Sept. 35, 1890.] 



FOREST AND STREAM 



199 



SKETCH OF 16X30 CANOE EOR A. C. A. RULES. 



even in time, hut the cost, would be very little and no possible 

 barm could follow. 



In the second season of the Atlantic Division a movement in 

 this direction was inaugurated, though on too small a scale to 

 offer a fair test, a cup being given by the flag officers under the 

 following conditions: "Each canoo must come within the limits 

 laid down by the A. C. A. rules, and in addition must have a well 

 not less than 16i:i. wide for a length of 4ft.; there must be a per- 

 manent bulkhead forward and one aft, not less than 3ft. from the 

 s+em and stern respectively, and at least 6ft. between them; and 

 there must be room in the well for the c ewto sleep, with at least 

 5ft. between the after end of the well and the ceuterboard trunk; 

 all center boards must house without projecting below the keel or 

 ahove the surrounding deck or coamings; no part of the hull or 

 fittings shall project beyond the beam allowed by the A. O. A. 

 rules. Sails snail be lowered on deck and hoisted again at least 

 once during the race, and the start may be ordered with sails 

 down. The donors of the pr<ze reserve the right to refuse the 

 entry of any canoe which shall violate the spirit of these rules." 

 These conditions contain the main features of the idea, though 

 they would not, as they stand, fit the case to-day. We hope later 

 on to publish the lines of a canoe designed two years since 

 practically to comply with them, the boat having proved fairly 

 fast as a racer while a complete success as a cruiser, thus proving 













tI 





the practicability of the scheme. As our drawing this week shows, 

 some new limitation of extreme depth is now necessary, and 

 other points could be improved. The provision concerning sails 

 seems an excellent one, a sail which can be taken in and set 

 again once or more in a race without a serious loss of time cannot 

 be so terriblv dangerous. 



The history of the development of the rules and the boats in the 

 past ten years shows one point very clearly; that while a constant 

 tinkering with the sailing rules is very undesirable, at the same 

 time no rules can be made which may not be evaded, or perhaps 

 merely outgrown in time; and that a constant scrutiny of the 

 working of the rules is necessary in order to secure the best re- 

 sults to all. It. is not enough that, after some feature has been 

 carried to an extreme which is fully apparent, some means should 

 be taken to cure the evil, but the rules should be studied each 

 year, side by side with the canoes which they have produced, and 

 any tendencies to extremes, or any palpable evasion of the spirit 

 of the rules should be acted on immediately. Such a course would 

 work well in making men cautious in bringing machines and ex- 

 treme features to a meet, with a possibility that, they may be 

 barred out. The recognition of a separate racing class would 

 make this work easier than in the past, as any new devices, such 

 as the sliding seat once was, might be tested for a season on the 

 ra'ing craft before being admitted in the cruising races, thus 

 offeriug no bar to improvement. A case in point that proves t he 

 necessity of acting in advance on any promised evil is the ores^nt 

 limit of depth, which we have shown may prove at any time a 

 dead letter. A change at once would harm no one and awake no 

 opposition, but if the matter he left until tie keel of such a cutter 

 canoe is laid, further legislation will be ud just. 



This task of guarding and correcting the racing rules is too im- 

 portant to be left to volunteers from the membership of the Asso- 

 ciation, but should devolve on some competent and responsible 

 hod j ; and there is none hotter fitted for it than the regatta com- 

 mittee, to whom this work has been intrusted for the past nii>e 

 years. The only change necessary is to make the list of their 

 duties in Obapier IX. a little more specific, stating thatthe report 

 there called for from them snail take cognizance of the good and 

 bad points winch have been developed in the course of the racing, 

 and shall recommend sncb measures as they may deem fit: this 

 report being the basis on whicb toe changes, if any, must be made 

 by ihe tx< cutive committee. Any member desiring to propose a 

 change of rule may suggest it to the regatta committee, who 

 should be competent to pass on it and thus save some idle diseus- 

 sion at me lew and busy meetings of the executive committee. 

 It never has been and nred not he compulsory m the executive 

 ' committee to make the changes suggested by the regatta commu- 

 te* ; the power of the former is limited only in such a way as to 

 secure careful and deliberate action on such important mat ters 

 ai d to set ure a desirable am uut of publicity for all changes of 

 the rules; a method whose wisdom is no less proven by the har- 

 mony wtiich has prevailed under such methods in the past than 

 hy the discussion recently awakened by a contrary method of 

 procedure. 



THE AMENDMENT OF THE A. C. A. RULES. 



IT will be a surprise to many A. C. A. men, as it was to us, to 

 learn at this late date that the much discussed resolution of 

 the executive, committee abolishing standing sails was by no means 

 the mosL impor. ant work of the meeting of Aug. 18, but that it 

 was lollowed oy the far more general and sweeping change. This 

 change, which has only come to our knowledge during the past 

 week, adds a third issue to the two now un''er discussion, and 

 makes the action of the ex cutive committee at the meeting in 

 question of far greater importance than at first appeared. The 

 dif cussion thus far has been confined to the questions, whether it 

 was desirable that the standing sail should be dealt with at all; 

 and whether, if this question was answered jut-he affirmative, the 

 recent hasty and unexpected action was either politic or just. 

 Both of these may well oe set aside for the present until it is f ally 

 decided that the executive committee had the right to act on the 

 matter at ail in the way which it has done, and that it has not 

 greatly excotded Us authority at the meeting in question, 



The second resolution, passed immediately after the one relat- 

 ing to standing sails, reads as follows: Resolved, That Rule XXII. 

 of the Sailing Rules be amended by striking out "On the recom- 

 mendation of the regatta committee." In order to realize the full 

 force of this resolution it is necessary to consider the discussion 

 which accompanied the two motions. This discussion of course 

 does not appear in full on the minutes and we can only give such 

 a report of it as we could derive from conversations with several 

 who were present, if we are wrong in any vital points we shall be 

 glad to be corrected. As we have been informed, in the course of 

 the discussion over the standing sail, the quesiion was raised 

 whether the executive committee had the power to make the de- 

 sired change in the Sailing Rules under Rule XXII., which reads as 

 follows: "These rules may be amended by the executive committee 

 on recommodation of the regatta committee." This new question 

 was fully discussed, the decision of the chair being in substance 

 that as the regatta committee was the Creation of the executive 

 committee, it was absurd that the creating bodv should be limited 

 or restricted by a subordinate body created by it. This ruling being 

 acquiesced in, the standing sail resolution was put to vote and 

 carried, after which it was moved by Rear-Oom. Dorland and 

 seconded by Vice-Corn. Brokaw, "That Rule XXII. of the Sailing 

 Rules be amended by striking out 'on the recommendation of the 

 regatta committee;' which motion was also carried by a unani- 

 mous vote. 



The first sailing rules of the A. 0. A. were drawn up in 1881, and 

 in the ten seasons of use that have followed they have been mater- 

 ially altered to meet many changes in the canoes and in the rac- 

 ing. Throughout all these changes Rule XXIf. has remained un- 

 touched and respected, it has stood tne test of ten years' trial and 

 no fault has been found wit h it. The letter of the rule reads plaiuly 

 enough /'These rules may be amended by the executive committee." 

 How? "On recommendation of the regatta committee." No other 

 interpretation has ever been put upon it, and its inherent force 

 has been strengthened by a long observance of it which has built 

 up the strongest, kind of precedent. Many of the changes in the 

 rules have been made directly on the recommendations contained 

 in written reports from the regatta committee, but it has fre- 

 quently been tne case that the regatta committee was present at the 

 general meeting in the fall, where most of such changes are made, 

 and has worked in harmony with the executive committee in 

 arranging the amendments. 



While the power of the regatta committee is limited by a chap- 

 ter of the By-Laws which forbids any change in the classification, 

 measurement or sailing regulations without the sanction of the 

 executive committee, the rights and duties of the regatta com- 

 mittee as proper medium for the consideration of all proposed 

 changes, and tne presentation of such as they approve to the com- 

 modoi e for action upon by the executive committee have never been 

 questioned. The regatta committee is appointed by the commo- 

 dore without regard to the executive committee; it repor's to him 

 and is answerable only to bim, the executive committee having 

 no power over it. We do not wish to put any false construction 

 on the actions of the executive committee, but from all that we 

 have been able to learn by diligent inquiry it has in the first place 

 displayed an extraordinary lack of courtesy in taking np any pro- 

 posed change without recognizing the regatta committee; in the 

 second place it has deliberately disregarded a perfectly plain rule 

 whose meaning has never before been questioned; and m the third 

 place, after disregarding the rule it has completed the work by 

 wiping it off tbe statute book. If this oe a correct statement of 

 the case, we submit that to more proof is required of ne> es^ity 

 for the instant restoration of the expunged clause in a stdl stronger 

 form, positively prohibiting any change of the racing rules save 

 after publication for several weeks of the proposed change. 



If this last act of the committee is co stand as legal, there is a 

 direct premium on party legislation of a sort never seen before in 

 the A. O. A. . But seven members or deputies are necessary to a 

 quorum "f the executive committee, and if at any time the iriends 

 of the standing sad should find tnemselves in the majority they 

 can take up the obnoxious motion. "The regular sailiug races of 

 me A. C. A. s.iall be confined to canoes whose sails can be readily 

 lowered white afloa -," and amend it by substituting after the word 

 sails, "which are permanently laced to the masts." Tnis would be 

 turning th - taules with a vengeance, and it wuld then be in order 

 for the other side to capture a meeting as sojn as possible and 

 make a new change. Undignified and positively bad as such leg- 

 islation would oe, it has been made possible by this action of the 

 executive committee. 



If racing is to continue and sport afloat is not to be replaced 

 by unseemly squabbles over rules, some stringent provisions 

 must be made to govern all changes of the Sailing Regulations. 

 Not only must the last portion of Rule XXII. be replaced, but it 

 must be accompanied by a positive statement that all proposals 

 for future changes must come through the regatta committee, and 

 that even then none may oe acted on until they have been publicly 

 announced f ir at least three weeks. Popular representation is one 

 of the strong principles of the Association, every member should 

 have the right to know what changes are proposed in any of the 

 laws; and there are veryfew chang. s in the Sail ng Relations or 

 other rules that require to be made so quieKly that public notice 

 cannot be given. In a matter of this kind tbe custom ox the lar- 

 ger yacht clubs offers a very safe precedem, and in all of these the 

 alteration ot the racing luk-a is most jealously guarded. Not only 

 must tne proposed amendment be printed in tuli and sent to each 

 member ten day= or more before a m eting, but in some cas s it is 

 required that tne amendment must be submitted to a second 

 me-ting for a final ratification, and as a rul- all changes are spe- 

 cially prohibited af ler the approach of the racing seas n. If such 

 safeguards against hasty »ud ill considered actions are necessary 

 In clubs where lrequent meetings are held, and where matters of 

 news are not only noised aoout lrom mouth to mouih, hut where 

 members meet cons'antly for the private discussion of such mat- 

 ters, they are mucu more assential in a body such as the A. C. A., 

 where the p nver must of necessity oe deputed to a tew, and where 

 no general meetintc of a majority or even of a tair fraction of the 

 members is possible. 



Since the above was wril ten we have been informed by two 

 members • hat th" amendment to Rule XXII. was the first passed, 

 but the minutes state to ihe contrary. 



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PHILADELPHIA C. C, SEPT. 17. 



THE annual regatta of the Philahelphia C. C. was held Wed- 

 nesday of last week at Riverton, N. J. Through the courtesy 

 of the Riverton Y. C. its commodious and beautiful 1 rouse was 

 used for the occasion, and the verandahs were filled with well 

 known people from Riverton and Philadelphia. 



The first event was the sine-le paddliug race, with the following 

 contestants, who finished in the order named: 



Trio, Norman Ellison , i 



Juanita, J. Etter Small ' % 



Chandos, Frank E. Bennett 3 



Regina, H. R. Wray 4 



Norka. W. S. Runk '.. 5 



Noname, Win. R. Ellison ^ g 



The first prize was a handsome Bavarian tankard and the second 

 was a silk flag. 



A half gale from the northwest reduced the number of starters 

 in tbe sailing race and twice capsized Osceola, but she was righted 

 and won easily as follows: 



Osceola, Win, S. Grant, Jr ; 1 



Aglaia, S. H. Kirkpatrick .' * 2 



Eoho, F. D. Brown "*."" 3 



Enid, J. A. Inglis. Did not finish. 



Valkyr, Frtncis Thibault Did not start. 



Muriel, W. S. Runk D.d not start. 



D. B., C. S. Kates ... Did not start. 



Hottentot, C. F. Marlow Did not start. 



The first, prize was the sailing trophy, a silver cup, and was re- 

 awarded to the holder, Wm. S. Grant, Jr., who won it in 1889. Sec- 

 ond prize, a silk flag. 



The tandem padaling race was very close and exciting, the 

 canoes being bunched af the finish, and the winning crew being 

 well lapped by the second. The order at the finish was: 



Juanita, J. Etten Small and H. R. Wrav . 1 



Trio, Norman Ellison and W. S. Runk 2 



Chandos, Wm. R. Ellison and Frank E. Bennett 3 



Aglaia, S. A. Kirkpatrick and Wm. S. Grant, Jr 4 



Regina, Wm. R. King and J. A. Inglis 5 



First prizes, two German tankards; second prizes, two silk flags, 



The last event was the paddling upset race, and showed that the 

 Delaware Rtver canoeists are well prepared for capsizp, the men 

 all regaining their canoes with remarkable agility and quickness. 

 This race was finished as follows: 



Aglaia, S. H. Kirkpatrick , 1 



Nautilus, C. S. Kates j 2 



Valkyr, J. A. Inglis 3 



Juanita. J. Etter Small 4 



Chandos, Wm. R. Ellison 5 



First prize, silver flask; second and third prizes, two silk flags. 



In the evening a reception was given by the Riverton Canoe 

 Club to the Philadelphia Oanoe Club and its guests, in the hand- 

 somely decorated reception rooms of the Lawn House, when the 

 prizes were awarded, and excellent music tempted the feet of the 

 dancers until a late hour. 



ROCHESTER C. C, WILSON CUP.-The third annual race for 

 the Wilson Cup was sailed on Sept. 13, the first gnn being fired at. 

 11 A. M. The wind was very light and variable, and the time 

 slow: 



1st round. 2d round. Time. Points. 

 Massawippa, W.H.Martin... 39 15 41 15 1 20 30 9 



Marie, H. M. Stewart 30 30 52 15 1 22 45 8 



Polly Wiggle, F. S. Smith 39 45 4tt 45 1 26 30 7 



Prudence, H. J. Wilson 44 15 48 15 I 32 30 6 



Surprise, H. I). McVeac 44 00 49 15 1 33 15 5 



Hero, Geo. Ruggles 41 30 52 30 1 35 00 4 



Louise, C. H. Mdodv 1 29 30 



Toodles, A. B. Dodge Withdrew. 



Midget, E. L. French Broke down. 



The fourth race of the series was r ailed at 1:35 P. M., a strong 

 and steady wind from the north having sprung up. The race from 

 start to finish was very close and interesting. Hero secured the 

 best start and a long lead, but was overhauled and passed by 

 Marie ant Surprise after a hard fight. Surprise parted her main 

 h illiard just before tlie last gun was fired, and wa« very late in . 

 Starting. Both races were stile! over the regular club course, 

 twice around the mile and a half triangle. Toe wind freshened 

 on the second round and made tne work very livelv ; e;pecia ly for 

 Massawippa, who was over-canvassed. Marie carried 150 sq. ft. 

 and Surprise 130 sq. ft. easily, Massaw'ppa 130 sq. ft.. Midget 110 

 sq. ft. and P diy Wiggle 100 sq. ft. Tne rest carried smaller sails, 

 from 90 to 70 sq. ft.: 



1st round. 2d round. Time. Points. 



Marie. H. M. Stewart 26 30 21 30 0 48 00 9 



Surprise, H. D. MoVeac 27 00 24 30 0 51 30 8 



Hero, Geo. Rngg es 20 00 26 30 0 S3 80 7 



Massawippa, H. W. Martin 30 00 2" 00 0 57 00 6 



Midget, E. L. Krench 30 45 26 45 0 5? 30 5 



Polly Wiggle, F. L. Smith 30 45 L'8 45 0 59 00 4 



Pruaer.ce, H J. Wilson 29 45 30 15 1 Ot) 00 3 



Louise, C. H. Moody ^4 45 Wii'mrew. 2 



To .dle«, A B, Dodge 33 00 40 00 1 13 00 1 



BROOKLYN C. C— On Sept. 20 a ra'-e was sailed for t»'e Brook- 

 lyn cup, mere being out tnr.e starters: Guenn, Wm. Whirlotk; 

 Eclipse, F. L. Dunnell, and Nomad, Wm. Wiutringhara. Toltec. 

 W. W. Howard, of the New York C. C, was present, havirg sailed 

 across the ba\ in a strong N. W. wind, and starred with the others 

 to receive a special prize in case of a win, club members only be'ng 

 allowed to enter for the cup. There was a heavv canr-e sea and so 

 much wind that Eclipse and Nomad started with too mucti sail, 

 Guenn and Toltec carrying each abr.u 70£t. The course was tri- 

 angular, off Bay Rid e, two rounds. Toltec was over the line with 

 a guod start, nut the position of the line made it necessary to luff 

 ai ound the nag, and as she turned Nomad stru k her about 4ft. 

 from the stern. Tie consrquent delay made the four on nearly 

 even terms at the start, Guenn soou taking the ha^.the course 

 being to windward. Before tbe first buoy Toltec parsed her, while 

 the others had too little sa 1 to buck the tide and were far astern. 

 Toltec led by half a mmute at the end of fir-t round, h'lding this 

 advantage umil the second mark of second round w-s pi ssed, 

 when a flaw struck her, and in trying to right her Mr. Howard 

 caught bis foot between td- trunk and the side of the hrat. his 

 ceuterboard extending the whole length of the small well. Tne 

 oanoe lay witb her sails afloat for some httle time, and when Mr. 

 Howard had treed his foor and right' d. her his opponent was just 

 on his weather. Toltec started off, the cour-e being •■> r a"h, nut 

 wi h water aboard she could not keepbercou a?, lufnr.«t up in rhe 

 frequent puffs, and Gueno won bj-Beveral le- gth. Ei I pse Co- 

 in td third, hut Nomad withdrew. Another race will besaileAoii. 

 S»tafd*y, 



