The 'Dragon III.' was crack of the 20-rating class, and she had a very brilliant record—namely, 31 prizes, value 445l., in 34 starts. The 'Dragon' did not go through the season without a little doctoring, her formidable opponent, the 'Deirdré,' being found very hard to beat after being shortened about 10 in. on the water-line, and getting 45 square feet more sail-area; so 'Dragon' was altered in like manner, and 'Deirdré' had again to take second place. The new 'Vigorna' was a failure, and 'Dragon' and 'Deirdré' were too good for the 'Molly' ('Dragon II.'). The 'Zinita' would perhaps have proved equal to tackling the 'Dragon III.' by the wind, but Mr. Hill's boat would certainly have been able to score heavily with checked sheets. 'Deirdré's' record was 21 prizes in 35 starts, and the 'Zinita's' 18 in 24 starts. The 'Phantom' was the crack of the tens, with 14 prizes in 24 starts; and the 5-rater 'Red Lancer' in going round the coast managed to win 24 flags in 34 racing essays.
Mr. Hill's 'Dragon III,' 20-rater.
This review would not be complete without some reference to sails, and it may be said that those made by the joint firms of Laphorn and Ratsey were really wonderful and perfect specimens of the art. Still, 'Valkyrie's' canvas elicited the greatest praise in America, and especially from General Paine, who said her suit 'fitted like a glove; the most perfect canvas he had ever seen in America.' The quality of the material and workmanship was strikingly evident in 'Britannia's' mainsail, which lasted a season through, and after all the fagging and rough work it had, it kept its shape to the end of the season. The 'Valkyrie' had a mainsail made of Sea Island cotton for the America Cup matches, but most people would vote flax good enough after seeing such a sail as 'Britannia's.' The 'Satanita,' 'Calluna,' and 'Valkyrie's' mainsails stood equally well as 'Britannia's,' and those of the 40-raters 'Lais' and 'Vendetta' could not have been better. The twenties were quite as well done by; but the plan of giving the last-named class wide cloths in a measure spoils the beauty of the sails. The patent jibs introduced by T. Ratsey were very pretty sails, but they seemed liable to go across the diagonal seam in a gusty wind.
CHAPTER XII
THE AMERICAN YACHTING SEASON OF 1893
By Lewis Herreshoff
The yachting season of 1893 was inaugurated by the laying of 'Navahoe's' keel in the autumn of 1892, at the construction shops of the Herreshoff Company, in Bristol, R.I.
Interest was soon centred in her, for it was clear that she was intended for some unusual service, and when her owner Mr. R. P. Carroll, announced his programme for the season of 1893, of going to England to try for the American cups there, and to take part in what racing he might, there was an astonishing awakening of enthusiasm on both sides of the Atlantic, which culminated in the international contest off New York in October 1893, that being without question the most exciting and interesting series of races ever witnessed. Early in December 1892 the challenge from Lord Dunraven was finally settled and adjusted, creating a patriotic ardour in all English and American yachtsmen.
Almost simultaneously the 'Valkyrie,' 'Britannia,' 'Calluna,' and 'Satanita' in England, and 'Colonia,' 'Vigilant,' 'Jubilee,' and 'Pilgrim' in America, were begun, the last three English yachts being expressly intended to defend the American and other trophies against the attack of 'Navahoe,' as well as more fully to test the value of 'Valkyrie,' on which rested the herculean task of returning the America Cup to its native shores. The early months of 1893 were spent by the yachting circles of both England and America in discussions on and comparisons of the merits of their favourite design and construction, rig and so forth.
All attempts by the designers and builders to keep their work secret were utterly futile, for all essential information as to dimensions and chief characteristics found their way into the newspapers, giving zest to the public interest and discomfiture to the builders, who set seals on the mouths of their workmen and watchmen, and blocked every door and window where the prying public might steal a view of the coming wonder; but seals and watchmen could not evade the desire to know what was to be the form and outline of the 'Defenders,' as the American yachts were popularly called. The table on p. 402 gives important information concerning the five American yachts of 1893, to which is added 'Valkyrie,' her dimensions being important for comparison with the American vessels. 'Navahoe' was built under restrictions that precluded all expectations of attaining the highest speed; she was intended for a cruiser which in the event of necessity could be rigged and sailed so as to make a good show with yachts then in existence. Her performance in English waters, although disappointing, was but little below the anticipations of those who knew her and understood the value of her opponents, whose lines were not drawn when 'Navahoe' was begun.