THE AMERICAN YACHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12272, 16 May 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE AMERICAN YACHT.

The New York Tribune, in speaking of the American yacht, just launched, says :—The experts, all agree that the new yacht is not only a radical departure in design from both the Columbia and the Constitution but that the departure is a good one, and they predict all speed for her in all kinds of weather, but especially in a light breeze.

As soon as the rear doors of the south shop were opened in the morning the great beam of the boat was noticeable as compared with the other defenders, for the hull at the deck completely filled the space in the shop. The increased after overhang tapers off to a much finer point than in either the Columbia or the Constitution." The bilges are higher and the floors flatter than either of the former, confirming the report that the Reliance has much of the scow shape. Those who saw the hull of the Reliance for the first r time were impressed bv Us remarkably beautiful shape. ' There is not a hard line in it. It is a succession of curves, the like of which have never been seen before on a 90-footer. She has. been called a scow, but her delicately-fashioned underbodv deserves a, better name than that. The floors are flatter than those of either the Columbia or the Constitution, but, at the same time, powerful bilges are there, that should serve her well when it comes to stiff breezes and lumpy seas. _ The taper upward from the fin is so carried out that, looking up at it from below, it seems to melt away into the curves of the bow and stern. The experts say that this bow and stern will be of great advantage in smooth water and light breezes. There are seven strakes of Tobin bronze from the rail to the fin. All of them are smooth except the last, which overlaps the larboard strake. °

There are two lugs for bolts on the, bobstay plate, which is stronger than usual, and the hawsepipes are set back about fifteen feet from the stem head. Taken as a whole, the Reliance looks as though she would be well able to carry all the sail that Herreshoff wants to put on her. The chief dimensions of the Reliance are said to be: Length over all, 141 feet; on waterline, 89.92 feet; beam, 25 feet 9 inches; and draught, 19 feet 9 inches. Her sail area is estimated at 15,000 square feet, the steel mast is to have only one pan- of spreaders. The Constitution has two.