194 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[March 8, 1902. 
METEOR— SAIL PLAN— DESIGNED BY A. CARY SMITH & BARBEY FOR THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY. 
certainly forms a very convenient dimension for the 
designer to manipulate in his draughtsman's- office. 
Of late there has been a marked tendency to elaborate 
rating rules until they become a nuisance by their com- 
plications and intricacies. Depend upon it. that the 
simpler a rating rule can be made the better will it be 
for all concerned in the sport of racing yachts. For 
this reason I should almost prefer a simple length of 
hull rating. L being found as herein suggested, viz., 
1 (LWL+2I), 1 being waterline length at one-quarter 
beam — and an allotment of sail area in accordance with 
the yacht's displacement. Thalassa. 
German Emperor's New Schooner* 
The Launching. 
Meteor III., the German Emperor's new schooner 
yacht, was launched on Tuesday, Feb. 25, from the yard 
of the builders at Shooter's Island. The occasion was 
a brilliant one, and the affair was a great success. 
Several thousand persons occupied the special stands 
built for them at the yard, and the Staten Island shore 
was lined with spectators. The launching took place at 
10:30 A. M., and Prince Henry and President Roosevelt 
arrived with the official party about a quarter of an hour 
before that time. As the Prince and the President came 
ashore from the boat that had brought them to the island, 
a salute of twenty-one guns was fired. The Prince wore 
the uniform rof a German admiral. 
As the official party passed through the lines of Naval 
Reserves from where they landed to the shed where the 
yacht was, they were greeted with hearty cheers. 
A grand stand had been built under Meteor's bows for 
those who were directly interested in the launching. On 
the platform were Prince Henry, President and Mrs. 
Roosevelt' Miss Alice Roosevelt, Secretary and Mrs. 
Root. Baron von Holleben, Admiral von Baudissin, Rear- 
Admiral Evans, Adjutant-General Corbin and A. Gary 
Smith, the designer of the yacht. On board Meteor, in 
addition to the workmen, were Captains Ben and Dan 
Parker, Lieut. R. H. Parmley, U. S. N., and Capt. 
Berthold. 
Hanging at. the port bow of the yacht was a bottle of 
champagne, covered with a silver net work. On the neck 
of the bottle was tied the German colors, and the bottle 
also bore the German coat of arms, as well as the coat 
of arms of the United States. 
Shortly after 10 130 a whistle was blown, and the work- 
men began driving in the wedges and knocking out the 
shores' under the vessel's bottom, leaving only the two 
dog shores. 
At a si^a] from Mr, Ppw$ey, one of th;e builders of 
the yacht. Miss Roosevelt stepped forward and grasped 
the bottle of champagne. "In the name of the German 
Emperor I christen this yacht Meteor," said Miss Roose- 
velt, and swung the bottle against the yacht's bow with a 
sharp blow. Miss Roosevelt then took a silver hatchet 
and severed the line in the box on the platform, which 
released two wire ropes that held heavy weights, allowing 
them to fall on the dog shores. The yacht began to 
move at once. In a moment there was an uproar, the 
whistles on vessels, guns booming and every one cheer- 
ing, made a great racket. As the yacht slid down the 
ways two short masts were raised on her. On the fore 
was an American flag, and a German flag flew at the main, 
surmounted by the Emperor's racing flag. Over the taff- 
rail hung another American flag. A tow boat brought the 
yacht back to one of the docks. 
While the yacht moved down the ways the Prince and ■ 
his staff stood at salute, while the President and his asso- 
ciates stood with hats off. 
After congratulations had been offered all around, the 
President, the Prince and Miss Roosevelt were roundly 
cheered. After the yacht went overboard Prince Henry 
sent a cable to his brother, the Emperor, notifying him 
of the successful launching. 
A luncheon was served in the mould loft, which was 
decorated with bunting, after the launching. The Prince, 
the Pres'dent and Miss Roosevelt drank each other's 
health. The spectators distinguished themselves by fight- 
ing for the souvenir plates that were given away. 
After a short stay the President, his royal guest and 
the official party were taken aboard the royal yacht 
Hohenzollern, where the Prince entertained them at 
luncheon. 
Description of the Yacfet. 
From the time the German Emperor purchased Thistle, 
the unsuccessful America's Cup challenger of 1887, he has 
been much devoted to yachting. Thistle's name was 
changed to Meteor when he became her owner. Meteor 
II., the Emperor's next yacht, also came from the board 
of Mr. Geo. L. Watson. She was a composite vessel, and 
was quite successful in the English and German regattas. 
From Meteor II., a racing craft, although a wonderfully 
fine sea boat, the Emperor's ner.t venture in the way of 
a yacht was to the very wholesome cruising schooner 
Yampa. This yacht had been used more or less abroad 
and was greatly admired by the German Emperor, and 
finally came into his possession, and her name was 
changed to Iduna. Yampa was designed by Mr. A. Cary 
Smith, and proved herself to be such a fine vessel in 
every particular that her royal owner was prompted to 
order a larger yacht from the same designer. Mr. A. 
Cary Smith is one of the most practical of the American 
yacht cjesijjners, and his productions have earoecl for 
him a well-deserved reputation for turning out cruising 
and racing yachts. . • 
Mr. Smith has embodied all the good pomts of Lasca, 
Yampa and Genesee in Meteor III.'s design, and his 
experience in turning out cruising vessels from 80 to 
110ft. waterline length has stood him in good stead in 
this instance, and Meteor III. will undoubtedly prove- a 
splendid boat in every particular. 
Her dimensions are as follows : 
Length — 
Over all 1 161ft. oin. 
L.W.L. "120ft. oin. 
Overhang — 
Forward 18ft. oin. 
Aft : ; • 23ft. oin. 
Freeboard to Top of Rail — 
Forward • 12ft. oin. 
Aft 8ft. oin. 
Least .r 6ft. oin. 
Breadth 27ft. oin. 
Draft I5ft. oin. 
Depth of hold 18ft. 8in. 
Displacement 3*5 tons 
Ballast, lead 120 tons 
All extreme features have been eliminated from the 
yacht's design. Her overhangs are of moderate length 
and are rather fine. From the heel of the stern post, 
which rakes at an angle of 33 degrees, the keel runs 
along almost straight for about 50ft. ; from there up to 
the turn of the forefoot there is an almost continuous 
sweep, and from the forefoot on the line runs above water 
to a clipper bow. At the end of the stem just under the 
bowsprit is a figurehead which represents an eagle's head, 
which measures i8in. in diameter. The head and feathers 
will be in relief, while the scroll will be cut in. The S 
section is rather full below, with a sharp floor and easy 
bilge. The boat is beautifully fair throughout. The 
forward waterlines show considerable hollow, a rather 
imusual feature in these ( days. The freeboard is liberal 
and there is a bulwark 2ft. 4m. high. One is impressed 
by the boat as being an exceptionally fine and well-turned 
vessel in every way. The graceful sheer, well-balanced 
ends and the high side all tend to give the yacht a very 
shippy appearance. 
Meteor is constructed of steel. The frames are steel 
angles 2in. by 3in. and the plating is of the in and out 
pattern. The lead ballast is run in the trough keeL The 
rail, hatches, companionways, waterways and in fact all 
the deck fittings are of teak. The capstans, winches, etc., 
will be of bronze. The windlass is of the vertical type, 
and was made especially for the yacht by the American 
Ship Windlass Co., of Providence, R. I. 
The steering gear was made by the l£dson Manufactur- 
ing Co., of f|ostofl, and. was constructed wi^h the great' 
