Yachting Volume Ii Part 24

Starting from a port on the Sound easily accessible from the city of New York, the squadron makes its way eastward, stopping at several of the princ.i.p.al places of resort along the Sound.

Of late years it has been the custom to race from port to port, regular entries being made and prizes awarded.

At every port along its course the New York Yacht Squadron receives large augmentations of both sailing and steam yachts, so that at last, when the fleet anchors in the harbour of New London, it is an armada of pleasure craft laden with pleasure-seeking yachtsmen, all in accord to make this demonstration the brightest and gayest event of the season. The entrance of the squadron into Narragansett Bay is one of the most beautiful of all imaginable marine pictures; the ranks are then complete, often numbering 200 vessels, by steam and sail. Every available craft is pressed into service by the dwellers of Newport and vicinity to go out to meet the arriving yachts; steamers laden with pa.s.sengers, tugs, trading schooners with their decks black with unusual freight, the ubiquitous cat-boat, all a.s.semble in waiting off the Lightship at Brenton's Reef to welcome the approaching fleet that is already coming into view off Point Judith.

The yacht squadron is escorted to the beautiful harbour of Newport by the motley fleet in attendance, and anchors there with a flutter of canvas and the booming of cannon.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The ubiquitous cat-boat.]

At evening the fleet is illuminated with coloured lights, the steam yachts contribute electric glare, forming a scene worth many miles of journeying to witness. Then follow races in the open sea outside Newport, after which the cruise is continued to New Bedford, and Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard Island; more racing, and then a cruise around Cape Cod to Boston, where more racing and much festivity is enjoyed, after which the squadron disbands, most of the yachts return to Newport, whilst others cruise to Mount Desert Island and beyond.

About the middle of August it is usual to have more racing off Newport under the auspices of the Atlantic and Seawanhaka Clubs, and this usually closes the season for racing; a few matches, however, are generally expected in the autumn, but by the middle of October nearly all the yachts go out of commission.

Winter cruising to Florida and the West Indies usually begins soon after Christmas, returning early in April, whereby the rigours of our northern winter are avoided.

As a rule, the American yachtsman is not inclined to racing to an extent that would afford the best information and knowledge as to the design and rig of his craft. At times, however, when under the stimulus of rivalry of designers, as occurred in 1891, or particularly when there is an international contest on hand, our marine phalanx stand forth in battle array, sacrifice no end of personal effort, and stake willingly their bottom dollar.

_'America' Cup Compet.i.tions_

+------------+-------------------+---------+-----+-------+ | Year | Name | W.L. |Beam |Draught| | | | Length | | | +------------+-------------------+---------+-----+-------+ | | | ft. | ft. | ft. | | 1870{ Magic | 78.11 |20.9 | 6.7 | |August 1870{ Cambria |100.0 |20.5 | 12.4 | | | | | | | | 1871{ Sappho |119.4 |27.4 | 12.8 | | 1871{ Columbia | 96.0 |25.1 | 6.0 | |October 1871{ Livonia |107.5 |23.3 | 12.8 | | | | | | | | 1876{ Madeleine | 95.2 |24.0 | 7.4 | |August 1876{ Countess Dufferin |107.0 |24.0 | 6.6 | | | | | | | | 1881{ Mischief | 61.0 |19.10| 5.4 | |Nov. 1881{ Atalanta | 64.0 |19.0 | 5.5 | | | | | | | | 1885{ Genesta | 81.0 |15.0 | 13.0 | |Sept. 1885{ Puritan | 85.1-1/2|22.7 | 8.8 | | | | | | | | 1886{ Galatea | 87.0 |15.0 | 13.03 | |Sept. 1886{ Mayflower | 85.7 |23.6 | 9.9 | | | | | | | | 1887{ Thistle | 86.46 |20.03| 13.8 | |Sept. 1887{ Volunteer | 85.88 |23.02| 10.0 | | | | | | | |October 1893{ Vigilant | 86.19 |26.25| 14.0 | | { Valkyrie | 86.8 |22.33| 16.3 | +------------+-------------------+---------+-----+-------+

It is the earnest wish of every American yachtsman to encourage frequent and friendly intercourse with his English cousins who are working for the true interest and advancement of yacht designing. The breadth of the interlying ocean and the disparity between the winds and water of the two countries should make no barrier to closer relations, to the end that the n.o.ble science of naval architecture and its most useful teachings may find in the progress of yachting a fit subject to bind more and more closely two nations of one blood, one language, and one desire--to attain to that which is highest and best even in sports and pastimes.

The valuable a.s.sistance of Mr. Niels Olsen, superintendent of the New York Yacht Club, and of Mr. E. A. Stevens, of Hoboken, nephew of Commodore J. C. Stevens, is hereby gratefully recognised. But for them my work would have been difficult, and in many respects impossible.

STEAM YACHTING IN AMERICA

The rapid development of the steam engine as a motive power, and its widely distributed application, soon attracted the attention of the lovers of nautical sports, and before the year 1860 the all-conquering engine began to be used for the propulsion of pleasure craft. The invasion of fields of sport by the engine did not then recommend, nor has it since recommended, itself to the hearts of true yachtsmen; all that is so attractive in yachting seems to vanish as soon as the element of uncertainty is eliminated: all the poetry of motion, all the sense of freedom from disagreeable surroundings, as well as all interest in winds and water--all are sunk when the sail is changed for the engine as a propelling force.

The steam yacht should be considered chiefly in the light of a very agreeable mode of locomotion, and as such it is unquestionably a very desirable adjunct to our resources, filling as it does a place that would be wholly impossible for sailing craft, when the uncertain character of winds and water is considered.

The first idea of steam yachting in America was realised in the famous cruise of the 'North Star,' a side-wheel steamship of 2,004-25/95 tons, built for Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1852. She was the most handsomely appointed vessel of her day, and sailed temporarily under the flag of the New York Yacht Club, which fixed her ident.i.ty as a yacht, although she was built for merchant service.

The 'North Star,' brigantine rig, was built by Jeremiah Simonson, of Green Point, Long Island. Length over all, 270 ft., 38 ft. beam, 28 ft. 6 in. depth, 16 ft. draught. She was fitted with two vertical beam engines, cylinders 60 in. diameter by 10 ft. stroke; two boilers, 10 ft. diameter by 24 ft. long; paddle-wheels, 34 ft. in diameter. She was broken up at Cold Spring, Long Island, in 1870. The Aspinwalls were the first promoters of real steam yachting, and as early as 1854 the 'Firefly' was launched by Smith & Dimon, of New York, for Messrs.

W. H. Aspinwall and J. L. Aspinwall. Her length was 97 ft. 8 in. over all, 19 ft. beam, 5 ft. 2 in. hold, 3 ft. 9 in. draught, engines built by the Morgan Iron Works, oscillating cylinders 20 by 36 in., locomotive boiler, paddle-wheels 8 ft. 8 in. diameter, size of paddles 17 by 45 in. She was sold to the United States Government for duty on the Coast Survey Service--89-93/95 tons. 'Clarita,' built for Leonard W. Jerome by Lawrence Faulkes Williams, 1864; length over all, 125 ft.; 121 ft. 9 in. water-line, 22 ft. beam, 9 ft. depth, draught 11 ft. 6 in., 231-30/95 tons. Engine by Novelty Iron Works, 2 cylinders 22 by 22 in., diameter of screw 9 ft. 6 in. Sold to Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and is now doing towing duty on the Kennebec River, Maine.

The 'Ocean Wave' was built for Mr. R. T. Loper by Reany & Naeafy, of Philadelphia, in 1865, iron. She was 87 ft. over all, 19 ft. beam, 7 ft. depth, 2 cylinders each 12 by 18 in., 38 nominal horse-power. The Police Department of Philadelphia bought her.

'Day-Dream,' composite construction, built by the Continental Iron Works, Green Point, Long Island, for W. H. Aspinwall, 1871. Length over all, 115 ft.; length on water-line, 109 ft.; beam, 19 ft.; depth of hold, 5 ft.; draught of water, 7 ft. Her engine was built by the Delamater Works of New York, vertical condensing, 2 cylinders each 14 by 14 in., one boiler 8 ft. long, diameter of screw 7 ft. 6 in., with 10 ft. pitch. She was sold to the United States Government for postal service in the Gulf of Mexico, and is now at New Orleans.

The 'Day-Dream' was really the first successful steam yacht, and set the type of pleasure craft for many years; in fact, it is but a few years ago that the style called 'deck-house' yachts went out of use, and they are at present almost entirely superseded by the deeper-hulled, flush-deck yachts.

During the early Seventies the steam launch, or open yacht, rapidly multiplied in numbers and seemed to fill a demand for afternoon sailing in the sheltered waters of our seaports, and as preparatory to something better they did good service.

The open steam-launch as then used was from 25 to 45 ft. long, and 6 to 8 ft. wide, usually with vertical engines, and used a pipe condenser and boiler of upright form, generally of tubular construction. After the open launch came the small yacht, having a small cabin enclosed mostly by gla.s.s with a standing room aft. This very popular form is still much used, and answers a widely sought demand for day sailing or short cruising; the boats are usually about 45 to 70 ft. long, and from 8 to 10 ft. wide. This style of small yacht had no deck room that was available for real use, but the standing room with an awning over it with adjacent cabin made a very serviceable craft, in which cruising could be done from May until October on our coast with perfect safety.

In those days 8 miles an hour was thought fast enough for anybody, but in a few years, when the engine and boiler were both more perfected, more speed was demanded, so that the type in question attained to 12 or 13 miles an hour, which in some cases has been pushed to 15, whilst the speed of the open launch which at first was but 8 to 10 miles an hour, reached, under the stimulus of popular desire and better motive power, to 16 and even 20 miles an hour in quiet smooth water.

About 1885 the flush-deck yacht became more popular, and most deservedly so, as the style is superior in all essential points to the old deck-house form. It is true that the cabin of the older form is pleasanter, being lighter and more airy, but the strength of construction gained by the flush deck, its broad expanse of deck everywhere available for sitting and promenading, all these points of advantage give the present form decidedly the first place in the estimation of all lovers of steam yachting. Since 1880, steam yachting has increased with prodigious rapidity, and, particularly since the introduction of naphtha as a factor in motive power, our waters fairly swarm with craft propelled by a machine.

In about the year 1884 a club was formed for steam-yacht owners only, called the American Yacht Club, and for several years it offered prizes to be run for in Long Island Sound; but steam-yacht racing did not become popular, princ.i.p.ally because of the danger of forcing machinery to its utmost limit of safety, and also the difficulty of cla.s.sifying yachts of different size and power of engine. For the most part the devotees of steam yachting are drawn from the general public without special regard of the situation of their home, as a yacht can be kept on the seaboard or on the lakes, whilst the owner may live far from the sight and sound of the sea; the restless spirit of our countrymen prompts them to embark into every scheme of pleasure-making, as well as business enterprise.

Naturally, however, by far the greater number of steam-yacht owners have their homes on or very near some navigable water, upon which they pursue their favourite sport as a pastime only, or in connection with the daily engagements of business life.

Many men of large means and wide business interests who may be seen daily on Wall Street or in other centres of trade in New York have homes on the head waters of Long Island Sound, or on the lower stretches of the Hudson, whence they daily run to the city of New York in a steam yacht, which, after landing its luxurious owner, waits until his day is done in the city, and bears him again to a home of comfort and quiet retreat.

Yachts used chiefly for such purposes are always fast; when the speed falls below 20 miles an hour, their owners fret and fume, and wonder why she is not doing as well as she might.

Steam yachts having abnormally high speed are occasionally seen in a large yachting fleet. There are always a few men, who, from a love of seeing their names in print and their movements and those of their yacht recorded in the newspapers of the day, find that by tearing up the waters of our bays and harbours with yachts which show a speed of 25 miles an hour, their fondest hope is realised; for every eye follows them, and every reporter wastes his pencil in recording the performances of the speedy craft. It is their delight on regatta days to dart about amongst the fleet of yachts and craft of the lookers-on, and astonish everybody by some new flight of speed or some skilful evolution. I am happy to record, however, that the number of these flyers is small, and becoming less: such speeds are attained only by great danger to life and limb of those in charge of the machine, and an entire loss of comfort from the violent vibration of the vessel; for she must be built as light and carry as powerful machinery as possible, to give the results desired by these morbid lovers of notoriety, who are no more yachtsmen than is the man who takes a balloon trip so as to be seen by the crowd.

It must be admitted that comfort and pleasure can be, and doubtless are, found on many steam yachts; for instance, a yacht of 125 ft.

water-line, by 19 ft. beam, with a well-kept flush-deck, a comfortable deck-house forward, a large awning spread over all, the deck set out with Persian rugs, tables, and comfortable rattan chairs, and a number of congenial friends present, who are not tired of life and each other--I think no one will deny that pleasure in the highest degree could be realised with such surroundings.

Our prevailing pleasant weather during the yachting season, and the uniformly sheltered character of our waters, have had their effect on the form and construction of steam yachts as well as those by sail.

Nearly 95 per cent. of all steam yachts in America are built expressly for bay, harbour, and river work, and when it is necessary to make any extended trip, as for instance to the coast of Maine, they usually creep close along sh.o.r.e, moving cautiously from port to port.

We can, however, boast of a few deep-sea craft, as fine and seaworthy as any pleasure vessels in the world, such as those owned by the late Jay Gould, Mr. W. W. Astor, the Vanderbilts, and few others. The general dimensions of many steam yachts are ruled by the probability of their taking the pa.s.sage through the Erie Ca.n.a.l, the locks of which are 100 ft. long and 17 ft. wide, and admit a vessel drawing 6 ft. of water.

There is a marked advantage in taking the Erie Ca.n.a.l to reach the great lakes; with a vessel of proper size the pa.s.sage of the ca.n.a.l is safe and easy, whilst the trip around by the Gulf and River of St.

Lawrence is very long and surrounded by difficulties, although the voyage will richly repay one for taking it, as it affords greater variety in sea and landscape than any other possible in America. Steam yachting on the great lakes is also increasing rapidly, and in the harbours of the large cities, as Buffalo, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Chicago, many steam pleasure craft may be seen, usually of a length of 100 ft. or less, so as to make their way to the salt water by the ca.n.a.l.

As in the case of sailing yachts, 95 per cent. of steam craft are to be found north of the capes of the Delaware, but their numbers are increasing south of that point more rapidly than their sailing sisters. The Gulf and tributary waters as yet show very few pleasure craft of either sort, and the Pacific coast, on account of the high cost of fuel, is not the scene of steam yachting to any considerable extent.

In the Bay of San Francisco, however, are a large number of naphtha launches that find very favourable water in that shallow sea. There is far less variety of form and rig among steam yachts than in any other pleasure craft. The accepted form at present is a flush-deck vessel with pole masts, triple-expansion engine, and some modification of the old Belville boiler, a form that has many varieties, none of which are satisfactory in more than a few points. They are generally safe from explosion, but very short-lived, and difficult to manage.

The compound engine was introduced into yachting craft about the year 1875, and its success was as marked as in all other branches of marine construction.

The triple-expansion engine was first used in 1884 with increased success over its ancestor, the compound, and in 1888 the quadruple engine was put into a few yachts; but it may be questioned if it possesses any advantages over the triple for the general uses of yachting.

The use of high-expansion engines not only results in a marked economy of fuel, but, through a wide distribution of power and strain, far greater durability is attained, as well as greater freedom from vibration, which often imparts discomfort to the pa.s.sengers, and injury to the hull of the yacht.

With regard to the designing and construction of steam yachts, it seems to be the aim of every designer and builder to try his hand at this branch of naval architecture, and, as might naturally be expected, the resultant vessel is too often an example of semi-successful work of the novice, clumsy in form, construction, and machinery, rude in design and ill fitted to its duty. Nearly all the deep-sea pleasure craft are built on the Delaware, and as a rule are staunch, seaworthy vessels with good speed, and generally satisfactory performance in all situations. The Herreshoff Co., of Rhode Island, have pa.s.sed No. 180 in steam vessels, the larger number of which are small launches, a good proportion small cabin yachts, and the rest of the every-day cla.s.s of along-sh.o.r.e craft which satisfy the desires of nearly all who find pleasure on our coast in steam yachts. The Herreshoff Co. turns out the fastest vessels of their cla.s.s, and for general qualities are the best examples of careful designing and construction as applied to both hull and machinery. They have the advantage of building every member of a yacht, hull, engines, and boiler, so the result is more harmonious, and in the main is more conducive to speed and that condition, called 'well balanced,' which is so desirable in all steam vessels.

During the last five years naphtha engines, as applied to launches, have been greatly improved, so that their use has become immensely popular. They vary in size from 20 to 45 ft. in length, with speed from 6 to 10 miles an hour; in a measure they have displaced small steam launches as tenders for yachts, and in many places where no great degree of skill is required to run them; in fact, the ease of running and little time required to start a launch are the chief reasons of their popularity, in spite of the fact that they are noisy and malodorous.

The use of the steam yacht will, without doubt, continue to increase more rapidly than the sailing craft, but there is not the least probability that the latter will be superseded. In so large a community of sea-loving people there will always be a few whose good taste and love of true sport will guide them toward the sail as a means of motion, and the forces of nature as motive power; but happy is he on whom fortune smiles to the extent of enabling him to keep both a steam and sailing yacht, for times do come when to reach an objective point is highly desirable, and at other times nothing can give so much pleasure as the quiet and peaceful sensation that is found only in a sailing craft. There is room then for every yacht, both steam and sail; each contributes to the pleasure of its owner, and each deserves our best efforts to develop and make perfect that which contributes so largely to our resources of enjoyment and healthful pastime.

CHAPTER VII

YACHTING IN NEW ZEALAND

BY THE EARL OF ONSLOW, G.C.M.G., &c.

As has already been said, there exists every facility in our Australasian Colonies both for cruising and racing. These colonial waters are indeed the only ones in the world where yachting can be enjoyed among our fellow-countrymen on summer seas and in a temperate climate during that portion of the year when yachts are laid up in the mud in England and yachtsmen shiver in the bitter winds, the fogs and frosts of Northern Europe.