Yachting, Vol. 2Dufferin and Ava, Frederick Temple Blackwood, Marquis of
History
Yachting, Vol. 2
Dufferin and Ava, Frederick Temple Blackwood, Marquis of
Yacht racing; Yachting; Yachts
The sloop 'Priscilla' was built of iron by the Harlan Hollingsworth
Co., Wilmington, Delaware, and designed by A. Cary Smith for James G.
Bennett and William Douglas, with a view to defend the 'America' Cup
against 'Genesta,' but the trial races showed 'Puritan' to be the best
yacht, 1885. She was sold in 1886 to A. Cass Canfield, who did all in
his power to bring her into racing form, but improvements in designing
set her hopelessly astern. 'Priscilla' was 95 ft. 6 in. over all, 85
ft. 3 in. length on water-line, 22 ft. 6 in. beam, 8 ft. 9 in. deep, 8
ft. draught, centreboard. She was rigged into a schooner in 1888, but
as a racer has never made a creditable record.
The sloop 'Atlantic' was built by J. F. Mumm at Bay Ridge, Long
Island, designed by Philip Elsworth for Latham A. Fish and others. She
was built to defend the 'America' Cup against 'Galatea,' but in the
trial races she was beaten by both 'Puritan' and 'Mayflower,' and was
retired. In 1887 she was sold, and changed into a schooner. Length
over all 95 ft., 84 ft. 6 in. length on water-line, 23 ft. 2 in. beam,
9 ft. 6 in. deep, 9 ft. draught, centreboard, 159-81/95 tons.
Amongst designers of this period A. Cary Smith, whose name is
mentioned above, stands unquestionably first in New York; his boats
were and are to-day favourites amongst yachtsmen. It may be said of
him that he displayed good sense in designing, and whilst his
productions have not been famous as racers, still they are by no
means the last to return; and when we consider qualities of
staunchness, trustworthiness of working in stress of weather, and all
except the extreme of speed, his yachts have not been excelled. In
late years, beside yacht designing, Mr. Smith has taken up the
modelling of fast screw and side-wheel steamers for special passenger
coastwise traffic, in which line his skill has proved pre-eminent;
vessels of his design are to-day the fastest afloat, and, like his
other work, are marked by evidence of perfect understanding of the
requirements; in short, he builds for the special use demanded, and
therefore his labours are followed by success.
He first came before the public in 1871, when he jointly with Robert
Center designed the iron cutter 'Vindex,' at Chester, Pennsylvania.
Then he built the schooner 'Prospero,' and it was said that he laid
down the lines from paper draughts without having a model, which was
at that time a great fad. Then he designed and built the 'Norna' and
'Intrepid,' 'Mina,' 'Iroquois,' and 'Zampa'; he has now designed and
is superintending the building of two schooners, two ferry-boats, and
one 'Sound' steamer. He is also a fine marine artist, and has painted
many noted yachts: the 'Sappho' for Commodore Douglas, and 'Dauntless'
for Commodore Bennett, the 'Wanderer,' 'Columbia,' the 'Vindex,'and
many other celebrated yachts.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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