Dec. 18, 1909.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
985 
British Season Notes. 
The keenest of yachtsmen should be able to 
look back on the season of 1909 with satisfac¬ 
tion. Never before has there been such a full 
season’s programme for the big classes, and 
never has there been liner racing than that put 
up more particularly by the 15-metre class, says 
the Yachtsman. It has been a year of pure 
class racing and consequently one that may be 
expected to have far-reaching influence, as 
designers have been able to watch their vessels’ 
performances day by day, and more wherein 
improvements may be made in future. The re¬ 
markable sailing of the two 23-metre cutters 
will probably rtmain as a record in the sport 
for many years to come. We can hardly ex¬ 
pect again to see two first-class yachts tie at 
the end of a season in the number of matches 
won. In regard to these two vessels, the sur¬ 
prise at the outset was the improvement in 
White Heather, which appeared last year to be 
quite out-classed by Shamrock. In the first 
race of the season, although beaten under fluky 
conditions, she gave evidence of what she 
could do when the wind came true, for she 
slipped away from under Shamrock’s lee at one 
period of that race in quite a remarkable man¬ 
ner. Then on the Southend to Harwich day, 
she administered a decisive beating to her op¬ 
ponent, and she repeated this on the first day 
at Harwich. To watch the two boats during 
these few matches, it was apparent that either 
White Heather was a wonderfully improved 
vessel, or that Shamrock was not in her last 
year’s form. It was probably a little of both. 
In the next few matches, honors were fairly 
divided until the Queenstown regattas; after 
which Shamrock began to pile up a long string 
of wins, assisted during the Clyde regattas, by 
her opponent being over the line too soon at 
the start on several occasions, in her eagerness 
to secure a good start. By the time that racing 
took place at Dover, Shamrock had a long lead 
in the matter of wins, but White Heather’s turn 
came on the Solent when she materially re¬ 
duced Shamrock’s lead, and ultimately tied with 
her for the actual matches sailed. As it turned 
out, nothing could have been more interesting 
than the racing between these two boats—more 
particularly during the latter part of the sea¬ 
son, when it became a question of which was 
coming out at the top for the season’s racing. 
But, as a rule, a series of duels throughout a 
whole summer lacks interest, for one usually 
knows beforehand which boat should win ac¬ 
cording to the weather. Another season be¬ 
tween White Heather and Shamrock could not 
be expected to produce such interesting results, 
and consequently it is with the keenest satis¬ 
faction that I learn of Brynhild’s probable re¬ 
appearance next year. There were many days 
during the past season on which she should 
have scored. But for the expectation of seeing 
three vessels in commission next year, interest 
in the class would undoubtedly wane. 
During the progress of the Solent regattas 
there was the usual crop of rumors about orders 
for new vessels being placed, and we were led to 
hope that a new 23-metre craft would make its 
apearance for next season, but as time pro¬ 
gresses we hear no confirmation of these re¬ 
ports. The class is an expensive one, and it is 
just possible that if a 19-metre class were 
started it would ultimately take the place of the 
bigger vessels. There is an effort being made 
no\y by two owners to start a 19-metre class. It 
would be most interesting to have an additional 
big class doing the round of all the principal re¬ 
gattas. It would show a most healthy condition 
of the sport could such a thing happen, but 
there are many considerations to be weighed. 
To begin with, we unfortunately do not appear 
to have a sufficient number of keen sailing men 
in the country to support three classes, and 
then again, clubs would be called upon to pro¬ 
vide substantial prizes for an important extra 
class, and it is admitted that the finances of 
some clubs are none too flourishing. 
The 15-metre yachts really provided the most 
interesting sport of the year, as they and their 
predecessors have done for many years past. 
Ostara, as will be seen by the records which 
have been published, was the pick of the fleet, 
but had Hispania (the King of Spain’s new 
boat) been a regular competitor in this country, 
Ostara would have had a much harder job than 
she experienced in making her fine record. 
Hispania has by far the best record among the 
Spanish boats, although it is probable that her 
success is as much due to her handling as to 
anything else. Tuiga, the other Fife-built 
Spanish-owned boat, was an undoubtedly smart 
craft, although her record does not show it. 
Barbrook, who had charge of Hispania, is 
quite at home in this class. He had charge of 
Mr. Leuchar’s Moyana during the time that 
vessel was in commission. During the Solent 
regattas, it was interesting to see Barbrook 
singling out Ostara as the pick of the fleet 
Wherever Ostara went for a start, it was certain 
that Hispania would be thereabouts also. 
The improvement in the newer boats was 
shown every day by comparison with the two 
first built under the present rule. Ma’oona, 
although quite out-classed, was sailed through¬ 
out the season pluckily, and the alterations 
made during the season did not improve her 
much. _ She might have been a trifle faster in 
very light airs but, all round, she showed no 
real improvement. Slec, the Spanish-owned 
cutter (which is Shimna re-named), was equally 
out-classed. Even if she made a good start 
she could not hold the newer boats. Vanity’s 
performances were not consistent. She was re¬ 
garded as the light-weather boat of the fleet 
at the outset of the season, and in some of the 
harder blows, she did not show to advantage. 
At the Royal Corinthian regatta, however, early 
in the season, she went well, and appeared to 
have found her form, and in the Nore Deal 
match also she showed a fine turn of speed at 
one period of the race. Although her record 
is by no means bad, one could never rely upon 
her on any particular day. The remark would 
often be heard that “This should be Vanity’s 
day,” but it did not invariably come off. It 
was remarkable that in some of her wins she 
left all her competitors minutes astern, and 
possibly her biggest surprise was the win she 
scored at Torbay in as hard a wind as any of 
the boats wanted. It is difficult at the moment 
to attempt any estimate of the class for next 
year. One can hardly expect Ma’oona to come 
out again, and unless her owner builds a new 
craft, there will be only three left in the class. 
Then again, two of the present owners are 
known to be anxious to form a 19-metre class, 
so that their secession would still further de¬ 
plete the class, and some new owners will be 
wanted to keep it going. Should the 19-meter 
class be formed, the 15-metre yachts that 
would be thrown on the market shoul 3 find 
ready purchasers in Spain, if nowhere else, for 
it is believed that at least two or three yachts¬ 
men there in that country contemplate joining 
the class. But in the interests of our own 
sport, it is to be hoped that in the event of the 
new class being formed, the 15-metre yachts will 
find new owners in this country. Among the 
many rumors floating round during Cowes 
“Week,” was one that the King of Spain would 
be prepared to build a larger vessel than a 15- 
metre, -provided that he could feel assured of 
snort. Whether His Majesty’s intentions in this 
direction would have any influence in this coun¬ 
try. is doubtful. For it could not be expected 
that the King of Spain’s yacht would race 
throughout the season in British waters. What 
would help the sport in this country more than 
anything else, would be a vessel in one of the 
biff classes with either the King’s or the Prince 
of Wales’ colors at the truck. Is this too good 
to hope for? 
Catboat Men to Meet. 
4 meeting of delegates to the Atlantic Coast 
Catboat Conference < will be held shortly jn 
Providence. There will be delegates from 
Massachusetts Bav, Buzzard’s Bay, Great South 
Bay, Barnegat Bay, Narragansett Bay and. 
other localities where interest is taken in the 
catboat, and efforts are to be made to revive 
interest in that class of yachts. The races for 
championship will be sailed next summer on 
ARTHUR BINNEY 
(Formerly Stbwart & Binnkt) 
Naval Architect and Yacht Broker 
Ma*on Building, Kilby Street, BOSTON, MASS. 
Cable Address, “Designer/* Boston 
COX STEVENS 
Yacht Brokers and Naval Architects 
IS William Street, - -New York 
Telephones 1375 and 1376 Broad 
Canoe and Boat Building. 
A Complete Manual for Amateurs. Containing plain 
and comprehensive directions for the construction of 
canoes; rowing and sailing boats and hunting craft. By 
W. P. Stephens. Cloth. Seventh and enlarged edition. 
204 pages. Numerous illustrations and fifty plates in 
envelope. Price, $2.00. 
FOREST AND STREAM PUBLISHING CO. 
Hints and Points for Sportsmen* 
Compiled by “Seneca.” Cloth. Illustrated, 244 pages, 
j. rice, Jpl.Dv. 
, fh' s compilation comprises six hundred odd hints, 
helps, kinks, wrinkles, points and suggestions for the 
shooter, the fisherman, the dog owner, the yachtsman, 
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held sportsman in all the varied phases of his activity. 
Hints and Points has proved one of the most prac- 
Ubrary USeful works of reference in the sportsman’s 
FOREST AND STREAM PUBLISHING CO. 
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