34 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Jaw. is, 1895. 
HALF BREADTH PLAN (l-INCH SCALE). 
BODY PLAN. 
SAIL PLAN 
Peter hoisted, and the Valkyrie, with other yachts, was cruising 
about and waiting tor the second gun to cross the startingl ine 
between tne commodore's steam yacht Lutta and the markboat, 
the former on her weather bow, and both at some distance. 
The Satanita was then seen approaching on the port tack at 
about 500yds. distance and broad on the port bow of the Valkyrie 
about three points. She was sailing fast, ramping full and head* 
ing across the bows of the Valkyrie. The latter kept her course, 
close-hauled on the starboard tack, until it was seen that a colli- 
sion was imminent, when she put her helm down and luffed up to 
ease the blow. The Satanita then struck the Valkyrie amidships 
on the port side-abaf t her rigging, doing such damage that she 
sank in a few minutes. The plaintiffs charged the defendant 
with improperly iailing to keep out of the way of the Valkyrie, 
and also with neglect of Article 14 of the regulations for prevent- 
ing collisions at sea and of the 18th sailing rule of the Yacht 
ftaciug Association. The Satanita alleged that she was hampered 
by a small sailing boat as -she approached the Valkyrie and so 
failed, or was unable, to keep clear of her. The defendant paid 
£952 7s. 4d. into Court, being the amount of damages for which 
-he was answerable under the statute, calculated at the rate of 
.£8 per ton, with the admission for the purposes of this action 
that if the collision was caused by the improper navigation of 
the Satanita it occurred without his own actual fault or privity. 
Mr. Clarke, owner ot the Satanita, said that the vessels entered 
had to be steered by amateurs and members of certain Scotch 
clubs. He was not a member of any of these and had never 
steered. Mr. Robert Ure steered on this occasion and was 
assisted by Dr. Robertson. Diaper, the skipper, was in charge, 
and the only order he had given him was that he (Clarke) took 
no risk at all and il there was auv danger he was to take the 
helm. He took time on the companion. 
Cross-examined by Sir Walter Phillimore. — They were close 
hauled and there was a nice breeze, but it was quite easy for one 
strong man to steer. There was a third amateur standing near 
and ready to help. There might have been a sudden puff just 
belore the collision, but it could not have been avoided by 
having more hands at the helm. He did not see the Valkyrie 
until after he had seen the small boat. He knew no navigation, 
and never interfered with the management of his boats. 
The master of the Satanita said it was rather puffy, but they 
had plenty of power at the helm. He had first stated that she 
had run, off her helm, but afterward contradicted it. 
Sir .Walter Phillimore said that after the evidence which 
had been given he did not propose to call any evidence in 
rebuttal. 
Sir Richard Webster then said that the only point now would 
be whether the defendant was liable to pay any portion of the 
amount claimed. 
Sir Walter Phillimore said that, although it could not be said 
that the collision occurred with the defendant's privity, there 
was clearly a contract between those who entered for this race 
that they would obey the sailingrules, and that those who failed 
to obey tnem would pay in full for any damage so caused. In 
other words, the common law, which was specially excluded in 
Admiralty causes, should here apply — "Gray v. Pearson" (L.R., 
5 CP , 568). 
Mr. Joseph Walton, Q.C., further pointed out that in a race 
like this there were risks which were not Usually present in 
cases of ordinary merchant shipping. 
Sir Richard Webster, for the defendant, argued that the 
reasonable and proper construction of the rules was that breach 
of them involved liability to pay damages which were by law 
recoverable. The statute had for nearly a century limited the 
liability of owners where the accident did not occur through 
their fault or privity, and it would require express language to 
provide that it was not to apply to a collision of this nature. 
Mr. Justice Bruce said he thought that the owner of the 
Satauita was entitled to have his liability limited under the 
statute, as the damage was admittedly caused without his fault 
or privity. Then there was the question whether Mr. Clarke, 
by entering his yacht for this race under the Mudhook and 
Yacht Racing Association rules, had abandoned his right to 
limitation of liability under the statute. Although he was not 
prepared to say there was not a good contract, he thought it 
most improbable that Mr. Clarke did intend to waive his rights. 
He was evidently aware of the risks attending the use of an 
amateur helmsman from what he said to his skipper, showing 
also that he appreciated the tatters experience and skill. Then, 
if there was a contract, he thought the reasonable construction 
of the words was that the owner should not be liable for any 
damages over and above those for which the law provided. 
There, therefore, would be judgment for the defendant. 
The Clyde Restricted Class. 
We are indebted to the Field lor the accompanying design 
made by Mr. Linton Hope for the new sailing club, established 
last November on the Clyde. The boats will all be built to the 
one design by Allister ol Dumbarton, the cost, as stated, being 
about $165 for hull and spars. The dimensions are : Length 
over all 18ft., I.w.l. 16ft., beam 7ft., draft 10in., with plate 6ft., 
displacement l,8181bs., sail area, actual, 275sq. ft., by Y. R. A. 
rule, 261sq. ft., rating 0.7 ; no ballast being carried and the crew 
limited to three. Two watertight bulkheads make the boats un- 
sinkable. They will be used for afternoon sailing and for races. 
A movement is now on foot for a restricted class of small craft 
on the Thames ; and this sort of boat sailing is growing very 
rapidly in Great Britain. 
The Yokohama Sailing Club. 
We have at various times had the pleasure of noting the suc- 
cessful progress of the flourishing little club maintained by the 
European and American residents of Yokohama, and of publish- 
ing the very full and exhaustive annual reports of the club's 
racing. We have lately received a very pleasant reminder of 
the club's continued existence in the shape of a handsome and 
unique volume of portraits o; the yachts of the club, sent us by 
the compiler, Mr. Alan Owston, one of the leading members. 
The book, which is published in Japan and bound in a very 
attractive and striking cover, contains twenty large collotype 
plates, from photos by Messrs. O. E. Poole, W. K. Burton and C 
D. West, the reproductions being made by K. Ogawa, of Tokio, 
while Mr. Owston has furnished the descriptive text. The 
twenty-seven yachts and boats illustrated are of various sizes 
and types, many of them built in Japan by native builders, from; 
designs by members of the club or from various published de- 
signs. Some of the yachts were designed or built in the United 
States, but the sails are mostly made by Lapthorne & Ratsey. 
In spite of the great variation in size and type, the club has 
managed to keep up a good deal of keen racing. The book is- 
not only interesting, but is artistically a most creditable pro- 
duction. 
The St. Johns and Indian River. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I have a 30ft. cabin steam launch which I expect to ship 
to Jacksonville, Ela., in January, and after making the trip 
up the St. Johns wish to take her across to the Indian River by 
the easiest route. A suitable truck for handling her will go 
with her to Jacksonville. Any one who has made this trip or 
