78 
Boston Letter. 
Boston, March 30.— One of the pleasing features of 
the New York Y. C.'s annual cruise this season, to 
Eastern yachtsmen, at least, will be the presence of 
the Eastern Y. G. fleet. The presence of the New 
York Y. C. fleet at Marblehead last season, as the 
guest of the Eastern Y. C, was one of the features of 
the season; in fact, it was the feature of many sea- 
sons. The members of the Eastern Y. C. would un- 
doubtedly have desired that the New York fleet should 
again visit Marblehead this season on its annual cruise. 
On account of the great amount of racing between the 
90-footers, however, it was realized by both clubs that 
this would be next to impossible. So, when the New 
York Y. C. returned the compliment by inviting the 
Eastern Y. C. fleet to join the cruise at New London, 
the invitation was promptly accepted. Arrangements 
have, been made by the Regatta Committee of the 
Eastern Y. C, so that until the two fleets meet at New 
.London, they will each be cruising in the opposite di- 
rection. The Eastern Y. C. fleet will leave Marblehead 
Wednesday, July 15, and, making racing squadron runs 
from port to port, will arrive at New London Saturday 
or Sunday. The two fleets will then proceed in com- 
pany during the remainder of the New York Y. C. 
cruise. July 25, the day following the disbandment 
of the cruising fleet, the Eastern Y. C. will give a race 
off Newport, open to yachts of the New York and 
Eastern Y. Cs. 
The first few warm days of spring have made the 
yachtsmen uneasy, and j^esterday there were numbers 
of them about the different yards. Covers were taken 
off, and, if nothing more was done, they were given a 
thorough airing in preparation of the heavier work of 
fitting out. Although the racing season will not ac- 
tually commence in Massachusetts Bay before the 
usual time. Memorial Day, it is expected that the 
yachts will be in the water much earlier than usual. 
Preparations for early races of the 90-footers have un- 
doubtedly aroused more interest among the owners of 
the smaller craft. Many of the yachts will be ready by 
April ig, Patriot's Day, and a number of impromptu 
scraps will be held at different places. Down in Dux- 
bury Bay, there will be a race on that day between 
some of. the i8-footers that have been built during 
the winter and a few of last season's boats. More 18- 
footers have been built for Massachusetts yachtsmen 
during the past winter than any other type of sailing 
yachts. It is almost impossible to tell the exact num- 
ber of Hew ones at present, as they have been built 
all along the coast. There will be more of these boats 
ready on April 19, however, than in any other class, and 
it is more than likely that scraps between them will be 
seen in other places besides Duxbury Bay. 
The Boston Y. C. has already commenced prepara- 
tions for a busy season. At the South Boston and Dor- 
chester stations, the floats have been put out and 
everything is ready for those who launch their boats 
early. The three delegates of the club to the Yacht 
Racing Association of Massachusetts, are Mr. Louis 
M. Clark, Rear Com. Walter Burgess and Mr. Foster 
Hooper. Mr. Louis M. Clark has been appointed 
chairman of the Regatta Committee, and Mr. Foster 
Hooper, secretary. 
The House Committee of the. South Boston Y. C. 
has arranged the following list of entertainments for 
the early part of the coming season: Thursday, April 
2, smoker, music and athletic events; Tuesday evening, 
April 14, fancy dress masquerade; April 19, Patriot's 
Day, open house, refreshments in the Dutch room; 
Thursday evening, May 7, hop; Thursday evening. May 
28, Beach Comber's party; Memorial Day, May 30, 
opening of the racing season, refreshments in the 
Dutch room, open house; Wednesday, June 17, open 
house. 
Sally VI., the crack 2S-footer, owned last season by 
Mr. Lawrence F. Percival, having been sold to Dr. 
Augsburg, a Russian yachtsman, Mr. Percival has or- 
dered from Mr. Fred D. Lawley another 25-footer, 
Sally VII., to take her place. The new boat will be 
of the keel type, and will be the only one of this type 
so far in sight. It is understood, however, that Mr. 
B. S. Smith, who owned Seboomook last season, will 
havs a keel 25-footer designed and built by Mr. Archie 
Fenton, of Gloucester. It is said that there was some 
sort of an agreement between Mr. Percival and Mr. 
Smith by which one would build a new 2S-footer, pro- 
viding the other should build. 
Preparations for a busy season are being made at 
the Dorchester Y. C. The clubhouse is being thor- 
oughly renovated, and is expected to be ready for oc- 
cupancy by May i. The formal opening will be held 
shortly after that time. All arrangements have been 
completed for the annual dinner, to be held April 11. 
Mr. Charles E. Lauriat, Jr., and Mr. Foster Hooper, 
of the Boston Y. C, have purchased the i8-footer 
Gertrude, formerly owned by Mr. H. E. Lynch. She 
is to be painted black, and her name will be changed 
to the Crow. 
Many of the big yachts have started to fit out in 
Lawley's basin, and it is expected that nearly all of 
them will get away early. There is a bunch of three 
fine cruisers now being rigged at the wharf. One of 
these is the 6oft. auxiliary schooner designed by Mr. 
Arthur Binney for Mr. C. H. H. Clark, of Philadel- 
phia; another is the soft, auxiliary schooner by the 
same designer, for Major L. S. Bent, of the Annisquam 
Y. C, and the third is the soft, auxiliary yawl, de- 
signed by Mr. F. D. Lawley, for Mrs. Gibson, of New 
York and Bar Harbor. In the east shop the 57ft. 
twin screw naphtha yacht, designed by Mr. Arthur 
Binney, is in frame. The soft, schooner for Mr. John 
M. Richmond, is partly planked. The decks are being 
laid on the 40-rater for Col. R. H. Morgan, and the 
43-rater for Mr. Trenor L. Park. In the west shop 
the boiler and engine have been installed in the steam 
yacht for Mr. Charles Fletcher, and the boiler is be- 
ing put together for the steam yacht for Mr. C. G. 
Emery. Mr. Fred D. Lawley is designing a 22-footer 
for Mr. H. H. Walker. 
The 45ft. naphtha launch Beth, owned by Mr. H. F. 
