158 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
Feb. 23, 1895. 
FIXTURES. 
JUNE. 
8. Knickerbocker annual, L. I. 32 
Sound. 
15. Larchmont spring regatta, 
L. I. Sound. 
If. Philadelphia annual, Dela- 
ware River. 
Douglaston annual, L. I 
Sound. 
23-28. Seawanhaka Cor., annual 
race, to New London. 
29, New Rochelle annual, L. I. 
Sound. 
1. Indian Harbor special, L. I. 9. Horseshoe Harbor special, L 
Sound. I. Sound. 
2. Seawanhaka Cor., annual 10. Huguenot special, L. I. 
L. I. Sound. • Sound. 
3. Seawanhaka Cor., race to 12. Larchmont 34 and 21-foot 
L. 
L. 
L. 
classes, L. I. Sound. 
I. 13-21. Larchmont cruise, L. I. 
Sound. 
I. 13. Hempstead Harbor annual, 
L. I Sound. 
I. 20. Sea Cliff annual, L. I. Sound. 
37. Indian Harbor annual, L. I. 
Sound. 
Larchmont. 
6. Larchmont annual, 
Sound. 
6. American special, 
Sound. 
4. Riverside annual, 
Sound. 
8. Seawanhaka Cor. special, L. 
I. Sound. 
AUGUST. 
3. Shelter Island annual. 24. Horseshoe Harboi\annual, L. 
3. Larchmont 34 and 31 foot I. Sound. 
classes, L. I. Sound. 24. Norwalk, L. I. Sound. 
10. American annual, L. I. 31. Larchmont 34 and 20-foot 
Sound. classes, L. I. Sounds 
15. Sea Cliff, L. I. Sound. 31. Huntington annual, L. I. 
17. Huguenot annual, L. I. Sound. 
Sound. 
SEPTEMBER. 
2. New York T. R. A. annual, 7. Larchmont, cabin cats, L. I. 
York Bay. Sound. 
2. Larchmont Fall Regatta, L. 12. Sea Cliff, L. I. Sound. 
I. Sound. 14. Larchmont schooner race, L. 
5. Larchmont 34 and 20-foot I. Sound. 
classes, L. I. Sound. 
In the absence of a national yachting association, such as exists 
n Great Britain in the Yacht Racing Association and in France in 
the Union des Yachts Francais, the New York Yacht Club occu- 
pies a peculiar position in American yachting. While its direct 
nfluence for the betterment of yachting is perhaps no greater than 
hat of several other clubs, it possesses a very strong negative in- 
fluence, such as is not enjoyed by any other club, and which en- 
ables it to control the progress of improvement in yachting rules. 
Of the many chanares and improvements made in racing methods 
within the last dozen years, very few have originated within the 
club, and those of outside origin have had to encounter for its 
opposition. 
The movement for the classification of yachts by racing length 
(length and sail area combined) was begun by the Forest and 
Stream in 1889, and met with hearty encouragement from both the 
Larchmont and Seawanhaka clubs. The friends of the proposed 
measure presented very strong arguments of a technical nature in 
ts favor, backed by statistics showing the operation of each system 
n practice, and the probable effects of the proposed classification 
on the American racing fleet. The special committee of the New 
York Y. 0. favored the change, as did the similar committees of 
he Seawanhaka and Larchmont clubs, and strongly recommended 
its adoption. 
The attitude of the club as a whole, however, was hostile to the 
measure, the majority of the'members gave no thought to the mat- 
ter and took no pains to inform themselves as to the points in- 
volved. A small but powerful minority, made up mainly of the 
Boston contingent of the club, put itself in active opposition to the 
change, and used all of their influence to defeat it. The many 
facts and figures in its favor presented by the Forest and Stream, 
and by the committees in their reports, were met by no rebutting 
evidence, but only by the statement that the men who had suc- 
cessfully defended the America's Cup were opposed to the change 
and that they knew that it would work to the detriment of yacht- 
racing. 
Before the question of the simultaneous adoption of the proposed 
classification by the three clubs came to a vote, it was quite evi- 
dent that the Boston influence, coupled with the general indiffer- 
ence of the members to an important matter, was quite enough to 
defeat it in the New York Y. C. The change could easily have 
passed the Seawanhaka C. Y. C, but when the position of the New 
York Y. C. became known, the committee of the former club 
recommended that no change be made by it; believing it better 
hat the then existing uniform classification by wateriine length 
hould be retained by all the clubs until they were ready to act iu 
unity in replacing it by a better one; rather than that there should 
be a conflict between the two systems. 
The Larchmont Y. C, however, took a different view of the mat- 
er, and in the spring of 1890 adopted the new system of classifying 
bv racing length in place of wateriine, which it has adhered to 
ever since. 
With the close of the season of 1890 came the death of the lO-ft"* 
class and the stagnation in building and racing which unfortu- 
nately still exists, broken only at intervals by such spasmodic at- 
empts at class racing as the 46-footers and the Boston 21-footers. 
With no building and little racing, the necessity for a classiflca- 
on almost disappeared; and it mattered little whether wateriine 
or racing length was the standard. 
In view of the depressed state of racing from 1890 to the present 
ime, it has always been a satisfaction to us that we were defeated 
n our efforts for the new classification, which would inevitably, if 
adopted, have been blamed for all the ills that have afflicted 
yachting since the death of the 40-footers. In this connection it is 
interesting to note that the club which has fared best in the racing 
during this time, with the greatest number of races and the larg- 
est entry lists, has been the Larchmont, with the new classifica- 
tion, and not the New York, the Seawanhaka, the Eastern or the 
Atlantic, under the old. 
As we have had occasion to note from time to time, opinion has 
been gradually changing in favor of a racing length classification; 
and it has been evident that the measure could be passed at any 
time by a united effort of any two clubs. At the same time, with 
little racing and less building, there has been no pressing necessity 
for a change. The movement has, however, rapidly gained 
strength of late, and lo! now it has come to pass that the New 
York Y. C. has quietly accepted that which it once refused. 
The New York Y. 0. having finally accepted the new system, 
there is nothing to prevent the next step, the general adoption of a 
uniform system of classification by racing length, by all the large 
clubs. While this will be a decided advance, we do not look for 
any rapid revival of racing or building, as many unfavorable con- 
ditions outside of the measurement rule are still in existence. 
Should there be, however, a revival of building and class racing , 
the type of boat and Ithe Iquality of the racing will ne far better 
than under tUe old, system, 
FLEET OF "KNOCKABOUTS" IN MAEBLEHEAD HEAD, 
FROM PHOTO BY N. L. STEBBINS. 
CAEL LEADING. 
" In justice to The Yachtsman, we would say that the comments 
quoted on page 114 of our issue of Feb. 9 should have been credited 
to it, and not, as would appear, to the other English journal first 
quoted. The Yachtsman has discussed the question of the new 
deed on its merits, and entirely apart from such an outside consid- 
eration as the action of the Squadron, and deserves every credit 
for its fair and independent position. 
We learn from the American Shipbuilder that W. G. Nourse has 
purchased the entire w orking plant and equipment formerly 
operated by Chas. P. Willard & Co., of Chicago, 111., and will 
operate the same in building marine engines and boilers, steam 
launches, etc. The works will be known as the Marine Iron 
Works, with Mr. Nourse as manager; they are located at Clybourn 
and Southport avenues, foot C street. 
New Yachting Terms. 
New York, Feb. 11. Editor Forest and Stream: In the descrip- 
tion of the new British cutter Ailsa. as published in the daily 
papers, I note the phrase "a narrowing wind. ' Now, although 
judging from the context, I can frame a tolerably satisfactory defi- 
nition I would like to see it officially explained. I have asked 
several yachtsmen about it, including one who sailed his own 
handsome schooner in English waters last summer, and all of them 
admit that the term is new to them, though in common with the 
rest of us they can give a shrewd guess at its meaning. 
"Floaty," if I mistake not, was a new English coinage of last 
year, and now we have "narrowing." Why not its converse, 
"widening?" They are all good words. Don't denounce them 
simply because they are English. AMATEUR. 
The term "narrowing wind" is, we believe, comparatively new; 
probably one of those attempts made at times, with more or less 
success 'by yachting writers, to enlarge the rather limited vocabu- 
lary at their disposal. Anyone who has ever attempted to report 
a yacht race in detail, and with regard to strict accuracy and 
clearness of expression, will understand that style is inevitably 
sacrificed to technical detail. In such a case, these special terms 
are a boon to a writer. The term "narrowing" was undoubtedly 
suggested by the common use of the word "broad;" which would 
seem to cover the case better than our correspondent's proposed 
"widening." . 
The other term, "floaty," is also new, but less definite and, ex- 
p icit. 
There is a strong temptation to a writer to avoid a constant repe- 
tition, especially of names; and it is quite a common pi-actice to 
speak of the "white boat," the "keel boat," the "cutter," or the 
"sloop," where but two boats are concerned. During the season 
of 1893 we received several vigorous protests against this practice, 
the writers all declaring that they could not distinguish the boats, 
and requesting t hat the names be used invariably . 
Model Making in Plastic Materials. 
Editor of Forest and Stream: I am greatly pleased with the at- 
tention you have given to my letter respecting model yacht con- 
struction. Crude as my ideas were, they succeeded in providing 
me with a practical and novel method, explained in your columns 
of the last issue, and for which I thank you heartily. I have since 
learned that plaster of Paris is unsuitable as a mould.much greater 
pressure being necessary to compress the paper pulp than I at first 
considered; and its use would undoubtedly be impracticable for 
amateur designers and constructors. The "paper patch" method 
you so kindly explain, promises many more advantages to me, and 
no doubt to many of your readers, and I shall test it to the best 
of my ability at an early date, and will venture to report my ex- 
perience. A. M. YOUNij. 
We shall be glad to hear from our correspondent as to his suc- 
cess, and from others interested in the subject. 
mi km Of '5K0CEABGUT" GABL, 
