248 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April 11, 1889. 



WHAT SOME PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT 

 THE DEED OF GIFT. 



ALTHOUGH the brief, manly and comprehensive document, in 

 which the Messrs. Stevens and their colleagues set forth 

 their intentions concerning the future of the America's Cup has 

 been dnublv repudiated by the New York Y. C. and has even been 

 crowded out of the club book to make way for a mixture of 

 verbiage and nonsense designed to keep the Cup in New York, 

 there is much thai is valuable in the original words of the donors, 

 and many well known yachtsmen might, spend a little time to 

 advantage in studying both the original deed and also the first 

 revision of 1882, which is practically in force for the coming race. 



If they would read carefully the original deed they would find 

 in every word and line a desire for a fair, sportsmanlike and 

 equal contest, to be determined on the merits of the yachts, the 

 main feature being the mutual agreement on all terms at an 

 early date, failing which, and not hefore, a race over the club 

 course can be claimed. 



If Com. Gerry had read carefully the second deed of gift he 

 would not have made the blunder wbich be did on Thursday last, 

 when he called attention to tbe fact that the challenge of the 

 Y. R. S. did not give a full seven months notice. The actual 

 wording of the deed is: "The challenging party shall give Sfe 

 months notice In writing, naming a day for the proposed race, 

 which day shall not, 'he later than seven months from the date of 

 the notice. This condition the challenger has complied with to 

 the letter. 



If some others had read either deed carefully they would 

 not. have fallen into the mistake of saying that to recog- 

 nize a challenge in the 70ft. class would be to permit a challenge 

 from a 40 or 50ft. yacht, in the original and also the second deed 

 the minimum size of challengers is distinctly defined thus: "The 

 vacht or vessel to be of not less than 30 nor more than 300 tons, 

 measured by the Custom House rule in use by the country of 

 the challenging party." Yalkyrie's tonnage is 50.70, Genesta's is 

 75, Marjoric's 59, Tata's 40, Clara 20, Annasona 32, Norman 30.11; 

 thus the latter, 5t».53ft. l.w.L, and 12.7ft. beam, is as small a craft, 

 as could challenge. Either Thistle, 100 tons, or Valkyrie. 5C.76 

 tons, would if reduced to 30 tons be about. 58ft. l.w.l., a size in 

 which excellence of model may be just as thoroughly tested as in 

 Volunteer's class. 



THE CRUISE OF THE ORINDA. 



aX W. H. WINSTjOW, M.D. 



[Continued from Page 2H8.'] 



THE next day opened with rain ; Noir and Olie left for home, and 

 Jerry and I settled down into a determination to go to East- 

 port or drown. The wind was southeast, the sea began to beat in 

 hard, the barometer fell fast and our position soon became dang- 

 erous. We must go back north of the bar or seek another har- 

 bor. A gale was coming on undoubtedly. We got under way and 

 stood up the bav. skirting t he eastern and northern shores and 

 studying the chart. The wind and sea increased steadily, it began 

 to raiu, and I did not like to run into places that I had never vis- 

 ited for fear of striking a shoal spot and smashing things. North 

 of the island there was calmer water and safe shelter, and we 

 hauled to off Sorrento, ran across to Eden and let go the large 

 anchor in Salisbury Cove, The wind was blowing off the moun- 

 tains in fearful gusts, and, in the intervals, it was heavy enough. 

 We furled everything snugly, lowered the spinaker boom to the 

 bowsprit, housed the topmast and went below for dry clothing, as 

 we were now wet to the skin. Then Meringue took the boat and 

 went ashore for needed supplies. I discovered soon that the 

 \aeht was dragging and let go tbe other anchor, veering ca- 

 bles to thirty and twenty fathoms. We had dragged into deeper 

 water and the cables seemed almost up and down then, and 

 she still dragged. I was wet again; it was getting dark; 

 Meringue and the boat were not in sight, and it made 

 me mad to see that I was in for another scrape, and to see how 

 the cutter lay broadside to the wind, even stuck her quarter to- 

 ward it and jerked and nagged away at the cables, pulling the 

 anchors right along at every blast. It was not comfortable to 

 think of palling those heavy cables and anchors aboard and 

 making sail myself in the rough gale and pouring rain, with only 

 the help of a land lubber, But it had to be done, because we had 

 lost tbe lay of the laud, were out iu deep water where cables stood 

 up and down, keeping the anchors moving, and just hajf a mile to 

 leeward were the red buoys that marked an ugly, spiteful reef of 

 rocks upon which we were surely drifting. I explained the neces- 

 sity and danger to Jerry, and we discussed the situation. A tug 

 lay at the wharf iu the cove with steam up and lights aboard, and 

 we thought we might attract attention and get help. So we got 

 out two fog horns and hlew as men never did before, but the wind 

 threw back the sound in our faces and no one took anv notice of 

 us. Still we were drift ing and could see the red buoy, though it 

 was almost night. .Oh! if Meringue would only come'to help us! 

 He must soon or lie will not be able to in the small boat, as we 

 must cut and run somewhere or go to pieces upon the rocks. At 

 last my sailor man came out of the darkness and I helped him 

 aboard and explained our predicament, 



"Wc must get in the anchors, make sail and beat up under the 

 land, and that quickly," said he. 



"Yes, but those anchors and cables will break our backs.'and 

 we have no room to reef." 



" Well, we'll get her in shore somehow." This supreme confi- 

 dence in himself and the yacht made a tingling response run 

 through my saturated body— wet substances are good conductors 

 of electricity— and I pulled down my sou'wester, routed Jerry out 

 and began to haul iu the stiff, heavy, water-soaked cables. ' The 

 little anchor was duly stowed, then the large one was attacked, 

 and it took the hardest kind of work to get it aboard, but we had 

 It at last, though my heart was thumping in my throat, and my 

 back felt broken. Theu wc lashed the throat of the gaff down and 

 hoisted the peak of the mainsail. I took the tiller and trimmed 

 bha sheet, and Meringue gave her the staysail and trimmed its 

 sheet, and we were under way. That red buoy and reef were not 

 more than a hundred feet away when we filled. It was surprising, 

 it was exciting, it was glorious to see how Orinda stuck her bow- 

 sprit up to the wind, became steady and manageable, and walked 

 right away to windwaid against the choppy sea and fierce blasts 

 oft the mountains. She went in stays as easily as with all sail on 

 a summer sea, and, with the small area of sail set, made excellent 

 legs and took us rapidly to windward. My anxiety about her 

 ability vanished. She had never been tried before, aud I was de- 

 lighted to find that I could depend upon her in such an ugly gale. 



We were getting under the land, it was dark, yet Meringue 

 could see boulders looking like boats inside of us. We had 

 anchored first on a rocky bottom and wished no more such. We 

 ran east along shore and spied a sloop we had seen as we came in. 

 There must be good holding ground. "We ran as near her as we 

 dared in the darknes, came to, downed sail, and let go both 

 anchors. They held and we were in a comfortable place con- 

 sidering the weather. We tied up the sails, but not very yacht 

 like, hung up a lantern, went below, and started the stove and 

 supper. You may imagine how fried ham and eggs, tomatoes, 

 biscuit, jam, claiet and coffee tasted then, and we lingered long 

 over the table, congratulating ourselves over our luck and pluck, 

 as the furious blast swept through the rigging and tbe rain dashed 

 upon the companionway and skylight. This 8th of September 

 gale was very severe along the northern coast, and wrecked a 

 great many vessels at sea and oven in such harbors as Boston. 

 We smoked aud watched the yacht, awhile, then Jerry mixed a 

 hot sou'wester for all and we turned in, feeling the need of sleep 

 greatly and knowing that, if we drifted, it would be a long time 

 before we reached the shore north of us. 



There was no further need for able seamen that night, and the 

 next morning at 9 o'clock when we awoke the sun was shining 

 brightly, the water was smooth and it was dead calm. I've heard 

 much talk about Mount Desert blows and know what they are 

 like now. They are simply devilish. The mountains split the 

 wiuds and the gorges concentrate their currents until the 

 velocity must be nearly a hundred miles an hour. One must be 

 very careful when he gets caught in a blow around Mount Desert. 

 I'm not so anxious for that cruising water as I was once. 



We lay still over Sunday, dried clothes and sails, strolled over 

 the hills, picked blueberries and flowers and talked with the 

 natives. Next day there was a little wind and we worked the 

 catspaws down to Bar Harbor, anchored awhile for mail, then 

 started east at 3 P. M, 



The wind was southeast, and grew stronger and stronger as we 

 proceeded; we had to take in the. gafftopsail and then the stay- 

 sail, and had just as much as we could stagger under in beating 

 out; a very rough sea soon arose and made lively work for us off 

 Schoodic. But we rounded Turtle Island at last, passed Winter 

 Harbor Light and Grindstone Point and ran toward Winter Harbor, 

 not knowing exactly where to anchor. Some large schooners 

 were at the head of the bay in Henry's Cove, but it was too open 

 for small craft and we kept on until we opened a little estuary 

 behind a high wooded point upon the left, and steered into as 

 snug and pretty a harbor as I've seen this many a day. A long, 

 narrows forest-covered peninsula lay seaward, the town covered 

 the hills opposite and the harbor was between, about 200yds. wide 

 tind 700 or 800yds. long, until it grew shallower and ended in the 



spruce gum, explored the heatlv 

 streets. Two summer hotels hf 

 few cottagers still lingered, ami 

 mizing in lamp oil. It was tut 



mouth of a mere brooklet above. The wind was heavy outside, 

 the surf was pounding upon the outer shore of the neck and a 

 heavy fog rolled in and hid the adjacent land on the Schoodic 

 side, but here it was as calm as a mill pond aud the muddy bot- 

 tom was only 20ft. below us. Several pleasure boats, the yacht 

 Gwendolen aud three schooners were near. 



We anchored abreast of the steamboat whaif at 5 P. M., and 

 ;oon had supper. Then we walked over the peninsula, dug 

 aters and took a stroll about, tbe 

 il closed after a losing busiuess; a 

 the balf-dozen stores wore econo- 

 .ame here as elsewhere along the 

 coast east of Portland, the season had been so cold and rainy that, 

 all the hotels had lost, money, and some at Bar Harbor were heavy 

 losers. I believe Campo Bello was the only place east, that did a 

 paying business in 188,8, and this was mostly with hay fever 

 patients, who did not dare to go home. Winter Harbor is a 

 charming spot for persons who like nature undressed; visitors 

 get away from fashions, railroads and noise: and enjoy real rest 

 in its quiet homes and streets, unvexed by traffic. In Henry's 

 Cove, to the eastward, I found my little Pilgrim hauled out upon 

 a rough, rocky shore, eradloless and braced by poles beneath the 

 bilge. She was used at Bar Harbor and raced some during the 

 summer of '87, but was not put afloat, in '88. The upper works 

 were alone covered, iind the hull was exposed to "wind and 

 weather. It was sad to see her thus abused, and I felt sorry that 

 she could not grace the ocean now as oft before. 



We were off early next mnrniug, the wind was southwest and 

 helped us around the great rude barren walls of Schoodic iu great 

 shape. Thi« is an important and easily recognized landmark for 

 coasters, and can be seen far out to sea. If a mariner can get 

 hold of Schoodic — and he can except in a fog and darkness — he 

 feels safe in taking a departure across the Great Gulf of Maine. 

 We soon made out Petit Monan Lighthouse and steered for it and 

 passed it, and then across to Nash Island Light, passing between 

 Sheep Island and Ram Island into Moos-a-bec Reach, and flew 

 before the fresh S.W. wind down the Reach to Jonesport. I had 

 no large chart of the harbor, and guided by Meringue, who had 

 been there years before, we narrowly escaped running upon a 

 ledge at the mouth of Sawyer's Cove, east of the town. We must 

 have been going ten knots; I was hugging the shore so as to make 

 a sweep and -get a berth without forging too far ahead, when M. 

 shouted "Luff!" I luffed a little, aud he shouted again, "ForGod's 

 sake luff! Hard down! We are right on top of a ledge!" I luffed 

 then, and we just skirted an ugly idle of rocks that 1 could have 

 almo9t touched with a pole, and then I noticed a crowd of excited 

 sardine packers gest iculating with all their might to warn us off. 

 Tin- ledge was an ugly mass of boulders covered with kelpandout 

 of water 10ft. at low tide, and it made me feel queer when I saw 

 it and how near we had passed to it. "A miss is as good as a mile," 

 but that miss taught me caution a while, but 1 soon forget . 



We remained here several days owing to fog and head winds. 

 We had the squeezed out" putty scraped off, the seams of hull and 

 deck sandpapered smooth, painted the hull to copper line, oiled 

 the deck and Bulwarks, painted the boat, did a little carpenter 

 work in cabin and made everything ship shape. 



Jonesport, named for the great .tones family, is far off the rail- 

 road, has a steamer twice a week only, and gets but one mail a 

 day by stage. It has several excellent stores, two large sardine 

 establishments and good shops for repairs. Many vessels are re- 

 paired here annually, many supplies are furnished to fishermen 

 and coasters, and the people are kind, hospitable and intelligent. 

 The sardine factories give employment to whole families, and add 

 much to the prosperity of t he place, but they make the shores 

 filthy, and emit a stench at, times worse than that famous cheese. 

 Moos-a-bec Reach is wild and rough looking, the off-lying islands 

 are surrounded by reefs, aud a glance at the chart will show dan- 

 ger everywhere, but the eastern entrance of the reach has been 

 made easy sailing by recent government work and no one need fear 

 it as I have. The hold ing ground is good all throug"h the Reach, and, 

 as a consequence, vessels bound east and west make a regular 

 procession through it daily, and seek Jonesport to get out of gales 

 and fogs. 



We saw many vessels during our stay and were much pleased 

 with our ^visit. It seemed as if the wind was always going to 

 remain to the eastward and the fog to hover around, and I deter- 

 mined to beat into Machias Bay anyhow. As we went out of the 

 reach we met a schooner that had preceded us coming back, and 

 I asked what was the matter. The captain said the wind was too 

 much to ttie eastward outside. This was ominous, but we kept on 

 close hauled. Mark Island, just: in the eastern mouth of the reach, 

 is one of the loveliest on the coast. It rises a hundred feet above 

 the. water, has a bold, rocky shore, and is covered with a heavy 

 growth of large trees, mostly spruce, hemlock and pine. There 

 is a cove in the northwest side where a boat can be hauled out, 

 and a little slope of grass above it upon which sheep were feeding, 

 but there was no evidence of a building anywhere, and we saw 

 all sides of it. West of the island, inside an ugly chain of reefs, 

 is Kelly's Point, upon which there is a very handsome modern 

 seashore villa, belonging to a Bostoniar., who spends his summers 

 there. He has a steam launch, a sloop aud several rowboats, and 

 evidently communes with nature and dallies with the sea unvexed 

 by thoughts of business at home. 



From Mark Island we ran for Pulpit Rock, clearing Eastern 

 Ledges to the south'ard, then sailed along by the Three Brothers 

 Islands aud inside Libby Islands up into Machias Bay. This is a 

 broad, beautiful sheet of water with picturesque rockv shores 

 sparsely settled by fishermen. We made several tacks into the 

 bay, the wind changed to the northward a little, aud let us lav- 

 close-hauled upon the port tack to the eastward, and wo barely 

 got by Dog Rocks upon the .north side of Cross Island at dark"; 

 theu we fanned, drifted and towed down into the Narrows, barely 

 missing an outlying ledge, and anchored in the mouth of a cove 

 just west of Scotch Island, in the middle of the Narrows. We de- 

 cided to stay here because it was such a long run up to Machias- 

 port, and darkness had caught us, and we would he ready for an 

 early start next day. The tide was running iu four or five miles 

 an hour, though it was all ebb; the yacht sheered and cut and 

 pulled at her cable like a chained dog, and wo had to keep an eye 

 upon her for fear of drifting; but the ground was muddy and we 

 did not drag. A gale from tbe S.E. set in at midnight with strong 

 puffs and a cold drizzle, which routed us out to look after things, 

 but wc were shielded by the little island from the sea and wind 

 and rode it out safely. While Jerry was getting supper Meringue 

 took the boat and went ashore in the cove to a dimly seen house 

 to get some information not. on the chart, and some supplies as 

 well. He came back and reported the house vacant, the windows 

 and doors gone, and uncanny beings in possession. We heard 

 next day that a murder had been committed there and it was 

 considered haunted. He had not reported any ghosts, but I 

 thought he was a little scared. We supped heartily, and were 

 well pleased with the progress we had made against, the •wind. 



Jerry and Meringue took the boat early next morning and 

 landed in the cove after partridges, and returned soon in hot 

 haste for buckshot cartridges, as they had seen a fine buck close 

 at hand upon the shore. I told them it was close season and they 

 must, not kill it. They scoffed at that and went away, and re- 

 turned decidedly damp in an hour, not having seen the deer or 

 any partridges. A fishing schooner, 33ft. ovof all, beat down and 

 anchored near us after breakfast, and gave us the informat ion 

 we wanted. The captain said Cross Island was owned by two 

 Boston gentlemen, who had bought it on speculation to* a game 

 preserve. There were many partridges and deer upon it; they 

 crossed and recrosscd the channel, and it was not unusual for 

 fishermen to meet a deer and kill him as he was swimming across. 

 The island had only two buildings upon it, occupied by the life- 

 saving station men, and they acted as game keepers for the own- 

 ers. As they were just across the point outside of our anchorage, 

 if a gun had been fired they would soon have been around to 

 catch the poacher. Jerry and Meringue concluded not to poach 

 any more, as the laws ot Maine were very stringent, and besides, 

 it was raining and dismal in the bush. 



The captain of the fisherman owned the vessel, worth about 

 $1,000. Her hull and gear were in a dilapidated condition. 1 

 could not understand how men could trust their lives to such a 

 hull and the rotting ropes and sails. The captain paid all ex- 

 penses out of each catch, paid his boy $10 a month and found, and 

 divided the remainder with his principal man. In fair seasons 

 they make about $100 a month clear, but the summer had been 

 wet and cold, and the business had been mi profitable. 



There were two abandoned and tumble-down houses upon the 

 mainland of the channel, and the whole region, while exceedingly 

 picturesque, was lonely and dismal. The absence of human 

 beings along the coast, the wild rocky shores, the treacherous 

 reefs of the channel, the great distance from any settlement, and 

 the rough weather, gave us the blues, and we determined to face 

 the sea and milder breeze of the afternoon and try to beat ou to 

 Little River, where we could get needed supplies and have a snug 

 harbor. 



We got up anchor and left the little schooner to the mercy of 

 the spook of the haunted house, and went around the island and 

 the long reef of the southwestern side, because the strong tide 

 the Narrows was difficult to stem, as the wind drew directly 

 and I consideied it unsafe to beat out. The sea was very hea 

 outside, but in long, lazy rolls that were easily ridden, and \. 

 carried the lower sails boldly in the dead beat up the coast. I'm 

 sure some fishermen bound m looked upon as foolhardy, going to 



sea at 3 P. M. in a drizzle, with the wind ahead; but I knew we 

 could retrace our course rapidly and get in by Libby Light, in 

 case the fog did not, shut down, and so risked it, though it was 

 evident we should not get up to Little River till some time after 

 dark. The tide rips were very noisy and rapid along shore, but, 

 the current was eastward and helped us on by Old Man Island; 

 we kept the main shore beyond in sight, until we passed Little 

 River Head and opened out the light and ran for it. The light is 

 on an island in the middle of the entrance, and I trusted to Mer- 

 ingue to pilot us, as he had been in several times. He got on the 

 bow and conned, while I steered. The wind hauled oil' the laud 

 as we drew in and the yacht barely lay her course. When very 

 near the island, much nearer than Jerry thought advisable, we 

 lost the wind altogether, the sea hoveusrotmd broadside, and 

 out of the darkness beneath the light appeared, not fifty feet 

 away, a long ledge, upon which every sea was rolling us. Mer- 

 ingue and Jerry shouted, and I took a look under the boom and 

 was horrified to see how close we were to it and how inevitable 

 shipwreck seemed. 



'"Get into the boat quick for God's sake!" I shouted, as I untied 

 the painter and pulled her alongside. "Here Jerry, take the 

 helm!" Meringue jumped into the boat, which we hauled to the 

 bow, I threw in the end of the jib halliards, Meringue took a turn 

 around the seat and fell over it backward, the yacht came down 

 with her bobstay across the boat and nearly capsized her, as M. 

 grabbed the oars- then, while I shouted, "Quick! Pull Meringue, 

 or we will he upon the rocks!" he got a, few st rokes, turned the 

 bow off shore, the helm was put hard to port and Orinda began 

 to go ahead. Meringue pulled fearfully, we moved faster, there 

 was great need, for when we cleared the point of the ledge it 

 was but 20ft. away. It was a dreadful suspense for a few 

 minutes and, after the danger had passed, there was a lump in 

 my throat. Jerry was swearing and explaining how he had told 

 us we were too near, and Meringue was lying on his oars for 

 breath. I do not like these hairbreadth escapes. I don't care to 

 record all that I experience, because it may seem to some persons 

 that I exaggerate or invent them, but I do not. I've about con- 

 cluded there must be a Jonah aboard my boat, and he is myself. 

 It gave me real comfort to read about that yacht in Nova Scotia 

 and the terrible time the. amateurs aud old yachtsmen had. That 

 was something in my line and they must have had a Jonah too. 

 [to be continued.] 



LORD DUN RAVEN'S SUGGESTIONS. 



IN the letter in another column Lord Dun raven has made cer- 

 tain suggestions concerning the conduct Of tho races, which 

 the holders of the Cup will be called on to consider. The first 

 one is in regard to the number of races, live being suggested in 

 place of the usual three. The same request, was made when 

 Thistle raced, and was not then granted, nor is it likely to be in 

 the present case. There are few cases in which the merits of two 

 boats cannot be fairly well settled in three races with a time 

 limit, and while five might be more conclusive at times, it is 

 asking too much of the holders to go to the trouble and expense 

 of so many. Our yachtsmen as a rule are business men, and can- 

 not spare the time for so many races in a busy month like Sep- 

 tember, as even three races may cover a couple of w : eeks of 

 waitiug and postponement. In none of the previous races would 

 the results have been different if two more races had been sailed, 

 and if Valkyrie is good enough to win three out of five she need 

 not fear. 



The request, for outside courses is a perfectly fair one. and is 

 apt to be granted, but the suggestions as to how the courses shall 

 be laid out aud the starts made are hardly necessary for the 

 guidance of tbe New York Y. C. regatta committee. They are 

 evidently due to some wild newspaper talk by one of the Scotch 

 visitors, who was not able to bear defeat manfully, but wanted 

 many-sided courses. As far as the actual management of the last 

 three contests is concerned, there is no fault, to be found with the 

 work of the regatta committee. Its task is not always an easy 

 one, and it is often a mat ter of judgment whether to start a race 

 at a. certain time or to wait for wind when there is none, hut we 

 recall no instance in all the races started or postpoued in 1885-86 

 and '87 where any injustice was done to the challenger by the 

 action of tho committee. The start must bo made 20 miles from 

 New York and from any good harnor, and it is a serious matter 

 to start a race at 11 A. M. in a flat <?alm, with almost a certainty 

 that, for two or three hours the yachts will not drift a mile, leav- 

 ing but 4 hours to sail 40 miles; when by waiting for the afternoon 

 breeze a race may be had within the time limit. 



In a matter which depends on such variable quantities as wind 

 and weather it is hard to set certain inviolable rules, and be- 

 sides the former races here proved that the interests of tho chal- 

 lenger in this respect ate perfectly safe in the. hands of a good 

 regatta committee. In stipulating for a 40-mile course it is to be 

 supposed that nautical miles are meant, though it is not so stated, 

 and on the othor hand the letter mentions a time limit of six 

 hours instead of seven; certainly a very short time to sail 40 

 knots in September, especially if the challenger be 70ft. and the 

 defender 86ft. As to making out the courses two weeks in ad- 

 vance, it is unnecessary, and would be a difficult matter; the tri- 

 angular courses are always arranged so as to secure one wind- 

 ward leg if possible, which can only be done on the morning of 

 the race. 



The suggestion as to a mean of the allowances of the New York 

 Y. C. and the Y. R. A. is a fair one; but the case of Genesta shows 

 that it is not likely to be conceded, unless possi bly Yolunteer should 

 be selected. The stipulation in regard to repairs is only in accord- 

 ance with usage in the previous races, and is hardlv necessary 

 now. On the whole, there is little that Lord Duuraven asks 

 which is apt to be granted, anil it would perbaps have been better 

 if he had not made requests which at most would not alter the 

 probable result in any case, and which the experience of former 

 challenges has proved that the holders of the Cup will not accede 

 to. 



SECRECY IN CLUB MATTERS. 



HPHE New York Tribune discourses as follows on the secrecy 

 -L which is often affected in regard to matters of public inter- 

 est. The writer, however, overlooks the fact that iu some cases 

 there are very good reasons for the utmost secrecy; as in that of- 

 the last revision of the. deed of gift, in which the proposed change 

 would have been voted down by a large majority of the club had 

 its nature been known in advauce, and which whs only passed by 

 being sprung suddenly on the club without notice or preparation. 

 The Trilrnnc says: 



"The receipt of a challenge, for the America's Cup has thrown 

 all prominent yachtsmen, prc-crninently the members of the New 

 York Y. C, into a great Hurry. The discussion of the Dunraven 

 offer has been genera,! and broad among those who follow the 

 sport for the love of it and not for the glory which an office 

 among yachtsmen might bestow upon them. There are many 

 club men who consider it a part of their 'fad' to belong to a yacht 

 club, and whose 'popularity,' based purely upon what might be 

 termed 'club qualities,' has caused their colleagues to boom aud 

 in some way or other to elect them to positions of prominence in 

 the interior of the lespectivo yacht clubs, although of no import- 

 ance on the outside. It is by the self-esteem of such persons that 

 tho general yachting pu blic, the sportsmen indeed, are de pri ved of a 

 free and open consideration of sporting occurrences of real 

 national importance. The secrecy which has marked the opera- 

 tions of foreign yachtsmen in preparing a challenger has been 

 frequently decried by American yachtsmen and yachting writers. 

 Yet that secrecy has at least the promise of a beneficial result, for 

 those who indulge in it, while, on the other hand, when one of the 

 social club yachting officials hides important news he can only 

 experience the one selfish satisfaction of having kept to himself 

 and his fellows news upon which others were more able toformu- 

 late valuable vie ws." 



WHO WILL SAIL VOLUNTEER? 



OF course the whole foundation for the argument in favor of a 

 large boat against a small one is based ou the assumption 

 that Volunter can hold the cup beyond any chance of failure, but 

 at tbe same time no one seems to have considered the question of 

 who will sail Yolunteer. Gen. Paine has announced most posi- 

 tively that he will take no part in the season's races, and there is 

 no reason to suppose that- lie will change his mind. Volunteer is, 

 of course, at the disposal of the New York Y. C. by purchase, if 

 not by loan, but it is hardly to bo supposed that the brains and 

 energy that have made all oi' Gen. Paiue's boats win arc on sale 

 with her. On the other hand, the brief but inglorious career of 

 Mayflower since she changed hands shows what may be expected 

 of Volunteer. 



GRAYLING AND VALKYRIE, 



IN looking about for a fast yacht to defend ihe Cup, it will not 

 do to omit Grayling. She has proved herself able to beat the 

 70ft. class by a safe margin on even time, and if matched against 

 Valkyrie she could race at 85 per cent, of her measurement, being 

 a schooner, which would make her about 73ft. corrected length; 

 so that she would receive time from Valkyrie instead of giving it, 



