FOREST AND STREAM. 98 
COURSES OP SEAWANITAKA TRIAL RACES, OFF OYSTER BAY. 
The triangular course this year was but 1 1-3 miles to a side instead of 2 miles, as shown in the chart. 
July 30, 1S98.I 
Werft, Kiel, the builders of the yacht. _ The German 
boat, sailed by a German crew, scored a fair and decisive 
victory over the two British-built craft. At the cere- 
monies attending the races, Mr. Cecil Quintin, owner 
of Merry Thought, winner of the Emperor's cup in the 
Dover-Heligoland race, offered, with the aid of some 
other British yachtsmen, to build and race in German 
waters next season a yacht of the same class, of British 
design, and manned and sailed by a British crew, against 
a representative German yacht; promising that whether 
successful or otherwise the yacht would be presented 
to the Imperial German Yacht Club as a training ship for 
yacht crews. The German Emperor immediately guar- 
anteed to contribute £1.000 toward the German boat, and 
an additional sum of £1,500 has since been subscribed 
by German yachtsmen. 
In such a contest as this, in a useful and practical size 
of yacht, and comparatively close at hand, British yachts- 
men are likely to find all they want in the way of inter- 
national sport, without going on their knees to the New 
York Y. C. for generous concessions and special inter- 
pretations which will allow them to challenge for the 
America's Cup. 
There is much food for reflection on this side of the 
water in the material progress in yachting which the 
continental nations, led by Germany and France, have 
made of late years. The importation of the American 
skimming dish, which began in the fifties, stopped years 
ago; and the importation of British yachts, beginning 
with the old, narrow cutters and continued later with all 
classes of modern racing machines from Meteor down 
to Mr. Linton Hope's lightest productions, is decidedly 
on the wane, as the native products have improved in 
all classes. The stimulus of international rivalry, which 
was missing so long as British yachts met nothing but 
vessels of their own nationality under the French flag 
in the Mediterranean and the German flag in the Baltic, 
is rapidly increasing with the production of such craft 
as the French Esterel and the German Kommodore. It 
can hardly be supposed that either of the three nations, 
Great Britain, Germany or France, is blind to the great 
value of international matches as a needed stimulus to 
yachting, or that either would be in the least loth to see 
the establishment of an international trophy in which 
America should have no part whatever. To be sure, the 
Coupe de France was carried to England with no great 
difficulty, and the proposed race with Germany may 
possibly prove a mere temporary affair; but at the same 
time the indications are that if something is not done 
speedily toward a race for the America Cup on perfectly 
fair conditions, and in a much smaller class than the 
90ft. cutters, its place in international sport will be taken 
by some newer trophy. 
Mr. John Hyslop, official measurer of the Seawan- 
haka, New Yorlcand Larchmont Yacht Clubs, sailed for 
London on July 16, on a visit of several months. In his 
absence H. C. Wintringham has been appointed to act 
for him by the New York Y. C. and W. P. Stephens by 
the Seawauhaka C. Y. C. This is Mr. Hyslop's first 
visit to England in twenty-seven years. He takes a wheel 
with him, and will make land cruises in different parts of 
the country. 
The first day's racing of the Lake Y. R. A. meet at 
Kingston resulted in a win for Merry Thought, owned 
and sailed by Com. Jarvis, over Canada, by 2m. 12s. 
elapsed and 27s. corrected time. Merry Thought is of 
heavy construction, but has been thoroughly overhauled 
and rerigged by Com. Jarvis. 
Seawanhaka Corinthian Y. C. Trial Razes. 
Oyster Bay- — Long Island Sound. 
Third Trial Race, Wednesday, July 20. 
The continuation of the Seawanhaka trial races being 
postponed to July 20, as told in our report last week, a 
new silk mainsail was ordered from Wilson & Silsby, 
of Boston, to replace that burned on Akabo on July 15. 
Akabo was towed over to her builder's yard at New. 
Rochelle, where her bowsprit was lengthened about 21't., 
to bring her nearer to the allowed area. Seawanhaka 
was safely hauled out on the beach, Mr. Crane taking 
advantage of the time to run up to Ogdensburg- to inspect 
his third boat. The club has this year laid down a very 
good marine railway, principally for the benefit of the 
knockabouts, but capable of handling larger yachts. This 
was not used for Seawanhaka and Cicada, however, Mr. 
Crane having laid a temporary set of wooden rails on the 
smooth, sandy beach, with an ordinary four-wheeled rail- 
way baggage truck as a cradle. Seawanhaka was hauled 
up on this nearly every night, being struck over to one 
side when the same cradle was needed for Cicada. A 
stout derrick was provided for handling the very heavy 
centerboards, in shipping and unshipping them, and 
for masts as well. By means of a ladder lashed upright 
on the gangway leading to the landing stage, it- was pos- 
sible at low water to reach the mastheads when the 
boats were afloat, for any changes or repairs. The ar- 
rangements this year for caring for the racing boats were 
better than ever before, and the crews worked hard, the 
bottoms being constantly polished and every detail of 
hull and rigging kept in good shape. On Saturday 
Cicada went over to Westport in tow of her escort, the 
sloop Imperia. 
By Wednesday morning Seawanhaka and Akabo were 
ready off the club house, the latter having received her 
new mainsail on Tuesday, but there Avas no wind and no 
Cicada. The club steamer Seawanhaka, with the race 
committee on board, ran out to the Center Island Buoy 
and sighted the missing boats becalmed well to the west- 
ward of Lloyd's Neck. She steamed over and towed 
them to the line, and about 1 :45 a very light breeze came 
in from S. by E. By 2:15 it was strong enough to war- 
rant a start, and the preparatory whistle was given, fol- 
lowed by the start at 2:20. The course was two miles to 
leeward, N. by W., so as to make it unnecessary to run 
out into the Sound for the start. The maneuvering was 
clone with spinakers mastheaded to port. Akabo coming 
to the line too soon and luffing up along its length. 
When the whistle sounded she had lost way and was al- 
most motionless, her crew working to head her on her 
course. Seawanhaka, crossing a little after the signal, ctft 
the line under good headway, setting her spinaker at 
the same time. As she crossed her boom end touched 
that of Akabo, but they cleared without damage. Cicada 
came over a little late, but with good way; carrying it 
and soon running ahead of Seawanhaka. jwhile by the 
time Akabo was really under way she was in the last 
place. 
The boats were heeled, 1 with crews to leeward, and 
spinaker booms were braced well forward. At the end of 
the first ten minutes Seawanhaka, in second place, just 
held Cicada, but Akabo had dropped some'300'yds. astern. 
The wind was quite light, and a different breeze was 
visible down the -Sound, vessels coming up before the 
wind. Cicada was becalmed at 2:43, her spinaker being 
taken aback, and at 2:45 she jibed her boom over to the 
port quarter and reset her spinaker on the other side. 
Seawanhaka was caught just a minute later than Cicada, 
and finally Akabo, coming up astern, took the new 
wind. - ' • !■'.-*■ 
The short portion of the leg which remained was soon 
covered on a reach, and the outer mark was timed: 
Time. Elapsed. Loss. 
Cicada 2 50 59 0 30 59 
Seawanhaka 2 51 29 0 31 29 0 00 30 
Akabo 2 57 12 0 37 12 0 06 13 
They started in on an easy reach with balloon jibs- set, 
but at 2:57 the two leaders were headed by a moderate 
southerly wind, down came the big jibs and working jibs 
were set for a beat home. Akabo after rounding came 
on port tack, up the Sound to the westward, the other 
two working in with shorter legs. .Seawanhaka steadily 
gained on Cicada, while Akabo, off by herself, was ap- 
parently doing very well. As she closed in- for the "mark, 
however, she fell in company with a working schooner, 
getting under, the lee for a time. At. 3: 12 Seawanhaka 
was to windward, and clearly ahead of Cicada/ Akabo be- 
ing still too far astern to threaten either. The wind, now 
well west of south, was steady and put them plank- 
sheer to, and with _ smooth water and a clear; summer sky. 
the conditions, both for the: men on the boats and the' 
spectators, were ideal. The round was timed: 
Whole round.' 
Finish. Elapsed. Loss. Elapsed. Loss. 
Seawanhaka 3 .29 22 0 37 53 0 02 11 1 09 22 
Cicada 3 29 35 0 38 36 0 02 54 1 09 35 0 00 13 
Akabo 3 32 51 . 0 35 42 1 12 54 0 03 32 
As the times show; Akabo covered the leg in the least 
time, but the wind over the whole course was so fluky 
and variable that this race, as a whole, was not a satis- 
factory test. AkabO'- did not fairly lose as much as the 
times show on the - first leg, or gain as much on the 
second. : . - . r » 
Second Round. 
Very little time was wasted between the" rounds, and 
at 3:50 the preparatory was given, the course being as 
before. The wind was moderate, a little west of south 
and fairly steady in force and direction. It" was not a 
dead run, but the windward course was sufficiently close 
to give the needed test. This time the three made a fine 
start, all over the time with a rush, with spinakers ready 
to port, as the whistle sounded at 3:50. Cicada was first, 
followed closely by Seawanhaka, then Akabo; but all made 
good starts. For a time Akabo dropped astern of the 
other two, but she picked up before the end of the 
round, and the turn was very even, the times being: 
Time. Elapsed. Loss. 
Seawanhaka 4 15 59 0 20 59 
Cicada 4 16 06 0 21 06 0 00 07 
Akabo 4 16 13 0 21 13 0 00 14 
They started with Seawanhaka and Cicada jammed on 
the wind, while Akabo with lighted sheets Tvent reaching 
out to the westward on port tack. The wind freshened 
as they worked toward the shore, until Cicada, when 
about half-way in, turned in her first reef. After sailing 
different courses for some time, Seawanhaka and Akabo 
finally drew, together, the latter reaching fast and well 
ahead in distance, so that when Seawanhaka went on 
starboard tack, heading for the line, Akabo had a good 
berth to windward. There was now a fresh scupper breeze 
aud the two were under perfectly fair and even conditions 
for a windward test. As they went along it was plainly 
perceptible that Seawanhaka was doing by far the better 
work, and the proof came after a time, when Akabo drop- 
ped directly into her wake. While Seawanhaka kept on 
until she weathered the finish on this tack, Akabo was 
forced to make a short extra hitch. The times were: 
Whole round. 
Finish. Elapsed. Loss. Elapsed. Loss. 
Seawanhaka 4 49 01 0 33 02 0 54 01 
Akabo 4 49 55 0 33 42 0 00 40 0 54 55 0 00 54 
Cicada 4 53 37 0 37 31 0 04 29 0 58 37 0 04 36 
Cicada's loss is in part due to the useless reefing, an 
error of judgment. There were apperances of a squall in 
the N.W., and it was expected that it would break during 
the third round, but it held off, and the wind held 
steady. ■ > 
Third Round. 
The preparatory for the third round was given at 4:56, 
with the start at 5:01; Seawanhaka for the third time 
making a particularly good start. Akabo was second 
over the line, but she soon had trouble with her spinaker 
as the boom was slacked well forward, three of her crew 
working forward of the mast at one time in the effort 
to save the spar. With spinaker booms well over the 
port bows, and the sails sheeted to leeward, they all 
traveled fast, Seawanhaka soon being 50yds. in the lead. 
Akabo and Cicada fought it out for a time, the latter 
passing ahead to windward about the middle of the leg. 
As they neared the buoy Cicada again reefed as in the 
previous round, there being a ; good breeze and the squall 
still, threatening in the .western sky. The mark was 
timed: , 
Turn. Elapsed. Loss. 
Seawanhaka -.. 5 20 07 0 19 07 
Cicada " vc. 5 20.44 0 19 44 0 00 37 
Akabo r. .5 21 03 0 20 03 0 00 56 
Again on the ; wind Akabo went ahead, and really 
passed Cicada, while the latter was shaking out her 
reef, but Seawanhaka was in her usual windward posi- 
