May 4, 1901.J 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
353 
Clyde. She is quite fast as a yawl, and has many prizes 
to her credit. 
Sybarita is one of Mr. Geotge L, Watson's best crea- 
tions. She was new last year, and made an enviable 
record in English waters, defeating not only all yawls, but 
also all sloops that came against her. She is 90ft. on the 
waterline, the same size as the Cup defenders. 
During the last ten or fifteen years the sport of yacht 
racing has made immense strides all over this country, and 
in no place more than in Long Island Sound, especially 
among the small classes. This is owing to the fact that 
the Sound presents one of the best racing grounds in the 
world. Singularly enough, also, the best course on the 
Sound is that of the Bridgeport Y. C. There is no 
question that they have here the premier waterway in 
this country. Twenty natitical miles wide and with over 
30ft. of water over the entire course with no headlands 
• and very small tidesj we present a course that is almost 
ideal. 
In 1880 there were but two yacht clubs on the sound 
with a membership of perhaps 500. Now there are twenty- 
six clubs, with a meinbership of nearly S,ooo. 
The years 1S97 and 1898 were good years for the sport, 
and those who followed it closely were delighted in the 
latter year to hear that another contest for the America 
Cup was assured. Sir Thomas Lipton, through the Royal 
Ulster Y. C, forwarded a challenge in due form. 
Sir Thomas named Shamrock as the challenger, de- 
signer William Fife, length on the waterline 90ft. 
William Fife will be remembered as the designer of the 
very successful Minerva, Ailsa, Calluna, etc., and a large 
number of very successful boats in these smaller classes. 
The New York Y. C. promptly accepted the challenge, 
all the details for the match were quickly and smoothly 
arranged and a tenth contest, for the time-honored "blue 
ribbon of the seas" Avas thus inaugurated. 
A syndicate of American yachtsmen gave the Herres- 
hoffs an order for Columbia, and in due time she was 
launched from the Herreshoff works. 
She was given a thorough tn^ming up with the old Cup 
champion Defender, which proved to he a most excellent 
trial horse. - Many and exciting Avere the contests between 
the two great sloops during the summer of 1899, but the 
honors always lay with Columbia, proving again the ability 
of the Herreshoffs to outbuild themselves. 
Columbia was much of an improvement on Defender in 
many ways and her underwater body was a thing of 
beauty. Her lines were as fine as those of the finest 
canoe. The workmanship on her was a great improve- 
ment over anything that we had yet seen in a Cup cham- 
pion. Her sails spread were something enormous, being 
quite 13,000 sq. ft. • 
Shamrock 'proved also to be a great advance on any- 
thing that had been sent over for the Cup. The most 
notable departure in her was the design below the water. 
In model she resembled the defender much more than 
she did any of the preAnous English challengers. She 
was also similar to Columbia in many ways, and the two 
were much closer in design than any tAVO previous con- 
- testants for the Cup. 
Columbia and Shamrock each carried a chunk of lead 
bolted to the bottom of the keel weighing in the neigh- 
borhood of 90 tons. You will better appreciate tJiis enor- 
mous Aveight Avhen you knoAV that it is practically the 
Aveight of the largest mogul locomotive and its tender 
noAv used on the consolidated roads running through 
toAvn. And Avhen you imagine a boat but 90ft. on the 
water and 22ft. wide carrying a 90-ton locomotive hung 
2oft. under the Avater. you Avill have some idea of the 
enormous stability of these vessels. Then when we think 
of a sail plan rising nearly 200ft. into the air and i8oft. 
from the after end to the forward points, and comprising 
some 13,000 sq. ft. of sail, you Avill realize something of 
the terrific problems imposed upon the designer of a 
modern Cup racer. 
The eventful Oct 5, 1899, at last arrived. Columbia 
and Shamrock, tuned to concert pitch, met at Sandy 
Hook Lightship for their first tussle for the time-honored 
trophy. Shamrock certainly seemed fit to make the fight 
of a lifetime. Everything Avas spick and span about her, 
and her immense spread of canvas fitted her most beauti- 
fully. The contests betAveen Columbia and Shamrock 
.are too recent to warrant my going into detail with regard 
to the earlier attempts at a race. For the first seven 
attempts only failure resulted. The winds were light and 
baffling, and as the race had a time limit of five and one- 
half hours for the thirty miles, the yachts Avere unable to 
finish Avithin the limit. In these earlier attempts Sham- 
rock showed to such good advantage that, as usual with 
the patriots, a great many lost heart. Bets were freely 
made that Shamrock Avould Avin the Cup in three straight 
heats. Unmerited criticism by the cheaper class of ncAvs- 
paper writers Avas heaped upon Columbia, her manager, 
Mr. Isdin, and all connected Avith her. It was freely said 
that Mr. Herreshoft' had played himself out and that 
Columbia was a failure, and that the Cup was certainly 
lost. HoAV unAvarranted these predictions were A\>as clearly 
.shown when the Avind finally consented to allow them to 
finish Avithin the specified time. It is my opinion and the 
opinion of nearly every one familiar Avith yacht racing 
and yacht handling that there never was a time in light 
winds or heavy Avhen Shamrock had even a forlorn hope 
of Avinning the Cup. I saw every one of the trials and 
believed every moment of them, and believe now, that 
Columbia was the master of Shamrock on every point of 
sailing and every weight of Avind. The first race occurred 
on Monday; the Avind AA'^as light but held fairly steady, 
with every appearance of sufficient weight to finish the 
race Avithin the limit. As soon as this condition Avas fully 
known aboard Coljimbia a great change seemed to pass 
over the big white sloop. She drew aAvay from Sham- 
rock immediately after the starting gun, and tack after 
tack placed herself further and further ahead, and finally 
swung round the turning mark, fifteen miles to Avind- 
ward, nearly ten minutes, a distance of fully a mile and a 
half ahead of Shamrock, and in the run home she in- 
creased this lead to over ten minutes, winning the race 
with perfect ease. 
Some of the croakers began to hedge very rapidly after 
this exhibition. The abuse of the amategrs aboard Co- 
lumbia grew very small, and there seemed to be a disposi- 
tion to at least give our representatives fair play. 
Jhe secGttd race, which was tq have been oyer ?i triangle 
of thirty miles, was unfortunately marred by a break 
down of Shamrock. She carried away her topmast shortly 
after the race started, and, of course, was obliged to give 
it up. Columbia was Avell up to windward of her when 
the accident happened, and unquestionably Avould have 
repeated her great success of the preceding Monday had 
the race been carried to the finish. Under the agreement 
Avhich had been entered into at Sir Thomas Lipton' s sug- 
gestion, Columbia was obliged* to go on and finish the 
race and, of course, be declared the winner. 
The Last Race Between Colombia and Shamrock. 
The last and deciding race Avas again fifteen miles to 
windward and return. A fresh southerly breeze was blow- 
ing and both yachts had all they could stagger under with 
mainsail, jib and staysail, and without any ballooners or 
flying kites. The race down to the outer mark was most 
exciting. Shamrock started one minute and thirteen sec- 
onds ahead of Columbia and squared away for her fifteen- 
mile run down Avind. She broke out her spinaker prompt- 
ly and dropping into a fifteen-mile-an-hour gait spread 
away for the distant mark. Columbia swung across the 
line after her, also with spinaker doing its best. The run 
to the outer mark Avas only remarkable for the steady 
gain of Columbia. The excursion fleet raced along on 
either side, and only the fleetest of the excursion steamers 
could keep Avithin hailing distance of the beautiful fabrics 
Avhich were speeding down that northerly Avind like great 
frightened sea birds. About half a mile from the turning 
mark, Avhich Avas then plainly in sight, Columbia swung up 
on the port beam of Shamrock, and side by side they rushed 
along. The skipper of Shamrock did everything in his 
pOAver to hold the beautiful Herreshoff creation, but .there 
Avas no magic or witchery in his command which could 
enable him to succeed. SIoAvly but surely Columbia drew 
ahead, and when the mark was but a short 300yds. away 
she Avas about one length to the good. The mark had to 
be left on the starboard or right hand, hoAvever, and as 
Columbia Avas on the port, or left hand, of Shamrock the 
latter had the inside of the course, and the advantage of 
Columbia Avas more apparent than real, as to turn first 
she was obliged to cross Shamrock's bow. It did not 
seem possible that she could do this, but within about 
looyds. of the mark Ave saAV her spinaker disappear, down 
Avent her helm, and Avith a sweep like a frightened gull 
she fairly leaped across Shamrock's boAv, scarcely a hun- 
dred feet behind her. and spinning on her heel swept round 
the mark and pointed her beautiful prow for home. 
Shamrock was but a few seconds behind her. Both ves- 
sels gave a sharp luff up into the wind, their crews rattled 
in the main sheet, as rapidly as trained sailor men could 
possibly do, in a short space of time everything Avas 
sheeted home, and the great contestants dashed their bows 
into the noAV Avhite-capped Avaves as they began the real 
contest in their thresh to Avindward of fifteen miles. The 
wind was now bloAving at least twenty-five miles an 
hour ; both yachts were heeling doAvn to it at a tremen- 
dous angle. Shamrock attempted to carry a working top- 
sail, but it did her no good, and she Avas obliged to take 
it in, and both vessels were under the same sail — mainsail, 
staysail and jib. In less than five minutes after the turn 
the marvelous superiority of Columbia in windward work 
Avas apparent to the veriest novice. She not only put 
it faster through the Avater, but she seemed to move 
bodily to windward, as compared with Shamrock. Her 
sails set very much better than those of Shamrock, due, 
unquestionably, to very mUch stiffer spars. Tack after 
tack Avas taken, and each told the same story — steady and 
progressive gain for the white sloop. About half Avay 
home Columbia was fully a mile to windAvard and ahead 
of Shamrock. At this point Shamrock determined to 
risk all in a forlorn hope, and luffing up for a moment sent 
up an immense ckib topsail. This did her no good, hoAv- 
ever. and Columbia now being eased and sailed very care- 
fully, crossed the line an easy winner, fully three-quarters 
of a mile ahead and nearly seven minutes to the good. 
And so ended the gallant attempt of Sir Thomas Lipton to 
lift the Cup. No fairer sportsman and no more worthy 
antagonist has ever appeared to contest for this trophy. 
And it seems to be the sentiment throughout yachting 
circles that if the Cup must go to the other side, it could 
not go in better hands than his. 
Columbia is one of the most beautiful yachts that has 
ever been turned out in this or any other country. In hull 
and sail plan she is the perfection of grace, and no one. 
even those who have not the slightest technical knowl- 
edge of the sea, can vieAv her beautiful proportions Avith- 
out being Avarmed into admii^ation at the sight of this 
perfect creation of the genius of the most advanced yacht 
designer the world has cA^er known. There is. in my 
opinion, no question as to the position that Nathaniel 
Herreshoff holds in the yacht designing Avorld. His is un- 
doubtedly the most original and finished genius that Ave 
have ever seen. He combines Avith a perfect knowledge 
of form the true instincts of the capable engineer. He is 
hampered by no traditions, and prejudice plays no part in 
his calculations. His results are scientific, and capable 
of scientific analysis in all their parts, with the conclu- 
sion, inevitably, that here is the master hand. 
Rap Full 
At this season of the year, Avhen all yachtsmen are look- 
ing forward to the time Avhen they Avill get their first sail, 
and are chafing under the delays that prevent their boat 
from being put in the Avater, the splendid photograph of 
the schooner Constellation that forms the subject of oiu' 
supplement this Aveek cannot help but appeal to all of 
them. 
The picture was taken off Marblehead during one of 
the Eastern -Y. C. races last summer. It Avas blowing 
hard from the northeast, and there was a big sea on at 
the time. It was just Constellation's Aveather, and thrash- 
ing through the big Avaves Avith everything "rap full,"- she 
made a most inspiring picture. 
Mr. Everett W. Burdett,^of Boston, has purchased 
through the agency of Mr. Frank Bowne Jones from 
Mr. W. F. Mayo the 25ft. knockabout Isis. The boat 
will be used during the coming sum.mer on Buzzard's 
Bay, where MTi ?V!Tdett has a country place. 
Yacht Bttilding: and Rigfg-mgf. 
By arrangement with our English contemporary, the 
Yachtsman, a series of articles on yacht building and 
rigging, written by Mr. Linton Hope, the well-knoAvn 
English yacht designer, will appear iix otir columns, tom- 
mencing with the next number. The subject will be 
treated in a most comprehensive and thorough manner, 
and will be profusely illustr^ited by draAving^ made by 
the author, whose articles will carry the intending builder 
from the first stage of buying the necessary tools up to 
the time the boat is ready for the first sail, coA'^ering each 
point in detail. 
Mr. Hope is too Avell known both in England and 
America to need any introduction at our hands. Besides 
being a very capable yacht designer, he is an expert on 
yacht construction. Among the A^ery successful boats 
which he has designed are Kismet, Sorceress, Wind.spie! 
and Colebri (both winners of Emperor's cup, Kiel), Tiger 
Cat (winner of Queen's cup), Linton, Scotia, Flying 
Sciid, Schelm and LotuSi He has ailsO turned out many 
.successful cruising boats. Mr. Lorne C. Currie,.Avho has 
challenged for the Seawanhaka cup, will in all probability 
bring over a boat from Mr. Hope's design. Mr. Hope is 
one of the first living authorities on the designing, con- 
structing and sailing of small racing and cruising yachts. 
Our Boston Letter. 
Boston, April 27. — It has been announced that both W. 
Butler Duncan and Thomas W. LaAvson have signified 
their willingness to race in the series offered by the New- 
port Yacht Racing Association during the first week in 
July, so there seems now good possibilities of testing the 
merits of the Boston candidate for Cup defender honors. 
There is one thing, however, that may tend to make In- 
dependence shoAV up at a disadvantage. It is not expected 
that she Avill be launched until after May 15. May 18 has 
been said to be about the time she will take the water, and 
it does not seem likely that this will be far from correct. 
One man, who has watched her construction almost 
daily, said to me last week that he did not expect to see 
her take her first trial spin nmch before June 15. If this 
should prove to be the case, she Avould have but a short 
time in which to get into proper condition for a series of 
races with the Bristol boat. But chances or no chances,-" 
Boston yachtsmen are glad that there is to be a contest 
betAveen the tAvo yachts, and there is no doubt that there 
will be a large party of Boston people Avho will witness 
the races off Newport. 
There seems to be no more light throAvn upon the sub- 
ject of the possibilities of Shamrock II. racing in Boston 
waters than there was Avhen the project of the LaAvson 
cup races was first started. The committee appointed by 
the Hull-Massachusetts Y. C. to take charge of the races 
recently received an answer to their cable message, in- 
viting Sir Thomas Lipton to race. C. E. Hodges, secre- 
tary of the committee, would not give out the exact 
wording of the cable, but said that its contents were to 
the effect that Sir Thomas expressed his pleasure at 
being invited to take part in the races, and that he would 
be glad to visit Boston. This leaves the matter in just 
the same state as it Avas several Aveeks ago. This was 
just the same statement that Sir Thomas made to a 
Boston newspaper man who interviewed him. He has not 
said yet that he Avould or would not race Shamrock II. in 
Boston Avaters, but it is expected that his ansAver to the 
letter sent by the committee confirming the cable may 
settle the matter. 
There has been considerable talk recently about the 
^ launching of Independence, and it has been said that 
Thomas W. LaAVSon's daughter, Marion, Avould christen 
her. It has been stated in contradiction to this, by parties 
who stand very close to Thomas W. LaAvson, and who 
have more than an ordinary interest in Independence, 
that the rumor Avas entirely unfounded, and that it had not 
yet been decided Avho Avould christen the yacht. 
Perhaps it may seem a bit inconsistent, in view of the 
opinions expressed, that Independence will not be in the 
water as soon as expected, to say that work on her is now 
being pushed, but such is the case, nevertheless. The 
work of burnishing the bronze plates has been started, and 
about three strakes have now been treated. The Avork is 
being done with emery wheels and buffers, operated by 
compressed air. It may be that a final polishing may 
shoAV a very glassy surface, but at present the plates that 
have been operated on have not nearly so much luster as 
when they first came to the Atlantic Works. 
About 20ft. of the steel mast has been put together and 
set up Avith bolts or rivets. As only one man can AVork 
inside of the mast at one time, the AVork is necessarily 
somewhat slow. The mast is being built from the heel 
up. _ As the holes in the diaphragm plates are but Sin. in 
diameter, the man inside has to finish up his Avork as he 
goes along. His position, to say the least, is not an 
enviable one. As each angle steel rib and diaphragm plate 
is fitted, he has to set the rivets, whith are red hot, and 
hold a maul against the heads while the men outside rivet 
them up. If one has ever been in a boiler shop and 
heard the deafening noise of the hammers as the rivets are 
being headed up, one can imagine the position of this man 
inside of a 22in. steel tube Avith a couple of men on the 
outside banging aAvay for dear life A\'hile the rivet is hot. 
Both rudders for Independence are about ready to be 
hung. The brass sleeve of the balance rudder is in place 
and it is expected that the rudder Avill be hung this Aveek. 
The plating of the balance rudder is of the first-class 
order. BetAveen the plates there is a liner of spruce to 
prevent the water that will necessarily get inside from. 
SAvashing around and ripping the plates off. The plating 
is smooth and true. The chain plates were bolted to 
place Friday. There are seven of them, which indicates 
that if bracing counts for anything. Independence will 
carry her big sail spread without accident. 
It is expected that the first race of the rS-footers, con- 
forming to the restriptions of the Eighteen-foot KnocI^- 
