AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 167, 27 July 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

AQUATICS.

The American yacht Constitution, which was lately built for a syndicate of members of the New York Yacht Club, tc defend the America Cup, is thus described by the "Shipping World"':—"The dimensions of the Constitution are: Length over all, 132 ft Gin; beam, 25ft 2Jin; draught on normal displacement, 19ft lOin, at which draught the waterline length will be 89ft 9in. In comparison with the luJcpondence, which may be taken as representing the most up-to-date construction of the conventional type, it is shown that the longitudinal framing adopted in Constitution has resulted in the reduction of the total weight of *he plating from 30 tons in Independence to £2 tons in the Herreschofi? bait. There is ulso a saving as compared with Columbia due to the substitution of a plate-steel d«ck covered with cork tilting for the relatively heavy wooden deck used in Columbia. AgaJnpt this reduction of weights is to be put the fact that the sail-pan of the new boat has been increased by If) per cent, over that of Columbia, which means that the spars nnd rigging must be proportionately stronger and heavier, and that the weight of ISOO square yards of extra canvas must also be added in. The evtva weight dMe to this increased sail spread, moreover, is carried at ah average height of 40 or 50 ft above the deck, and, therefore, will offset some of the weight saved in the hull plating and deck. Moreover, the body of the boat is larger, and this again will offset some of the weight saved. But, even after all is said and done, it is probable that, although Constitution is a large and far more powerful boat, her displacement will be about the same as that of Columbia. The bow is very lofty, and its sections are more round and full, giving the boat a more seaworthy appearance, and suggesting that she ought to make splendid weather when thrashing her way to the weather mark against a strong breeze. The quarters and stern appear to be deeper than those of Columbia, and when she heels Constitution will derive not a little sail-carrying power from the1 modelling of these long1 and powerful quarters. At the same time she is scarcely as beautiful a boat as Columbia."

An English paper says that the neW yawl Lea ruler, belonging to the Hon Rupert Guinness, won the race for the Vasco da Gama Cup in the Internatwnal Regatta held at Gascttes on May 21. Her opponents were the King of Portugal's yacht Lia and the Tagide, Sehnor Contino de MedeirM The last occasion on whidh an En°--uen yacht competed for this trophy was ih 1898, when the race was inaugurated to commemorate the four hundredth anniversary of the departure of the great discoverer en his adventurous voyage to India rouua tHe Ca.pe of Good Hope. On that occasion the Earl of Dunravta's ketch Cafiadj designed by A. E. Payne, WOn the cup, beating her only oppotf&tit, Lia, the King's yacht/ Which was built as far back as 1877, by tt handsome mafgin. Tlie cup, Which i» a maguiflcemt a(pecimen of silver t&-

pousse work, has to be held by the club to which the winning yacht be< longs, and is to be sailed for every three years.