May 2, 1889.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



309 



NEW ENGLAND YACHT RACING ASSOCIATION. 



THE annual meeting of the New England Y. R. A. was held on 

 April 2i m Boston, with Pres. J. B. Rhodes in the chair. The 

 following (dubs were represented: Dorchester, Beverly, Hull, 

 Jeffries, Lynn, Quincy, Salem Bav, South Boston, West Lynn 

 Cape Ann, Corinthian, Great Head, Chelsea, Savin Hill. Mouati- 

 quot, American. The treasurer's report showed a balance of 

 S'.'!iii.s(3 on hand. The following officers were elected: Pres., W. 

 L.oyd Jeffries, Beverly; Vice-Pres., Arthur Fuller, South Boston; 

 Sec. and Treas., G. W. Mansfield, Salem Bav; Executive Com., 

 L. M. Clark, Dorchester, B. B. Crown ingshield, Beverly, J. Fred 

 Brown, American, the. president and vice-president cx-oflm'o. P. 

 M. Bond of the Hull Y. C. presented the following amendments to 

 the rules and regulations: Rule 4, measurement, page 15, fourth 

 line: strike out the word "aft." Rule 11, crew, page 17, second 

 line of Rule 11, amend hy changing the word "five" to "Jour;" 

 which amendments were indefinitely postponed. 



The association now includes 17 clubs. Since its formation t here 

 has been a constant struggle between the unlimited sandbag 

 sailors, who navigate and float about City Point and Dorchester; 

 and the clubs situated on deeper water, who wish to encourage a 

 safe and serviceable type of yacht. The two parties have heen 

 tlius far evenly balanced, and promise to continue so for some 

 time, the result being that a compromise, in the form of a pro- 

 hibition on shifting ballast and a rule of length -f % overhang, 

 has been in force for some time. This has proved satisfactory to 

 neither side, and efforts have been made by one party to remove 

 the restriction on shifting ballast, and by the other to pass a 

 length and sail area rule. The result has been to hinder Kivatly 

 the work of the association, and now the Boston Globe goes so far 

 as to recommend that the two parties should separate entirely. 

 It seems impossible that for a long time at least the open boats 

 will consent to a rule including sail, and there is no likelihood 

 that a club which has once fairly tried^ a length and sail area, 

 rule will go back to any form of length rule, so the deadlock is 

 likely to continue or else to break up the association. Before 

 matters are allowed to reach this extreme it might be worth 

 while to try a compromise, such as we suggested to the New York 

 Y. R. A., making one set of rules for open boats and another for 

 decked yachts. This would probably be acceptable to all parties, 

 and would be far better than to give up the organization entirely 

 after so much has been done. 



THE VALKYRIE AND THE AMERICA CUP. 



SIR: In "Topics of the Week," under the heading "Yachting," 

 in your issue of the 13th inst., you comment upon certain re- 

 port 1 

 you 

 foote 



expressed no such desire. In addition to the dimensions re- 

 quired under the deed of gift, 1 gave the New York Yacht Club 

 Valkyrie's length on the l.w.l., and stated, for their information, 

 that she would come within their 70ft. class, but 1 made no com- 

 ment whatever upon the fact. 



Whatever his private views on the sportsmanlike aspect of the 

 case may be, it w ould, I think, be most unbecoming on the part of 

 a challenger to express any wish as to the class of vessel to be 

 selected to meet him. 1 have not done so, and am quite ready to 

 sail against anything that may he brought out against me. 



As to what class of vessels should compete for the Cup, there is, 

 no doubt, much to be said on both sides of the question. The con- 

 ditions of the deed of gift, requiring that a challenging yacht 

 shall exceed 30 tons Custom House measurement, and shall cross 

 the ocean on her own bottom, are sufficient security for the qual- 

 ity of the vessel. Considering the importance of length as an ele- 

 ment of speed, the argument that the Cup should be held by the 

 fastest yacht afloat might tend, as it appears to me, to result in 

 the supremacy of the longest purse, or in the suppression of inter- 

 national racing. The merits, therefore, of the argument against 

 yachts of comparatively small size sailing for the America Cup 

 are not very clear. A 70-footer under ordinary circumstances 

 stands a poor chance against a vessel of SGft. length, like Volun- 

 teer, and no one will deny that a match between vessels of the 

 same class is more interesting, as a race, than one in which any 

 great disparity of size on the part of the competitors exists. But 

 defending an international cup is an exceptional case, and no 

 reasonable objection can be taken to Volunteer if they choose to 

 bring her out. 



Tbe other day one of your correspondents expressed an opinion 

 with which I am inclined to agree, nameiv, that in order to win 

 back the America Cup we ought to build for that express purpose. 

 If I fail I trust that British yachtsmen will develop that idea. 

 My ship is a compromise. I cannot afford the luxury of a vessel 

 built mainly for the purpose of crossing the ocean and competing 

 for the Cup. Valkyrie was designed for racing here in the. fit) 

 rating class; but as there appeared to be no other prospect of a 

 challenge, I departed from my original intention as little as pos- 

 sible, but to the extent of constructing her to sail in the 70ft. 

 American class. 



What she may have to sail against remains to be seen. The 

 challenged enjoy certain advantages, and very properly so. They 

 know their opponent's dimensions for six months before the race: 

 they can build for the special purpose of beating that particular 

 vessel if they think fit; and they can try their whole fleet and 

 select the best— great advantages, no doubt. But the challenged if 

 always conceded an advantage over the challenger will make use 

 of it, and it would be ridiculous to complain of their doing so. 



Adabe, Ireland, April 17. Dunraven. 



—Meld, April W. 



CLASSIFICATION BY CORRECTED LENGTH. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I see by the newspapers that Gen. Paine has presented the East- 

 ern Yacht Club with a cup to be held as an international challenge 

 cup in the 70ft. class, and he thereby adds to the debt of gratitude 

 which all American yachtsman owe him for what he has done for 

 the sport. As I understand the terms of the gift the competition 

 is to be limited to yachts 70ft. and under on the waterline, and it 

 will no doubt do much to develop building in the 70ft. class. 



It is very unfortunate, however, that Gen. Paine does not take 

 the opportunity this gives him of checking the tendency to enor- 

 mous sail area which our unfortunate system of classification 

 encourages. He is understood to be in favor of keeping sail area 

 within reasonable limits, and in giving this cup he has it in his 

 power to do much to prevent the present extravagances. 



If competition in the 70ft. class becomes active through inter- 

 national racing we shall have the experience which we have had 

 in the 40ft. class repeated, where area of lower sail has already 

 reached upward of 2,500 square feet. Under this new stimulus 

 we shall no doubt soon see 70ft. boats approaching nearly the pres- 

 ent figures of the Volunteer class. It is only a question of giving 

 them more power, and from present appearances it looks as if the 

 advanta ges more than offset the penalty paid through present 

 time allowance. 



No doubt the measurement for time allowance AVill be changed 

 so as to bear more heavily on sail, but it is very doubtful it that 



will accomplish the desired end. The most sensible way of deal- 

 ing with the problem is to change the classification and classify 

 by corrected length, in that way the class limit would be a check 

 nit extravagances in sail, which could only be indulged in by 

 decreasing length of hull. The limits of the various classes 

 would be built up to, and in a short time there would be no ques- 

 tion of time allowance between most of the boats, and improve- 

 ment, would be sought, in more careful design and in improvement 

 in details, which are lost sight of under the present, system, where 

 increase of power and sail are the prime requisites. 



The system of classing hy corrected measurement is now in use 

 m England, where 1 am glad to say they have adopted substanti- 

 ally the rule of measurement in use here to arrive at their rating 

 for time allowance, but they differ from us in that they use that 

 rating for classification also. I know of no valid objection to the 

 plan, and I wonder that our clubs do not. adopt it, particularly as 

 by so doing there would be substantially but one system of meas- 

 urement and classification the world over. 



The way would then bo comparatively clear to an arrangement 

 bet ween our leading clubs and those enrolled in t he Yacht Racing 

 Association in England for such mutual changes in details as 

 would bring the leading classes in both countries into conformity. 



Tbe modifications necessary to accomplish this end would be 

 fewer and of less importance than is generally supposed, and it 

 would not be necessary to change the present system of time 

 allowances, winch in this country are based on measurement in 

 feet, and in England on tons. It would only he necessary to agree 

 upon a common system of measuring sails, and such a mutual 

 change in the. class limits as would bring one or two of the lead- 

 ing English classes into agreement with corresponding classes 

 here. There is great danger t hat Gen. Pai tie's cup will after the 

 first race be of no interest to any one, for while we may, under the 

 encouragement given by our rules, build hoats of 70ft. waterline 

 w ith enormous power and corresponding sails, it is not to be ex- 

 pected that the honor of winning that cup will induce Englishmen 

 to build boats useless to them for any other purpose. 

 . We no doubt will have a large fleet of these hoats, extravagant 

 in cost and maintenance and wanting in all good qualities, but 

 which can easily defeat Bedouin, Shamrock, Titauia," Katrina, 

 or any 70ft. boat now afloat, but which rightly should be racing in 

 a higher class. Qu^rteu Lift. 



New York, April 23. 



THE RIGHT OF LUFFING. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Would you bo good enough to allow me the use of your yachting 

 columns to bring prominently before yachtsmen the question of 

 luffing to extremity, a practice authorized by yacht clubs gener- 

 ally, but one which seems to require attention. 



In 1882 this subject was seriously reviewed in Great Britain, but 

 the Y. R. A. allowed the matter to lapse, instead of using their 

 influence and weight to govern and guide the many existing 

 clubs. I therefore put the question to vour experts: 



Is it advisable to alter, amend, or sweep away the luffing rule, 

 which, though a very old yachting regulation, may be bad in 

 principle and lead to disaster in these days of keen competition 

 and national rivalry? 



The rule of the road at sea says, in accordance with obvious 

 reason and common sense, that when one vessel is overtaking an- 

 other she shall keep out of the way of the overtaken vessel, and 

 that the later shall keep her course. 



The rule of all yacht clubs and associations says that "a vessel 

 may luff as she pleases to prevent another vac lit passing to wind- 

 ward" of her. 



This latter rule, it will be observed, is not merely at variance 

 with the law, but is diametrically opposed to the law. The rule 

 of the road says that the overtaken vessel is to keep her course; 

 the rule says she may get in the way of the overtaking vessel if 

 the latter attempts to pass her to windward. It is just possible 

 that in civil proceedings, arising from a collision due to this regu- 

 lation, a judge might hold that the owners had by implication 

 agreed to sail under yachting rules, but the law does not recog- 

 nize agreements, express or implied, to risk or sacrifice life, and 

 if a sailing master by recklessly luffing across another vessel's 

 bows brought about an accident which caused death, it would be 

 useless to plead in a criminal court that he was right according 

 to all yachting rules. 



We have then this marvellous state of things, that a man might 

 be sentenced to penal servitude or imprisonment for doing what 

 the rules of our yacht clubs especially authorizes him to do. Such 

 a daugerous anomaly ought not to be allowed or continued, and it 

 is further observed that there are good grounds for contending 

 that, besides being opposed to the law the rule is bad in itself. The 

 object of a yacht race is that the best yacht should win, not that 

 the sailing masters should be permitted to indulge in petty man- 

 euvers. If one yacht can pass another to windward it is because 

 she sails the better of the two; if there is one principle in yachting 

 worth contending for, it is the development of the best class or 

 type of vessel, and not the sharp practices of sailing masters. 

 Hence, it appears that yacht clubs are propagating rules in oppo- 

 sition to the civil laws of the country, and that they are doing 

 something to prevent the development, of the best type of vessels. 



If an overtaken vessel on the wind has a mononolv of the course, 

 and may luff to extremity in all cases, why should not, an overtaken 

 boat before the wind be permitted to yaw about from port to star- 

 board, or starboard to port, to prevent another vacht from passing 

 her. There seems to be a want of fairness and equity in this 

 matter. Review. 



Montreal, April 19. 



CORONET.— On April 25, after an absence of over a year, the 

 schooner Coronet, Mr. R. T. Bush, arrived at New York with her 

 owner and party on board. The Coronet sailed from New York in 

 charge of Capt. Christopher T. Crosby on March 23, 1888, for San 

 Diego, Col , where Mr. and Mrs. Bush, Mr. and Mrs. S. F. Dens- 

 low, and Messrs. Irving Bush and John Martin joined her. She 



March 35. The weather was calm and pleasant and the trip oc» 

 cupied thirty-two days, 



A NEW YACHT GUN.-Messrs. R. H. Brown & Co., New 

 Haven, Conn., have lately introduced a, new yacht gun possessing 

 some excellent features. The gun is a solid bronze casting, with 

 a breech block revolving on a strong pivot, locking itself closely 

 when thrown into place. The ejector is strong and reliable. The 

 gun is fitted to take the standard shot shells, paper or brass, and 

 does not require a special shell of its own. It is made in sizes from 

 12 to 50in. long, mounted in various styles of carriage. 



MORE CAPSIZES FOR "PODGERS."— The centerboard sloop 

 Mischief, of Boston, capsized on April 33 off Thompson's Island in 

 Boston Harbor. The two men on board saved their lives by swim- 

 ming. The yacht was found bottom up. On April 21 two yachts 

 of the Pavonia Y. C. capsized in New York Harbor. Both were 

 shoal centerboard craft. 



VOLUNTEER AND VALKYRIE.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 If an international trophy existed for rowing matches and the 

 deed of gift stated that the challenger must challenge with a 

 boat propelled by at least four oarsmen, and if a challenge were 

 received by the holders of such trophy from a proper authority, 

 stating that he would build an eight-oar and train a crew to race 

 her for the trophy, what would be the opinion of all true sports- 

 men if the challenge were accepted, but a twelve-oar pitted against 

 her? This is practically what Mr. Fish, Mr. Malcolm Forbes and 

 some American yachtsmen are alleged to advocate in the case 

 of Lord Dunraven's challenge.— Thalassa (Sonthampton,April4>. 



MINX. — On April 13 a new sloop yacht was launched at Tren- 

 ton, Mich., where she was built by Craig & Son for Hon. Nicholas 

 Longworth, of Cincinnati. She is a compromise craft with cen- 

 terboard and also 7 tons of lead in the keel; her dimensions being: 

 Length over alb 72ft,; l.w.l., 57ft.; beam, 17ft.; draft,, 6ft. (tin. She 

 will carry the rig of the old Cora, purchased by Judge Long- 

 worth last fall; she is flush decked, with owner's staterooms, 

 toilet room and four berths in main cabin, besides a room for the 

 sailing master and large forecastle and galley. Her moorings 

 will be off the Cleveland Y. C. house, and she will sail in all the 

 regattas on Lake Erie. 



THE PATTERSON'S CHALLENGE. — Vice-Corn. Edmund W. 

 Throckmorton, of the North Shrewsbury Y. C. has accepted the 

 challenge of the owner of the Philadelphia catboat Robert S. 

 t tit l ; rscii tz sail a match far 8500 a side with any boat not exceed- 

 ing 18ft. 3m. m length. The Patterson measures 15ft. 2in. and the 

 Jersey boat 18ft. 7m. 



PLEON Y. C— The new 16ft. cutter which Williams 'is building 

 for a member of the Picon Y. C. is named Oswa. She is now 

 owtrly planked. Wood Bros, are also building a 16ft. boat for 

 Mr. S. W. isleeper, of the P. Y. C, to be called Edith. She will 

 be sloop rigged. Williams has planted the 20ft. cat he is build- 

 ing. 



PRINCE KARL— MALVENA.— Mr. A. J. Lovett, the owner of 

 the cutter Prince Karl, has changed her name to Malvena. 



ELFIN, schr., has been sold by M. O. Jones to David I. Jackson 

 for $10,500. 



Small Yachts. By C. P. Kunhardt. Price $7. Steam Yachts and 

 Launches. By C. P. Kunhardt. Price S3. Yachts, Boats and 

 Cannes. By C. Slansiirld-llichs. Price $3.69. Steam Machinery. Bu 

 Donaldson. Price $1.50. 



Addresss all communications to the Forest and Stream Pub. Co. 



^*No Notice Taken of Anonymous Correspondents. 



A. C. B„ City— Are there any standard widths or lengths for 

 ground pigeon traps, H. & T. traps included. Ans. There are no 

 standard dimensions. 



C. N. K., New York.— Can you advise me as to a good place near 

 the city for snipe shooting? Also best time to go, whether a do~ 



For hay snipe take shore of Barnegai Bay or Long Island Sound. 

 Wading boots are useful in English suipe shooting, and decoys 

 are sometimes used for bay snipe, but a dog is not needed for 

 either. 



H. B., Heath, N. Y.— Will you be kind enough to identify the 

 hawk described below: Size about that of Cooper's hawk, may be 

 a trifle larger; head and neck bluish slate color; back, wings and 

 tail same color barred with dark slate: rump ash color barred 

 with dark slate; throat and neck light buff; breast buff: belly and 

 lower parts buff, each feather barred with black; under parts of 

 wings white, barred with black; iris brownittpper mandible bluish 

 slate, tip black; lower mandible yellow, tipped with dark slate; 

 cere and eyelids yellow; legs and feet yellow. Ans. No doubt an 

 adult duck hawk (Faico yerigrinus anatum.) 



INFORMATION WANTED. 

 I have read with interest the advice that Iron Ramrod, Louis 

 Bagger and others have given N. Orleans in regard to the small- 

 bore rifles. New, I would like to have some one give me advice. 

 I intend to settle out in Montana, and I want to provide myself 

 with a good hunting rifle, but the question is what kind of a rifle 

 shall I get? Lately there was an old rancher here from Wyoming; 

 I asked him what rifle he would advise me to buy, and he told me 

 to invest in a .44-40 Winchester repeating rifle. Now, I would like 

 to have some of my fellow readers of the Forest and Stream 

 give me their ideas about this gun and others.— G. C, Milwaukee, 



While hunting last November on Gribbin Lake I found three 

 families of beaver. I have been trying to catch some of these 

 beaver all winter, but failed so far. I think the water is too deep 

 and too much mud. WiU some of the readers of Fohest and 

 Stream be kind enough to give me a few points on trapping the 

 beaver.— Ghibwn, Negaunee, Mich. 



Will the readers of Forest and Stream please inform me 

 where I can find bear hunting in West Virginia, Virginia or else- 

 where in the east; also, what time in the fall and spring is the 

 best time. I would also like to know if any one can tell me where 

 canvasback ducks breed at, and if it is possible to procure eggs or 

 young.— W. R. L. D., New Petersburg, O. 



Forest and Stream, Box 2,832, N. Y. city, has descriptive illus- 

 trated circulars of W. B. Leffingwell's book, "Wild Fowl Shoot- 

 ing," which will be mailed free on request. The book is pro- 

 nounced by "Nanit," "Gloan," "Dick Swiveller," "Sybillene" and 

 other competent authorities to be the best treatise on the subject 

 extant. 



New York, Aug. 9. 1888. — IT. S. Cartridge Co., Lowell, Mass.— 

 Gentlemen: Your new primers gave me the best of satisfaction. 

 I have averaged nearly 80 per cent, of kills both on live birds and 

 targets ever since I began to use them. Yours truly, (Signed) M. 

 M. F. Lindsley, Supt. American Wood Powder Co., West Hobo- 

 ken, N. J .— Adv. 



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