894 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[May i8, 1901. 
Our Boston Letter. 
Boston^ May 10. — The Regatta Committee of the Hiill- 
Massachusetts Y. C. has been hard at work since the 
first of the year, and as a result has presented to the 
members of the club one of the finest racing schedules 
that has been offered by any yacht club in New Eng- 
Jand. The Regatta Committee has gone about its work 
with an organi/:ed plan. Through the experience gained 
last year, it has been found that the offering of cups has 
been very beneficial to the racing interests, and this 
year several will be offered. In the special classes in 
which the cups will be offered, no time allowance is given, 
but arrangements have been made to provide handicap 
classes in which cruising yachts can compete. 
Perhaps the most important feature of the plan of 
the Regatta Committee is the establishment of a per- 
manent class for i8ft. knockabouts that conform to the 
restrictions of the Eighteen-foot Knockabout Associa- 
tion. These boats have been described at length in' 
Forest and Stream, and their merits are known to its 
readers. In this class it is intended to provide a safe and 
handy boat for afternoon sailing and racing. They are 
almost as large as the 21-footers, and afford the same 
possibilities of sport and convenience, but they cost less 
and are much more easily handled. 
Last year this club offered a championship cup in the 
25-footers conforming to the restrictions of the Yacht 
Racing Association of Massachusetts, and enough was 
shown to warrant the committee in offering a similar 
trophy this year. A silver cup and a cash pfize of $150 
will be awarded the yacht winning the championship 
of the 25ft. class in the club series of races as scheduled. 
A second cash prize of $75 will also be awarded on the 
season's record. The races for this cup and the cash 
prizes will be open to j^achts enrolled in the club and 
conforming to the restrictions of the class as established 
b}' the Yacht Racing Association. 
The championship will be awarded on the best per- 
centage for the series secured by a yacht under the fol- 
lowing system : 100 per cent, for first place in each 
race. 65 per cent, for second place, 25 per cent for third 
place and 15 per cent, for finishing without having secured 
any of the foregoing places. A yacht's average will be 
found by dividing her total percentage by the number of 
races sailed, but a yacht must compete in at least seven 
races to qualify for the season's championship or the 
second prize. 
Cash prizes of $20, $10 and $5 will be awarded in 
each club race for first, second and third place, respec- 
tively, regardless of any competition for the season's 
record. The prize of $5 will only be awarded in case of 
five boats starting. No second prize will be awarded a 
yacht that has not defeated a competitor. The schedule 
of races for championship award in this class is- June 8, 
15, 17 and 22, July 13, 25, 26 and 27, Aug. 3, 17 and 
Sept. 14. 
A silver cup and a cash prize of $50 will be awarded the 
yacht winning the club championship in the 18ft. class in 
the club races as scheduled. A second cash prize, of 
$35 will also be awarded for the season's record. The 
races will be open to yachts enrolled in the club and 
which conform to the restrictions of the Eighteen-foot 
Knockabout Association. The championship will be 
awarded on the same basis as that for the 25-footers, ex- 
cept that six races must be sailed to qualify. ' 
As an incentive to owners of i8ft. knockabouts, the 
committee has devised a novel plan to secure the at- 
tendance of these boats at all races during the season. 
This plan will be to offer attendance prizes. These 
prizes and what will be necessary to obtain them will be 
announced in the first race circular. 
Mr. Alfred Douglas, who owns the r8-footer Oriana, 
designed and built by Lawle}^ has presented a valuable 
silver cup to be competed for by 18-footers as the Regatta' 
Committee may direct. The comnn'ttee has ■ accordingly 
offered for competition during the midsummer series of 
invitation races during July. This is the best pos.sible 
disposal the committee could have made of the cup. for 
there are a number of 18-footers which qualify, in Dux- 
bury Bay, and it is likely that most of them will be keen 
to wrest the cup from the Hull-Massachusetts boats. 
This, of course, will insure greater attendance at tlie 
races. 
The Regatta Committee will arrange handicap races for 
Saturday afternoons throughout the season in one or 
more classes, as may be deemed best in view of the num- 
ber and size of the yachts desiring to compete. Cash 
prizes will be offered for each race and the yachts will 
•sail in cruising trim. The handicaps will be fixed for 
each race by the committee, and will not be changed for 
any particular event after once having been announced. 
The following schedule of racing events is subject to 
possible changes, but will be substantially as given. The 
Yacht Racing Association open race is for Association- 
classes, in which prizes may be offered. This race and 
the midsummer series of invitation races will count for 
the club 25-footers in the club championship series : 
June 8, Saturday — Opening day, club race for 25-footers, 
18-footers and handicap classes. 
June 15, Saturday — Club race for 25-foolers, 18-footers 
and handicap classes. 
June 17, Monday — Annual open race off Boston T-ight, 
under the rules of the Yacht Racing Association. 
June 22, Saturday — Club race for 25-footers, 18-footers 
and handicap classes. 
June 29, Saturday — Club race for handicap classes. 
July 6, Saturday — Club races for 18-footers and handi- 
cap classes. 
July 13, Saturday — Club race for 25-footers, 18-footers 
and handicap classes. 
July 20, Saturday — Club race for handicap classes. 
. July 25, 26 and 27 — Midsummer invitation series; the 
race of July 27 will include a handicap class, open to 
yachts entered in the Hull-Massachusetts Y. C. only. 
Aug. 3, Saturday— Club race for 25-footers, 18-footers 
and handicap classes. 
Aug. 10, Saturday — Club race for 18-footers and handi- 
cap classes. 
Aug. 17, Saturday — Club race for 35-footers, iS-footCM 
and handicap classes. 
Aug. 24, Saturday — Gala day and water sports. 
Aug. 31, Saturday — Club race for handicap classes. 
Sept. 14, Saturday — Club race for 25-footers, 18-footers 
and handicap classes. 
Saturday afternoon the announcement was made at the 
office of B. B. Crowninshield, the designer of Inde- 
pendence, that the shed in which she is being built at the 
Atlantic Works would be open Sunday from 2 o'clock un- 
til 5. o'clock to the public, and that this would probably 
be the last day the public would have an opportunity of 
viewing the yacht before she is launched. Many stories 
in regard to a secret launching have been given out, and it 
is only justice to the designer and to those connected 
with the building of Independence to say that no de- 
liberate intention has been made to defraud the public of 
witnessing the launch. Mr. Crowninshield is just as con- 
sistent in wishing the boat to be under the eyes of the 
public as he was in the beginning, but it has been deemed 
absolutely necessary for the safety of the people that the 
launching should take place privately. There is no oppor- 
tunity for accommodating a great crowd of people on the 
dock of the Atlantic Works, and it is feared that if a 
large luunber should be admitted, serious results might 
follow. 
For the rest of tlie week it is likely that very few peo- 
ple outside of the newspaper men will have an oppor- 
tunity of visiting the yacht. The number of passes that 
will "be given out will be extremely limited, ^rom the 
fact that closed gates will be the order from now until 
launching time, it looks as though Independence will take 
the water during daylight and not at night, as was at 
first reported. If any specified time has been set for the 
launching, it has not been given out, and probably will 
not be, except at short nptice. 
The members of the crew have been hard at work 
during the past week polishing up the bronze plating with 
emery cloth and steel shavings. The plates now present a 
very good appearance, and will compare with those of 
Constitution. The deck has been fini'^hed with the ex- 
ception of putting on the canvas. About 8oft. of the steel 
mast has been completed, and it is expected that the spar 
will be ready to go on the boat when wanted. Lawley 
is well along on the hollow wooden spars. The steel sheer 
strake has been given a coat of lead. Tlie dark color 
suggests the appearance of the topsides if they should be 
painted black. Designer Crowninshield stated some time 
ago that he would like to. give her a coat of black, if 
possible, but from all that can be gathered now the finish 
coat will be white. 
Crowninshield is not confined to Cup defenders by any 
means. • He has a number of orders for yachts from 
i8ft. to 40ft., and is busy looking after yachts of his 
design that are now being built throughout New Eng- 
land. This has been a busy season for the Boston de- 
signer, and the productions from his board are in the 
hands of builders of every section. 
The Regatta Committee of the Annisquam Y. C. has 
arranged a preliminary schedule of races for the season. 
The first open race will be sailed on July 4. On Aug. g 
and 10 there will be a carnival of invitation and Y. R. A. 
open races. On Labor Day the last open race will be 
sailed. Club races will be sailed everj' other Saturday 
during July and August. 
At Lawley's the Sloane 85-footer is having her interior 
work fijiished up. The Parsons 46-footer has been 
launched and the Burgess Y. R. A. 21-footer will be out 
of the shop this week. The King 35-footer and the yVlli- 
son 32-footer, both desiigned by Crowninshield, are being 
rigged. The Boreland 86ft, steamer will be launched this 
week. The Wiggin Y. R. A. 21-footer is all planked. 
The Lowell 25-footer is about completed, and the Herter 
3S-footer is being finished up inside. 
John B. Killeen. 
The Cruise of the Foam. 
{Cofic^uded from Jiage 29S.) ' 
A SPELL of rainy weather detained the party in Annap- 
olis until Saturady, June 12. 
That day, like scA^eral which preceded it, began with 
frequent heavy rain squalls, accompanied by thunder and 
lightning, but at 6:30 A. M. it began to clear. At 7 it 
ceased raining and the wind shifted to the south and 
west 
The skipper was anxious to be off; just as soon as the 
weather showed signs of improvement and the rain 
stopped he sent the baggage down to the boat, follow- 
ing himself a few minutes later with Billy. They were 
soon alongside of the Foam, the tender was hoisted and 
secured, then, at 7:22 A. M., the anchor was tripped and 
we left Annapolis, bound for Shelter Island, N. Y. 
At half past seven our staunch little craft passed 
through the draw of the Spa Creek bridge and fifteen 
minutes later was giving the keeper, of the Greenbury's 
Point bug-light a farewell salute. 
We stood to the northward, making fair progress 
against an ebb tide, tlie engine working smoothly and 
well. Off Swan Pomt the U. S. C. S. steamer Blake 
caught up with and passed us; we exchanged salutes, 
also a hearty but distant .greeting. This was at 10 o'clock. 
The breeze was then light from the northwest, the barom- 
eter 29.8T, the weather generally cloudy and hazy. 
As we approached the mouth of the Susquehanna" River 
the wind had a fairer sween at us, the sea increased and 
the Foam rolled considerably to a rough quartering sea. 
This did not last long, however, for Turkey Point (the 
entrance to the Elk River) bore abeam at 2:26 P. M. 
and soon afforded a good lee, 
A few minutes before four the red light on the end 
of a projecting point in Back Creek was sighted; the 
chart shows a bend to the southward in the channel 
after passing this point. To our cost we found that this 
bend does not exist, for we went ashore there at full 
speed, while the true channel continues near the north- 
ern shore. 
The engine was backed without avail for a Few minutes 
and then stopped, to prevent the condenser pipes from 
heating unduly. The dinghy was lowered, a line from 
her made fast to the launch's stern and then, while Ed 
and Billy pulled their best, the skipper shoved with an 
oar and rocked the Foam. Finally her stern was slewed 
into deep water and then, by hauling with the dinghy, 
backing the engine and aiding with oar and rolling 
motion, the boat was fofced nff tl^e nuid bank into deep 
water. 
The dinghy came alongside, discharged her crew and 
was then dropped astern, while the Foam went on her 
way without further inishap. 
Chesapeake City soon hove in sight and at 4:50 our 
craft was locked into the Delaware & Chesapeake 
canal, A telegram was sent to the home folks, the ten- 
der hoisted and secured; we then started for Delaware 
City, which place was reached at 7:18. 
What with the rains and east winds of the last week 
and also a high spring tide, it was found that the Dela- 
ware River was fully eighteen inches above the canal 
level. It was, therefore, itnpossible for us to lock out 
until the tide had fallen considerably, so the skipper 
started out to hunt up a supply of naphtha. 
Only the day before the sole dealer in the town had 
filled the tank of a launch returning from Florida waters, 
so that all we could secure without a long delay was fifty 
gallons. This we took aboard, also a few stores, and 
then the skipper, not wishing to be detained in the canal 
over Sunday, sought the lock-keeper and requested him 
to let the Foam pass out at 11:30 that night. 
In reply this man stated that the Ericsson line steamer 
would lock through at about half past three the next 
morning, that he would speak to his relief about it and 
that we could pass out at that time. "But it will be Sun- 
day morning," said the skipper. "That will be all right," 
replied the keeper, "and will save a waking up for my 
relief, and yourselves, also, at 11:30." 
The Foam was therefore secured for th"e night, her 
crew turning in early. 
Sunday, June 13. — The day opened cool and pleasant, 
partly cloudy. In his anxiety to get away Billy called 
all hands at 2:30 A. M. In consequence we had to wan- 
der around or catch catnaps until 4:10, at which time the 
steamer put in an appearance. She locked in at 4:20 
and completely filled the lock so that even our little 
dinghy would have lacked room to go through safely 
with her. 
When the steamer had passed through we expected 
to be locked out, as per agreement. It appeared, how- 
ever, that cither the first lock-keeper had forgotten to 
mention this arrangement to his relief, or else that his 
relief was inclined to be disagreeable; for upon our ask- 
ing him to lock the Foam out he refused point blank, say- 
ing it was Sunday. 
After a great deal of persuasion from ourselves and 
from the skipper of a schooner, who had received a sim- 
ilar promise, we finally prevailed upon the man to let 
T1S through. Botli schooner and Foam were speedily 
moved into the lock and at 4:55 passed out into the 
Delaware River on the last of the ebb tide. At 5 A. M. 
the barometer marked 29.70; the river was smooth; light 
airs and breezes were blowing from the southwest. 
The Foam passed New Castle at 5:56 and Wilmington 
at 6:35; having now a fair tide, smooth water, and an 
easy running engine, our boat made fair progress and at 
two minutes past nine passed the Elbow buoy (No- 44) 
on Fort Mifflin bar. ' 
This time we met with no practical jokers and at 9^52 
passed Broad .street, Philadelphia. The strong flood 
tide hurried us along in fine style and at 1:30 P. M. we 
reached Bordentown, N. J., where the Foam was made 
fast outside the lock to await patiently the passing away 
of the Sunday. 
The flood tide, which had been with us from the time 
we were abreast of Wilmington, continued to run until 
about 3 P. M., a total of ^Y?. hours. 
Several steamers, 'some with tows, came up in the 
course of the afternoon, until finally there was a party 
of six of us waiting to lock into the canal. Willie and 
Ed had tried to get a nap, but the noise and bustle of 
the successive arrivals was too much for them, so finally 
they went over and had a chat with the crews of the 
various steamers. 
On the Foam wer6 several bats and a base ball; these 
were put in requisition and the afternoon was soon 
enlivened by a game of ball that was much more hilar- 
ious than scientific, but which furnished harmless amuse- 
ment for a crowd of men. 
The skipper received a visit froni_ a naval officer and. 
from several of this gentleman's friends, who showed 
much interest in . our trip. 
Monday, June 14. — At midnight called all hands. 
Though we had been the first to arrive we were the last 
to leave, as loaded boats and packets have the right of 
way, so at 12:45 A. M. we entered the lock in wake of 
the other steamers. 
The Foam passed one steam canal boat in the first 
reach and all the others in the 13-mile stretch, again 
resuming the lead and making it a veritable case of "the 
last shall be first." 
The weather was cool, clear and pleasant, while a 
bright moonlight made it easy for us to see ahead. 
At 9:45 A. M. we locked out of the Delaware and 
Raritan canal; as it was then about the middle of the 
ebb We came down the Raritan River rapidly and at 
noon were, off Segnine Point, Princess Bay, Statcn 
Island. 
Our craft was in the Narrows at 1:45 P. M. The wind 
was blowing fresh from the northwest and we carried a 
young flood tide with us; these, in combination with the 
backwash from the lee shore, produced a heavy, irregular, 
choppy sea that caused the Foam to bob about and roll 
heavily all the way from the Narrows up, through the 
Buttermilk Channel and into East River, Her conduct 
was so erratic that Billy grew uneasy, left the cabin and 
sat on the after deck "to keep her stern down," he said. 
At 4 P. M. we passed through Hell Gate. There were 
heavy cloud banks to the southward and eastward, with 
other evidences that a heavy thunderstorm was then 
passing over the central part of Long Island. 'The wind 
was variable, the barometer steady. At 5 the wind 
came out from the northeast and it began to clear. 
The light on the Stepping Stones bore abeam at 5:06 
and at 6 the Foam was on a course east-northeast Yt. 
east for Matintcook Point buoy. Centre Island Point 
was passed at 7:15 and the Foam stood in Oyster Bay 
Harbor, where at 8 P. M. she was anchored off the 
steamboat wharf, in 9ft. at low water. 
It did not take long to secure everything for the night, 
so Ave turned in at once and slept right through until 
6:30 the next morning. 
Tuesday, June 15,— The day opened clear, cool and 
pleassn^i tfut l]3zy. After carefully gounding around in 
