214 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[March 10, 1894. 



Model Yachting About New York. 



So much pleasure may be derived from the construction and sailing 

 of model yachts, and so much practical information as well, that it is 

 strange that the sport has not grown more rapidly in the twenty odd 

 years since it first became known about New York. In England 

 there are many clubs, and though good water for this purpose is not 

 always easy to find, the sport has received the attention which it de- 

 serves from designers and those mainly interested in large yachts. 

 The facilities for obtaining all necessary materials aDd fittings are far 

 greater than in this country, and the sport receives much support 

 from the monthly paper, The Model Yachtsman and Canoeist, pub- 

 lished at Hull. 



On Independence Day, 1872, model yachting was initiated on the 

 large lake in Prospect. Park, Brooklyn, Long Island, by an organiza- 

 tion known as the Prospect Park Yacht Club, with the following 

 officers: Com., James Flernming; Vice-Corn., Geo. Sherwin; Pres., 

 Sam, Avila; Sec, John H.Fisher; Treas., Jos. Peto; Meas., Henry 

 Heitman. Yachts, seventeen— fifteen schooners and two sloops. The 

 yachts were measured over all for time allowance in racing. 



There being a great lack of interest on the part of the Park Com- 

 missioners, little attention was shown toward model yacht racers and 

 the accommodations for the storage of models in the Park grounds 

 were limited to a few members, while the only convenience near to 

 the lake was that of a rickety shanty outside of the Park grounds, 

 situated across the old Coney Island road, now avenue. Those who 

 were less fortunate in securing storage for their craft in either of 

 these places were obliged, after a day's sport, to carry these yachts to 

 the cars, or, as in some cases, those who lived but a short distance 

 from the park conveyed their models to their homes on improvised 

 hand wagons, and trying were the toils of conveying yachts to their 

 respective srore-houses,"as the number of cars going to and from 

 Prospect Park was small. As some of these models were very valua- 

 ble, great anxiety was felt ou the part of their owners as to their 

 security: nevertheless under such adverse circumstances the sport 

 was greatly enjoyed. 



Such a condition of things continued until the year 1876, when a 

 united effort was made to obtain better accommodations near the 

 lake, the outcome of which attempt resulted in securing the out-house 

 belonging to the pumping station, which is located about 200ft. from 

 ihe margin of the lake, which exchange was indeed very agreeable. 

 But even this state of things was doomed lo be disturbed by various 

 causes, which led to the decline of the sport, as local jealousies evoked 

 by kindred yachtsmen soon led to the organization of several yacht 

 clubs, each of which were striving to outrival their opponents, and all 

 aiming to impress the Park Commissioners with the idea that they 

 alone were the original and bona Jlde club. 



It has been well said that "In union there is strength," and it was 

 demonstrated that the divided influence thus brought to bear upon 

 the Park Commissioners did not accomplish that desired effect, viz : 

 the erection of a building suitably arranged and situated upon or 

 near the lake for the storage of model yachts. 



At this time, 1876, there were in existence three yacht clubs, the 

 Prospect Park, which was the parent yacht club; the Long Island 

 and the American Y. C. (not the present American Model Y. C.) all of 

 which clubs were striving for recognition by the Park Commissioner.-. 



Model Yacht Club has urged the necessity of more commodious stor- 

 age. Model yachtsmen are at present engaged in testing the rule now 

 employed as described above. There are a few opponents of the rule, 

 but some such rule is necessary since with the old rule of l.w.l. alone 

 there were produced big, unwieldy and heavy displacement boats, 

 carrying enormous sails, which if reproduced on a large scale would 

 be undesirable as to handling and the possibility of losing their spars. 



The changes that have taken place during the interval of 22 years 

 are very clearly shown in the accompanying illustrations: 



No. 1 represents one of the old timers of 1872-76, with short stumpy 

 overhang, the result of length over all measurement for time allow- 

 ance at that time in vogue. This model was rigged as a schooner in 

 one sense and a sloop in another, her fore and mainmast being 

 stepped very close together, in fact only an apology for a foresail 

 being possible, the mainsail predominating. 



The mast, sails and rigging of this model have long since been lost 

 or destroyed. A great number of models of that time were "dug out 1 ' 

 from the solid block, as was this one. The dimensions are length over 

 all 62in., l.w.l. 59in., beam 16in., draft 12in., with lead keel. 



Model No. 2 was of the 1878 order of stumpy class, but was length- 

 ened as shown in 1889, showing very fine lines; a great improvement 



edge of the stern at the l.w.l. The marking on the rule shows the 

 length of the yacht on the l.w.l. 



In conjunction with the l.w.l. the sail area also plays an important 

 part in the measurement for time allowance. First the actual area of 

 the sail is obtained by dividing into triangles, then the square root is 

 extracted from the l.w.l., which sum divided by 2 gives the corrected 

 length. The larger yacht is taxed at the rate of 10s. to the inch over 

 a mile course, and in proportion according to the lesser or greater 

 distance sailed. 



Strenuous attempts have been made to evade this rule, which have 

 resulted in some odd looking models, an unusually odd one being 

 owned by one of the members, she having been built for the second 

 class and measuring 44in. on the l.w.l. Her peculiarity lies in her 

 under-water structure, where she measures at least 60in. in length. 



This yacht, however, has proven to be very fast in a breeze, but in a 

 moderate wind she does not do so well, due to her large immersed 

 surface. There can be no mistake as to the fact that this model is a 

 most decided effort to cheat the existing rule. 



It might be interesting to know how these models are sailed ou and 

 off the wind, one of the great difficulties to overcome. Some English 

 model yachtsmen use weighted rudders, one for windward work and 

 one for reaching and down the wind (in fact some owners have their 

 pockets full of rudders of a variety of weights) thus causing loss of 

 time in changing. 



On the American model yacht a rudder (not a weighted one), is 

 attached in the same way as on a large yacht, but with the tiller 

 shipped aft, passing under a threaded wire which is placed across the 

 deck just over the tiller. Then there are two nuts which travel on 

 this wire, one on each side of the tiller, and thejtiller is allowed to play 

 between them, these nuts being used to gauge the play of the tiller- 

 when steering the yacht on a reach or down the wind. An eye is 

 fastened to the tiller' through which a sheet is led from the main boom 

 to a cleat fastened alongside the heel of the bowsprit; this cleat being 

 of sufficient length to be bored with about one dozen holes, half an 

 inch apart. A pin with an eye arrangement having thesheet attached, 

 is placed in one of these holes and can be shifted fore and aft at pleas- 

 ure. 



The main sheet is led in a similar way, a snap being used on the 

 traveler so that when about to sail on a reach or down the wind, the 

 main sheet is cast off. at which time the other sheet before mentioned 

 takes effect on the tiller and thus jams the rudder to leeward as far as 

 is necessary to preserve the balance of the yacht on her course. This 

 mode of steering has proven to be a very satisfactory one, and is uni- 

 versally used (with sbght modifications) by all yacht owners of the 

 American Model Yacht Club. 



The advance in yacht designing is quickly followed by the model 

 yachtsmen, and just now the fin-keel is as prominent in model as in 

 large yachts. 



In handling the yachts, each owner uses a small flat bateau and a 

 pair ot oars, following or rowing beside his craft and attending to 

 sails or rudder, or starting her on a new tack, as the course and wind 

 requires. 



Too much cannot be said in favor of model yacht sailing, as it invig- 

 orates both the body and the mind. Those indulging in this sport 

 acquire considerable skill in handling a skiff, requiring quicknesB of 

 derision in the manipulation of their y achts. 



To appreciate model yachting, one must watch thoroughly the tac- 

 tics required in handling a. model in a close race. Appended are some 

 of the growing clubs in the States: American Model Y. C, Brooklyn, 



Fig 3. 



MODEL YACHT OP 1893. 



to such a degree as to prove detrimental to yachtsmen, since the Com 

 misgioners, who were at one time favorably disposed to the partici- 

 pants in this enterprise, became disgusted and concluded that there 

 should not be built any house for the storage of moripl yachts. 



Aside from those who were immediately engaged in this sport, but 

 few persons were interested sufficiently to investigate it; not ev^n the 

 reporter, who is always ready to grasp any new ideas aud adventures 

 and promulgate them to the public, seemed at all inclined to touch on 

 this subject. The Times and World were the nnly daily papers Which 

 finally brought the sport to the attention of the public; and the 

 Mercury, a weekly paper, occasionally rendered service in this direc- 

 tion . but aside from these papers others would comment, upon it as 

 child's play, and thus from time to time ridicule it. Those engaged in 

 its practice were frequently called cranks, aDd the spectators idiots, 

 and perhaps in some instances this term was well applied to the latter 

 because of their nonsensical suggestions to the model yacht experts. 



This condition of things existed for a short time only, when some of 

 the members, headed by the Bros. Dayton, of the different yacht 

 clubs, decided to make Go wan us Bay, in South Brooklyn, the rendez- 

 vous for the further continuance of investigations regarding the 

 theories conuected with the science of model yachting. Gowanus Bay 

 in those days was a very fine spot for such a purpose, but in recent 

 years it has become the receptacle of the city's debris, and by this 

 means the greater part of the once beautiful bay has become* oblit- 

 erated. 



Permission was granted to the Manhattan Club to sail their model 

 yachts on the large lake at the northeast section of Central Park, New 

 York, but after a thorough test this lake was proven to be wort hlt-ss 

 for the purpose of sailing model yachts, on account of the intercep- 

 tion of the winds by reason of the topography of the surroundings; 

 the east and northeast boundaries of this lake being hemmed in by 

 massive trees, and its south and west, shores by very high grounds; 

 hence the Manhattan Club abandoned this lake and located themselves 

 at the foot of East 110th street and East River, New York, where 

 storage for their yachts was obtained. 



Launching their model yachts from this point they sailed through 

 Little Hell Gate, or by way of the Kills, the intricacies of which are 

 probably understood by a number of our readers, to Bowery Bay, 

 where some very fine sailing was obtained, and close contests eusued. 

 This club finally disbanded, aud two of its members joined the present 

 American Model Yacht Club. 



During the years 1880 to 1887 the Interest, which was shown in model 

 yachting was wavering; there was much sailing, but few new yachts 

 were either designed or constructed. 



The leading yacht club of the day was the American Model Yacht 

 Club (this club at present holds a position similar to the N. Y, Y. C 

 in yachting). It was fouuded in 1870 and reorganized on Sept. 2, 1887. 

 Prominent yachtsmen were elected as officers: Geo. W. Lyon, Com.; 

 W. V. Hanson, Pres.; G. W. Townley, Treas. ; J. Alvah Scott, Sec'y and 

 Meas. The club 'at that time had 17 models, which were classified 

 according to their length on the Lw.L into first class, embracing those 

 53 to 63in.; 2d class 42 to 53in., and 3d class those 30 to 42in. in length: 

 the rule applied for time allowance being l.w.l., whereas the present 

 rule embraces both sail area and the l.w.l. 



The election of a new board of officers in 1S92-3, brought about a 

 change, viz: W. V. Hanson, Com.; Geo. W. Lyon, Vice-Corn.; Geo. W. 

 Townley, Ireas.; Harry Melvin, Sec'y; Frank Nichols, Meas., andnew 

 boats were added at this time, making 45 yachts in commission. 



The large lake at Prospect Park, situated at the southwest end, and 

 which is exposed to the strong west and southwest winds from the 

 Atlantic, has an area of about 200,000sq. ft, (the only drawback being 

 the trees and shrubbery which have grown since the early days), a 

 desirable place for model yachting; and the out-house, as stated 

 above, being located about 2(J0ft. from the margin of the lake, affords 

 facilities far superior to that of any inland waters in the immedial e 

 vicinity of New York city or Brooklyn. At certain directions of the 

 wind— say south by west, a course to windward of seven-sixteenth of 

 a mile can be obtained, but the majority of windward races are over a 

 course of three-tenths of a mile. 



The rapid growth, however, in the membership of the American 



Fis. 5. 



over previous keel boats. It subsequently received the lead center- 

 board, which eventually become quite a fad, and did seem to improve 

 the sailing qualities of all boats fitted with it. The dimensions were 

 length over all 78in,, l.w.l, GOin., beam 21in., draft 16in_, construction, 

 oak frames and floors, oak stem, keel and sternpost, planking of 

 cedar 3 1B in., deck white pine, crowned very much, for no known rea- 

 son. 



No. 3 shows a wonderful stride, as can readily be seen, a departure 

 from the theories of hollow waterliues, this' model having abnor- 

 mally full waterlines, yet showing remarkable speed; in fact, with 

 no equal in her class. She was des ; gned and built in 1892, making her 

 first appearance in the season of 1893. carrying all before her. Her 

 ballast is in the form of a bulb at the lowest edge of a brass fin, 

 giving her great stiffness. Her dimensions are: Over all. 81in.; l.w.l., 

 52.9in.; beam, 15in.; draft, 14in. Construction, stem, keel and stern- 

 post of cedar, frame of white holly bent, to shape, planking Spanish 

 cedar and deck white pine. The illustration at the head of this article 

 shows one of the modern model yachts under sail, from which an 

 idea of the rig can be obtained. 



The mode of measuring yachts employed by the American Model 

 Y. C. necessitates the use of a large tank. 



A straight edge is fastened across one end of the tank, actiug as a 

 stop for the after end of the l.w.l. as the yacht floats in the tank. A 

 long rule divided into inches and tenths is attached to the top of one 

 of the. sides at right angles to the straight edge; then a T square is 

 applied and slid along the rule uutil it comes in contact with the fore 



MODEL YACHT OF 1803, SBO 



N. Y. : Philadelphia, of Pennsylvania; Connecticut, of Connecticut; 

 Minnetonka, of Minnesota; Midget, of Boston, Mass. 



Many of tbft old hulks of '72 still remain in the boat house, stacked 

 one upon the other in the loft, awaiting resurection by their owners, 

 who have forgotten them or have moved to unknown parts. The sight 

 of these outbuilt and neglected old craft always brings back to the 

 writer the recollection of many happy days spent on the lake twenty- 

 two years ago. Frank Nichols, American Model Y. C. 



International Racing. 



The latest news in yachting comes by cable from the other side to the 

 effect that Mr. Iselin will fit out Vigilant if Lord Dunraven really 

 wishes to meet her. Of the rumored challenge for 1895 the Meld 

 speaks as follows: ''Some weeks ago we announced on good author- 

 ity that probably two noblemen would be associated in challenging 

 for the America Cup. and in building a new cutter for the purpose." 

 This was telegraphed to America, snd it has now been telegraphed 

 back that the two noblemen are Lord Dunraven and Lord Wolverton, 

 and that the yacht will be 70ft. long on the waterline. This announce- 

 ment is evidently mostly guesswork, and as a consequence is incor- 

 rect. It was well known in this country last season that Lord Wol- 

 verton was interested in Valkyrie, and also in America, as in Septem- 

 ber we saw a reference to the fact in an American newspaper; but it 

 does not follow that the same two noblemen will set out in quest of 

 the America Cup again. With regard to the 70ft. boat, does it seem 

 likely that any one would challenge with a 70-footer, while either 

 Vigilant, Jubilee or Colonia could be called upon as a Cup defender? 



YACHT NEWS NOTES. 



The Larchmout Y. C. has announced the following dates for the 

 season: Spring regatta, June 9: annual regatta, July 4; annual sail, 

 July 14 to 31; Flint cup for cabin cats, July 28; fall regatta, Sept, 1; 

 Larchmont cup, Sept. 15. 



The South Boston Mosquito Fleet Y. 0. has elected the following 

 officers: Com., James T. Pow r ers; Vice-Corn., M C. Thore; Fleet 

 Captain. F- D. Perkins; Secy., F. A, Lynch: Treas., William Elliott; 

 Meas.. M. W. Ransom; Board of Directors, T. A. Maguire, C, J. Mori- 

 arty, D. N. Palmer. 



The Greenville Y. C, of Greenville, N. J., on March 1 elected the fol- 

 lowing officers: Com., C. P. Morton; Vice-Corn., Alonzo Peniston; 

 Recording Sec, Harry Kattenstroth; Financial Sec, Chas. Mitzenius; 

 Treas , A. Renshaw: Meas., C. D. MrGeihan; Sergeant-at-Arms, Wm. 

 Greville; Trustees, C. D. Morton, H. M. Prichard, Alonzo Peniston, C. 

 Dr. McGeihan and Chas. Mitzenius. 



The Court of Appeals has affirmed the judgment of manslaughter 

 in the second degree in the case of the People, respondents, against 

 Thomas Welsh, appellant. The appeal was from a judgment finding 

 the defendant guilty of manslaughter in the second degree for the 

 killing of Francis Jenkins through the sinkiDg of the sloop yacht 

 Amelia by the tug of which Welsh was pilot. 



Shifting 1 and Live Ballast. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



A misprint in my letter concerning shifting live ballast in your issue 

 of Feb. 24 makes a portion of it unintelligible. 



In the second line of the paragraph next to the last one, the word 

 "increase" should be "measure," so it will read, "and consequently 

 they measure the righting power of the ballast, etc." Sextant. 



