"THE ARROW."

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2969, 20 October 1879, Page 3

"THE ARROW."

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—lam loth to conclude that neither "Modeller" nor his "Lots of Mates" arc members of the Mechanic's Institute, yet I suppose 1 must; because if they were they would most likely have seen the lines (from which I made the tuoilel now at Messrs 11. F. Anderson aud Cos.) in the "Field" newspaper of the Sth March last. That excellent paper, together with many engineering and scientific periodicals arc, regularly placed on the tables of tbe readingroom of the Institute, and I am glad of this opportunity of recommending the Institute as worthy of the support of the.slupwriglits and other mechanics of this city. The Arrow is usually spoken lovingly of as the "Old Arrow," and is the most celebrated cutter afloat. She was built from designs by the late Sir Joseph Weld, by Inman of Lymington, in 1522, and maintained the highest character among the old fashioned yachts for nearly thirty years. After beiug beaten by the Mosquito, 50 tonuer (she bein<*aboutSO),hcrowner,Mr-hambcrlayne, bather lengthened by the bow. I believe she was' twice lengthened forward. Ou tbe last occasion her load line was tilled out forward in the maimer it now shows. Of late she , had not been doing much against the deep class of yacht she has beeu meeting, but last winter Mr Chambcrlayne had the cement and Bhot with which she was tilled iv between the floors taken out aud lead ballast fitted instead. She had also about 17 tons of lead fixed on her keel. This alteration has put her, as regards ballasting, nearer on an equality with her competitors, and she is now, take her all round, the fastest yacht afloat. Last year the Formosa, a new yacht by Ratsey, 2ft. lOius. longer on the load line than the Arrow, was supposed to be the fastest cutter then built. The Editor of the "Field," I think, excepted tbe Formosa when he said, on the Bth March :—" Tho Arrow has always been noted for her speed, and she is certatuly the very fastest British yacht, of her length ailoat." Since then the good efl'cet of the altered ballasting has been shewn, as she has beaten the Formosa, on two occasions when the conditions included everything tbat could be desired for ascertaining their relative merits. At Harwich, iv June, she sailed against the Neva and Formosa in a good breeze. The slangy writer in the " Bell's Life " says of this match :—" A free sheet .to the shipwash just suited the 'oldjdear's' handwriting. They rounded A. 12.30, F. 12.31. 30, N. 12.38. It was a case of pile-driving with the Formosa aud Neva, but the blank " Old Arrer" just quietly squattedjon her buttock, ran her head up, and hummed. The sunk was made after a long hammer on a weather tide, however, as follows : A. 2.18 P. 2.35.30, N, 2.5 G. The' Arrow went home without a spiuakcr, and did just as well down wind as before, the old ship's crew having the caboose going and the fiddle playing when her opponents came in. Time of finish, A. (£SO) 3.25.30., F. (£ls) 3.41.30, A. 4-18-22." Tho account in the "Field" spoke also of the Arrow's superior behaviour in the sea. It said, I remember, tbat the other two were diving like whiteheads, whilst the old favourite was going alone as dry and comfortablo as a frigate. The Formosa rates a little less tonnage than the Arrow, which latter is 113 tons Y.R.A. rule ; but the Formosa's displacement is 130 ton. (on account of extra length and depth) against the Arrow's 106. Onlhe 7th August, the Arrow, Formosa, and Bloodhound (3S tons) sailed in the R.Y.S. match for the Town Cup. There was a fine breeze fromW. to W.S.W., course giving an equal amount of beating and running. The Arrow won, Bloodhound taking second prize (£SO) by a few seconds time from Formosa. " A fairer fought contest never was sailed. On her way to her anchorage after the race the Arrow was cheered all the way through the fleet of yachts. '1 he Arrow and Formosa carried jib-headers, but Bloodhound had to be content on a wind, with bare upper stick. Time of finish: A., 3.25.30; F, 3.30.30; B. 4.15.20." The Bloodhound did best running on account of the cloud of {canvas the steel wire rigging enabled her to carry. An examination of the Arrow's model shows very round lines in the middle body, a very round immersed midship section, narrow tail, out of the water (her after end has never been altered), flat run, it being nearly all deadwood, very long bow, aud very fine fore-foot. This arrangement puts centre of gravity of displacement very far aft and accounts for her fine behaviour in a head sea. For a patched up altered boat she is a beauty and well worthy of careful study. I must say, however, tbat it is uot creditable to the yacht builders at home that a boat that has grown to her present excellence beats the best they can produce.—l am&c, J. WAYMODTH.