edges of the rail, the upper and lower edges of the planTc- 
sheer (or outer strake of the deck), and possibly the line of 
moulding, gilt stripe, etc. Some of these lines belong solely 
to the construction, and though they are usually shown in 
the main design they have no place there. We propose to 
leave to their proper place in the construction drawings all 
such lines, and for the sake of clearness and simplicity to deal 
here only with those lines necessary to define the forrh of 
the hull Until a recent period, some of these lines were 
necessary because of changes of exterior form about the bul- 
warks and rail ; the former being set in a little from the 
planksheer edge, and having an independent flare from that of 
the hull proper. In all modern yachts, whether of wood or 
steel, the bulwarks are simply a continuation of the fair 
line of the side; the only lines visible to the eye are the 
rail and the moulding or gold stripe, and there is nothing to 
show the height of the bulwark above the deck, or where 
the two join. All that the designer need concern himself 
with for the present is the rail, as it shows to the eye above 
the paint of the topside, and the moulding or stripe which 
he will use at some distance below it (not necessarily just 
at the deck) as a foil to it and to break the surface of the 
torsides This upper line of all, the top of the rail, we will 
call the slieer line. It is sometimes convenient to run in 
also the line of the upper edge of the planksheer or deck, as 
in the present case. The center line of the middle of the 
deck is also shown. The sheer line appears in the body 
plan, forming the upper ending of the stations. 
The same line is known in the half-breadth plan as the deck 
line; at least it will be convenient to call it such As in the 
sheer plan, more than one line may be drawn here, the half 
breadth of the top of rail, top and bottom of bulwarks, and 
top of planksheer, but so many lines are only confusing and 
entirely unnecessary; we will dispense with all but one, the 
intersection of the outer surface of the planking, plating or 
bulwark with the upper side of the rail. There will really 
be rounded moulding to the rail and not a sharp edge, but 
this may be disregarded. This line will not always be the 
true deck line, but it is convenient and sufficiently aceurate 
to call it 60. There is another small line, the intersection of 
the main surface of the counter with the after surface, 
which appears as a curved line in all the plans; it is called 
the cross seam. 
"We now come to a third set of lines, cut from the hull by 
various auxiliary planes: ihe diagonals, dividing lines, bow 
buttock lines, inclined water line, etc. These lines appear as 
straight in some plans and curved in others. 
A Christmas Tacht Race. 
Fort Meade, Polk County, Fla , Dec. 28, IQQQ.— Editor 
Forest and Stream: About eiebt miles N.E. from here is a 
fine sheet ©f water called Lake Buffum, five miles long and 
nearly two miles wide, with shallow shores for the most 
part and pine trees and bay heads down to the water's edge. 
Several small sail boats, called yachts by courtesy, are kept 
by the numerous residents on its shores, and a boating club 
has been formed. To keep up and increase the interest in 
boat sailing, to which the writer is passionately devoted, he 
has given to the club a cup of no considerable value, but 
simply a trophy to be competed for as a perpetual challenge, 
the winning of which is wherein lies the honor and glory, 
and not in the holding thereof. The first match, then, was 
arranged to come off on July 4 of this year, but a storm 
raged nearly all day. Two boats sailed over the course, one 
of which went ashore, a lee shore at that, and had to wait 
until the gale moderated before setting sail again; the other 
took the cup and held it until a day or two ago, when it 
came into the hands of the original giver by right of con- 
quest, and this was the way of it ; 
It blew hard from JSf.N.E. all Christmas Day, a cold, 
icy wind, that even here made one shiver at the thought of 
facing it close hauled in a dead beat to windward, but the 
day after there was a change for the better, and the rivals 
for cup honors— there were three this time — determined to 
race at all costs. 
There was Waterwitch, who won on July 4, and Lady 
of the Lake, who did not; also Defender II., a boat of un- 
tried caliber and speed, with a scanty spread of canvas. 
Quite a party from the previous day's festivities assembled 
under the trees on the bank to see the start, the course 
being triangular, one and one-half miles to a leg. The wind 
being about N.E. by E., the course was laid E. by S. to the 
first mark, then N E. to second mark, and from there W. 
S.W. to the starting line. 
The start was a flying one. Lady of the Lake getting off 
first, her new mainsail drawing well, at 3 :10 P M. Drf ender 
II. followed at 3:11 P. M., and Waterwitch last at 3:13:50, 
she having failed to make the line between the two buoys 
— which was a narrow one and too near the shore — at the 
first attempt. The wind was veiy flawy, but not nearly so 
cold, and excitement kept the crews warm. Lady of the 
Lake, who carried Fred W. Porter, a graduate of Annapo- 
lis, as crew and sailing master, with the present scribe at the 
helm, held her own to the first mark, having to make one 
tack to fetch it, when getting into shoal water at the turn 
and the wind failing she lost a little time, enabling the others 
to catch up and Defender to get around first, although the 
owner, sailing single-handed, was disqualified for sculling 
around the mark, he using an oar for a rudder, which gave 
him a better time at the finish than he was entitled to. 
Waterwitch came up about the same time and rounded the 
mark last, but only just astern of Lady of the Lake, who • 
quickly got away and picked up Defender and went on a 
hunt after the second mark on the port tack, which she held 
until nearly abreast of it, and then went about to the east- 
ward to get to windward of the mark and run down to it; 
this maneuver Waterwitch had executed soon after rounding 
the first mark, and was coming for the second, but she was 
too far off, barring accident, to be feared. 
Defender crept along, and with a little more sculling from 
the stern, under the lee of the land, the wind being light, 
piade the second mark first. Lady of the Lake soon fol- 
lowed, and eased sheet and hauled up her centerboard for 
the run home, going easily past Defender, who was never 
dangerous, and with a good lead on Waterwitch. Great 
cheering greeted the winner when she got in, followed by her 
two rivals, and the cup was gracefully handed over. The 
official times a.re as follows: 
Lady of the Lake 
Defender 11 
Waterwitch 
Start. Finish. Elapsed 
.3 10 00 4 56 30 1 46 30 
.3 11 00 5 02 25 1 51 25 
.3 13 50 5 C6 12 1 53 22 
Lady of the Lake thus won by 9m. 42s. elapsed and 5m. 
5Ss. corrected time from Waterwitch, which was well handled 
W, Qr§», owoer, wife Joe ^ittftfcer ^ myf^.^^ 
