Yachting: Volume 50, Issue 5 – November 1931

Great Britain Wins International Model Race “Hermione” Beats “Bostonia IV” in Well Sailed Series By JOHN BLACK [ves year 1931 will be remembered as a banner year in model yacht racing for both the British championships and the international races that followed them. Twenty-seven boats were started in the British championship races, including entries from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Canada, and South Africa. The first race, over a windward and leeward course, was sailed on Monday, July 27th, in heavy S8.W. winds and continuous rain squalls. Several boats carried their second or third suits of sails. With a dead beat and run there was a true test of sailing in heavy weather. Cresset carried her whole sail comfortably, but others were overpowered during the squalls. In spite of the heavy wind and rain the finishes were close for the most part. When the last board had been sailed, three boats were tied for first place with 35 points each, mione, Marynthia and Jolanda, were within two points of each other. Hermione came through a winner, with 103 points to Marynthia’s 99 points, and thus earned the right to represent Great Britain in the international series. The fact that the first eleven boats finished within 13 points of each other was evidence that the British models were closely matched. Hermione was the oldest boat sailing, and it is said that Tom Willey, her designer, owner and builder, rebuilt her five times during the last six years. Four nations were represented in the international races: Belgium — Hortensia IV, Antwerp M. Y. C.; skipper, M. de Wachter, mate, W. R. Emery. France — Argo III, Paris ” M. Y. C.; skipper, M. Authenac, mate, O. Stanberger. United States — Marynthia and Herald, new Bostonia IV, Rhode Island boats this year, and Miniature Y. C.; skipper, Tolanda, an old standby. John Black, mate, O. MerSo close was the racing rill. British Empire — that only 11 points sepaHermione; skipper, T. H. rated the first eleven boats. Willey, mate, Charlie West Strong S.W. winds with (age 12 years). squalls and bright sunshine After appropriate ceregreeted the starters in the monies the first day, Hersecond race on Tuesday. mione and Bostonia IV, Herald took the lead with followed by Hortensia IV 67 points at the end of a and Argo III, sailed the “Hermione,” in foreground, and “Bostonia,” U. S. challenger, hard day’sracing. Shannon, on a windward board first board, a long andshort one of the oldest boats of hitch to the finish line in a the fleet, followed with 46 points and Marynthia with 63. light breeze. Hermione took the weather board, and The Scottish entry, Lady Jean, broke her mast during Bostonia IV the leeward board. Hortensia IV took both the early racing, but repaired the damage in time to boards from Argo III. Good sailing for the day was then carry on without the loss of points. at an end for the wind hauled to the north and became so On Wednesday the wind was much lighter and the light that at times the boats were becalmed in the center light-weather boats began to pile up points. Twinkle, by of the pond. At noon Argo III had failed to score, consistent sailing, scored the most points for the day Bostonia IV had a score of 14 out of a possible 30 (38). Hermione also made the best of the lighter going points, while Hortensia IV was leading Hermione. and at the close In the afterof the day led the noon there was a fleet with 90 little more wind points. Marynwhich made the thia amd Jolanda sailing tricky. tied with 89 The American points each, and challenger could Caprice finished not get going fourth with 86 and found most points. Herald, of the soft spots, was 10 points but Tom Willey, behind. with years of The final race experience in was sailed on pond sailing Thursday, July to his credit, 30th, with clear handled Hermiskies and a nice one as if she were whole sail breeze controlled by from the W.S.W. wireless. HortenThe three leadsia IV seemed to The four contestants in the international model yacht race. Left to right: “Hortensia IV,” ing boats, HerBelgium; “Argo III,” France; “Bostonia IV,” U. S. A.; “Hermione,” Great Britain revel in this kind 73 November, 1931 t of sailing and Argo III found her stride and began to pile up points rapidly. In spite of the tricky winds there were several close finishes and the results of the first day’s racing were as follows: — Hermione, 42 points; Hortensia IV, 34; Bostonia IV, 23; Argo IIT, 21. Hard squally winds from the N.N.E. were in order for the second day’s racing. The heavier breeze made sailing more treacherous and all the boats had to reduce canvas. Hermione and Bostonia IV started the racing with Bostonia taking the weather board, being able to lay through. Hermione took the leeward board. Hortensia IV took the weather board from Argo III but lost the leeward board. With the sailing more even, the racing became more interesting and several boards were won or lost by a matter of inches. At the close of the day’s racing, Hermione, Hortensia IV and Bostonia IV were within five points of each other, and the score was as follows: — Hermione, 78 points; Hortensia IV, 66; Bostonia IV, 54; Argo III, 42. The third day’s racing in a moderate to fresh N.E. breeze, provided a beat to windward, with a spinnaker run, Hermione and Bostonia started in the first heat, followed by Hortensia IV and Argo III. Bostonia IV and Hortensia took both boards easily. Interest in the races grew intense over the remarkable sailing of the American challenger. At the end of the morning Bostonia IV had lost only five out of 30 points and in the afternoon she continued to pile up points to the total of 38 out of a possible 45, which put her in second place. At the start of the last round Hermione had the weather position. Bostonia IV reached the bridge first, but had to pass under Hermione’s stern. Both boats began ‘‘guying”’ up the lee shore beautifully. Bostonia IV seemed light-headed, but to return would be fatal. A strong puff of wind would have helped Bostonia IV to pull through Hermione’s lee, but there was no puff forthcoming and so Hermione kept her position to the _ finish line. This race afforded the finest exhibition of “guying”’ seen during the entire series. On the run home Hermione sailed for the lee shore and Bostonia IV: went down the middle. When halfway down the pond, and in a leading position, a puff struck Bostonia IV and as she answered her helm, she gradually veered towards the weather bank, while Hermione, with her wind clear, was just able to take the points and the series. The next board was won by Hortensia IV while Bostonia IV won the leeward board and also both boards from Argo ITI. It was disappointing to lose the cup after such a splendid showing in the third race, but the great loss of points the first day was more than Bostonia IV could overcome. The last day’s point score was as follows: — Bostonia I V, 45 points; Hermione, 36 points; Hortensia IV, 26 points; Argo III, 13 points. The total scores for the series were: — Hermione, 114 points; Bostonia IV, 99 points, Hortensia IV, 92 points; Argo III, 55 points. To create interest in open water racing, a beautiful trophy was presented by Mr. Allan Forbes, of Boston, Mass., and a series of three mile-long races, two over a windward and leeward course and one triangular, was arranged and called the International Open Water Race. Entries were received from France, Belgium and Great Britain, but apparently there was not much interest in the affair as Belgium and France withdrew their entries before the start. Britain was represented by Cresset, owned by Len Smart, of Cardiff, Wales, and the United States by Bostonia IV. The races were held off Gosport, on the open waters of the Solent. The first race was sailed on August 5th in a light northeaster and choppy sea. The American boat slowly drew ahead and established a comfortable lead which she maintained to the finish, crossing the line 2 minutes and 20 seconds in the lead. The second race was run in a freshening easterly over a windward and leeward course. The first leg was to windward with a long and short hitch. Bostonia IV steadily drew away from Cresset and after a short hitch was able to make the weather buoy. On the run home she increased her lead and won by 4 minutes and 14 seconds. A triangular course was laid for the third race and the first leg was to windward. Both boats got away to a good start. Bostonia again opened up a lead. As the boats neared the weather mark, the wind lightened and, under these conditions, Cresset could not keep her headway. Only one “‘touch’’ was necessary to make the second mark and the American boat was well on her way home when Cresset made the first mark. Britain expects to hold elimination races for the selection of a challenger for the Forbes Trophy within the next few years. . The President’s Cup Regatta (Continued from page 55) contributed by Bill Horn at the wheel of Delphine IV, the old Solar Plexus. Veteran observers marveled at his skill and courage in keeping the bouncing, rearing, rolling craft right side up. Delphine got a third in the first heat but was put out of the second with a broken rudder. C. Roy Keys, of Buffalo, retired the Secretary of the Navy Cup for displacement hulls from competition by winning it for the third straight year with Carenaught. The Potomac free-for-all, which should have been the most spectacular event on the program lost most of its possibilities when the Gold Cup boats and several others were not started as a gesture to the memory of Freitag. Pep III, owned by John Bramble, of Baltimore, Md., won the free-for-all in a field of four starters. Pep’s average speed for the ten miles was 48.463 miles an hour. Carenaught did 45.178 for 15 miles in winning the Secretary of the Navy Cup. Other events contested resulted as follows: DIsPLACEMENT FREE-FOR-ALL — Why Not, John M. Rutherfurd, Port Washington, L. I., 44.568 m.p.h. 151-Cusic Inch HypropLaNnes — Lightning III, Vincent Cacace, Jr., Norfolk, Va., 31.628 m.p.h. 125-Cusic IncH Hypropianes — Flying Eagle II, Arno Appel, Atlantic City, N. J., 34.522 m.p.h. Crass A Runasovuts — Ma-Ja, Mrs. J. M. Rutherfurd, Port Washington, L. I., 29.076 m.p.h. Ciass B Runasouts — Little Joe, Walter Saunders, Washington, D. C., 34.818 m.p.h. Crass D Runasovuts — It Too, J. D. Carscallen, Jr., Babylon, L. I., 40.367 m.p.h. Ciass C Runasouts— It, John D. Carscallen, Jr., Babylon, L. I., 36.59 m.p.h. LapiEs’ FrEeE-For-ALL — Mrs. John M. Rutherfurd, Port Washington, L. I., 29.531 m.p.h. Ciass A OvutTBoarps — Hub Myers, Petoskey, Mich., 33.484 m.p.h. Crass B OvutTsoarps — Tom Estlick, Waukegan, IIl., 36.94 m.p.h. Cuiass C OvutBoarps — Tom Estlick, Waukegan, IIl., 39.97 m.p.h. Cuiass D-E Ovutrsoarps — Chester Wickwire, Cortland, N. Y., 44.168 m.p.h. Crass F Ovutsoarps — Chester Wickwire, Cortland, N. Y., 44.441 m.p.h.