June 20, 1896. 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
508 
IMeteoi 311. 
Ma-king aU due allowance for the enthusiasm which always exeets a 
new yacht of the largest class, especially when owned by a millionaire 
or even bv royalty, it nevertheless appears that Mr. Watson has dis- 
tinguished himself in his latest production, and that she is a re- 
markably fast yacht. Just how fast it is difficult yet to sav, as she is 
being tried by a new standard that is verv imperfectly understood by 
yachtsmen. As quoted below from the Field, with some 3,000ft. more 
pail she measures by the new rule but little more than the old rating 
yachts of the class. The Field describes her as follows: 
"On leaving the dock at Southampton, the German Emperor's Me- 
teor sailed for Cowes, whither sundry fittings had been forwarded 
from the Clyde. In the small hours of Wednesday morning she ar- 
rived at Tilbury, where she took up a berth nea^ Satanita. completely 
dwarfing such, by comparison, small fry as Caress and The Saint, 
wedged in between the two giants. Like her predecessors, the new 
Meteor's topsides are painted dark blue, which, if anytbine, deludes 
the eye into an exaggerated estimate of her by no means dimunitive 
proportions. The rumor that she is fitted with a wheel forward of the 
mast is without foundation. She has, indeed, a detachable wheel for 
cruising purposes, but when in use it merely takes the place of the 
tiller, the compass in that case being shifted to a skylight further aft. 
Her round steel boom appears t o be shorter than the octagonal boom 
of Valkyrie III., and certainly gives the impression of great strength. 
Her topsail halyards are brought down below the deck and made fast 
to the housed portion of the mait in the forecastle. This part of the 
vessel is lit up by a couple of large hatches, one forward and one 
abaft the mast. It contains three rows of folding bunks, while on the 
starboard side a snug little cabin is partitioned off for the use of her 
skipper. Gomes. 
For the bulkheads throughout the whole of the vessel— excepting of 
course in the forecastle— light woods and a flowered cretonne have 
been used, which has the effect of making the interior appear very 
roomv and airy. The saloon is most tastefully upholstered In dark 
green leather, with the imperial crown and the motto of the garter 
stamped in gold. Two swing tables are placed in front of the two 
orthodox couches, of which the one on the port side has been docked 
to allow space for a small escritoire. The three cabins, which follow 
aft, are commodious and light apartments and fitted with wide bunks. 
Right aft is the ladies' cabin, across the whole width of the vessel. 
The space opposite the foot of the companion is fitted with a comfort- 
able lounge, while a number of small closets, cupboards and a sepa- 
rate bath-room lead out of the passage. At present the cabins are oe • 
cupied by Lord Lonsdale, Mr. R. Allan and Capt. Arenhold, of which 
the last named, a retired naval officer and marine painter of no mean 
talent, will be remembered as having last year had command of the 
Emperor's 20-raterVineta. Lord Lonsdale's sturdy little ocean-going 
steam launch Sybil, fitted with a powerful search-light forward of the 
funnel, is in attendance on the Meteor. The large cutter will leave 
shortly for the Elbe, whence she proceeds by the Kaiser Wilhelm 
Canal to Kiel for the racing on the Baltic. She will return in the 
early part of July and compete in the different regattas with the 
large class. According to present arrangements, the German Empe- 
ror will not come to Cowes for the regattas. 
It is a very wonderful provision of the new rating rule that the Me- 
teor can have 3.000 eq. ft. more canvas than Britannia and Satanita, 
and 1.400 sq. ft. than Ailoa, and yet only rate 101.1, or possibly 101.3. 
This is bringingin the old length class type with a very heavy ven- 
geance indeed: practically the tax on sail has been wiped' out, at any 
rate as far as the large class is concerned. 
Her dimensions, as quoted by the same authoritv, are: l.w.I. 89ft., 
beam 34ft. 3in., draft about 17ft., boom 97ft., gaff 59ft., sail area about 
13.240sq. ft. _ . - , . - 
The regatta of the Royal Cinque Ports T. O. was sailed off Dover on 
June 5; Britannia, Ailsa, Meteor and Satanita starting in the order 
named at 11:30 A. M . with a light southwest wind. The course was 
about fifty miles. The Saint, The Penitent and Niagara started at 
noon, in the order given. 
Up to 13:30 P. M. ODly the faintest airs had assisted the racers, but 
Meteor had stolen away to the westward and was about a mile ahead 
of 8atanita, only these two yachts having succeeded in weathering 
the pier end. Britannia and Ailsa, farther out in the channel, were 
obliged to anchor in order to prevent the tide from driving them 
away. In the 53ft class, at the same hour, The Saint had a long lead 
on Niagara. The Penitent was badly handicapped. Fifty minutes 
elapsed before she crossed the line and went in chase of her oppo- 
nents. 
The course for the large yachts is to Boulogne-sur-Mer and back, 
and the course for the smaller yachts was originally twenty-four 
miles, but owing to the paltry wind the distance was reduced to 
twelve mileB. , „ 
Niagara crossed the finish line at 5 hours 10 minutes and 48 seconds 
—nine minutes ahead of The Saint and eleven minutes before The 
Penitent. Meteor won the race for the large yachts, with Britannia 
second. 
The regatta of the Royal Southampton Y. O. was sailed on June 11, 
and resulted in another victory for Meteor. The weather conditions 
were not favorable to a speedy race, but Meteor sustained her reputa- 
tion of being the best boat in soft winds. 
At the time of the start, which was made at 10:45, the wind was very 
light. As soon as Meteor was fairly started she began to gain on 
Hester and soon passed her. 
The boats were timed when they passed Calshot, and Meteor was 
then two minutes ahead of Britannia. Hester and AilBa were in the 
rear of the Prince of Wales's cutter, while Satanita, after being re- 
called at the start, was fifteen minutes astern of the leader and prac- 
tically out of the race. Meteor continued to gain Blowly but surely, 
and the next time a watch was put on the boats Bhe was fifteen min- 
utes ahead of Britannia. 
A little while afterward the yachts were in the doldrums and the 
race became wearisome. They drifted with the tide and in this Meteor 
proved herself the best boat of the lot. Satanita, seeing there was no 
possible chance for her, gave up the race. Hour after hour passed, 
with occasionally little puffs of wind, of which full advantage was 
taken, and it was not until 7h. 53m. 50s. that Meteor went over the fin- 
iPh line. Britannia was second at 8h. 18m. 30s., and Ailsa third at 8h. 
19m. 20s. The only feature of the race was Meteor's wonderful per- 
formance despite the almost complete absence of wind. 
The 20-raters Niagara, Audrey and The Penitent also raced over the 
Brambles course, a distance of thirty-two miles. The Penitent won, 
with Audrey second and Niagara last. 
On June 13 Britannia, Meteor, Ailsa, Satanita and Hester started in 
the race for any yachts exceeding 39 rating, under the auspices of the 
Royal Southern Y. O, for prizes of £60 to the winner and £20 to 
the second. The course was around the Calshot Spit Lightship to East 
Lepe and East Sturbridge Buoys, back to the West Brambles Buoy, 
and thence to the starting line, twice around, a distance of forty-five 
miles. 
The weather was fine and a whole sail breeze was blowing from the 
southeast when the starting gun was fired. The boats got away well 
together, the times at the start being: 
Satanita 10 30 15 Hester 10 30 50 
Ailsa 10 30 30 Meteor 10 31 03 
Britannia 10 30 34 
It was a beat to the Calshot Spit Lightship and then a reach on the 
port tack to the East Lepe Buoy, at which point the times of the boats 
were taken as follows: 
Meteor 11 05 03 
Hester 11 08 20 
Meteor 11 24 47 
Hester 11 31 50 
Satanita 11 02 10 
Ailsa 11 03 04 
Britannia 11 04 36 
Passing Cowes the times were: 
Satanita 11 20 00 
Ailsa 11 21 45 
Britannia ....11 24 10 
Before reaching Old Castle Point Meteor got to windward of Bri- 
tannia and passed her. Later Meteor went ashore, but remained fast 
only a few minuteB. After floating she continued in the race. 
Shortly after the yachts had passed Cowes the wind changed and 
headed the boats, and they beat across Osborne Bay. The race was 
stopped at the end of the first round. The yachts finished as follows: 
Meteor , .2 47 50 Satanita 2 55 13 
Britannia 2 49 04 
Britannia won on time allowance. 
The wind fell off in the afternoon. The twenty-raters went over the 
course prescribed for them. The Saint fluisned first, the Audrey 
second and The Penitent third. Mr. Howard Gould's yacht Niagara 
has been docked and consequently did not sail in the race. 
In the Royal Southern regatta on June 13 the 52-footers, The Saint,. 
The Penitent, Audrey and Niagara started at 10:30 A. M. At 
the conclusion of the first round the yachts held the positions in the 
order named: The Saint won, and The Penitent was second. The 
times of finish were as follows: The Saint, 4h. 20m. 30s, ; The Penitent, 
4h. 22m. 31s.; Audrey, 4h. 30m, 36s., and Niagara, 4h. 33m. 416. 
The Orillia Yacht and Canoe Club was formed at Orillia, Ontario, 
last week with the following officers: Com., Thomas H. Sheppard; 
Vice-Corn., George Curran; Sec.-Treas., E. W. Strathy Mr. Andrew 
Fait has generously given, the club the free use of his magnificent 
club house at the lake Bide, and Com. Sheppard baa donated a 850 
challenge cup, which will be competed for for tbe first time 00 
PominjoD Day, July J, 
CHART OF COURSES FOR SEAWANRAKA TRIAL AND CUP RACES, OFF OYSTER BAY, LONG ISLAND. 
Seawanhaka C. Y. C. Trial Races. 
On Monday next, June 22, the trial races of the Seawanhaka Oorin 
thian Y. C. for the selection of a defender for its international cup 
begin at OyBter Bay, continuing on the two following days The fol- 
lowing conditions governing both the trial and cup races were pub- 
lished early In the season, but in answer to many inquiries we repeat 
them: 
GEKERAL REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE MATCH AND TRIAL RACES FOR 
1896. 
I. The courses shall be on the waters of Long Island Sound in the 
vicinity of Oyster Bay or in the bay itself. They shall consist of a tri- 
angular course and a course to windward or leeward and return. For 
the 15ft. class, each leg of the triangular course shall be two nautical 
miles in length and shall be sailed over twice, making a total of twelve 
miles. The course to windward or leeward and return shall be three 
nautical miles to each leg and shall be sailed over twice, making a 
total of twelve miles. 
II. The start shall be a one-gun flying start. 
III. The races shall be sailed without time allowance. 
IV. Yachts must not exceed loft, racing length (S. C. Y. C. measure- 
ment). 
The formula for determining racing length under the S. C. Y. C. rules 
is as follows: 
L. W. L. -j-VStul Area_ 
Racing Length. 
V. Yachts shall be measured without crew on board, but instead 
thereof a weight of 3001bs. shall be carried amidships during measure- 
ment to represent crew. 
VI. All ballast shall be fixed. (Weighted centerboards shall be con- 
sidered fixed ballast.) 
VII. No outrigger or other mechanical device for carrying live 
ballast outboard shall be allowed. 
VIII. In determining sail area a system of measurement shall be 
employed which will give, as nearly as possible, the actual number of 
square feet thereof. Sails shall be limited to mainsail, jibs and spin- 
afeer. The combined area of mainsail and of the jib used in windward 
work shall constitute the factor of sail area in determining racing 
length. The area of spinaker and balloon jib shall each be limited to 
four-tenths of the total area of the mainsail and jib used in windward 
work. 
IX. The helmsman shall be an amateur, and the total number of 
persons on board shall be limited to two. 
The race committee also announce the following programme for the 
trial races, subject to change, of which due announcement will be 
given: 
TRIAL RACES TO SELECT THE DEFENDER FOR THE TEAR 1896 OF THE SEA- 
WANHAKA INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE CUP FOR SMALL 
YACHTS, JUNE 23, 23, 24. 
Courses.— 1. The course for the first and third trial races shall be 
triangular and shall be as follows: 
Triangular Course.— From a line between Center Island Buoy off the 
entrance to Oyster Bay, Long Island Sound, and the committee 
steamer anchored S.E. of the same. 
E. by N. N.— Two miles around a mark bearing a red flag or ball,- 
leaving it on the port hand. 
N. W.— Two miles around a mark bearing a red flag or ball, leaving 
it on the port hand. 
S. by W. Lg w. — Two miles across finish line between Center Island 
Buoy and tne committee steamer anchored N.W. of the same. 
Course to be sailed over twice; total distance twelve nautical miles. 
On the second round yachts will leave Center Island Buoy on the 
port hand. 
Note. — The race committee may In their discretion direct the course 
to be sailed in the reverse direction, leaving buoy and marks on the 
starboard hand, and the signal for such reversal of course will be the 
anchoring of the committee steamer at the start to the N.W. of Center 
Island Buoy. In this ease the committee steamer will be anchored 
S.E. of Center Island Buoy at the finish. 
2. The course for the second trial race shall be a course to windward 
or leeward and return. 
Course to Windward or Leeward and Return. — From a line between 
Center Island Buoy and the committee steamer around a mark bear- 
ing a red flag or ball, leaving it on the starboard hand; distance 3 
miles and return; course to be sailed over twice; total distance 12 
nautical miles. The direction will be signaled by the general yacht 
signal code from the committee steamer at least 15 minutes before 
the preparatory signal. 
Start and Signals.— The start will be a one-gun flying start with a 
preparatory signal, and will be made at 12 o'clock noon across a line 
between Center Island Buoy and the committee steamer. 
Firet Signal,— preparatory (whistle 15 seconds long). The dub 
burgee on the committee steamer will be lowered and a blue peter 
hoisted. 
There will be an interval of 5 minutes between the first and second 
signals. 
Second Signal.— Start (whistle 15 seconds long). The blue peter 
will be lowered and a red ball hoisted. 
Note.— Attention is called to the fact that the flags and balls consti- 
tute the signals, the whistles merely railing attention thereto. 
Special Conditions — 1. The yacht selected to defend the cup shall be 
tbe one which, in the judgment of the race committee, shall be the 
best adapted therefor, and not necessarily the winner of a majority 
of the trial races. Additional races may be ordered by the committee 
between such contestants as they may select. 
2. The owner of each yacht entering for the trial races must on or 
before June 20 furnish to the secretary of the committee the racing 
measurement of his yacht certified by the measurer of the S. C. Y. C. 
3. Each yacht must carry a racing number (which may be obtained 
at the club house on the morning of the first race) fastened securely 
on both sides of the mainsail. 
4. In the event of a race being postponed or ordered resailed, it will 
be sailed at as early a date as may be practicable. 
Entries. — All entries for the trial races must be made by the clubs 
to which the owners of the respective yachts entered belong. Clubs 
intending to make entries are requested to notify the secretary of tbe 
race committee and will be furnished with printed or written blanks 
upon or in accordance with which entries must be made, and at tbe 
request and upon the responsibility of any club entering a yacht to 
compete in the trial races, all the privileges of the club house at Oys- 
ter Bay will be extended to the owners and amateur crew of the yacht 
so entered during the period occupied by the said races, upon the 
same terms as to members of the club. 
Oliver E. Cromwell, Chairman. , " 
64 Leonard street, N. Y. ' 
Charles W. Wetmore, 
35 Wall street, N. Y. 
Walter C Kerr, 
26 Cortlandt street, N. Y. 
D. Lerot Dresskr, 
55 White street, N. Y. 
Charles A. Sherman. Secretary, 
64 Leonard street, N. Y. 
The club measurer, Mr. Hyslop, will be on band to measure the 
yachts, but it is quite probable that there may not be time to measure 
all before the races. Yachts may be entered upon the certificate of 
measurement of the clubs to which they belong, subject to verifica- 
tion or remeasurement at the option of the committee or upon pro- 
test. 
In one of the circulars sent out a misprint of dates of the cup races 
occurs, the correct dates being July 13 and succeeding days. 
Racing numbers may be had, at a cost of 25 cents per set, of Rehm 
& Co., 157 Fulton street, New York. 
Race 
"Committee. 
Columbia Y. C. Annual Regatta. 
NEW YORK— HUDSON RIVER. 
Thursday, June 11. 
, The Columbia Y. C. sailed its annual regatta on June 11 in a strong 
westerly wind, the course being a triangle on the Hudson from off 
the club house. Eighty-sixth street, New York, across the river to a 
stakeboat off Fort Lee, then down to a stakeboat off Guttenburg and 
home, two rounds making 15 miles. The times were: 
CLASS C— CABIN SLOOPS OVER 3lFT. 
Start Finish. Elapsed. Corrected. 
Cygnet 11 00 00 12 53 05 1 53 05 1 53 05 
Pauline 11 05 07 Did not finish. 
Ramona 11 00 05 1 28 05 2 28 00 2 27.23 
CLASS D— CABIN SLOOPS OVER 27FT. 
Moya 11 01 05 Did not finish. 
Veta.. 11 05 00 1 15 00 2 10 00 2 10 00 
Camille 11 03 05 Did not finish. 
CLASS E— CABIN SLOOPS UNDER i'"FT. 
Lurline 11 01 30 1 18 20 16 15 ...... 
Dorothy 11 05 00 1 14 15 11 35 
Polly 11 03 05 1 34 00 30 55 
CLASS F— CABIN BOATS; 
Frankie A 11 06 20 1 48 20 49 00 2 43 00 
CLASS H— NAPHTHA LAUNCH 
Rambler 11 56 30 1 43 40 47 10 1 47 10 
Banshee .....11 57 25 1 50 35 53 10 1 30 48 
Mabel 11 56 35 8 01 00 31 25 1 41 40 
Moya and Ramona each lost her topmast, 
