Otrr. 7i 1893.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



808 



overthrow the conclusions based on Gloriana and Wasp, nor will it 

 develop in general use a much deeper or wider type of centerboard 

 than is now found in the larger classes. Exciting as the present con' 

 test is, its technical issues are of comparatively small importance. 



The America's Cup Races. 



The meeting between Lord Dunraven and the Cup committee of the 

 New York T. C. took place on the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 

 the club house, there being present Messrs. J. D. Smith, A. Cass Can- 

 field, J. F, Tams and Latham A. Fish; the fifth member, Mr. Philip 

 Schuyler, being on his way home from England. The meeting lasted 

 for a couple ef hours, but nothing is yet known of the subjects dis- 

 cussed or the conclusions arrived at." After the meeting it was an- 



„^.ji, being given, tn answer to a direct question — . — 



terms under which the Cup should be held by the Royal Yacht Squad- 

 ron in the event of a victory for Valkyrie had been discussed, the 

 chairman, Mr. Smith, stated that these terms had been finally arranged 

 when the challenge was accepted last winter. 



One important matter settled at the meeting was that of the imme- 

 diate detail of the races, which was announced by circular on Satur- 

 day, as follows: 



Conditions of America's Cup Races, 1S9S. 



SAILING DIRECTIONS. 



Start— The start will be made off Sandy Hook Lightship, th 



Letter Gl— Do you assent to calling race off for the day? 

 If both yachts signify their assent by setting the affirmative signal 

 (letter C), the answering pennant will be hoisted on the May. C Gr— 

 Race postponed on account of fog. Letter L— The starting point will 

 be shifted out from the Lightship- 

 All signals will be made by club code. 



By invitation of the Commodore the committee will be on board the 

 flagship. 



GEUBRAL RACING CONDITIONS— BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT. 



The racing rules, time allowance, and system of measurement of 

 the New York Y. C. shall govern, with the" proviso that any excess of 

 load water-line length over 85ft. shall be counted double in calculating 

 the sailing length, and also that the load water-hne length shall not 

 exceed 86.7ft. 



Best three out of five races, outside of headlands, over courses each 

 30 nautical miles in length, and with a time limit of six hours. 



The first, third and fifth races shall be to windward or to leeward 

 and return, The second and fourth races shall be around an equi- 

 lateral triatigle, one leg (and the first. If the wind permit) being to 

 windward. 



One day shall intervene between eacb racing day. A race postponed 

 or not finished within the time limit shall be decided before the next 

 race in the series is taken up. 



*The races will be started off Sandy Hook Lightship, the prepara- 

 tory signal being made at 11:15 A. M., and the start (from a single 

 gun) at 11 :25. But if on the day of a race to windward or leeward, 

 the course cannot be laid from the lightship, then the race will be 

 started about 11:45, from some point further out to sea. 



**The Regatta Committee shall have discretionary power to declare 



Vigilant and Valkyrie. 



Since the trial races the members of the Vigilant syndicate here 

 worked even harder than before in the effort to perfect the boat for 

 the final contest, and nothins: that work and money could do has been 

 omitted. Mr. Iselin, Mr. Willard and the others who have been with 

 the boat from the start have been constantly at work, aided by Mr. 

 Herreshoff, and many changes have been made at City Island. Spars, 

 rigging, gear and sails have been altered and strengthened, the wire 

 in particular being very much heavier than that first used. Piepgrass 

 has made more new spars, including a hollow boom and topmast, and 

 a spare mast is ready in his big shed. Sawyer has made a new jib and 

 staysail, and all the sails have been more or less altered. So many 

 changes of spars and sails have been made that it is not known what 

 particular ones will be used. 



Early last week a diver went down and scoured the Tobin bronze 

 centerboard. and on Thursday the yacht was hauled out on Hawkins's 

 railway at City Island, the faithful Hattie going out at the same time. 



The yacht laid on the ways until Monday, being run off at 4 A. M. 

 While dry she was visited by hundreds of people, Sunday being tlie 

 principal day. Her bronze bottom was cleaned and then polished with 

 Bath brick, or some similar polishing material. On Monday she was 

 under way on the Sound^f or another trial of the sails. On Wednes- 

 day she will visit Erie Basin, where Mr. Hyslop will make the flna! 

 measurement of both yachts. 



Valkyrie was under way for the first time in racing rig on Wednes- 

 day of last week, first spending an hour or more off Owl's Head while 

 her compasses were adjusted. She sailed down the Bay, returning 

 in the afternoon, and on the three following days she was also out 

 On each occasion she was closely watched from tugboats and yachi s 



COLONIA Designed bv N. G. Hbrfeshoff. 



VIGILAJN l UE IGNED BY N O. HKRRESH'^FF. 



-Designed by Stewart & Binney. JUBILEE- 



THE CUP DEFENDERS OF 1893. 



Copyrighted, It 03, by Bolles, Brooklyn. 



-Designed by .John B. Payne. 



preparatory signal being given at 11:15 A. M., and the starting signal 

 at 13:25, except as provided under *General Racing Conditions. 



Courses— No. 1. (Letter B ) From the starting line to and around 

 a mark 15 miles to windward or to leeward and return, leaving the 

 mark on the starboard bond. No. 2. (Letter T.) From the starting 

 line 10 miles to and around a mark; thence 10 miles to and around a 

 second mark, and thence 10 miles to finish line, turning the marks on 

 the outside of the triangle, to port or starboard, according as the 

 yachts are sent around. 



Starting and Finishing Lines— Will be between a point on the 

 flagship May, indicated by a white flag and the mainmast of the light- 

 ship, or other stakeboat if the start is made further out to sea. The 

 starting and finishing Unes will be at right angles with the outward 

 and home courses, respectively. 



Compass Courses— Will be set on the maintopmast stay before the 

 preparatory signal is made, and will he kept flying until after the 

 start. The signals for course No. 3 must be read beginning; forward. 



Marks— Will be floats displaying a red flag with u-hite stripe. The 

 position of each float will lie indicated by a tug show ing a red ball and 

 stationed about 100yds. beyond. Should a float be wrecked its place 

 wiU be taken by its marking tufc. which will show the club signal in 

 addition to the ball, and in turning the tug. the directions for turnmg 

 the float will govern. 



STARTING signals. 



Preparatory — A gun will be fired and a red ball hoisted. 



Signal for the Start— Ten minutes later, a second gun wll be fired, 

 and the ball wfll be dropped In case the start is postponed or the 

 starting point is shifted from the lightship, a preliminary signal will 

 be made by firing a gun and displaying a blue peter at the fore ten 

 minutes before the preparatory signal and twenty minutes before the 

 start. Should a signal gun miss fire, a prolonged blast of the whistle 

 will be given. 



Recall Signal— A yacht crossing the line before the starting signal 

 is made will be recalled by a blast of the whistle and the display of her 

 private signal on the fore. 

 Postponement Signals, &c.— See (general Racing Conditions.** 

 Letter H— Do you assent to postponing start until later in the day? 



the race off in case of fog. They may also, on account of other 

 weather conditions, postpone the start or declare the race off for the 

 day, provided that both yachts assent. 



In case of serious accident to either yacht, prior to the starting 

 signal, she shall have sufficient time to repair before being required to 

 start: if during a race, she shall have sufficient time to repair before 

 being required to start in the next race. 



Manual power only shall be used in working the competing vessels. 

 S. Nicholson Kane, 1 



Chester Griswold, v Regatta Committee. 

 Irving Grin-nell, ) 



The first race will be on Thursday, Oct. 5, and the second on Oct. 7, 

 continuing on alternate days until at least three have l)een sailed. 

 The possibflity of postponement for weather or to make repairs ren- 

 ders it impossible to fix in advance the exact date of each race. 



The accompanymg chart sliows the racing ground, outside Sandy 

 Hook, and the co'urses will presumably be within the limit of the two 

 lines diverging from the Sandy Hook Lightship, the circles represent- 

 ing ten miles, the sides of the triangular' course, and fifteen miles, the 

 length of the leeward course, respectively. As stated in the condi- 

 tions, it is possible that the start may be moved seaward from the 

 Lightship to secure a windward leg. 



A very large fleet of steamers and tugs will follow the race, many of 

 them engaged by clubs or private parties. Pubhc steamers, carrying 

 passengers' at S2 to S5 each, will be run. full information as to the 

 times and places of starting; being given in the advertising columns of 

 the daUy papers. Some of the yacht clubs have also arranged to 

 give, notice to holders of tickets of any change of programme through 

 the same medium. 



Capt. Crockei' was in New York this week, having returned by 

 steamer. On Oct. 2 Navahoe safled from Cowes for Madeira, with Mr. 

 and Mrs. Carroll on board. They will visit the West Indies, returning 

 to New York in a couple of months. 



which accompanied her, the comments on her sails and her apparent 

 speed being uniformly favorable. 



Nothing was done on board on Sunday, but on Monday morning 

 she was towed to the Erie Basin Dry Docks. She reached the dock 

 before noon, but the steamer Iroquois had to be floated, and it was 

 just midday when Valkyrie was warped in. Thistle and Genesta were 

 grounded near the outer end, but the keel blocks for Valkyrie were 

 laid ahead of Ii'oquois while the latter was dry. so the 3'acht was 

 grounded near the head of the dock. 



As soon as she was in position, the crew left her in the two boats, 

 then Messrs. Watson and Ratsey with Capt. Cranfield and one of the 

 crew took the dinghy and rowed round her, carefully marking the 

 exact waterline at the bow. When they reached the long, low counter 

 the task was far more difficult, and it was some time before a mark 

 was made. After several attempts to reach under, the boat was 

 heeled untfl her gunwale touched the water and Mr. Watson leaned 

 out, his body beyond the boat and barely clearing the water, and by 

 a long stretch he succeeded in making a mark at the proper point. 



There was about 24ft. of water when the caisson was floated in, 

 closing the docks and the pumps were set to work until the depth was 

 reduced to about 18ft. before the yacht began to fall by the head, 

 showing that her heel had grounded on the lowest keel block. 



Owing to her peculiar keel contour the greatest care was necessary 

 in properly adjusting her to the blocks specially built up to support 

 her, the forward tier of blocking being at least 10ft. high. 



The yacht was held by four tackles from the bows and quarters. A 

 wire rope with a short line hanging in the center was stretched across 

 the dock just clear of her tafErail, and a lead line was hung from the 

 center of the latter. 



At the head of the dock the foreman of the yard stood by the two 

 posts which mai-k the exact center line of the" dock, and sighted the 

 l30w, a man on the stern watching the plumij hue and the center of 

 the wire rope. Other men on the four tackles moved the yacht 

 slightly to one side or the other untfl she stood over the exact center 

 of the dock. 



When finally adjusted, the spur shores were run out, four on each 

 side, from the yacht to the steps of the dock, and one pump was 

 started. The crew took possession of the two float stages, each man 



