Aquatics.

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 152, 24 December 1903, Page 14

Aquatics.

[Br Nkftunb.] It wna recently stated that the presentation of a cup ns a prize for a yacht race across the Atlantic, which had beon. promised by tho Emperor William of Gormany, had been postponed in consequence of tho illness of the Kaiser. This announcement is now corrected, and it is explained in a cablegram from London that tho postponement by the Kaiser of his intended gift af a cup was due to the refusal of tho New York .Yacht Club to co-operate in the arrangement* for the race with tho Atlantic Yacht Club, which is a poorer institution and of less etanding socially. It is somewhat of a coincidence that tho two yachta wliich will compete in the inter-State contests next January were both beaten in races in their own waters on Saturday week.'' 1 Bona, the New South Wales representative, w«s ono of tho competitors in the Sydney Princo Alfred Club Ocean Raco, sailed in a moderate south-east brecao over U seventeen-mile course, and finished third, being beaten by the 30-footers Petrel and Cuhvnlla. "Bona's chance," says the Sydney Daily Telegraph, "was considered uecond to none, but the scratch boat wna beaten on rating by the smaller craft. Sho was certainly not mado the best use of in tho seaway, nnd, from all accounts, Bona will need to olutke things up iv bit if tho local representative is to have a chanco with ttio Victorian Sayonnra in tho interState contests." Bona allowed her two opponents ISmin each. Petrel had 31scc to spare at tho finish from Cuhvulla, which had a margin of 3miu 49« ec from Bona. In a book entitled " The History of tho America Cup," recently i»ucd. there aro nomo striking comparison* made to «how the development of Cup racing. Comparing previous defonders with the latest, the author says: — "White Roliance carries almost twice tho sail area of (he old Mayflower, to 38ft longer and 2ft wider, sho is a smaller bont. She has Iwui tontinge, a smaller midibin section to propol through water, a- smaller wetted surface to delay- her by friction. She is moro than 26 nor cent, vmaller than tho Volunteer, anil carries 75 per cont. moro sail. What hn» enabled this startling chango in, of course, tho fin keel weighted with lead." Of tho new typo of keel the writer adds :—": — " Ninety tons of lead i« practically tho weight of the largest mogul locomotive ana its tender now u*ed by tho New York, New Haven, and Hartford railroad. And when you imagino a boat but 90ft on the water lino and 22ft wide carrying a 90-ton' locomotive hung '^.v under water you will havo norno idosi of the enormous stability of these vessel*. Then when yon think of a sail plan ris. ing nearly 200 ft into tho air imd Ibuii from tho after end to tho forward points, tmd comprising Bomo ld.ooo ■quare fecfe of aail, you will renliso the terrific problem* impoaed upon tho designer of & modorn racer."