Mabch 3. 1887.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



117 



ANOTHER CANOE SAIL. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I send herewith a plan of a simple compound sail, simnle be- 

 cause it has only throe spars and can b« reefed and set from the 

 seat and is without cordage; compound, because it is a square, leg 

 o' mutton and lateen combined. 



The sail, V 1 R A, is supported by the sprit, V I, hung upon a 

 sliort mast, O V, after the manner of a lateen, the boom, V A, 

 having a crotch, at the end where it is joined to the mast. 



le sail is further spread by a sprit, C R, supported by a cord 

 i through a ring at C, passing down through ring at V, and out 



The 

 rove 



on boom, where it is f astened. 



The sail may be reefed by untying this cord, when the sprit falls 

 and we have the leg o' mutton, V 1 A, the leach being supported 

 by a cord from I to A sewed to the sail. 



Or the sail may be reefed by lowering the boom to crotch E and 

 tying in the reef points from V to N, and further, by the removal 

 of the. sprit. Vira. 



Philadelphia, January, 1887. 



INVENTION OF BATTEN AND REEF GEAR. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Your review of the ''New Invention" for canoeists settles Mr. G.'s 

 claim, sufficiently, but I can give an earlier instance of publica- 

 tion, at least in this country, than the review contains. The Scien- 

 tific American. Supplement, No. 133, dated July 20, 1878, describes 

 with full page plans of a "new cat-rig," an essential feature of 

 which is a reef batten with gear (practically same as shown on 

 Dot's sail). 



Batten is not in a pocket, but half of it on each side of and laced 

 bygrommet holes. The plans show it applied both to a yawl and 

 a catboat, the latter being to a scale of about. Min. The de- 

 sign is given by R. B. Forbes, Milton, Mass., July, 1878. His letter 

 contains this clause: "* * * just as a Chinaman reefs by lower- 

 ing one bamboo," which clearly indicates the origin of his plan— 

 "invention" I mean. The article being now before me its correct- 

 ness can be relied upon. 



The Supijianciri* are always in print, so any one can readily ver- 

 ify this. 



Between 1877 and '78 two friends and myself "evolved" the reef- 

 batten for use on a proposed catamaran. I have now a sketch 

 book of August, 1878, containing a plan of a sloop-rig with battens 

 on both sails; soiiu for reefing, others— from their location — only 

 to keep sail flat (evidently we had much faith in lots of timber 

 about them). As some knittles are shown, we clearly had not 

 thought of gear. Battens are shown laced to sail. As we caught 

 the catamaran fever by reading of the proa, it is quite likely that 

 the batten idea was taken from pictures of junks or other craft 

 With some such sail rig. 



Certainly none of the trio knew until years after that others had 

 applied (our scheme remained on paper) it to civilized craft. So I 

 can see how Mr. G-. may really believe his "inyention" patent- 

 able. The grant is a sorry showing for the Patent office, however, 

 in view of the easily proved fact of both actual use and publication 

 in several countries, loDg prior to the application even. F. G. D. 



Greenwich, Conn., Feb. 21. 



SPRINGFIELD C. C.-A meeting of the Springfield C. C. was 

 held on Feb. 25, at which Mr. C. M. Shedd Was elected Commo- 

 dore in place of Com. Knappe, who declined the renomination for 

 a fourth term. Messrs. F. D. Foote, F. A. Nickerson and E. C. 

 Knappe were appointed a committee to arrange for a reduction of 

 the dues. Eight active members are proposed, and eight gentle- 

 men and twenty-five ladies were elected honorary members. A 

 club supper will be given on March 10 to Mr. Barney in honor of 

 his victories last summer. Two new club boats will be added, 

 making five owned by the club for the use of members. A new 

 club house will be built at Calla Shasta in addition to the one at 

 Springfield. It will be 30x35ft., with a big fireplace in the center 

 and bunks for members around the side. 



tzchtintj. 



Address all communicatians to the Forest and Stream Puh. Co. 



FIXTURES. 



March. 



5. Ocean Race, Start. 



May. 



28. Oswego Cruise. 



June. 



9. N. Y .Annual, N. Y. 25. Cor. Club, Marblehead. 



18. Hull Peun., Hull. 25. Oswego, ladies' Day. 



July. 



2. Beverly, Open, Mon. Beach. 16. Cor. Cham. Marblehead. 



2. Hull, Penn., Hull. 18-31. Interlake, Put-in-Bay. 



4. Beverly, Cham.., Mon. Beach. 20. Hull, Ladies' Day. 



9. Hull, -Club Cruise. 23. Beverly. Cham,,' Nahant. 



9. Beverly, Chain., i.larblehead. 30. Beverly, Cham.. Mon. Beach. 

 16. Beverly, Sweep, Mon. Beach. 30. Hull, Cham., Hull. 

 16. Hull, Cham., Hull. 30. Cor. Open, Marblehead. 



August. 



6. .Beverly, Ohani.,Swampscott. 20. Beverly, Open, Marblehead. 

 13: Beverly, Cham., Mon. Beach. 27. Beverly, Open, Mon. Beach' 

 13. Hull, Open, Hull. - 30. Hull, Chain., -Hull. 



15, Cor. Ladies' Race, Marble- 30. Cor. Cham.; Marblehead. 

 head. : ' ■ ,~ 'z • -. ••> 



September. 



W.Beverly, Sweep., Mon. Beach. J.7. Cor, Sweep., Marblehead. 

 1ft Cor. Cham., Marblehead, H • -- 



THE CLASSIFICATION OF RACING YACHTS. 



QINCE the discussion ef the question of classification in the For- 

 kJ est and Stream of Feb. 10, some action has been taken by one 

 club and the matter is now under consideration in another; but as 

 yot none of the clubs have attempted to deal with the matter ex- 

 cept in so far as they are individually concerned, and no joint 

 action, such as we suggested, has b',en undertaken. The Seawan- 

 haka Corinthian Y. C has reorganized its classes partly on the 

 lines we indicated, but the improvement is of limited extent and 



over. The change in the larger classes, 55ft. and over, will be 

 noticed at once as a substantial improvement, but unfortunately 

 the same cannot be said of the three lower classes. As we have 

 previously shown, the intervals of 10ft. aro too great with boats of 

 ■10ft. and under, and the result must be t hat the present boats near 

 the lower limit of each class will not enter against boats of 7 to 

 Oft. greater length. As a rule to build to it is equally bad; as, while 

 a man will change his design a little to accommodate it to a fixed 

 class, he will not go into an entirely different size of boat to do so. 

 For instance, if a man is ready to build a boat of about 38ft. to 

 meet certain' requirements and to cost a certain sum, he will not 

 objectto making her just under 40ft. to fit the class if it exists; but 

 under the present division he must increase or decrease the size 

 of his proposed craft considerably in order to fit the limits of 45ft. 

 or 35ft. The result is easily seen, he ch< >oses the size that suits his 

 wants or pockets best regardless of the club's classes, and the re- 

 gatta committee are called on to drum up entries from a lot of 

 odd sizes. 



Looking at the table previously given (Feb. 10) with a view to 

 the effect of the present classes on entries, it seems plain that 

 boats of 28 or 30ft. have no place in the smallest class, and that in 

 the 55ft. class the long list of old boats of about 45ft. are practi- 

 cally excluded if Clara and Cinderella race this year. Thus it 

 would seem that even as far as the club itself is concerned the 

 division is faulty, and that it militates against the smaller boats, 

 which must always be the main element of strength in a purely 

 Corinthian club. Further than this, even if the classes should be 

 suited to a large club winch concerns itself but little with smaller 

 sizes, as the New York Y. C, the division is still open to grave ob- 

 jection, as it is not a system that can be adopted by those clubs 

 whose boats are from 50ft. downward, and so defeats the main 

 end and object of any reform, the establishment of a uniform 

 System of classes for all American yachting. 



The act ion of the Seawanhaka 0. Y. C. is specially important. as 

 it is likely to be followed by the New York and probably other 

 clubs, in which case the classes adopted by them may lie regarded 

 as fixed for an indefinite time. Considering this point all will 

 realize the importance of such action as will be suitable to the 

 smaller yachts and the clubs in which they are enrolled. 



No attention has yet been given to the schooners, but matters 

 with them are in as bad a state as with the single-stickers, though 

 not so noticeable from the lessened importance of schooner racing. 

 The classes in the various clubs before quoted are: New York- 

 Class 1, 100ft, and over; Class 2, 80 and under KiOft.; Class 3, under 

 80ft. Seawanhaka— First class, over 85ft.; second class, 85 and 

 under. Eastern— First class, 75 and over, second class, 50 and 

 under 75ft.; third class, 30 and under 50ft. Atlantic— Class A, 72ft. 

 and over; Class B, under 72ft. Lurchmont— Class A, 75ft. and 

 over; Class B, under 75ft. The principal schooner yachts of the 

 tleet are as follows, many of them, however, doing little or no 

 racing: 



Ambassadress 130 . 05 1 



Coronet 123.00 I 



Dauntless 116.07 



Dreadnaught 115.09 | 



Wanderer 106.03 -100 feet and over. 



Fleetwing 



104.09 



Mohican 



100.09 





.. ,. 98.06 





97.04 











80 feet and under 100 feet. 



65 feet and under 80 feet. 



Under 65 feet. 



Atalanta S6.07 



Sachem 86.00 



Miranda 86.00 



Grayling 84.04 



Phantom 84.04 



Foam 82.04 



Crusader 81.00 



Speranza 81.00 



Halcyon 79.03' 



Estelle 78.05 



Clytie 78.03 



Comet 73.04 



Albatross 72.07 



Rebecca 70.03 



Clio.... 68.00 J 



Peerless 66.03 



Haze 02.09 



Triton 61.10 



Agnes 55.03 



Fearless 54.03 



Ray 50.00 



Leona 46.04 



How the yachts are divided at present by the various clubs is 

 shown by the preceding list of classes. In the Seawanhaka, for 

 example, the only division is at 85ft., with the result that schooner 

 racing is so nearly extinct that the classes might as well be 

 dropped and the money devoted to them given for prizes in the 

 smaller clasees of single-stickers. An entry of more than three 

 schooners is unusual, and less rather than more is to be expected 

 in the near future. The New York Y. C. fares better, as it brings 

 out a separate keel class each year, and the Eastern has a respect- 

 able fleet of large schooners which race, but if schooner racing is 

 worthy of retention as a desirable form of sport, then it is deserv- 

 ing of some systematic regulation and encouragement. 



Following the same course with the list of schooners as we did 

 before with the single-stick craft, the proper points of division 

 would seem to be: under 65ft.; 65 and under 80ft.; 80 and under 

 100ft.; 100 and over. How this would affect the existing fleet is 

 indicated in the table. There would be at most but one more 

 class for each club, a matter of #75 to flOO per year more; while 

 the prospects of the sport would be far better, both in the near 

 and more distant future. 



Yachting in America has seen three distinct and well marked 

 stages of development; the first from the days when it took root, 

 in the form of boat sailing about the Hudson River and gradually 

 extended as yacht clubs w e i-e formed; the second from the time 

 that the America scored her famous victory, down to the day 

 when the keel of the first modern cutter was laid in America; the 

 third, that through which it is now passing, a time of destruction 

 experiment, trial and rebuilding. To this latter will soon suc- 

 ceed, we believe, a far more prosperous stage than it has yet 

 known; a period of healthy growth and development along the 

 thousand miles of lake, river and sea coast. Now, before this 

 period is upon them is the time for American yachtsmen to lay 

 firmly and permanently the foundations of the future fleet, a work 

 that is easy if taken in season, but that each year becomes more 

 difficult. Before the keel of another yacht is laid the question we 

 have discussed should be taken up and pushed to a satisfactory 

 conclusion. We have presented a scheme of classification which 

 we believe to be practicable, and permanent, at least one that is 

 available as a basis for criticism and improvement, it rests now 

 with those who control the legislation of yachting to take it up 

 and act upon it. This power lies with the clubs, which means that 

 it is m the hands of a few men in each club who take an interest in 

 such matters and who are able to influence in any proper direc- 

 tion the action of the club as a body. To them wc commend the 

 subject in the hope that they may realize fully its importance, 

 and that any efforts in ijs behalf will be more than repaid by the 

 added good which a shdrt time will bring to national yachting. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have read with care and pleasure your remarks upon the 

 classification of yachts, and trust your efforts may result in a 

 uniform classification being adopted by all the seaboard clubs, 

 the reasons you advance for such bein? indisputable. We on 

 Lake Ontario have a uniform classification, all clubs belonging to 

 the Lake Yachting Association, our races of late years all being 

 sailed under the rules as laid down bv that body, which up to the 

 present time have been quite, satisfactory, but I think the time 

 has arrived when a change could be made in this classification 

 that would result m much good to the yachting interest in this 

 section, and with that object in view I would suggest the dividing 

 Of the present Class I. into two classes, viz.: 50ft. corrected meas- 

 urement and over, rmd S8fE, and under 50ft.— the present Classes 11 

 and- III. would remain unchanged except as to number Of class. 



As atpresent we find such yachts as the Verve, Cygnet, Ethel, 

 ajjd others, sailing against such large yachts as the Oriole, Aileeti, 



Atalanta and Norah, where they are quite outclassed even with 

 their time allowance. 



Under the proposed classification we would have in Class I., 50ft. 

 corrected measurement and over: Schooner Oriole (73), cutter 

 Aileen (55), sloops Atlanta (04). Norah (57.0) and Ariadne (52.6); 

 total, 5. 



Class II., 38ft. corrected measurement and under 50ft.: Cutter 

 Verve (20). sloops Cygnet (42), Ethel (40), Ella (35), Garfield, White 

 Wings and keel sloop Condor (38.8); total, 7. 



Class HI., 25ft. corrected measurement and under SSft.: Cutter 

 Cricket (27), sloops Iolanthe (30.0), Katie Gray (28), Laura, Kings- 

 ton (32), Laura (Oswego), Oracle (30), Fascination and the Ames 

 boat (building); total, 8. 



Class IV., under 25ft.: Too numerous to mention. 



There are other yachts that I have not mentioned as they are 

 seldom found among the racers, and in addition to all, if reports 

 are true, we are to have added this season one new Class 1. boat, 

 two new Class II. boats, and two new Class HI. boats, all racers, 

 consequently there will be no lack of contestants in any class. 



I trust the different yacht clubs belonging to the Associa-lion 

 will thoroughly consider this matter and send their delegate to 

 the next meeting (May) prepaied to act for the change suggested. 



Ontario. 



! [While the Lake system is to a great extent independent of the 

 Atlantic system, it "would of course be better if the same rules 

 could be adopted by both, as it is likely for some time to come that 

 yachts will continue to be purchased on the coast for lake use. 

 There is no need for the full number of classes on Lake Ontario 

 that are required about New York and Boston, but the fewer 

 classes on the lakes may easily conform to the limits we have 

 previously given . The classification by corrected length now in 

 vogue is objectionable and should be altered in any case, as the 

 waterliue length is less liable to change. When sail area enters 

 into classification a change of class is possible in some cases by 

 a slight alteration of length of boom or height of topsail block, 

 and this is undesirable. The clubs along the coast now class all 

 boats by wateiiine, and the L. Y. R. A. will be safe in making 

 this change also. We have added in most cases the wateiiine 

 length to our correspondent's list above, and it will be seen that 

 the classes can well be made: 25 and under 35ft. L.W.L.; 35 and 

 under 55; 55ft. and over. Of course, in adopting this classification 

 it would be necessary to admit existing boats into the classes in 

 which they race at present; thus the Ariadne, 52ft. Gin., we 

 believe, would be allowed in the class 55ft. and error. In . iew of 

 future development, it would be best to adopt the full classifica- 

 tion from the smallest size upward, leaving all but the three 

 classes now iu existence in abeyance until the growth of lake 

 yachting shall cause them to he built up to. The need for a class 

 between the present first and second classes will soon be apparent, 

 as such a size of boat is a most desirable cne, say about 45ft. 

 Whatever is done must be done thoroughly and promptly, and we 

 hope to see the entire subject taken up by the clubs of the Atlan- 

 tic coast and the L, Y. H. A. invited to cooyerate with them in 

 the. establishment of a uniform system. The yachtsmen of Lake 

 Ontario have thus far shown a spirit far in advance of their salt- 

 water neighbors in the subject of organization, and in this matter 

 as iu that of measurement and uniform sailing rules they will not 

 be slow to follow in any movement for reform.! 



THE SEAWANHAKA CORINTHIAN Y. C. 



NOTWITHSTANDING the extended waterfront about New 

 York, and the deep water courses in the Bay, and in L^ng 

 Island Sound, the question of a suit aide and permanent location 

 is one that has overshadowed all others in every club about the 

 city, and not one has as yet solved it in a satisfactory manner. 

 The New York Y. C. has in time past sunk large sums in the 

 efforts to establish a suitable station on the Staten Island snore, 

 and at last has given up the attempt and fallen back on a 

 club-nouse in the city. The Atlantic Y. C. has had for some years 

 a foothold in a comparatively good location, after being driven 

 from its old home in Gowanus Bay, but even now the presence of 

 sewers near the anchorage, the neighborhood of a large chemical 

 works, the refuse from which is said to have a destructive effect 

 on copper, and the constant pollulion of the waters of the Bay, 

 which increases each year, threaten to drive the yachts away; 

 while auy basins, such as are absolutely necessary on the Bay 

 Ridge shore, fill up rapidly owing to the set of the tide, and re- 

 quire constant dredging. Above the city the Knickerbocker Y. C. 

 has had its quarters at Port Morris, a location that answered 

 very well for the smaller yachts, but it is liable to be compelled to 

 move at any time, at the orders of the owners of the property. 

 Further on the Larehmont Y. C. has a location, in many respects 

 most desirable, but the anchorage is by no means all that is desir- 

 able for a yachting station. 



In common with the other clubs, the Seawanhaka Coxinthian 

 Y. C. has experienced the same trouble, being unable to obtain a 

 suitable location except on short leases. The last location at 

 Tompkinsville was by no means adequate to the club's needs, and 

 since the division of last year it has passed from the club's pos- 

 session. Last season an attempt was made to provide temporarily 

 for the fleet by leasing the old basin, formerly occupied : but it 

 was so shoal aud in such bad repair that it was unused during the 

 season. 



The immediate necessity for some action that would give the 

 club a permanent home has engaged the attention of its members 

 for some time, and many plans have been proposed. Some time 

 since a committee consisting of Commodore Canfield. Mr, Chas. 

 H. Leland and Mr. L. F. D'Oremieulx, was appointed, and this 

 committee has considered carefully all the schemes brought to 

 their notice, the results being- given in a report that was submitted 

 to the club at a meeting on Feb. 26. The report is most thorough 

 and exhaustive, and deals with the subject of location near the 

 city in a way that has never before been done. A lack of space 

 prevents its reproduction entire, though the matter is one of 

 general as well as club interest, but we give such extracts as will 

 sufficiently outline the new scheme of the club. 



Among the locations considered were the Jersey Beach, Horse 

 Shoe, Gravesend Bay, the shores of Staten Isiand, and Bay 

 Ridere. Pciham Bay. College Point. T.mY-hinnni:. wMtaotnno 



land and quick transit could be obtained together, and the former' 

 besides being now the home of one large club, is open to the objec- 

 tions given above. Speaking then of an but of town club-house the 

 report reads : 



a Your committee will not burden the club with the plentiful 

 arguments adduced against each locality by the advocates of some 

 rival plan. Suffice it to say, that upon the following grounds your 

 committee opposes any plan involving a club-house beyond Hell 

 Gate, as a permanent and definite location for the Seawanhaka 

 Y. C: To attract the attendance and use necessary to success, a 

 fully equipped country club-house would be required, provided 

 with a good restaurant and bar ; with reading, sleeping, billiard 

 rooms, and possibly the addition of certain supplies for yachts. 

 The expenses of installation, and the inevitable exoenses entai'ed 

 upon a club restaurant ; the necessity of constant, direct super\ i- 

 sion and control, coupled with the fact that such a plan places 

 the. club in direct comparison, if not competition, with a phenom- 

 enally successful out-of-town yacht club, were sufficient to con- 

 demn the scheme in the judgment of your committee. The suc- 

 cess of the only two really successful clubs of this nature, the 

 Larehmont and Country Clubs, although, perhaps, not due to 

 local support to the . extent generally supposed, is undoubtedly 

 clue, to local nursing by resident members of the house committee, 

 aud by that indispensable set of men who have the time, oppor- 

 tunity, and inclination to make The club's concerns largely their 

 business. In the case of the Larehmont, originality of plan and 

 such local supervision, combined with an exceptional location, 

 both as to actual situation and means of access, have secured 

 success ; while in our own case these features would certainly not 

 exist in the same degree. The attractions to all classes of mem- 

 bers of a club-house and anchorage on the Sound have been very 

 fully detailed to your committee, and have been recognized and. 

 thoroughly appreciated-by them ; but the doubtful success of out- 

 of-town clubs, the outlay required and the conditions deemed 

 essential, have increased rather than diiniuished upon a more 

 extended consideration of the subject." * * " * * * * 



Having endeavored to place briefly before the club the con- 

 siderations in regard to the questions of location and policy, as 

 they presented themselves when under discussion, your commit- 

 tee would now submit for the examination and judgment of the 

 club the plan which, in their opinion, offers for the future the 

 widest range and the brightest promise. 



Your committee, recognizing the necessity for immediate ac- 

 tion, has been baffled by the expense and uncertainty of the plans 

 previously discussed ; it has sought for a scheme which would 

 present, in its originality, attractiveness and freedom from injur- 

 ious competition, and, moreover, harmonize with the character 

 and develop the powers inherent in our body. After most care- 

 ful consideration and consultation, it has reached the conclusion 

 that m the words of the second article of our constitution, of 

 more extended range than its trainers could have imagined, is 

 contained in embryo the policy of our future growth : " To become 

 proficient m all matters pertaining to seamanship." 



That these.words are not merely a sounding phrase, and'that in 



