266 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
tOcT. 3, 1903. 
ahead, on either side, and astern the lead showed from 
7 to 12 feet. The tide falling rapidly had still 8 feet to 
drop. We hastily carried out our heavy anchor as far 
as possible oft shore, and the second in weight to a 
rocky spur on the beach. Then using the throat hal- 
liards on the off-shore cable, and the jib halliards on 
the one toward shore, we purchased the cables to the 
masthead with an equal strain on eachi so that as the 
tide left us high and dry on the two feet wide, flat- 
topped pinnace of rock, which, fortunately, was just 
imder our center of weight, Altair was kept on an 
even keel and as secure as if she were docked, even 
though her position looked extremely precarious. As 
soon as things were secure we went ashore, not caring 
t.o sta J- aboard and run the risk of having the whole 
outfit tumble off its perch if we moved about. While 
waiting we had calls and offers of assistance from sev- 
eral passing boats, one party, including a bright and 
attractive young woman, coming ashore to us, think- 
ing that they knew the yawl. They were living at a 
cottage a mile above and their private cry, we were 
informed in the course of an invitation to dine with 
them, was "Yip- Yip." HoAvever, we stayed near Altair 
and spun yarns, especially with one ancient mariner, 
who told us in graphic way of "Semmes d — n him" 
and of three times that his ship escaped from the 
guns of the Alabama. The first time was off the coast 
of Nova Scotia, and the escape was made by running 
inside the islands and reefs, where the warship dared 
not follow. On the other two occasions a clean pair 
of heels gave the cruiser the slip. At 5:30 the Admiral 
opened negotiations with Captain Huff's wife for sup- 
per for three, and when this business was disposed of 
we had more yarns. Altair floated off about 9 P. M., 
and we had a half hour's disagreeable and w-et work 
in black darkness and rain, getting our tackle aboard. 
Rode to the heavy anchor all night and cleared out 
early the next morning for Wiscasset. Went ashore on 
a crumbly wharf and looked the old town over. In 
its early years a place of brilliant promise, it is now 
in its second childhood, but still bears traces of beauty. 
At 10:30 A. M. started to beat down the river, saluted 
and were saluted by the Yip-Yips. Had a beautiful 
sail down against wind and tide, and in an air warm 
with the scent of pine. At 2 P. M., off Middle Mark 
Island, in the river mouth, we got the cold wind from 
the ocean, and there was an instant demand for sweat- 
ers. At 3:25 P. M. were off Griffith Head, wind S. W., 
moderate, considerable swell and sea. Outside the 
wind seemed stronger off shore, so we ran out by 
Seguin, expecting to make Small Point and Horse 
Harbor on the port tack. The wind headed us, how- 
ever, and dropped, so, rather than run inshore among 
the reefs in the dark, we kept on for Cape Elizabeth, 
which we passed at 3 A. M. The night was extremely 
clear and cloudless, but with only light and fickle airs. 
At 10 A. M. were off Kennebunkport, wind light. Ran 
in close under Point Arundel and exchanged salutes 
with friends. At 3 P. M., off White Island (Isles of 
Shoals), the wind fell very light, and we came about 
for Portsmouth. Inside the river the swift ebb, strong 
enough to pull under the can buoy at Pull-and-be- 
damned Point, made it impossible for us to go up to 
the city, and we anchored of Kittery, on the Maine 
side of the river. After supper the Admiral and Stew- 
ard went ashore for some provisions and to find where 
we could get some water. They returned at 9:30 P. 
M., and we all turned in for a well-earned sleep. 
The water boat came out earlj' and woke us at 6:40 
by bumping alongside. At 7 we Avere trying to make 
out of the river against the baffling currents. 
Steered south for Thatcher's Island and passed it in 
a very light air at 5 P. M., having to. beat the last 
fifteen miles with a light air against a head tide. Did 
not reach our anchorage in Gloucester inner harbor 
until 9:30. 
Aug. 19. 
Went ashore and said good-by to the Steward, who 
had been called home, had a leaky valve in our khotal 
repaired and nearly blew up the plumber, and then went 
on the trolley to Long Beach for luncheon. In the 
afternoon wrote letters and loafed. 
Aug. 20, 21. 
Morning opened foggy, but by 9:30 it showed signs 
of clearing, and we got unde;r way with a light north 
wind, which carried us only a mile beyond the harbor 
mouth. The wind came in light from E. S. E. at 2:45, 
drove us slowly along for a time and then again failed. 
At 8 P. M. were able to get a "fix" by a sextant .angle 
and range on Minots and the Gurnet a few minutes 
before we were shut in by fog. Drifted in the fog all 
night with light airs from S. to E. At about 2 A. M. 
we began to hear fog horns, and soon the whole 
eastern quadrant seemed filled with the sounds. We 
were on the starboard tack, and so had the right of 
way through a fleet of mackerel schooners. Time after 
time a voice would come through tlie mist: "Hello! 
How are you heading?" "Southeast by East," would 
echo back, and then we Avould hear the quick-spoken 
command, "Luff!" of "Keep her away!" "Steady!" 
and we would perhaps for an instantmakc out a green 
or red radiance in a halo of mist. At dawn we sup- 
posed ourselves about three miles west from Wood 
.End. Like Noah, we wanted to be sure and so sent 
out that trusty bird the "blue pigeon," which, after 
several flights, so as to get a line of soundings, showed 
that we were a mile south of our calculated position. 
Made the requisite change of course, and -in due time 
ran up the harbor with a spanking breeze from N. E. 
Shortly after we reached our anchorage the fog lifted. 
Aug. 22, 23. 
Last evening, after, a swim, turned in at 9:30, and 
were asleep before we had time to more than piill the 
blankets over ourselves; 11:20 the next mornmg found 
us off Wood End with a bright, clear sky and light 
S. E. wind that showed a tendency to go around to 
S. and W., but it backed again to S. E. Bucking against 
a strong head tide, we finally worked around to the 
Highland Light, distant one-half mile W. at 6:15 P. M. 
Soon after this the wind freshened to a reefing breeze, 
dark, heavy cloud rrjasses piled up in the S. E., while 
swiftly-squdding wisps of vapor flew p^st thg- young 
moon. A schooner beating down near us gave up and 
ran back under the cape. An hour later (8:30), when 
in sight of Nausett, we had the alternative of setting 
a storm trysail and spending the night in a foggy gale 
or of returning to Provincetown, so for the. first time 
in Altair's history we turned tail and ran. . Fog soon 
shut down thick, but the fresh wind held. We 'had no 
trouble in picking up the whistle off Peaked Hill Bar, 
for the rising swell made it moan dismally. Race Point 
was given a wide berth, and we stood in for Wood End, 
keeping the lead going as we neared the beach. We - 
had gotten into only 18 feet of water and Skipper was 
giving the order to go about, when the red glow of the 
light flashed into view dead over the bowsprit end. 
It was a fine sail in spite of the fog, the water fire 
leaping in broad sheets as we smashed into the seas; 
and trailing in our wake like a million fireflies. Turned 
in at 3 A. M., at our former anchorage, west of the 
steamboat wharf, and slept to make up for lost time. 
In the afternoon, as there was a strong S. E. wind, 
sailed about the harbor iust to keep in practice. 
Aug. 24 was rainy and thick with strong S. E. wind. 
Early in the evening the mackerel fleet of over thirty sail 
came in, as there was a heavy breaking swell outside. 
Blew very fresh during the night. 
Aug. 25, 26. 
The early morning was most gloomy, with heavy 
clouds covering the sky and a light gale from the 
north. Determined to have a look at the sea, we ran 
out, Had to reef mainsail and shift jibs. After a hard- 
beat to Race Point the wind moderated and the sky 
gave promise of clearing. Shook out reef, set jib and 
at 2 P. M. passed the Highland. Wind north. Heavy 
swell from east and from northeast. Wind moderated 
but held a fair breeze; so that Nausett was abreast of 
us at 3:30. Shortly after this the wind fell to a light 
air, and after drifting us beyond the Pollock Rip Light 
vessel, failed entirely, so that, as the tide was begin- 
ning to run against us, we were obliged to anchor, 
choosing a position well to the south of the steamer 
line and a little behind a big four-poster, where we 
would be less likely to be run into in case of fog. There 
was a heavy, short, confused swell running, so that 
the motion was most unpleasant. At midnight fog, cold 
and wet had shut us in, so one of us had to keep 
anchor watch and ring our "bell," a most efficient com- 
bination of the chafing dish cover and a big iron spoon. 
It seemed that there was no end to the tugs with tows 
that came our way. At daylight there were many 
sharks swimming leisurely about, several coming quite 
near. As soon as the run of the tide favored us, we 
got up sail and anchor, and though there was no wind, 
managed to drift in by the Handkerchief. A light air 
from N. E. finally enabled us to make Hyannisport, 
where from our anchorage we watched the finish of a re- 
gatta, and turned in at 7 P. M. 
When we awoke at 5:43, it was a most perfect morn- 
ing. There was a light N. E. breeze blowing. Swam 
around the boat to wake ourselves up, dressed, got up 
sail and at one minute before six were under way. The 
wind continued fair to Nobska, died away to a zephyr 
for a while, and then came back true and brisk from 
east, driving us steadily along with jib set as spin- 
naker. We went through Quick's Hole, by Penikese, 
with its solitary scrub-embowered house, rnemorable 
as the summer home of Agassiz, and straight away 
across the blue and shining sea for Jude, which we 
passed at sunset in a failing wind. As the Admiral 
was worried about his wife and anxious to get home, 
we kept on for Watch Hill and New London, if pos- 
sible. The wind soon freshened again and held true 
and steady all night. The run from Penikese to Watch 
Hill was made without touching a sheet. From Watch 
Hill through Fisher's Island Sound to Plum Gut was 
against a strong adverse tide. At 5 A. M. Altair folded 
her wings by the basin at Greenport. The skipper 
took the Admiral ashore in time for the early train 
to Newf York, breakfasted in solitary state, hauled into 
the basin and at 11 A. M. Altair was stripped and out 
of commission. 
Riverside Y. C. 
GREENWICH, LONG ISLAND SOUND, 
Saturday, September 26. 
. The fall regatta of the Riverside Y". C. was sailed on 
Saturday. September 26. There were only thirteen 
starters,' but all the boats that came to the line finished. 
Mimosa had no competitor in the 30ft. class, and she 
sailed against Anoatok and Spasm in the class above. 
The course for the boats in the 36ft. class was from the 
gas buoy off Greenwich Point to a mark off Matinicock 
Point, thence to and around a mark off Eaton's Point, and 
back to the starting line, a distance of eighteen miles. 
The breeze was S. W., making the first leg a beat, the 
second a reach, and the third a reach. The raceabouts 
and 25ft. sloops covered a i4F2-mile triangle, while the 
i8ft. sloops and the Manhasset Bay one-design boat went 
over a lo-mile triangle. 
The preparatory signal was given at noon, and five 
minutes later the 36-footers were sent away. Mimosa 
got the start, leading both her competitors over the line. 
They soon passed her, however, and she was the last of 
the trio to finish. Anoatok finished 25s. ahead of Spasm, 
but it is very likely she will lose the race to Mimosa on 
corrected time. 
The raceabouts started at 12:10, Jolly Roger led over 
the line, followed by Galatea, Rogue and Hobo, in the 
order named. Galatea worked into the lead and_ won 
the race. Jolly Roger -finished second and Hobo third. 
Firefly got the start in the 25ft. class, but she was 
beaten out by Robin Hood. Houri, one of the Larch- 
m.ont one-design 21-footers, took a sailover. 
In the i8ft. class Cricket gave Ity Bity a good beating, 
and Lambkin took a sailover in the Manhasset Bay one- 
design class. 
The Regatta Committee, made up of Messrs. Charles 
P. Tower, George T. Higgins and Edwin Binney, were 
on Commodore Tyson's schooner Nirvana. The sum- 
mary: 
Sloops— 36ft. Class— Start, l?:06T^Course IS Miles. 
Finish. Elapsed. 
Anoatok, C- BxQka.v(. 8 07 23 3 (S Sa 
Spasm, E. D. King... , 3 07 48 .3 02 48 
Mimosa, T. L. Park :.... 3 15 05 3 10 05 
■"' - Raceabout Class— Start, 12:10— Course 14y2 Miles. 
Jolly Roger, T. B. Bleecker 3 05 08 2 55 08 
Hobo, T. L. PaA 3 05 36 2 55 36 
, Galatea, A. P. Stokes .3 03 52 2 53 52 
Rogue, A, B.- Alley...v*,.i4..»..^„.,..v..i.-........3 10 58 3 00 58 
~ Sloops— 26ft. Class— Start, 12:15— Course UV2 Miles. 
Eobift Hood, George Gartiand ....3 19 06 3 04 06 
Eirefiy, G. P. Cranberry 3 20 04 3 05 04 
, Larchmont Y. C. One-Design Class — Start, 12:15 — Course 14^4 
Miles. 
Houri, J. H. Esser 3 16 40 3 01 40 
Sloops— ISft. Class— Start, 12:20— Course 10 Miles. 
Cricket, F. E. M. Whiting 3 30 27 3 16 27 
■Ity Bity, William Douglas ■ 3 46 05 3 26 05 
Manhasset '.Bay Y. C. One-Design Class — Start, 12:25 — Course, 10 
Miles. 
Lambkin, S. W. Roach. 3^4 49 2 59 49 
• The "winners were: Galatea, Robin Hood, Houri, 
Cricket and Lambl^in. 
Williamsbtifg: Y. C. 
FLUSHING BAY, LONG ISLAND SOUND, 
Sunday, Sept. 28. 
Thirty-three boats of the Williamsburg Y. C. sailed 
in the Fall R.egatta, held by that club on Sunday, Sept. 
28. At the start the wind was moderate from the S. 
W., but it increased during the race, and at the time 
of the finish it was blowing quite fresh. A heavy thun- 
der Storm broke shortly after the boats reached their 
moorings. 
The boats covered a triangular course. The first 
leg was from a starting line off the club house to a 
mark off College Point, thence to and around a mark 
off Hunt's Point and back to the starting line. The 
first two legs were reaches and the third was a beat. 
The boats sailed twice -over the triangular course, mak- 
ing a distance of about twelve miles. 
The preparatory signal was given at 2 o'clock, and 
the 30ft,. sloops were sent away ten minutes later. The 
summary: 
Class A— Cabin Sloops 30ft and Over— Start, 2:10. 
Finish. Elapsed. 
Cornelia, Com. James' Lalor.. 4 00 00 1 50 00 
Class B— Cabin Sloops 25 to 30ft.— Start, 2:10. 
Amy, William McDonnell 4 08 00 1 58 0(1 
Caracen, Muro & Kloppcr 4 06 40 1 5:40 
Ingomar, Silk & Ollejo 4 17 14 2 07 14 
Pinochle, Babst & Jacoby 3 58 00 1 48 fO 
Allen ., 4 11 30 2 01 SO 
Class C— Cahin Sloops 25ft. and Under— Start, 2:2P. 
Pearl, W. E. Long 4 08 40 1 48 40 
Jack Rabbit, C. Cohen 4 15 00 1 55 CO 
Ripple, M. Wais Did not fin' ib. 
Class D— Cabin Yawls over 25ft.— Start, 2:20. 
Pastime, James Schuessle 4 26 30 2 O i SO 
Digmus, J. H. Symmers 4 25 10 2 fS 10 
Class E — Open Sloops Under 25ft — Start, 2:.'5 
Imp, Daniel Reynolds -. 4 29 00 2 f4 C'O 
Eleanor, McGregor .• Did not finish. 
Viola, J. Keppler 4 40 CO 2 15 ro 
Phidias, C. Kirchlof '..4 41 30 2 Li 'lO 
Class F— Cabin Cats over 25ft.— Start, 2:25. 
Whileaway, M. 'Cartwright 4 16 00 I y H' 
Teddy, Jr., Ed. Rae 4 08 30 1 M ;tl 
Class G— Cabin Cats 25ft. and Under- Start, 2::'0. 
Yankee Girl, Chapman Brothers 4 28 00 2 l;3 I 0 
Elftwa, W. Ebmeyer 4 35 30 2 10 30 
Johanna, Menz & Kling Did not finisl\ 
Vagabond, Bell & Dickerson Did not fin-' h 
Spray, August Eberhardt 4 25 CO 2 CO fO' 
Sybil, C. H. Frisch Did not fin:>h. 
Florence, G. S. Card .......4 32 00 2 07 00 
Bessie, William Roth Did not fini h. 
Class H— Open Cats Under 25ft.— Start, 2:25, 
Mosgett, W. A. Robertson Did not fini-ih. 
Colleen, J. Cochrane 4 20 00 1 55 CO 
Myra, H. Bertrain ; 4 40 00 2 !5 CO 
Class I— Open Cats Under 20ft.— Start, 2:25. 
Colleague, Jack Hess - Did not finish. 
Demon, B. Fox 5 06 00 2 41 CO 
Chip, Charles Uhlye Did not finish. 
Hobo, Frank McAllister Did not fini-^h. 
Irene, Norwalk Did not fini -.h, - 
The winners were: Cornelia, Pinochle, Pearl, Dig- 
nus. Imp, Teddy, Jr., Spray, Colleen and Demon. 
The Speed of Racing Yachts. 
In a recent article in the Scientific American it is 
stated that Reliance was particularly intended to be fast 
when reaching and running, the designer taking some 
chances on other points of sailing in order to secure these 
advantages. The boat did not fulfil these expectations, 
being unable to beat Columbia on a reach, but curiously 
enough she excelled in windward work, even under the 
trying, conditions of a light head wind with a heavy roll 
of sea. Her best observed speed on a lo-mile reach was 
12.6 knots per hour. 
Few yachtsmen trouble themselves about "best ob- 
served speeds." Many have but a vague idea of what 
their vessels can really do. Racing records accurately 
timed over measured courses prove nothing unless the 
conditions of wind and water are entirely favorable. A 
record run between two boats is seldom timed to the min- 
ute. Even if it is, the distance is often overestimated, 
land miles are confused with nautical miles, and liberal 
allowances made for time consumed in setting sails. 
When an owner has once figured out a satisfactory record 
he is wise to stick to it, particularly as he may never haVe 
a chance to do it again. 
Many years ago Dixon Kemp published some best ob- 
serT'ed speeds of yachts of various lengths. As might 
have been expected, they varied pretty much as the square 
root of the respective lengths. In fact, they suggested 
the following rough and ready formula : 
y/~L (in feet) X 1.25 = miles per hour. 
Thus a yacht of 36ft. should be capable of 7.5 nautical 
miles per hour, and one of looft. 12.5 miles. This is very 
near to Reliance's best speed, and she probably sails on an 
inclined waterline of about lOoft. Many older boats of 
the size will sail as fast. The tendency of modern design 
has not been to improve reaching, and any slight gains 
on this point of sailing are probably due to better sails 
rather than to the form of the hull. A long lean craft 
like the old America will, reach fast, but will be inferior 
in turning to windward, and almost the whole result of 
i^ipdern methods hasv been to develop exceptional weather- 
<S^U9lities, especially in light winds. For reaching 
nd rijnning the above suggested formula will apply tq 
