Yachts and yachting : with over one hundred and ten illustrations . r her with thesloops Schemer and Wave. I have neverhad the least doubt, but that either of theseyachts, if in perfect racing condition, couldhave beaten the Madge; but when theraces were sailed, the season was near itsend, the sails were fitting illy, and so littlewas thought of the chances of the Madgethat not the least care was taken to put theAmerican boats in racing order. At thefirst race, the American yacht had a bor-rowed topsail, which set *^ like a pursersshirt on a handspike, to use the forecastleexpression, and the
Yachts and yachting : with over one hundred and ten illustrations . r her with thesloops Schemer and Wave. I have neverhad the least doubt, but that either of theseyachts, if in perfect racing condition, couldhave beaten the Madge; but when theraces were sailed, the season was near itsend, the sails were fitting illy, and so littlewas thought of the chances of the Madgethat not the least care was taken to put theAmerican boats in racing order. At thefirst race, the American yacht had a bor-rowed topsail, which set *^ like a pursersshirt on a handspike, to use the forecastleexpression, and the expert in charge of hersaid, when his attention was called to this, Oh, it will do well enough, anything willbeat that thing; with a contemptuousgesture toward the Madge, which was lyingat anchor with one of the most perfectly THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN YACHTING. 95 •fitting suits of canvas I ever looked to the races, whenever the Madgeencountered one of the American sloops,the canny Scotchman in charge of herallowed her to be easily beaten, and it was. had gone home, and the owner of theMadge was too shrewd to allow her to sailwithout him. She has never done much since thattime, but it cannot be denied that she gother fine work in very effectively duringthis first season, and established the cuttermodel in this country on a firm foundation,modifying and improving the Americancenterboard model, the result being a yachtlike the Piu-itan^ with the depth, the out-side ballast, and in part, the rig of the cut-ter, retaining still the advantage of beamand centerboard. The Canadian sloop Atalanta waslaunched at Belleville, Ontario, September14, 1881, and by a curious coincidence, sheand the Pocahontas had their first trial onthe same day, October 5,the Pocahontas having atrial with the Hildegardand being beaten by her,and the Atalanta a spinwith the Nor ah at Belle-ville, and beat her withease. The Canadian sloopcould not be gotten readyin time for the race for thecup, and
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidyachtsyachti, bookyear1887
