Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 10.djvu/539

LEFT YACHT 467 YAK land was organized. The New York Yacht Club, an outgrowth of a Hoboken sailboat club, was started with nine members. In the first stated match sailed by the club, the schooner "Cygnet" won. Little attention was paid in the United States to the building of yachts till 1846, when Commodore Stevens and his brother Edwin A. Stevens, built the "Maria." This vessel was the largest sloop-rigged pleasure craft up to that time. It was at first intended to send her to the World's Fair at London, in 1851, but the "America," designed by Geoi-ge Steei-s of New York, and built by the Stevens brothers, was ultimately chosen. Commodore Stevens crossed the Atlantic in the "America," and entered her in the race of Aug. 22, open to all yachts, for a $2,500 cup. The course was around the Isle of Wight and the "Amer- ica" beat the whole field of 18 yachts by about 7 miles. On Aug. 28 she sailed a race with the English schooner "Titania" over a 40-mile course winning an over- whelming victory. The achievements of the American yacht had a marked effect on the work of British ship-builders. It was not till 1870 that an effort was made to regain the "America" cup. For a record of the races from 1870 to 1920 for that trophy see America's Cup. On Sept. 28, 1901, the "Columbia" defended the cup against the "Shamrock II.," win- ning by 1 minute, 20 seconds in a race of 4 hours, 30 minutes, 24 seconds. Oct. 3, 1901, the same boats competing, a race of 3 hours, 12 minutes, 35 seconds, was won by the American yacht by 3 minutes, 35 seconds. In the race on the following day, the British yacht finished first in a race of 4 hours, 32 minutes and 57 seconds, but on a time allowance of 43 seconds, the "Columbia" won by 11. In 1903, Sir Thomas Lipton challenged for the third time, in the name of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club, of Cork, Ire- land. The New York Yacht Club named the latter part of Aug. as the time for the races. Aug. 22, the first decisive race was run, the New York Yacht Club boat being the "Reliance," built by the Herres- hoffs, the English boat being the "Shamrock III." In this and in the two succeeding races, "Reliance" won. In 1920 Sir Thomas Lipton again chal- lenged with the "Shamrock IV." The de- fender was the "Resolute," which from July 15th to 27th, 1920, won five out of seven races sailed. Several trans- Atlantic races have test- ed the seagoing qualities of modern yachts. In 1866 the schooners "Henri- etta," "Fleetwing," and "Vista" raced from Sandy Hook to the Needles, Isle of Wight, for stakes amounting to $90,000. The "Henrietta" won in 13 days, 21 hours, 55 minutes, averaging 9^/^ knots for 3,106 miles. The "Fleetwing" sailed 3,005 miles, and the "Vista" 3,046 miles. On July 4, 1890, the schooners "Cam- bria" and "Dauntless" raced from Old Kinsale Head, Ireland, to Sandy Hook. The "Cambria" won. She sailed 2,881 miles in 23 days, 5 hours, 17 minutes. The "Dauntless" sailed 2,783 miles in 23 days, 7 hours. The schooners "Coronet" and "Dauntless" sailed a match race for $10,000 a side in 1887. The start was made off Bay Ridge, Long Island, on March 12, and the race ended at Queens- town, Ireland. The "Coronet" won. She sailed 2,949 miles in 14 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes. The "Dauntless" sailed 2,947 miles in 16 days, 1 hour, 43 minutes. In 1921 King Albert of Belgium awarded prizes for a series of races across the Atlantic for sailing vessels of all classes, A race between American and Canadian fishing vessels was held on Oct. 30-Nov. 1. off Halifax. The American schooner "Esperanto" defeated the Canadian "Delawana" in two races. Among the designers of American and British racing vessels John Harvey and Beavor-Webb, of England, George Len- nox Watson and William Fife, of Scot- land, and Edward Burgess and N. G. Herreshoff, of New England, have been especially prominent. YAK, the native name for the Poepha^ giis gmnniens, a species of ox from the mountainous regions of Tibet. There are two races : the wild yak, generally black, which is found near the snow line, de- scending into the valleys in winter, and a domesticated race of various colors, black and white being most common. The yak is about the size of the common ox to which it has a general resem- blance, but it is covered with a thick coat of long, silky hair, hanging down like the fleece of a sheep, completely invest- ing the tail, and forming a lengthy fringe along the shoulders, flanks, and thighs. This fringe, which exists in both races, was apparently developed as a protection to the animal in its alpine haunts, as the long hair forms a sort of mat which defends the body from the effects of the cold when the animal is reposing in the snow. The domesticated race is of great importance to the na- tives of Tibet. The yak is employed as a beast of burden, but never for tillage or draught; the milk is very rich, and yields excellent butter; the flesh is of the finest quality, and that of the calves far superior to ordinary veal. The hair is spun into ropes, and made into cover- ings for tents, and the soft fur of the