yacht-designing and sailing near their hearts. The long-mooted question of keel _v._ centreboard still remains unanswered, and in fact it never can be determined as a general rule. In close windward work there seems little or no difference between the keel and centreboard as to speed; the latter has some advantage when sailing free by raising the board, thus lessening the wetted surface of the yacht. The great and undeniable superiority of the centreboard lies in the fact that a yacht possessing it can essentially reduce her draught of water so as to work in depths that would be wholly impossible for the keel vessel. It would seem, therefore, that the advantage gained in the use of the centreboard is mainly not one of sailing qualities, but one of desirability for use in certain locations where shallow water prevails. The interest exhibited in the international races by those who were able to be present has already been mentioned, but it yet remains to notice the astonishing degree of excitement as to the result of the races evinced by the public at large. From Maine to California, and from Michigan to Florida, news of the struggle was eagerly awaited, and in all the cities, towns, and even villages the exact position of the yachts was exposed on a bulletin board, the news being sent by telegraph every five or ten minutes, or more often if the change of position of the yachts demanded it. In some of the larger cities where the interest was most intense such crowds collected in front of the bulletin boards that traffic had to be suspended; in New York City the stock-board was deserted, and business generally was at a standstill. CHAPTER XIII THE AMERICA CUP RACES, 1893[24] BY SIR GEORGE LEACH, K.C.B. [Footnote 24: Though the subject is so ably treated by Mr. Herreshoff in the previous chapter, the Editors, recognising the extraordinary importance of these races, have thought well to include a detailed description of events kindly furnished by a prominent English yachtsman.]