Cranfield, one of the smartest skippers afloat, had drilled them for several seasons. They were pronounced invincible by recognized authorities.
In previous contests for the America's cup the crews of the Puritan, Mayflower, Volunteer and Vigilant were composed largely of Scandinavians, concerning whose ability as seamen I have nothing to say except in praise. It was the general idea that without the Scandinavian element the battle was lost. Mr. Iselin undertook to expose the fallacy of this notion. Without disparagement of the excellent yacht sailors hailing from Danish, Swedish or Norwegian ports, he determined to prove practically that the native-born American sailor, when properly licked into shape, makes as fine a yachtsman as ever trod a deck or broke a biscuit.
Accordingly Captain Haff was sent to Maine, and there the veteran skipper shipped an American crew worthy of the saucy Stripes and Stars—active young fellows who had never sailed on pleasure craft but had followed the sea on fishing schooners and coasting vessels. After being drilled by Captain Haff for a few weeks they became as smart and efficient a crew as ever tailed on to a mainsheet or manned club-topsail halyards.
I had many opportunities of comparing them with their British opponents, and I pledge you my word as a sailor and a gentleman that one crew was as
