Nov. 3, 1900.] 
perpetuation of the useless and harmful goft. class 
through anotlier iiiternational matGhi 
'"The second challenge of Sir Thomas Lipton for the 
America Cup attracts an iniense amount of attention in 
certain circles. Although tlie conditions of these races 
are regarded by yachtsmen as far from satisfactory, the 
much advertised international event has a strange fas- 
cination for the public. In the present instance neither 
the challenger nor the defender, which will be a second 
edition of Columbia, will be a vessel of the type which 
experienced yachtsmen consider suitable for racing in 
American or Biiiish waters. 
"Shamrock, thongh she cost many thousands of pounds 
to construct, under British rules is really not worth the 
price of her lead. The amount of money thrown away 
in turning out a yacht of .Shamrock's type is probably 
of little moment to the owner of a modern Cup chal- 
lenger or defender, but the wasted energy expended in 
designing and building vessels of this kind is an irre- 
trievable loss to the science of yacht architecture. 
"The purity of yacht racing is the boast of every 
Corinthian sailor, but so long as the America Cup racing 
is carried on for purposes other than the love of sport 
and the encouraging of yacht designing, it can never be 
regarded as one of the best phases of yacht racing. The 
America Ctip competed for by unwieldy machines such 
as Columbia and Shamrock has ceased to command the 
good wislies of yachtsmen that Sir Richard Sutton car- 
ried when he took Genesta to Sandy Hook." 
The America Cup. 
On Oct. 22 a meeting of the Cup Committee of the 
New York Y. C. was' held at the club house to consider 
the following cabl^ from Sir Thomas Lipton: 
London, Oct. i8. — Oddie, Secretary New York Yacht 
Club: — Many thanks kind telegrams to myself and Kelly. 
Very willing to meet you on point proposed, but is 
not I o'clock late enough, especially as I consider it 
would be better to revert to original six-hour limit, tlie 
shortening of which to five and a half hours at my request 
was productive of at ]ea.ct one abortive race on last oc- 
casion? Regarding private agreement as to accidents, I 
agree to this before. Kindly wire if you approve. 
Lipton. 
After discussion the committee decided that no race 
should be started later than i P. M., but declined to ex- 
tend the time limit beyond five and one-half hours, as 
in the match of 1899. The following reply was sent: 
New York, Oct. 22. — Lipton, London: — The committee 
adheres to five hours and a half for time limit for races, as 
in conditions of last match, and accepts, as you request, 
T o'clock as limit of time for starting. Is this sati.?- 
factory? . Oddie, Secretary. 
At the general meeting of the New York Y. C. on 
Oct. 25, Com. Ledyard made the announcement that a 
yacht wotdd be built to represent the club in the defense 
of the Cup, but gave no information as to the ownership 
or other details. Thus far there is no reason to believe 
that the plans of the two parties, for the challenge and 
the defense, are known outside of those immediately 
interested: Sir Thomas Lipton, Mr. Watson, Capt. Syca- 
more and probably TTenderson & Co., the ship and yacht 
btiilders, and on this side Mr. Herreshoff, the officers of 
the New York Y. C. and a small party of yachtsmen, 
who will be intimately a.ssociated with the new boat. The 
positive statements and exclusive information which are 
published every day are utterly unreliable, and much of it 
all is obviously but random guesswork. It is reported on 
the authority of a Glasgow paper that the challenger wUl 
be built by Denny & Bros., of Dumbarton, Scotland, the 
noted ship builders. As this firm is entirely without ex- 
perience in yacht construction, it is most unUkely that 
Mr. Watson will imitate the unsuccessful experiment 
tried in Shamrock, deserting a firm which has turned 
out such magnificent specimens of yacht construction as 
Thistle, Genesta, Britannia, A'^alkvrie II.. Valkyrie III., 
Queen Mab, Caress. Meteor II., Distant Shore, Glehiffer, 
Rainbow and Sybarita, with other sailing and steam 
yachts, for one whose work is radically different.. The 
Denny rumor looks like a clumsy guess, based on a pre- 
vious report, which is .probably true, that Mr. Watson 
has been experi|ii£nting, for. sVjme time with models of 
a goft. cutter infthe experirnentar tank ' which this -firm ' 
maintains as a part of its shipbuilding plant,, In the,; 
same dispatch if is actually stated as a piece of .news 
worth cabling across the ocean, that the new boat is 
known in the Denny yard by a number and not by the 
name Shamrock II.; as though any vessel in a large yard 
was ever known other than by her- yard number before 
the work of construction was well under way. 
As to the material for the challenger, there is a wide 
field for guesswork, as only those in close touch with 
the subject of modern materials and methods of con- 
stmction, such as Mr. Herreshoff, Mr. Watson and Mr. 
Fife, are in any way competent to express opinions. 
It may be said in a general way that wood, iron, and 
commercial steel are out of the question to-day„ and it is 
probable that neither partj^ will care to fool .again with 
aluminum; but it is a more difficult matter to those not 
specially informed to choose between nickel steel, bronze 
and composite. The practicability and the advantages in 
strength and surface of the best bronze allovs, Tobin 
bronze, Delta metal, manganese bronze, etc., have been 
thoroughly tested in Vigilant. Defender, Columbia and 
Shamrock; they are easily obtainable, and they can be 
handled readily by such expert workers as are to be had. 
It is most probable that both yachts will have an interior 
frame of nickel steel, plated with one of the bronze alloys. 
In view of high degree of perfection attained by Mr. 
Watson and the Hendersons in the real composite con- 
struction.^ a very different thing from the cheap and 
nasty nmtation known on this side under the name of 
composite, and which has made so much trouble this 
\ ear it is quite possible that the new challenger may be 
imdar ui build to VaUcyrie III., Meteor II. and the two 
yachts Sybarita and Distant Shore. 
It may be put dwiT at the statt that the two yachts 
tvill be as close as each can be built to 90ft. waterline, and 
approximately the same in type, dimensions and rig; 
both keel cutters, of the extreme semi-fin type. Unless 
one or the other designer concludes that he has made 
some radically new discovery, and this is hardly likely, 
the whole course of modern designing tends to bring the 
two boats more closely together than in any previous 
matches. The co^^ditions are now as fair as either side 
could ask, the same for defender and challenger; the only 
great inequality being that on the part of the challenger, 
due to the necessity of stripping after but a brief trial, and 
losing the best month of the season in the Atlantic voy- 
age, while the defending boat is sailing every day against 
Columbia. This of itself is a handicap that can hardly 
be ^overcome where designers are working as closely to- 
gether as they are to-day. 
The question of Mr. Herreshofif's ability to outbuild 
Columbia is now being generally discussed on both sides 
of the ocean. On this point it may be said that no large 
yacht built to the limit of light construction, as is neces- 
sary in international racing, can be at her best in her 
first season. This was proved by Vigilant and Defender, 
each in turn making a hard fight for a time against a 
newer boat of obviously improved design and construc- 
tion, and each fieing evidently faster than in her initial 
year. It is probable that Columbia is capable of much 
better performance than has yet been required of her, 
and that she will be much improved in igoi over her 
original form. It is .it the same time evident that the 
margin for imijrovement in speed is growing smaller 
each year, so that before many seasons the two-year-old 
boat, perfected by a long course of experiment, must be 
very close indeed to the new boat, which must of neces- 
sity be in many respects but a new experiment. It is 
now most probable that Columbia, if fitted out as she is 
likely to be next year, in the hands of those thus far 
■ associated with her. will make more trouble for the new 
boat than Vigilant did for Defender in 1895, or than 
Defender did for Columbia in 1899. 
The Flirt— Early Dawn Match. 
Boston, Oct. 20-22. 
The private match between the keel sloop Flirt and the 
centerboard sloop Early Dawn for $500 per side, the 
conditions of which were given two weeks since, was 
decided by two races sailed on Oct. 20 and 22, Flirt 
winning;, both. While the weather conditions were not 
in all respects ideal, they were such as to afford a fair 
test of , types under average conditions, it being conceded 
that the centerboard is at her best in smooth water and 
a moderate to fresh breeze, while the keel type comes to 
the front in light breezes and again when it blows harder, 
especially if there be any sea. Both boats were in the 
best possible condition. Early Dawn, in particular, hav- 
ing been much improved during the latter part of the 
season, while she had Capt. Joe Turner to sail her. 
The course for the first race was L shaped, the start being 
of¥ Nahant. There was very little wind in the morning, 
and the start was postponed at noon. While the breeze 
was from S.E., it promised for a time to shift to S. 
and the committee steamer ran out to Egg Rock, which 
would make a course of four miles to windward to the 
Graves whistling buoy. The wind went back to S.E., 
and the steamer ran. inside of Nahant Head, anchoring 
of¥ Joe Beach Ledge. This made the first leg to wind- 
ward, and a little under four nautical- miles in length, and 
a mark, boat was set two miles N.E. of the Whistler, mak- 
ing the required L course uf just under twelve miles. 
The preparatory was given at 2:02, and the start at 2:07. 
Early Dawn making a good start sqtiarely on the weather 
beam , of Flirt, both crossing on starbeard tack. The 
wind was quite light and there was an easy sea at the 
start. Flirt tried all possible tactics to get out of a bad 
place, but in vain ior a time, Early Dawn going about 
with her in a series of half a dozen short tacks. What 
with a very slight gain in each tack, and a stifYer roll 
to the sea, as they worked out from the shore, the keel 
boat finally cleared her wind, and then it took but a very 
short time to reverse the original positions.- With Early 
Dawn once under her lee in spite of an effort to break 
tacks, Flirt began to leave her . steadily as they crossed 
Broad Sound on port tack. The sea was on the port 
beam, enough of it to tell against the wide boat, but 
Early Dawn was sailed well and kept footing in spite 
of the \vay in which Flirt was pointing and weathering 
"out. Flirt tacked first, the other following in her wake; 
the wind being nqw very light. Two fishing schooners 
hound out crossed the course, and Earlv Dawn was 
compelled to give Way a little. Flirt, well' in the lead, 
going clear. As Early Dawn tacked Flirt followed to 
keep between her and the mark. The Graves buoy was 
timed : 
F'irt 3 25 43 Early Dawn 3 37 5.5 
In the short four miles to windward the keel boat had 
made 12m. 12s. gain in spite of the serious handicap at 
the start The wind had been very light and flukv, and 
she had had the best of the luck, but the conditions were 
too nearly even to account for more than a fraction of 
this big gain. 
With balloon jib set. Flirt reached out to the second 
mark hardly feeling the head sea. She rounded at 3 :si -30 
and Early Dawn at 4:05:50, after losing 2in. 8s. in the 
reach of two miles. 
After jibing round the outer mark Flirt trimmed her 
balloon- .lib for a reach in with a much fresher breeze but 
the wind went to the south, so that she had to stow the 
ballooner and beat in under working, jib, the wind in- 
creasing all the time. She tttrned the Graves at 4 :26 :42 
with Early Dawn 22m. astern, at 4:48:20, the latter havin.g 
lost J-m. i8s. more, in part through the shift of wind. 
There was now enough Avind for the centerboard boat, and 
a bit of luck with it. as it freshened very fast on the way 
hom.e. Flirt set her balloon jib at the Whistler, but 
when Early Dawn came up the wind was so far aft that 
she set a spinaket and ran in at about her best speed The 
finish was timed : 
c-,. . Finish. Elapsed. Lead. 
I'";*: K 5 01 00 2 .54 00 0 10 IS 
Early Dawn 5 12 40 3 05 40 
The second face was sailed §fl Monday, 0&i> 22, again 
in light weathet. The courSfe was from ofi Egg Rock, 
around the Winthrop Bar buoy, four miles^ then S,E. tw^o" 
miles around a mark boat ot¥ Devil's Back, and home 
ovet the same course, the first leg benig to Windward, S-W. 
The breeze Was very light, even at lilS, at which time 
the preparatory was given after a wait since noon. This- 
time Flirt was alert and away first with the gun, and' 
just enough ahead and to leeward to give a kick to the 
other boat's sails. Early Dawn tacked to get clear of the' 
back wind, but Flirt was about on her weather, and they 
stood on for sortie time, Flirt steadil_v gaining. She was: 
the first to tack when ofif Nahant Head, but Early Dawn 
stood on for some distance and picked up a freshening, 
breeze from the shore, which set her going very fast ;, 
while Flirt struck a soft spot a little later. Early Dawni 
had quite enough wind as the two worked across Broad! 
Sound against a strong ebb tide, and she about held her- 
own for a time, but as they neared the Winthrop shore 
the wind softened a little and she failed to catch FlirL 
The latter did the better work, as they beat out across the 
ebb tide, the times at the buoy being : 
Flirt 2' 34 07 Early Dawn 2 37 1,5 
In the four miles Flirt had gained 3m. 8s. 
They reached out to the Devil's Back mark with less 
wind, both carrying balloon jibs. Early Dawn picked up 
• a few seconds, the tintes being : 
Flirt 2 52 58 Early Dawn ,2 55 43 
The wind had been working to the westward and now 
headed them so that working jibs were set and sheeted 
home for a close reach in a lightening breeze. Before 
they reached the Winthrop Bar Buoy both had spinakers 
ready in stops with booms dropped to port. The times 
at this mark showed a gain of iSs. for Flirt in the two • 
miles : 
Flirt 3 13 28 Early Dawn.... 3 16 31 
They ran in with a falling wind, both moving slowly. - 
Early Dawn was in Flirt's wake, bM too ifar astern to hurt 
her. The finish was timed: 
Finish. Elapsed. Lead. 
Flirt 4 07 30 2 47 30 0 02 UH' 
Early Dawn 4 09 36 2 49 3u 
While the weather conditions in both races were not of 
the best, they were the same for both yachts, and the- 
result was not materially affected by any flukes. Under: 
conditions which represented rather what is most ofteni 
found than what is always wanted in yacht racing, the 
keel boat won cleanly and handsomely. As already stated!,, 
Flirt, whose lines appeared in the Forest and Stream oil 
Oct. 13-20, was designed by B. B. Crowninshield ; EarOy* 
Dawn was designed by her builder, Shiverick, of Kings- 
ton, an old hand at the centerboard type.- 
Yacht Meastifement in England. 
The Rating Rule Committee, appointed in August 
last, has finished its work and prepared its report, which 
will be presented to the council of the Yacht Racing- 
Association on Oct. 24. We may therefore ex- 
pect that the new rating rule will be submitted to the 
general body of the association at a special meeting 
early in November. The gentlemen in whose hands the 
construction of the new rule was left were Mr. Manning 
and Mr. W. G. Jam.eson ,(the vice-presidents of the Y. 
R. A.). Mr. G. B. Thompson, Col. Bagot, Mr. W. P. 
Burton, Capt. du Boulay, Mr. H. G: A. Rouse, Mr. C 
E. Newton-Robinson, Capt. R. T. Dixon, Col. Barring- 
ton-Baker, and Mr. R. E. Froudc, F. R. S., in consulta- 
tion with five of the most eminent yacht designers, 
Messrs. G. L. Watson, W. Fife, Jr., A. E. Pavne, C. 
Nicholson and C. Sibbick. We have often expressed a 
hope that the new rating rule will be framed so as to 
produce a more full-bodied type of boat, especially in 
the classes which should be, given a sound rating rule, 
the backbone of yacht racin.g, namely, the 52-footers and 
6s-footers. better known under their old nomenclature 
as the twenties and the forties. These classes have shown 
splendid sport in bygone years, and when skimming ■ 
dishes, extreme bulb fins and all uninhabitable craft are • 
eliminated from yacht racing, yachtsmen will use vessels; 
of this size for racing as well as for living on board toi 
foil ow the regattas round the coa.st as in days of yore,-. 
While we await the report of the rating rtde committee,-, 
and whatever it may bring forth, yacht owners may rest- 
assured that their interests have been weU guarded ini 
the hands of the composite committee, consisting of thei 
sixteen owners and experts we have enumerated above. 
—The Field. 
The Lake Y. R. A. 
TiiK annual meeting of the Lake Yacht Racing Asso- 
ciation will be held in Buffalo, on Nov. 3. The chibs 
belonging to the association are Buffalo, Royal Canadian, 
of Toronto; Royal Hamilton Victoria, of Hamilton- 
Queen City, of Toronto; Oswego, King.ston and Roch- - 
ester Jas. S. Thompson, of Buffalo, is president, and ' 
F, J. Campbell, of Toronto, secretary-treasurer. 
The time for sending in notices of motion has expired, 
and the only business that will come up in that line is 
covered in these motions, which are now in the hands 
of the secretary -treasurer. 
On page 13, first paragraph, strike out first four lines., 
commencing at the word "to" and ending at the word 
"extent," and substitute, "To the girth of, centerboard 
yachts must be added t\vice the distance between the 
lower side of the keel (immediately above the center of" 
area of the centerboard to the tenter of area of the cen- 
terboard. when lowered to its fullest extent." 
On same page, same paragraph, after "fixed keels" add 
"the measurer shall record the drop of the centerboard 
by measuring the pennant thereto and by making such 
marks as will readilv identify the point 'to which the 
measurement applies." 
Page 25, paragraph "area of midship section," add 
"exclusiA'e of centerboard." i ' 
Page 31. "form of certificate of measurement," ■ tenth 
line, after "feet," insert, "length of centerboard pennant." 
Address all communications to the Forest and 
Stream Publishing Company. 
