but a 

 very fine specimen of an old type; while the Minnie A. is a Belle- 

 ville production and capable of making it very interesting for 

 anything when she has a light breeze, such as favored her here in 

 1886. With these few remarks, which I tender in the best spirit 

 to my critical friend who has been on the wrong tack, I am— Port 

 Tack. 



LANCASHIRE WITCH, steam yacht, owned hy Capt. F. L. 

 James, arrived at New York from Charleston on May 15. She 

 left Portsmouth, England, on Jan. 4. with her owner and the 

 Earl of Scarborough, Mr. W. D. James, Hon. W. Ponsonby and 

 Mr. ,1 . Bailey on board. Since then she. has visited Madeir a and 

 many West Indian ports. 



BRENDA.— The new cutter by this name built for Everett 

 Paine, of Marblehead, by Wm. Eddy, was launched on May 14. 

 She iB 29ft. 6in. over all, 22ft. 6in. l.w.l., 8ft. 6in. beam, 5ft. 3in. 

 draft, with 4,3001bs. of lead on keel. Her pole mast is 38ft. 6in. 

 heel to truck, boom 26ft., gaff 18ft., bowsprit 13ft. outboard. She 

 will he cutter rigged. 



THE BRIDESMAID-ATLANTIS MATCH. 1 



THE following logs of the Bridesmaid and Atlantis in the ocean 

 sail from Southampton to Madeira are taken from Land 

 and Water of April 28: 



The Bridesmaid, ketch, Mr. E. W. Buller, is 69ft, Sin. l.w.l., and 

 19ft. beam. Her greatest draft is 9ft. 8J4in., and her sail area 

 4,447 sq. ft. Her he ; ght at stem is 6ft. Jim., at stern 3ft. 6J^in.; 

 least freeboard 2ft. 10%in., with 3ft. Sin. in depth of bulwark. She- 

 shows a fine deck, and one of the roomy modern companions does 

 not look clumsy, nor in the way, owing to her great beam. At the 

 head of the companion stairs is a large ship clock, which was pre- 

 sented to Mr. Buller in recognition of services rendered by the i 

 Bridesmaid in saving the crew of the Russian barque Helios, 

 which was wrecked on the Gunfleet in the winter of 1S84, One 

 feature below is a large cahin, which Mr. Buller has had fitted as 

 chart room. It is stored with almost numberless nautical instru- 

 ments, and we believe we counted no fewer than eight chronome- 

 ters. She is huilt as strong as wood and metal can make her, and 

 Mr. Buller lias good reason to be proud of his ship. 



The Atlantis, cutter, is steel throughout, 70ft. l.w.l., 13ft. "beam, 

 and greatest draft lift. 6in. She was built last year from 

 a design hy Mr. A. H. Brown, and. it may be said, is a well- 

 modeled craft, with a pretty top. Owing to the weight put on the 

 vessel above water over and above what, her designer calculated 

 she swam deeper than projected, but since heing converted to 

 cutter rig she hasheen lightened, and is a very much faster vessel 

 than last year. The Atlantis has great below deck accomoda- 

 tion, and is beautifully fitted, She. may, perhaps, try her speed 

 against something swifter than the Bridesmaid before the season 

 is out. 



LOG OF THE BRIDESMAID. 



Wednesday, April 4, — Started from Hythe at noon and crossed 

 the line with Atlantis half a cable's length ahead, lying fine on 

 the lee bow. A gathering breeze from S.S.E. gave a long close- 

 hauled reach well on to Hamble Spit, and with Atlantis increas- 

 ing her lead, Southampton Water was worked down in a snow- 

 storm, At 4 P. M. the wind backed to N.N.E., which Bridesmaid 

 took first, and with everything flowing, passed Atlantis at the 

 Calshot Spit light vessel. In a light following wind the Solent 

 was run down, the squaresail and raffce being set and carried to 

 the Needles, which were passed at P. M., with a lead of two 

 miles. On clearing the sea gates the squaresail was handed and 1 

 the spinaker set for the night, and before a freshening breeze she 

 ran fast and had Portland highlight bearing N. hy E. U E. at 

 11:30 P. M. , 



Thursday, April 5.— The wind veered to the eastward and fresh- 

 ened during the night, and the morning watch took in spinaker 

 and set squaresail and raffee. A course was laid straight for 

 Ushant, and Atlantis was not sighted during the day, but pre- 

 sumably was following in Bridesmaid's track. At noon Ushant 

 bore S.W. W., distant 55 miles, and by observation the ship'*" 

 position was lat. 49.18 N., long. 4.30 W, The course was then 

 altered from W. by S. % S., to S. W., and at 6 P. M. signaled num. 

 her passing [Jsbant, and with a rising wind took in first jib ana 

 set No. 3 and hauled down the mizen topsail. Distance run trt 

 midnight from start of the race, 161 miles. 



Friday, April 6.— At 2 A. M., running 10 knots before a fresh 

 breeze from the eastward, and at 9 A. M. hauled down yard top- 

 sail and set jilheadei'. At 2 P. M. took in raffee and set the 

 mizen staysail, ti e w±nd increasing and the sea getting high. The 

 weather was looking wild, and at 5:30 P. M. the squaresail yard- 

 arm broke, and at 6 P. M., with a falling barometer, got down the 

 jibheadea topsail and mizen staysail, and at midnight put a reef 

 in the mainsail and mizen. At, noon the Finisterre land (Cape 

 Villano) bore S.W. % S., distant 183 miles; the lat., by account, 

 being 46.9 N., and long., by time, 7.30 W.; distance run 222 miles. 



Saturday, April 7.— The day commenced with a fresh gale from 

 the eastward, the course steered being S.W. % S. At 1 A. M. the 

 mizen was stowed and the main topmast housed, and at 6 A. M. 

 the Finisterre land bore S.E. by S., about, 20 miles distant. In 

 the forenoon the wind moderated, and at 10 A. M. the topmast 

 was got up and a jibheader set, and at noon a stunsail was hauled 

 out. Atl P.M. the reefs were shaken out of the mainsail and 

 mizen and the squaresailyard repaired and re-rigged and the 

 big sail set. At 4 P, M. blew away raffee yard and then set the 

 sail jibhe.aded. The wind backed to the N.E: in the afternoon 

 and kept increasing, and a very high sea got up. The vessel was 

 hn rd driven, and at 5:30 the squaresailyard broke in the slings, 



distant. 



Sunday, April 8.— The northeast gale continued, and vessel 

 was running heavy, about 10 knots. At 8 A, M. set main boom 

 water sai l, and tried mizen spinaker, but the sea was too high. 

 At midday was running before the northeast trade winds, but 

 thev came puffy and it was too rough and cloudy for accurate 

 observations. Before nigh, tall the vessel was snugged to small 

 jib, stunsail, mainsail, and jihheader, and was then reeling 

 'off 10 knots. At noon Pargo Point bore S.W. by W., distant 

 447 miles. Lat., 39.25 N.; long., 12,18 W.: distance run, 235 

 miles. 



Monday, April 9.— The wind backed northerly, with rain, and 

 the sea smoothed, and at 8 A. M, set the yard topsail, balloon fore- 

 sail, and the mizen topsail, as a main water sail. At noon it 

 veered to the northeast and the main spinaker was set and carried 

 until ^:30 P. M., when the stunsail was hauled out. in its place, 

 and after dark the wind kept increasing. At noon Pargo Point 

 bore S.W. % W.; distant 234 miles. Lat. 30.31 N., hy observation; 

 long., by chronometer. 14.44 W.; distance run, 211 miles. 



Tuesday, April 10.— Opened with frequent rain squalls and shifts 

 of wind, but, coming finer at 6 A. M., the spinaker was set, and at 

 9 A. M. a veering of the wind brought about a jibe. Made more 

 sail and drove, hard, and at 2 P.M. the western point of the Island 

 of Madeira was sighted right ahead. The spinaker, which had 

 been got off on the jibe, was reset at 3 P. M., and carried till 7 P. 

 M., when the yard broke. At 8:15 P. M., atireast of Pargo Point, 

 and observed lights shown at signal station, so displayed three 

 blue lights in triangle, as given in the conditions. Tne wind then 

 died out, and at midnight the vessel had bare steerage way. 

 Latitude at noon 35.56 N v long. 16.45 VV.; distance run, 190 miles. 



Wednesday. April 11.— Lying in the doldrums off Cruz Point till 

 noon, when a light breeze sprung up. At 3 P. M. observed a yacht, 

 supposed to be Atlantis, in the offing. At 4:45 P. M. passed the 

 meridian of Loo Rock Fort, winner of match, and proceeded to 

 anchorage, and at 9 P. M. was hailed by Atlantis alongside. 



ABSTRACT OF THE LOG. 



Lat.N. Long.W. Miles. Wind. 



April 5. .49.18 4.30 161, . .Strong easterly. 



A pril 6. .46.09. . . . 7.30 222. . . Very strong easterly. 



April 7 12.36. .. 9.50 235. , . Very strong from N.E. to E. by S. 



April 8.. 39.25 ...12.18 235. . .Very strong N.E. 



April 9.. 36.31.... 14.44 211. .Strong N. by W. to N.E. 



April 10.. 33.56.... 16.45 190, .Strong, squally, N.N.E.toE. 



April 10 J To Pargo Point, I n alms and light breezes. 

 April 11 ) hence. toMadeira t 



1,325 



LOG OF THE ATLANTIS. 



Weduesday, April 4.— Started at noon from VVinterton Hall, off 

 H s the, in a light breeze, and beat down Southampton Wateruader 

 all big fore and aft sail to Calshot. At 2:30 P. M. Bridesmaid waa 

 about one mile and a half astern, but at 3 P. M. she picked up a 

 northeast wind, and came up and passed Atlantis. At 3:20 P. M. 

 passed the Spit light vessel, set spinaker, and ran before a light 

 breeze down the Solent. At 7 P. M. passed the Needles; Brides- 

 maid leading bv two miles. On night closing in lost sight of 

 Bridesmaid, and at 11:15 P. M. had Portland Lights on a northerly 

 bearing, seven miles distant. Ran with all possible sail; wind 

 moderate from the N.E., and at 4:45 A. M. considered the yacht's 

 position to be abreast of the Start, but it was too hazy to see the 

 light, and from this point departure was taken. 



Thursday, April 5. —At noon lat,, by observation, 49.32 N., long. 

 4.57 30 VV,; 'distance run since noon of the day previous, 175 miles; 

 course. S.W. bv W. Wind moderate from the north-northeast. 

 At 4 P. M. pas'sed through a large fleet of fishing vessels. Wind 

 strong from the northeast during the night. 



Friday, April 8.— At noon lat., by observation, 44.45 N., long. 

 7,20 W. Distance run during the twenty-four hours 155 miles. 

 Breeze strong from the north-northeast throughout the day and 

 night. At 4 A. M. snow squall. 



Saturday, April 7.— Lat., by observation, 44.45 N., long. 10 26 W. 

 Distance, run during the twenty-four hours 214 miles. At 7 P. M. 

 wind increasing, reefed mainsail and took in topsail; 8 P. M. wea- 

 ther loakinfi vei-v dirty. At 2 P. M. heavy rain squalls, wind veer- 

 ing from E.N.E lo E.S.E.; yacht running very heavy during the 

 night. At 7 A. M. double reefed mainsail and housed topmast. 

 At 8 A. M. wind backed to the E.N.E., and increasing greatly in 

 force with a very heavy cross-sea running. At 9.30 A. M. shipped 

 a sea which carried away three stanchions on port quarter and 

 washed the sail-room hatch overboard. Atlantis kept running 

 in a tremendously high sea, and making ten knots under trysail 

 and square sail. _ . 



Sunday, April 8.— The sun was obscured, and no observations 

 possible. Lat. at noon, by account, 41 N.; Long., 1147W. Dis- 

 tance run in the 34 hours, 240 miles. At 1 P. M. the weather was 



