114 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Aug. lo, 1901. 
Seawanhaka Cup Races. 
The series of races for the Seawanhaka cup began on 
July 25, the challenger, Mr. Lorne Currie, and his party 
having been at Dorval, the station of the Royal St. Law- 
rence Y. C, for some time previous getting their boat into 
racing condition. Mr. Currie was accompanied by his 
helmsman, Mr. Maudsley, and two other amateurs, Mr. 
Pike and Mr. Fletcher, and in addition his party included 
Mr. Southley and Dr. Ward-Humphries, who acted as 
judge for the Island Sailing Club. The boat Grey Friar 
arrived at Montreal in good order on the deck of the 
steamer Australasian, and was towed up to Dorval, rigged 
and put into racing shape without any delay or accident. 
Grey Friar is in many respects quite unlike previous 
aspirants for the cup. possibly on account of the elastic 
rule us©d this year, which restricted only one factor, the 
sail area, to 500 sq. ft., leaving the designer free to take 
all the length he cared for. The waterlines were not meas- 
ured at all, Grey Friar's being about 24>4ft., but the over- 
all length is enormous, some 46ft., caused principally by 
carrying out overhangs at each end to a chisel-like edge, 
the uses of the extreme ends of which are not very ap- 
parent. The freeboard is low amidships and drops rather 
than rises at both bow and stern, the whole sheer show- 
ing a reversal of what until a few years ago was the 
invariable practice, and looking decidedly scanty and at- 
tenuated. The under-water body is by no means full, and 
one is inclined to pronounce the boat crank and lacking 
in po.wer. although this is not the case, and she stands up 
better than would be expected. As a whole, her model is 
sweet and fair, with small wetted surface, and suggestive 
of easy driving. The construction and finish are first 
rate. Frames are ^in. by §4'm-, spaced yn., planked with 
J'ain, stuff, the deck being 7-i6in. and canvassed. She is 
fitted with hollow spars, made by the Spalding St. Law- 
rence Co. In rig. Grey Fniar is peculiar, having a main- 
sail cut so as to top the boom very high, the object being. 
SO it is said, to secure a high and effective peak. The sail 
is really up in the air, and one result is a high center of 
effort. It is supposed to be effective in light airs, but the 
advantage was not very apparent in the first day's race. 
The boat chosen for the defense, Senneville, is the prop- 
erty' of R. B. Angus, of Montreal, and is one of the boats 
designed this year by Mr. Duggan. The final selection 
of this craft was dependent more on details than on any 
question of distinct and decisive superiority. So far as 
the trial races went, the steadiest Avinner was last year's 
boat. Red Coat, with Thorella, Whitecap, Black Sheep and 
<;ne or two others among the possibilities. The worst 
trouble was with the sails, and one of the final features of 
the trial races was a general exchange of sails and spars. 
Skippers and crews had been exchanging all season, and 
as one local authority remarked, there was little left to 
exchange except centerboards. The final combination 
evolved was Senneville's hull, White Cap's sails and a 
picked crew. 
On the day before the first race the judges were busy 
measuring sails and weighing crews, the results standing 
as follows : 
Grey Friar. Senneville. 
Area mainsail 373 sq. ft. 394 sq. ft. 
Area headsail triangle 109 sq. ft. 102 sq. ft. 
Weight of centerboard 35olbs. 34olbs. 
Draft with board down 5ft. 6in. 6ft. 
Weight of crew 73ilbs. 73ilbs. 
The agreement called for a crew limit of 6solbs., but as 
Mr. Currie found it impossible to secure a crew of middle- 
weight men, it was agreed that the limit should be raised 
to 735lbs., the Royal St. Lawrence representative volun- 
tarily promising not to sail with less than 70olbs. The 
weights were made up as follows : 
Grey Friar's Crew — Lorne Currie, igslbs. ; H. Fletcher. 
i92lbs. ; M. Pike, i661bs. ; A. Maudsley, i781bs. Total, 
73ilbs. 
Senneville's Crew— W. T. Angus, i92lbs. ; F. P. Shear- 
wood, i5ilbs. ; C. Routh, i69lbs. ; Herrick Duggan, 
I561bs. ; Herrick Duggan, Jr., 63lbs. Total, 73ilbs. 
The crew of Senneville being so much short of weight, 
Mr, Duggan took his son aboard, a bright, active boy and 
a most enthusiastic sailor, whose weight was exactly the 
thing required to even matters up. 
First Race — Thursday, July 25. 
July 25 was fine and hazy, with light airs during the 
morning and early afternoon. A windward to leeward 
course was chosen for the first race, the leg to be two 
miles, if possible, but, although a start was made from the 
Beaconsfield buoy, well in toward the shore at Point 
C:aire, it was possible to go only a mile and a half, the 
water shoaling rapidly beyond. This required four 
rounds for a twelve-mile course. A start was made at 
I .-40, the wind being light, but fairly steady. Grey Friar 
came about neatly on starboard tack just at gunfire, cross- 
ing well timed and with a weather berth. Senneville was 
a trifle ahead and to leeward, and so far the advantage 
lay with Grey Friar. It certainly ended there, for Senne- 
ville at once began to show the way, pulling out a clear 
and decisive lead in the first ten minutes. The middle of 
the lake was full of soft spots, into one of which Grey 
Friar ran, Senneville having better luck, but taking nearly 
an hour to beat to windward, a mile and a half, the times 
at the weather buoy being: 
Senneville 2 29 30 Grey Friar 2 39 15 
Running back the wind improved a trifle, and on the 
second round it began to shift, and by the time it was 
ccTOpleted had got well into the opposite quarter, making 
the course one to leeward and return. Through all these 
chances and changes luck had favored Senneville, to what 
extent may be inferred from these times at the end of 
Lhe round, which marked the completion of half the 
course : 
Senneville 3 55 00 Grey Friar 4 18 40 
The boats were really a whole leg of the course apai't, 
and as a spectacle the race was a failure. Many hoped 
•such an unsatisfactory affair wouH not be finished in the 
time limit, but the wind continued to improve, working up 
to a good breeze, the third round being timed : 
Senneville 4 37 45 Grey Friar 4 54 30 
This showed a great gain for Grey Friar, the luck of the 
wind having for once been in her favor. On the final 
{■ound sl;e lost; ^ain, the tiRJ^s at t^i finish being: 
Senneville 5 10 57 Grey Friar 5 30 12 
Second Race — Friday, July 26. 
Triangular course, four miles round, three rounds ma- 
king twelve miles. 
A start was made at 1 150, with a light wind, the boats 
being- inistructed to keep all buoys to starboard, which 
gave windward work on the first leg of the triangle. 
Senneville led at the start, standing off on port tack, and 
after a short hitch on starboard tack got Grey Friar nicely 
under her lee. The wind was paltry at best and not very 
steady, Senneville going along well enough, but Grey 
Friar neither pointed nor held on well. The first leg took 
a long time, and it soon became evident that without a 
better breeze the race would not be finished in the time 
limit of three and a half hours. Senneville gained steadily 
the first round, being timed: 
Senneville 3 11 OC' Grey Friar 3 15 15 
Conditions were more promising at the beginning of 
the second round, and for a while the boats went along 
nicelj'', the gap between them ever widening, especially 
on the second leg, when Senneville led by 14m.. At the 
completion of the round the times stood: 
Senneville 4 31 10 Grey Friar 4 58 20 
The wind had now fallen very light indeed, and the race 
was practically off. Senneville drifted over the first leg of 
the third round, completing it at 4:59. The time limit 
expired at 5 :20, with no chance of a finish, so the boats 
were taken in tow and the day's work was over. 
Third Race — Saturday, July 27. 
The prospects in the early morning were little better 
than the day before, and ttp to noon there was little wind. 
The launch with the crews and judges left the club house, 
towing the boats for the course as usual, and rather 
hoping against hope, but a working breeze came up rapid- 
ly, so that it was safe to give the first signal at i :30, ma- 
king a start at i :40, over the triangular course, leaving 
all buoys to port. This gave a spinnaker run to the 
first mark, a reach to the second and windward work 
home. Grey Friar led over the line, but was slow in get- 
ting her spinnaker drawing, and the boat seemed to have 
no way on, 
Senneville came up with everything drawing beautifully, 
passing Grey Friar with ease and working out a clear lead 
of 14s. at the first mark. The next leg was a reach in 
smooth water, with a fair working breeze, conditions un- 
der which every one hoped to see Grey Friar do better, in- 
stead of which she dropped over half a minute. This was 
not so bad as on previous days, and the affair really 
looked like a race so far. On the windward work of the 
last leg the boats spread out and Grey Friar seemed to 
be losing again. When the times were taken at the end 
of the first round, they stood as follows : 
Senneville 2 27 20 Grey Friar 2 31 15- 
showing a lead of 3m. and S5s. for Senneville. Then 
followed the spinnaker run, and for once Grey Friar 
picked up and reduced Senneville's lead by 25s. On the 
following reach she kept it up, gaining another 153., but 
there the good work stopped, the boat losing heavily on 
beating the last leg, the completion ■ of the round being 
timed : 
Senneville 3 15 30 Grey Friar 3 24 m 
Then came the third and last round, Grey Friar about 
holding her own on the running and reaching of the first 
two legs. It was clearly Senneville's race, but for a won- 
der Grey Friar made a substantial gain on the last and 
windward leg, the finish being timed : 
Senneville 4 08 50 Grey Friar 4 16 20' 
Mr. Currie attributed this good work at the last to a 
stronger breeze, saying it was really the first taste they 
had had of conditions at all favorable to the boat. 
Throughout this race Grey Friar was steered by Mr. Pike, 
who handled her very well, especially considering that he 
had never steered- the boat before. The chaiige of helms- 
man was the result of a good deal of criticism of Mr. 
Maudsley's handling in the first two races, some of it in 
the local papers, and as a result he requested that, in fair- 
ness to all concerned, some one else should take the stick, 
if only for an experiment. The fact is that on the first 
two days the conditions were trying in the extreme, and 
the best skipper might easily have done the wrong thing at 
times. The wind was never of that comfortable working 
strength that gives a man the best control of his boat, and 
considering that Mr. Maudslay was on a strange course, it 
is little wonder that he at times made an error of judg- 
ment, especially when sailing a losing race. There is no 
disguising the fact that in light to moderate breezes Grey 
Friar is no match for Senneville. at all events on Senne- 
ville's own waters. What they might do on the Solent or 
in rough water and fresh breezes is another question 
altogether. 
Fourth Race— Monday, July 29. 
After the very conclusive work of Senneville on Thurs- 
day and Saturday, interest in the match declined, Senne- 
ville being regarded as a sure winer. and the conclusion 
of the series of races was looked upon as a mere perfunc- 
tory affair. What was chiefly desired for Monday was a 
good breeze free from flukes and soft spots, something 
that would at least keep the boats near one another, and 
in addition Grey Friar's possible showing under more 
driving power was worth investigating. Both Mr. Currie 
and Mr. Pike were sure that the boat only wanted wind, 
but the general opinion was that Grey Friar was, if any- 
thing, a light-weather boat, and with little to sail on in a 
strong breeze. The morning promised nothing particular 
in the way of weather. It was simply fine and settled, 
but by I o'clock there was a breeze of fair working 
strength blowing up the lake, the best possible direction, 
as it allowed a windward course of the prescribed two 
miles to be laid. 
The club launch St. Louis broke down soon after leav- 
ing Dorval, so the competing yachts sailed up to the start- 
ing line, while the judges were kindly looked after on 
Senator Drummond's steam yacht Wild Rose. A start 
was made at 2:25, and at once Senneville forged ahead. 
The boats broke tacks, but Gray Friar lost heavily on 
the windward work, the times at the weather buoy being : 
Senneville 3 04 40 Grey Friar 3 09 42 
I^unning bftpk she gaine4 47s., and the began to 
come abeam during the second round, Grey Friar scarcely 
holding her own, and the completion of the round was 
timed : 
Senneville 4 09 45 Grey Friar 4 16 20) 
The race continued with little change in relative posi- 
tions, the end of the first leg of the last round showing: 
Senneville over 6m. ahead, but in the home stretch she 
picked up a little, the finish being timed : 
Senneville ....4 52 42 Grey Friar 4 57 38'' 
This last race was on the whole the most satisfactory of 
the series. The wind held well, keeping the boats moving, 
and they were never so widely separated as in previous 
races. While the result was never in doubt after the first 
round, the occasional gains made by Grey Friar were in- 
teresting, if difficult to account for. 
As usual the technical work was intrusted to three 
judges selected outside of the club membership. Dr. G. 
H. Ward Humphreys represented the Island Sailing Club. 
Mr. W, Q. Phillips the Royal St. Lawrence Y. C., and 
Mr. W, P. Stephens was third judge or referee. 
Western Yachts. 
Plot Thickens Among Cop Defenders. 
Chicago, 111., July 29.— As reported by Avirc to Forest 
AND Stream to-day, Illinois was allowed her claim for a 
foul in the race of Saturday, the judges ordering Cadillac 
and Illinois to start again to-day, Milwaukee aLso to sail, 
it being conceded that these three boats now had the best 
chance. _ _ . 
.A.S to the justice of the decision of the judges in thus 
allowing lUinois to win the race under foul, there is still 
very much discussion. As to the rule, there is no doubt 
at all. It reads: "If two yachts- are converging by reason 
of the leeward yacht holding the better wind and neither 
can claim rights of a vessel being overtaken, then the 
yacht to windward shall keep clear." 
The judges on the Thistle could not pass Upon what 
they did not see, but other testimony was admitted, show- 
ing that the foul was committed by Cadillac, not as she 
came out into her final starboard tack, but later on, when, 
as windward boat, she started sheets a bit to run, and so 
crowded Illinois, which was at this stage decided to be 
sailing on the shorter leg of the triangle. Com. Shaw 
claimed Illinois was the overtaking boat. For Cadillac to 
luff and keep clear when she was herself close hauled and 
crowded by the better windward quality of Illinois, would 
perhaps have lost Cadillac the race. In the last desperate 
instant her boom, not far outboard, just touched the stays 
and jib of Illinois, as the boats raced on, almost hull to 
hull. No one on the judges' boat saw the foul or knew 
Avhy the protest flag was raised. 
Cadillac Wias Monday's Race. 
In Monday's race^ it might have been a case of poelic 
justice that Cadillac should defeat Illinois once more. At 
any rate, she did so again, by only a close margin. The 
boats were sailed ni a thoroughly plucky and sportsman- 
like manner on both sides, and Cadillac's margin showed 
clearly enotigh that Illinois is coming up out of nowhere 
into a rightty earned second place. Skipper Pynchon re- 
ceived many compliments on his able handling of Illinois. 
The result, however, argues little in favor of Illinois as 
a cup defender. It is all the worse for Milwaukee, which 
boat, while beating about back of the line, los. before the 
gun. had the misfortune to lose its mast, and hence could 
not start at all. Milwaukee requested that the race be 
postponed, but as by this time it was already in the hands 
of the judges, the latter could not accede to this request. 
The contest therefore resolved itself into a battle for blood 
between Cadillac and Illinois. 
The race was over the triangular course, with very 
favorable weather conditions, the time made being more 
than 6m. better than Milwaukee's winning time in the 
first race. At the start the wind was 20 to 25 miles an 
hour, W.S.W., and it continued steady for the first two 
legs, though dropping slightly in the last leg. 
Illinois was first over, crowding the gun within los. 
Milwaukee had been dismasted only a few seconds before 
the starting gun, and at the gun Cadillac was near the 
wreck of Milwaukee, going across the line 30s. later than 
Illinois. The course was laid S.E.- by E., and both boats 
were double reefed and under mainsail and balloon jib. 
Although Illinois had a pronounced start, Cadillac began 
to steadily overhaul her, and ism. from the start had 
established a lead over Illinois. Illinois at this time had 
hroken out spinnaker besides balloon jib. At the first turn 
the times were as follows: 
Start. First Buoy. Elapsed. 
Cadillac .1 30 00 2 17 21 0 47 21 
Illinois ..1 30 00 2 18 17 0 49 17 
Cadillac gained im. S6s. 
On the second leg Illinois' balloon jib did not seem to 
behave any too well. Both boats stood under mainsail 
and balloon jib to the second mark, where both took in 
balloon jibs and hoisted working jibs. Cadillac again 
demonstrated its superiority to the fin-keel on this point 
of the weather, and gained im. and 19s., making a total 
gain of 3m. and iss. in the fourteen miles of the first two 
legs. The times at the second turn were as follows : 
First Buoy. Second Buoy. Elapsed. 
Cadillac 2 17 21 3 14 38 0 57 17 ' 
Illinois 2 19 17 3 17 53 0 58 26 
Cadillac gained im. 19s. 
The greater interest began as the boats swung into the 
last leg of the triangle, a seven-mile beat to windward 
home, under which conditions it was generally conceded 
Illinois had its sole hope for the place of a cup defender 
over Cadillac. Illinois indeed once more proved its su- 
periority in the windward work, and made a good finish 
toward the close of the leg. 
Both boats laid a long port tack and came well in toward ' 
the lake front opposite Lincoln Park before they went 
ubout. Cadillac at 3:17 concluded that she could stand 
a little more of the lighter wind, and .shook out a 
reef. Cadillac stood on the port tack for 34m., and when 
well over inshore stood to starboard, holding this course 
for Sm., and then going again into the port tack, ap- 
parently having learned something by the lesson of Satur- 
day, and, b?inf anxious to get well inshore and vfell tg 
