The Yacht Club; or, The Young Boat-Builder

by Oliver Optic

  CHAPTER III

  THE YACHT CLUB AT TURTLE HEAD.

  The Sea Foam was a sloop yacht, thirty feet in length, and as handsomeas a picture in an illustrated paper, than which nothing could be finer.It was a fact that she had cost twelve hundred dollars; but even thissum was cheaper than she could have been built and fitted up in Bostonor Bristol. She was provided with everything required by a first classyacht of her size, both for the comfort and safety of the voyager, aswell as for fast sailing. Though Mr. Ramsay, her builder, was a shipcarpenter, he was a very intelligent and well-read man. He had madeyachts a specialty, and devoted a great deal of study to the subject. Hehad examined the fastest craft in New York and Newport, and had theirlines in his head. And he was a very ingenious man, so that he had thetact to make the most of small spaces, and to economize every spareinch in lockers, closets, and stow-holes for the numerous articlesrequired in a pleasure craft. He had learned his trade as a shipcarpenter and joiner in Scotland, where the mechanic's education is muchmore thorough than in our own country, and he was an excellent workman.

  The cabin of the Sea Foam was about twelve feet long, with transoms oneach side, which were used both as berths and sofas. They were suppliedwith cushions covered with Brussels carpet, with a pillow of the samematerial at each end. Through the middle, fore and aft, was thecentre-board casing, on each side of which was a table on hinges, sothat it could be dropped down when not in use. The only possibleobjection to this cabin, in the mind of a shoreman, would have been itslack of height. It was necessarily "low studded," being only five feetfrom floor to ceiling, which was rather trying to the perpendicularityof a six-footer. But it was a very comfortable cabin for all that,though tall men were compelled to be humble within its low limits.

  It was entered from the standing-room by a single step covered withplate brass, in which the name of the yacht was wrought with brightcopper nails. On each side of the companion-way was a closet, one ofwhich was for dishes, and the other for miscellaneous stores. The trunk,which readers away from boatable waters may need to be informed is anelevation about a foot above the main deck, to afford head-room in themiddle of the cabin, had three deck lights, or ports, on each side. Atone end of the casing of the centre-board was a place for the water-jar,and a rack for tumblers. In the middle were hooks in the trunk-beams forthe caster and the lantern. The brass-covered step at the entrance wasmovable, and when it was drawn out it left an opening into the run underthe standing-room, where a considerable space was available for use. Inthe centre of it was the ice-chest, a box two feet square, lined withzinc, which was rigged on little grooved wheels running on iron rods,like a railroad car, so that the chest could be drawn forward where thecontents could be reached. On each side of this box was a water-tank,holding thirty gallons, which could be filled from the standing-room.The water was drawn by a faucet lower than the bottom of the tank in arecess at one side of the companion-way. The tanks were connected by apipe, so that the water was drawn from both. At the side of the step wasa gauge to indicate the supply of fresh water on board.

  Forward of the cabin, in the bow of the yacht, was the cook-room, with ascuttle opening into it from the forecastle. The stove, a miniatureaffair, with an oven large enough to roast an eight-pound rib of beef,and two holes on the top, was in the fore peak. It was placed in ashallow pan filled with sand, and the wood-work was covered with sheettin, to guard against fire. Behind the stove was a fuel-bin. On eachside of the cook room was a shelf eighteen inches wide at the bulk-headand tapering forward to nothing. Under it were several lockers for thegalley utensils and small stores. The room was only four feet high, anda tall cook in the Sea Foam would have found it necessary to discounthimself. On the foremast was a seat on a hinge, which could be droppeddown, on which the "doctor" could sit and do his work, roasting himselfat the same time he roasted his beef or fried his fish. Everything inthe cook-room and the cabin, as well as on deck, was neat and nice. Thecabin was covered with a handsome oil-cloth carpet, and the wood waswhite with zinc paint, varnished, with gilt moulding to ornament it.Edward Patterdale, who was to be the nominal owner and the real skipperof this beautiful craft, intended to have several framed pictures on thespaces between the deck lights, a clock in the forward end over thecook-room door, and brass brackets for the spy-glass in thecompanion-way.

  On deck the Sea Foam was as well appointed as she was below. Herbowsprit had a gentle downward curve, her mast was a beautiful spar, andher topmast was elegantly tapered and set up in good shape. Unlike mostof the regular highflyer yachts, her jib and mainsail were notunreasonably large. Mr. Ramsay did not intend that it should benecessary to reef when it blew a twelve-knot breeze, and, like theSkylark, she was expected to carry all sail in anything short of a fullgale. But she was provided with an abundance of "kites," including animmense gaff-topsail, which extended on poles far above the topmasthead, and far beyond the peak, a balloon-jib, a jib-topsail, and athree-cornered studding-sail. The balloon-jib, or the jib-topsail, wasbent on with snap-hooks when it was needed, for only one was used at thesame time. These extra sails were to be required only in races, and theywere kept on shore. One stout hand could manage her very well, thoughtwo made it easier work, and six were allowed in a race.

  Donald seated himself in the standing-room, with the tiller in his righthand. As soon as he had run out a little way, his attention was excitedby discovering three other sloop yachts coming down the bay. In one ofthem he recognized the Skylark, and in another the Christabel, while thethird was a stranger to him, though he had heard of the arrival that dayof a new yacht from Newport, and concluded this was she. He let off hissheet, and ran up to meet the little fleet.

  "Sloop, ahoy!" shouted Robert Montague, from the Skylark, as Donald camewithin hailing distance.

  "On board the Skylark!" replied the skipper of the Sea Foam.

  "Is that you, Don John?"

  "Ay, ay."

  "What sloop is that?" demanded Robert.

  "The Sea Foam."

  "Where bound?"

  "Over to Turtle Head."

  "We are bound there; come with us."

  "Ay ay."

  "Hold on a minute, Don John," shouted some one from the Christabel.

  Each of the yachts had a tender towing astern, and that from theChristabel, with five boys in it, immediately put off, and pulled to theSea Foam.

  "Will you take us on board, Don John?" asked Gus Barker, as the tendercame alongside.

  "Certainly; I'm glad to have your company," replied Donald, who hadthrown the yacht up into the wind.

  Three of the party in the tender jumped upon the deck of the Sea Foam,and the boat returned to the Christabel. Each of the yachts appeared tohave half a dozen or more on board of her, so that there was quite aparty on the way to Turtle Head. The sloops filled away again, theSkylark and the new arrival having taken the lead, while the other twowere delayed.

  "What sloop is that with the Skylark?" asked Donald.

  "That's the Phantom. She got here from Newport this forenoon. JoeGuilford's father bought her for him. She is the twin sister of theSkylark, and they seem to make an even thing of it in sailing," repliedGus Barker.

  "You have quite a fleet now," added Donald.

  "Yes; and we are going to form a Yacht Club. We intend to have a meetingover at Turtle Head. Will you join, Don John?"

  "I haven't any boat."

  "Nor I, either. All the members can't be skippers," laughed Gus. "I amto be mate of the Sea Foam, and that's the reason I wanted to come onboard of her."

  "And I am to be one of her crew," added Dick Adams.

  "And I the steward," laughed Ben Johnson. "I am going down into thecook-room to see how things look there."

  "You will join--won't you, Don?"

  "Well, I don't know. I can't afford to run with you fellows with richfathers."

  "O, get out! That don't make any difference," puffed Gus. "The owner ofthe yacht has to foot the bills. Besides, we want you, Don John, for youknow mo
re about a boat than all the rest of the fellows put together."

  "Well, I shall be very glad to do anything I can to help the thingalong; but there are plenty of fellows that can sail a boat better thanI can."

  "But you know all about a boat, and they want you for measurer. We havethe printed constitution of a Yacht Club, which Bob Montague got inBoston, and according to that the measurer is entitled to ten cents afoot for measuring a yacht; so you may make something out of youroffice."

  "I don't want to make any money out of it," protested Donald.

  "You can make enough to pay your dues, for we have to raise some moneyfor prizes in the regattas; and we talk of having a club house over onTurtle Head," rattled Gus, whose tongue seemed to be hung on a pivot inhis enthusiasm over the club. "Every fellow must be voted in, and payfive dollars a year for membership. We shall have some big times.--Weare gaining on the Skylark, as true as you live!"

  "I think we are; but I guess Bob isn't driving her," added Donald.

  "She carries the same sail as the Sea Foam. I would give anything tobeat her. Make her do her best, Don John."

  "I will," laughed the skipper, who had kept one eye on the Skylark allthe time.

  He trimmed the sails a little, and began to be somewhat excited over theprospect of a race. The Christabel was three feet longer than the otheryachts, and it was soon evident that in a light wind she was more than amatch for them, for she ran ahead of the Sea Foam. Her jib and mainsailwere much larger in proportion to her size than those of the othersloops, but she was not an able boat, not a heavy-weather craft, likethem. The Sea Foam continued to gain on the Skylark, till she wasabreast of her, while the Phantom kept about even with her. But thenRobert Montague was busy all the time talking with his companions aboutthe Yacht Club, and did not pay particular attention to the sailing ofhis boat. The Sea Foam began to walk ahead of him, and then, for thefirst time, it dawned upon him that the reputation of the Skylark was atstake. He had his crew of five with him, and he placed them in positionto improve the sailing of his craft. He ordered one of his hands to givea small pull on the jib-sheet, another to let off the main sheet alittle, and a third to haul up the centre-board a little more, as shewas going free.

  The effect of this attention on the part of the skipper of the Skylarkwas to lessen the distance between her and the Sea Foam; they were abeamof each other, with the Phantom in the same line. The Christabel wasabout a cable's length ahead of them.

  "She's game yet," said Gus Barker, his disappointment evident in thetones of his voice, as the Skylark came up to the Sea Foam.

  "This is a new boat, and I haven't got the hang of her yet," Donaldexplained. "Haul up that fin a little, Dick."

  "What fin?"

  "The centre-board."

  "Ay, ay," replied Dick, as he obeyed the order.

  "Steady! that's enough," continued Donald, who now narrowly watched thesailing of the Sea Foam, to assure himself that she did not make toomuch leeway.

  "That was what she wanted!" exclaimed Gus, when the yacht began to gainagain, and in a few minutes was half a length ahead.

  THE START. Page 51.]

  "But not quite so much of it," replied Donald, when he saw that hiscraft was sliding off a very little. "Give her just three inches morefin, Dick."

  The centre-board was dropped this distance, and the tendency to makeleeway thus corrected.

  "She is gaining still!" cried Gus, delighted.

  "Not much; it is a pretty even thing," added Donald.

  "No matter; we beat her, and I don't care if it's only half an inch in amile."

  "But the Christabel is leading us all. She is sure of all the firstprizes."

  "Not a bit of it. She has to reef when there's a capful of wind. In acalm she will beat us, but when it blows we shall wax her all topieces."

  "Hallo!" shouted Mr. Laud Cavendish, whose small sail-boat wasoverhauled about half way over to Turtle Head. "Is that you, Don John?"

  "I believe so," replied Donald.

  "Where you going?"

  "Over to Turtle Head. Want us to give you a tow?"

  "No; you needn't brag about your old tub. She don't belong to you; andI'm going to have a boat that will beat that one all to splinters,"replied Laud.

  "All right; fetch her along."

  "I say, Don John, I'm going to stop over Sunday on Turtle Head. Won'tyou stay with me?"

  "No, I thank you. I must go home to-night," answered Donald.

  Mr. Laud Cavendish knew very well that Donald would not spend Sunday inboating and fishing; and he did not ask because he wanted him. Besides,for more reasons than one, he did not desire his company. The Sea Foamran out of talking distance of the sail-boat in a moment. RobertMontague was doing his best to keep up the reputation of the Skylark;but when the fleet came up to Turtle Head, she was more than a lengthbehind. The jib was hauled down, the yachts came up into the wind, andthe anchors were let go.

  "Beat you," shouted Gus Barker.

  "Not much," replied Robert. "We will try that over again some time."

  "We are willing," added Donald.

  The mainsails were lowered, and the young yachtmen embarked in thetenders for the shore. Turtle Head is a rocky point at the northernextremity of Long Island, in Penobscot Bay. There were a few trees nearthe shore, and under these the party purposed to hold their meeting.Though the weather was intensely hot on shore, it was comfortably coolat the Head, where the wind came over five or six miles of salt watercool from the ocean. The boys leaped ashore, and hauled up their boatswhere the rising tide could not float them off. There were over twentyof them, all members of the High School.

  "The Sea Foam sails well," said Robert Montague, as he walked over tothe little grove with Donald.

  "Very well, indeed. This is the first time she has been out, and I findshe works first rate," replied Donald.

  "I want to try it with her some day, when everything is right."

  "Wasn't everything right to-day?" asked Donald, smiling, for he was wellaware that every boatman has a good excuse for the shortcomings of hiscraft.

  "No; my tender is twice as heavy as yours," added Robert. "I must getyour father to build me one like that of the Sea Foam."

  "We will try it without any tenders, which we don't want in a race."

  "Of course I don't know but the Sea Foam can beat me; but I haven't seenthe boat of her inches before that could show her stern to the Skylark,"said Robert; and it was plain that he was a little nettled at the slightadvantage which the new yacht had gained.

  "I should like to sail her when you try it, for I have great hopes ofthe Sea Foam. If my father has built a boat that will beat the Skylarkin all weathers, he has done a big thing, and it will make business goodfor him."

  "For his sake I might be almost willing to be whipped," replied Robert,good-naturedly, as they halted in the grove.

  Charley Armstrong was the oldest member of the party, and he was to callthe meeting to order, which he did with a brief speech, explaining theobject of the gathering, though everybody present knew it perfectlywell. Charles was then chosen chairman, and Dick Adams secretary. It wasvoted to form a club, and the secretary was called upon to read theconstitution of the "Dorchester Yacht Club." The name was changed toBelfast, and the document was adopted as the constitution of the BelfastYacht Club. The second article declared that the officers should consistof a "Commodore, Vice-Commodore, Captain of the Fleet, Secretary,Treasurer, Measurer, a Board of Trustees, and a Regatta Committee;" andthe next business was to elect them, which had to be done by written orprinted ballots. As the first three officers were required to be ownersin whole, or in part, of yachts enrolled in the club, there was found tobe an alarming scarcity of yachts. The Skylark, Sea Foam, Phantom, andChristabel were on hand. Edward Patterdale and Samuel Rodman hadsignified their intention to join, though they were unable to be presentat the first meeting. The Maud, as Samuel Rodman's new yacht was to becalled, was to be built at once: she was duly enrolled, thus making ato
tal of five, from whom the first three officers must be chosen.

  The secretary had come supplied with stationery, and a slip was handedto each member, after the constitution had been signed. A ballot wastaken for commodore; Robert B. Montague had twenty votes, and CharlesArmstrong one. Robert accepted the office in a "neat little speech,"and took the chair, which was a sharp rock. Edward Patterdale waselected vice-commodore, and Joseph Guilford captain of the fleet. Donaldwas chosen measurer, and the other offices filled to the satisfaction ofthose elected, if not of the others. It was then agreed to have a reviewand excursion on the following Saturday, to which the ladies were to beinvited.

  The important business of the day was happily finished, and the fleetsailed for Belfast. Having secured the Sea Foam at her mooring, Donaldhastened home. As he approached the cottage, he saw a doctor's sulky atthe door, and the neighbors going in and out. His heart rose into histhroat, for there was not one living beneath that humble roof whom hedid not love better than himself.