“Perhaps the Balsam is a rough-water sailor,” remarked Grant. “At any rate she seems to be doing splendidly in this breeze.”
“If the breeze should die down they’d probably catch right up to us,” said Fred. “Let’s hope it doesn’t.”
“What makes you think they’d catch us?” demanded John.
“Nothing. Some boats sail better in one kind of a breeze than in others. This seems to be suited to a strong wind and I thought it was possible that the Spruce would do better in a light one.”
“But they’re exactly alike,” objected John.
“I know it,” replied Fred. “That doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll sail just alike, though. I’ve seen ten boats all built on the same model, the same size, and everything about them the same, and yet some of them seem to be twice as fast as others.”
“It must be in the one who handles the boat, then,” said George.
“Not at all. I’ve seen them swap crews and the same boats win.”
“How do you explain it?” inquired Grant, who always liked to have a reason for everything.
“I can’t, and I don’t believe any one else can, either. Some boats seem to do well under certain conditions, and that’s all there is to it.”