280 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
[Apkii. 2, 1904. 
imperial russian barge 
"opal: 
DESIGNED BY 
GEO. SIMPSON, M.I,N.A. 
ELEVATION 
DISPLT. SECTIONS. 
SPACED 6.4' 
IMPERIAL RUSSIAN BARGE 
"PPALV 
DESIGNED BY 
eep. SIMPSON, m.i.n.a' 
SHEER PLAN. 
LINES, INBOARD PROFILE, DECK AND CABIN PLANS OF THE BARGE OPAL DESIGNED FOR THE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT BY GEORGE SIMPSON. 
Imperial Russian Steam Barge Opal. 
This handsome barge was constructed for the Im- 
perial Russian Government for the use of Admiral 
Alexieff, the commander-in-chief at Port Arthur, and 
diagonally built of mahogany from the designs of Mr. 
George Simpson, superintending constructor to the 
Townsend-Downey Shipbuilding Company. 
Opal's dimensions are as follows: 
Length — 
Over all 71ft. gin. 
Between perpendiculars 64ft. 
Freeboard — 
' Forward .5ft. sin. 
Least .3ft. 
Taffrail .3ft. loin. 
Breadth- 
Moulded .loft. 
Draft of hull- 
Extreme 5ft. lin. 
Depth- 
Moulded 5ft. Sin. 
Tonnage- — ■ 
5 B. O. M. ......30. 
, The barge is built of wood throughout, excepting the 
water-tight bulkheads and the machinery casing, which 
are of galvanized mild steel, suitably stiffened. Shell 
planking is of mahogany, the inner thickness being laid 
diagonally, and the outer fore and aft, with thin calico 
between. Deck houses are of teak, tastefully paneled, 
and the deck is fitted in two thicknesses, the upper one 
being of teak wood. 
The whole of the deck fittings were of polished com- 
position, and the interior work is luxuriously finished. 
Outside the barge presented a striking appearance with 
white boot-top and navy blue topsides, having a gold 
band carried around at knuckle moulding, terminating 
in artistic -scroll and quarter carving enveloping the Rus- 
sian coat of arms. 
The propelling power consisted of a water tube boiler, 
supplying steam to a compound engine, having cylinders 
8%in. and i8in. in diameter, with a gin. stroke, capable 
of developing 300 L H. P. This power was sufficient to 
propel the barge, fully loaded, at a rate of 20 m.iles 
per hour. 
A 65ft. House Boat* 
There was launched a short time ago a 65ft. power 
house boat from the yard of the Wilson Shipbuilding 
Co., Ferry Bar, Baltimore, Md. She was desi|lied by 
Captain Leonard J. Nilson, and for use on CKisapeake 
Bay. The boat is 55ft long, i6ft. breadth arid ^ft. 
4in. draft. Her power consists of a 15 horsepower 
motor. A long cabin house runs nearly the length of 
the vessel, and there is little deck room forward and 
aft. The top of the caljin house is used as a prome- 
na^e deck, and it \$ etifirely ccYere4 mth an awning. 
The owner's room is in the forward end of the house. 
It contains a double bed and locker to starboard and a 
single berth with drawers to port. The forward end of 
the compartment is used for drawers, sideboard, lockers 
and lounging seat. Beside the owner's stateroom on the 
port side is the bathroom. Aft of the bathroom and 
a storeroom on the other side of the passageway are 
two more staterooms. These are fitted with double 
berths, bureaus, lockers, shelves and divans. Aft of 
these staterooms is the main saloon, a commodious apart- 
ment fitted up with sofas, buffet, sideboard, writing desk, 
book shelves and china lockers. 
The galley, engine room, cook's stateroom, toilet, ice 
chest, gas stove and sink occupy the stem of the house. 
The gasolene tanks are located under the after deck. 
The boat is to be run with only one paid hand. 
Ne.w Yoffc Y. C 
The second general meeting of the New York Y. C. 
was held at the club house in West Forty-fourth street 
on the evening of March 24. In the absence of Commo- 
dore Bourne, Vice-Comrhodore Henry Walters presided. 
Much important business was transacted, and it was 
very late before the meeting adjourned. 
Modifications and changes were made to the consti- 
tution, by-laws and racing rules, and- reports of different 
committees were read. 
The letter sent to Sir Thomas Lipton was read, but 
its contents will not be made public until after it has 
been received. 
Mr. F. F, Brewster sent a letter to the club in which 
he explained why Elmina was not measured last season. 
Through this oversight Mr. Brewster forfeits all the 
prizes won by his yacht. 
The Aster cup, won by Mr. Morton F, Plant last 
season, was presented to the club to be placed among 
its permanent trophies. Mr. Plant also prevented to the 
club another cup to be raced for by schoo'riers in Class 
B during the cruise. 
It was decided to invite boats of the Eastern Y. C. 
to join the New York Y. C. fleet at Vineyard Haven, and 
participate in the races that follow. 
The regatta committee gave out its schedule for the 
coming season. The fixtures follow: Thursday, June 16, 
annual regatta. Lower Bay; Saturday, June 18, Lysis- 
trata Cup, Sandy Hook Lightship; Monday, June 20, 
opening club station. Glen Cove; special races for yacht.s 
owned by members too small for enrollni&t, and motor 
boat races, Glen Cove; Tuesday, June ■ 21; Glen Cove 
Cups, Glen Cove; Thursday, July 7, Friday, July 8, and 
Saturday, July 9, Glen Cove series. Glen Cove. 
Thursday, August 11, special races for .yachts owned 
by members but too small for enrollrnferit and motor 
boat races. Glen Cove; Thursday, August 11, rende^zyous 
annual cruise; Friday, August 12, cruise to Morris Cove; 
Saturday, August 13, cruise to New; LdrtJion; Sunday, 
August 14, at New London; Monday, August IS, cruise 
to Block Island; Tuesday, August 16, cruise to Vineyard 
Haven; Wednesday, August 17, cruise to Newport; 
Thursday, August 18, special races for yachts owned by 
members but too small for enrollment, and motor races, 
Newport; Friday, August 19, Astor cups, Newport; Sat- 
urday, August 20, ID A. M., start of ocean races to 
Nantucket Lightship, Fire Island Lightship and return 
Brenton's Reef; Saturday, August 20, 2 P. M., steatn 
yacht races, Hauoli cups, Brenton's Reef Lightship; 
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, August 22, 23 ari(i 
24, Newport series, Newport, and Thursday, September 
8, Autumn cups, Glen Cove. 
The Brenton Reef Challenge Cup, Sandy Hook Light- 
ship to Brenton Reef Lightship, Newport, R. I., and re- 
turn is open for competition, and on the receipt of 
entries the committee will arrange for the races. 
One Httndfed an4 Sixteen Mile Race fot 
Small Boats. 
The New York Athletic Club is bringing itself into 
prominence as a yachting organization by offering prizes 
for small yachts for a race from Whortleberry Island, 
located at the western end of Long Island Sound, ,to 
West Harbor, Block Island, a distance of over one hun- 
dred miles. The conditions governing the race follow: 
The yachts eligible are to be propelled by sails only. Must be 
not more than 30ft. 6in. waterline, or more than 43ft. over all. If 
keel boats, they shall have not less than 5ft. Sin. head room in 
the cabin, for a distance of 6ft. fore and aft. If centerboard boats, 
they shall have not less than 5ft. head room in the cabin for a dis- 
tance of 6ft. fore and aft. 
Yachts will be considered in cruising trim when they carry a 
boat, two anchors and cables, a life preserver, regulation lights, 
and their cabin furniture and water tanks in their usual places, and 
not otherwise. No restrictions as to sail carried, any rig, and no 
time allowance. Yachts will carry their club colors at the main 
truck. The cre^v of each yacht shall number not more than five 
persons in all, one of whom may be a paid hand. 
As this race is given with the object of bringing together the 
best types of small cruising yachts, the committee reserve the 
right to refuse any entry which in their opinion does not comply 
with the spirit of these restrictions. Owners wishing to enter 
their yachts for this race will send their club measurer's certificate 
that the yacht so entered qualifies to said measurements. 
The race will be started from a line between the N, Y. A, C- 
house oh the east .qide of Whortleberry Island, and the striped 
buoy on the southerly end of Green's Flats, and will finish at the 
entrance to the west harbor of Block Island. Yachts caji go 
through Plumb Gut, the Tlace, or Fisher's Island Sound, and 
may anchor, hut must be sailed on the channel side of all buoys 
and Government marlcs. 
The start: Preparatory signal at 10 o'clock, one long whistle 
from club launch and the Iqwering of club flag. Ten minutes 
later, one long whistle from club launch and hoisting of the club 
flag, when the time of all tioats will be taken, no handicap. 
The race- is open to the boats of the clubs of the 
Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound, the 
New York Y. C, the Atlantic Y. C, and the Larchmont 
Y. C. There will be a second prize if three boats finish. 
The event is to be starrt^d on Saturday, June 25. Entries 
close- a Aveek before tfet day -with the New York Ath- 
letic Club Yachting Committee, Pelliam Manor, N. Y, 
