June 22, 1895.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
621 
The Change of the Y. R. A. Rule. 
Our readers are aware that for nearly a year the question of the 
alteration of the rule adopted in 1886— the "rating rule"— has been 
under consideration by the Y. R. A., with what result is told very fully 
in the following report-, lately published by the Y. R. A. This report 
is of special interest to American yachtsmen from the fact that the 
extreme types exist here as well as in Great Britain, and though the 
conditions are different in some respects, any remedy which is effec- 
tual in one case will probably apply in the other. The report is as 
follows: 
Report of the committee appointed by the Council of the Yacht 
Racing Association on the 24th of October, 1894, to recommend what 
amendment to the rating rule is desirable; embodying the resolution 
unanimously adopted at the meeting of the committee, April 26, 
1895. 
1. It will be convenient in the first instance to state shortly the cir- 
cum«tances which have led up to the present report. 
2. In 1892 the yacht designers expressed to the rating rule committee 
of that, year a strong opinion that an alteration of the existing rule was 
desirable, on the ground that it was necessarily leading, especially in 
the classes of 40-rating and under, to the construction of an extreme 
•type of yacht, with small under-water body and poor internal accom- 
modation, unfit for any purpose but racing. At that time, however, it 
was considered that yacht designing had not gone so far in the direc- 
tion indicated as to render an alteration of the rule necessary. 
3. In 1894 the yacht designers again urged the desirability of altering 
the rating rule on the same grounds as before, and the matter was 
brought before the council at its meeting at Ryde, in August last, and 
after discussion a committee, consisting of the following members, 
Mr. A. Manning, Mr. Peter Donaldson, Mr. G. F. Flemmieh and Mr. W. 
Baden-Powell, was appointed to report on the working of the existing 
rule, and whether it was desirable. 
4. On the 24th of September that committee made the following re- 
port: 
"To the Council of the Yacht Racing Association: 
"Gentlemen— la accordance with your resolution of Aug. 18, 1894, 
appointing a committee to consider and obtain the opinions of the 
leading yacht designers on the working of the rating rule, the mem- 
bers of the committee who signed this report met on Sept. 8, and 
they have now to report as follows: 
"1. That in the smaller classes the rating rule is producing a type 
of vessel undesirably shallow and useless except for racing; your 
committee, however, do not consider it would be wise to attempt an 
alteration of the rule this year. They are of opinion that the time 
which would necessarilly be consumed in discussing, drafting and 
passing a new rule would render all designing and building for next 
season practically impossible. 
"2. In view of the fact of the more frequent occurrence of interna- 
tional contests, and of the fact that at present the English and Ameri- 
"I am further requested to ask you to favor me with your answer 
by Jan. 1, 1895. 
"I am, sir, faithfully yours, Dixon Kemp, Secretary." 
7. The yacht designers entered heartily into the question; obtained 
the able assistance of Mr. R E. Froude; and after meetings and cor- 
respondence between themselves, and giving the subject most careful 
consideration, addressed the following letter to the committee: 
"London*, Dec. 31. 1894.— The Chairman of the Y. R. A. Rating Rule 
Committee— Dear Sir: Referring to the circular letter dated Nov. 14, 
1894, issued by the committee appointed by the Y. R. A. to again con- 
sider the rule for rating racing yachts, and addressed to us individu- 
ally,* we. the undersigned, beg to advise you that as the result of our 
qoint deliberations we recommend, for the purpose of securing the ob- 
jects specified in that circular, the following formula, viz.: 
"In this formula, 
"L=Length on l.w.I. aB now measured. 
"B=Greatest beam wherever found. 
"G=Under-water girth of the vessel from lw.1. to l.w.l., taken at .6 
of the loadwater line from its fore end and measured along the actual 
outline of the vertical cross section at that station. If the draft for- 
ward of that station exceeds the draft at that station, twice such 
excess to be added to G. In the case of centerboards, twice the drop 
of the board measured at the center of its length to be added to G. 
In taking these measurements, all hollows in the fore and aft under- 
water profile of the vessel and centerboards to be treated as filled up 
straight, and this length to be measured in a fore and aft direction 
from the extreme forward limit lo the extreme after limit of the 
board when down. Bulb or ballasted boards to be measured in the 
same way as fixed or fin-keels. 
"S. A.=Sall area. 
"While we are certain that this rule will strongly tend in the desired 
direction, we wish to point out that in the event of the type developing 
in any undesirable direction, such tendency could at any time be eon- 
trolled by a suitable modification of the co-efficients applied to the 
several terms, without radical change in the formula. In view of the 
possibility of your committee seeing fit to adopt at once other co- 
efficients than those we have recommended, we have not specified any 
value for the constant divisor 0; but should the formula be adopted, 
this can easily be arranged so as to include existing vessels, and our 
members are prepared to give such data concerning yachts of their 
design as may be requisite for the purpose. 
"As regards the method of measuring and ascertaining girtb, we 
suggest that the present principle of accepting sail makers 1 certificates 
for the dimensions of the sails he applied, and that the certificates of 
builders and designers be accepted for the girth measurement; cor- 
responding permanent l.w.l. marks being affixed by them, such as can 
carded in favor of the simpler and more direct system which has 
hitherto generally been referred to as 'corrected length,' but as this 
term is misleading we prefer to describe and define it as simply 'rac- 
ing measurement.' 
"In this view we suggest the form of formula thus: 
L-PH--75Gi-hS VbX _ r m 
with class divisions (expressed inlfeet) of 65ft„ 52ft., 42ft.. 36ft., 30ft. 
and 24ft. , in place of the existing classes of 40, 20, 10, 5/ and 1. The 
time scale being altered accordingly. 
"If on the other hand the present system of 'rating' is to be retained 
the formula would be expressed as 
CL+B-f-75G-f,5Vs^:)9 
(J sR - 
and we suggest 55,000 as the constant divisor with classes of 40, 21, 11, 
7, 4, 2. 
"With either form of the rule we advise that all existing vessels, 
which may be found to exceed the measurement, or rating, as the case 
may be, for the classes for which they were built, shall be allowed to 
compete in such class and give the time a lowance for such excess so 
long as they are not altered so as to increase their measurement. 
Some disturbance is inevitable under any change of rule, but we think 
none of any moment will occur under the constant and classes we have 
suggested. "We have carefully held in view the obvious rights of vested 
interests which account for the somewhat 'in and out' gradation of 
the racing measurement division of classes. 
"As regards the question raised about measuring centerboards, we 
suggest the following after the words 'added to G of the formula':— 
This length to be measured in a fore and aft direction from the ex- 
treme forward limit to the extreme after limit of the board when 
down. Bulb or ballasted boards to be measured in the same way as 
fixed or fin-keels. 
"The foregoing includes the main points we were asked by the com- 
mittee to confer and report upon, but we wish further to suggest for 
your serious consideration the desirability of dealing with the con- 
stantly growing size of the 1st class cutters. It may not be advisable 
to place a hard and fast limit to size, but we are unanimously of 
opinion that it is desirable to check the size in some way, such for In- 
stance as a revision of the time scale above say 100 present rating, so 
as to appreciably penalize vessels above that size. 
"We are, dear sir. yours faithfully, "G. L. Watson, Chairman, 
"C. P. Clayton, 
"Arthur E. Payne, 
"J. M. Soper, 
"William Fife, Jr., 
"A. Richardson, 
"C. E. Nicholson." 
At this meeting the following points, all of considerable importance 
VALKYRIE III. CHALLENGER FOR THE AMERICA'S CUP. Dksignfd by G. L. Watson 18Jj 
can rating rules are practically identical, the committee recommend 
that the council should take steps to ascertain if a common rating 
could not be adopted by the countries interested in yacht racing. 
Should the council be unwilling to or fail to bring about an interha- 
tionnl rating rule, the committee recommend that a revision of the 
existing rule be made next spring, to come into operation in 1896. 
'•3 The committee have not attempted to formulate any proposal 
for altering the rule; but they are of opinion that immersed depth at 
the quarter beam might be introduced into the formula in such a 
Planner as to insure a greater bulk of under-water body, but your 
committee do not put this forward with a view of prejudging the case 
in any proposal which the council may decide to make to bring about 
an international rating rule. 
''4. The committee further report that at their meetiog they had to 
confer with them the following naval architects: Mr. G. L Watson, 
Mr. W. Fife, Jr., Mr. A, E. Payne and Mr. Dixon Kemp, and the views 
of these gentlemen are embodied in our sport. 
"5. Your committee, as well as the naval architects, were of opinion 
that it was most i mportant that the recommendations of the commit- 
tee should be made public at once, before it was possible to present 
their report to the council; the committee, therefore, decided that the 
sanction of the senior Vice-President, the Marquis of Exeter, should 
be obtained for immediate publication ; this was accordingly done, 
and the recommendations made known to the public. 
"(SIgned> "Augustus Manning. 
"Peter Donaldson. 
"G. F. Flemmiob. 
"Sept. 24, 1894." 
5 That report was considered by the council at its meeting on the 
10th and 24th of October, 1894, and at the latter meeting a resolution 
was passed to the effect that the rating rule requires amendment. At 
the same time the present committee was appointed, consisting of the 
undermentioned members: Mr. H. Crossley, Mr, Peter Donaldson, Mr. 
G. F. Flemmieh, Sir George C. Lampson, Bart., Sir G A. Leach, Mr. 
A. Manning, Mr. W. Baden-Powell, Col. Saunderson, M. P., Mr. G. B. 
Thompson, and Mr. C. Newton Robinson. The council subsequently 
appointed the Earl of Dunraven and Mr. W. Q. Jameson to the com- 
mittee. The committee was invested with all necessary powers to 
consider and recommend what amendment to the rating rule is de- 
sirable. 
6. Tbe committee deemed it advisable to ascertain the views of all 
the principal yacht designers on the subject, and with that object ad- 
dressed to them the following letter: 
"November 14, 1S94.— Dear Sir: I am requested by the Rating Rule 
Committee to inform you they are of opinion the present rule tends to 
produce in yachts unduly large circumscribing dimensions relative to 
displacement and useful living room on board; they consequently 
consider it advisable to alter or modify the rule, so that a type of ves- 
sel of more compact form, and having greater depth of under-water 
body, may be produced. 
"The Rating Rule Committee will be much obliged if you will be 
good enough to consider this matter, and suggest what formula 
you consider necessary to attain the object the committee have in 
lew 
be checked by the actual surface of the water while the vessel is afloat, 
or serve, if required for the verification of the certified girth at any 
time the vessel is dry. 
"The foregoing briefly conveys our unanimous opinion; and we may 
state that it is the result of very careful thought and consideration, 
both in conference and separately, and by the preparation and com- 
parison of a number of test designs and diagrams. 
"In the event of your desiring us to meet you for the purposes of 
discussion and explanation, we shall be pleased to do so, upon the 
understanding that we do so as a body. 
"We are, dear sir, yours faithfully, "G L Watson, Chairman, 
"C. P. Clayton, 
"Arthur E. Payne, 
"J. M SOPER, 
"William Fife, Jr., 
"A. Bichardson, 
"C. E. NiCHOLSON, 
"R. E. Froude." 
8. On the 7th of February the committee had a conference with the 
yacht designers, which Mr. Froude was good enough to attend, when 
their proposals were more fully explained aud considered. 
9- At this meeting the yacht designers emphatically confirmed the 
opinion they had previously expressed that an alteration of the exist- 
ing rule is desirable. 
10. They also expressed a confident opinion that relatively to 
rating size, the proposed rule would not be detrimental to speed, or, 
otherwise expressed, that yachts built under the proposed rul* wouid 
be as fast, if not faster, than yachts built under the existing Y. R. A. 
rule, the Seawanhaka, or any other known rule, provided the yachts 
were measured and classed under the proposed rule. 
11. During the conference the question was raised whether it would 
not be preferable to adopt a rating based on a linear instead of a cubic 
measurement, as being more simple and more easily worked, and the 
attention of the designers was drawn to this point. 
After discussion and informal conversation, the further considera- 
tion of the proposal was adjourned in order that the yacht designers 
might consider the constant to be used as a divisor with the suggested 
formula, the effect of the formula upon the classification of existing 
yachts, certain points with reference to the proposed tax on center- 
boards, and whether it would be desirable to have the rating upon a 
linear instead of a cubic measurement. 
On the 26 h April the committee had another interview with the 
yacht designers, when they submitted their views upon the points 
which had been deferred for further consideration at the last meeting. 
Those views are expressed in the following le ter: 
pV'LoSjdon - , April 25, 1895. — Dear Sir: In accordance with the request 
O' your committee, made to us at your m ?eting of the 7tn of February 
list, we have carefully considered the question of constants and 
classes applicable to our proposed rule for racing purposes, to- 
gether with other points to which our attention was directed, and now 
begto report as follows: 
"With this rule we advise that the preseat form of j rating' be dis- 
*Mr. Froude joined our con 'trence at the unanimous Invitation of 
he ther jaezabers, 
were mooted and discussed in addition to tbe proposed rating rule: 
whether there should be two separate rules for the large and small 
classes, but to this the designers were adverse; they also expressed 
ti e opinion that, without establishing any hard and fast rule, an en- 
deavor should be made to check the constantly growing size of the 
larger class of cutters, which are becoming too large for handling, 
and suggested that this might be done by a modification of the time 
scale. And they further suggested the expediency of trying to estab- 
lish an international rule of rating. 
The committee have carefully considered the rule proposed by the 
yacht designers, which has obviously been very carefully thought out, 
and is as follows: 
L-f B-f-.75G-{-.5 VsX_ R 
. _ U. 
The proposed rule appears to the committee to possess the following 
advantages: 
1. That as it takes all the principal dimensions into account it will 
probably accomplish the object desired, and prevent the development 
of any extreme type of yacht. 
2. That as there are no untaxed dimensions it is unlikely that any of 
the principal dimensions will develop under it to an undue extent, but 
that, should such prove to be the ease, undue development in any'par- 
ticular direction can be checked by merely changing the co-efficients 
or introducing co-efficients to the other dimensions without altering 
the principle of the rule. 6 
3. That while its probable tendency will te to jroduce yachts of 
more compact and useful form of under-water tody than those built 
under the present rule, it is not, in the opinion of those most com 
petent to judge, likely to produce a slower type of yacht, but probablv 
the reverse. " J 
The committee therefore recommend that the rating rule proposed 
by the yacht designers and Mr. Froude should be adopted 
The measurements the rule will require to be made are somewhat 
complicated, but the committee see no reason to anticipate difficulty 
iu obtaining these measurements any more than in obtaining the 
measurements of tbe sails. The yacht designers have no doubt that 
all designers and builders will be quite ready to give and to certify the 
accuracy of the measurements in the same way that the sail-makers 
g i ve ? h ^ sa " measurements, and they suggest that such certificates 
should be accepted. The committee recommend that, as these meas- 
urements can readily be checked if required, the course suggested by 
the yacht designers should in the first instance be followed, subject to 
future alteration if not found to work satisfactorily. The exact points 
at which the girth is measured to be marked both at the load waterline 
and at the keel. 
With regard to the question whether the rating should be rased on 
a linear instead of a cubic measurement, the committee are of opinion 
that it would be desirable to adopt the former as being more simple 
and more easily worked. It would also have the advantage of being in 
the form niost likely to lead to am international rule. 
The linear rating under the proposed rule will approximate to the 
load waterline lengths, and will compare with the existing class ratings 
as follows; 
