FOREST AND STREAM. 
floor, since it is of no service below and spoils the deekroom. 
In cabin arrangement, Wanaissa is an example of a boat in 
the class fitted foi: more than two men. Locker room has 
been cut down somewhat, and there will be a 14ft. cabin 
with 13£t. transoms, making berths for four. The cabin will 
be divided by curtains if ladies are aboard. In the after end 
are small clothes lockers, and on theforward bulkhead silver 
and china cabinets. Two and one-half feet of the house is 
in the galley, giving head room for toilet and cook's depart- 
ment, while forward of the mast is the usual berth and stow- 
age. By using rather a high side and house, the cabin floor 
is kept 3ft. wide instead of 2ft. or le=s. These two arrange- 
ments described will show the roominess of the type as far 
as cabin plan goes. 
The important point, however, is that this class is the 
smallest size of boat in which full head room can be ob- 
tained, and yet be readily handled evenby oneman, although 
of course two is the smallest number for easy work on any 
craft. 
The question of rig is to be settled by the owner's pur- 
poses. If afternoon sailing and single-handed work is most 
of the programme, the knockabout sail plan is the thing, but 
for general cruising, especially where a man or boy is shipped 
as crew, the bowsprit and "divided skirt" forward is far 
better, above all, if the boat is quite powerful. 
Plenty of zest can be found in racing in this class if the 
owners desire it, and what is better, men building in it have 
the satisfaction of possessing a craft that is a yacht, and not 
a sail boat, fit to live or cruise on, yet perfectly available for 
easy work on short sails, even single-handed. This was the 
chief quality lacking in the old-time sloop and catboat, as 
well as in the compromise cutter, of fairly good accommoda^ 
tion, but all "legs and wings." 
The formulation of rules for a restricted racing 25ft. class 
should not be a difficult matter, and with the present 
nucleus to build upon, and with the advantages of the size 
fully appreciated, a rapid growth should be assured. A few 
races this season would help the class in many ways, while 
its promotion would be a most desirable thing for yachting, 
as affording a motive for building good, wholesome boats of 
a convenient size, as against the inevitable necessity of build- 
ing "machines" in the open and unrestricted classes. 
The question may also fairly be asked if it is not in such 
restricted classes, where racing and cruising qualities are 
combined, that the future of yacht racing is to be found. 
We agree fully with the Glnhe's reasoning, but we are pre- 
pared to go further in the belief that the restricted classes, 
each under special conditions must before long give place to 
one uniform measurement rule which shall embody strongly 
restrictive conditions in itself, rendering special rules and 
classes unnecessary. As a vital part of such a rule there 
must be a limitaiion on construe tion, more extended, but 
after the same general plan as the present limitations of the 
knockabout class. 
Of course such a rule would meet with strong opposition 
from those who believe in unrestricted speed without rules, 
or with the least possible semblance of a rule, such as mere 
waterline measurement; and there would be the familiar 
cry of a "tax on skill;" but we believe that if the clubs pos- 
sess the ability to formulate a restrictive rule, that will pro- 
mote ai yacht of comparatively full body, moderate draft and 
sail area and extended lateral plane, and if they have the 
courage to adopt such a rule, that it will in a short timu 
secure the approval and support of yachtsmen as a body. 
If there are still those who wish to build and race the 
fastest possible yachts, there is no good reason why they 
should not be allowed to do so under any rule, how- 
ever flimsy, that they may chose to adopt. The result 
would be the establishment of double classes, the un- 
limited racing type for one and the wholesome, useable, all- 
Touud type in the other. Those who cared to put their 
money in a Defender, a Quissetta or a Niagara, or even more 
extreme craft in modpl and construction, would be at perfect 
liberty to do so, as at present; and with certainly no worse 
chance than now of finding others of the same miud to make 
racing for them. Those who wished, as so many at least 
profess to, for the opportunity to build again a yacht of mod- 
crate proportions and reasonable accommod^ tion and con- 
struction and yet to have some racing with other craft of the 
same type, would have an opportunity, such as does not now 
exist, to do so. Of course, the technical objection exists that 
this would mean double the amount for prizes if both classes 
are to be encouraged; but to this it may be said that any 
money given for prizes in actually existing classes of the sec- 
ond division would be well spent, and as for the first or 
machine division, this exists only in name to-day, there being 
no real racing in any class save the 90ft. schooners, and there 
is little probability, even as matters now are, of new boats to 
match Defender, Queen Mab, Wasp and Niagara, and Syce. 
It is probable that some experiment in the direction of a 
new racing formula will be made next fall, and we hope that 
it may be upon the lines here indicated, of comparatively 
rigid restriction of extreme features of design and construc- 
tion, in which speed is at least rated no higher, if as hi|;h, as 
the other essentials of accommodation; seagoing qualities, as 
influenced by the area and shape of the lateral plane; dura- 
bility and cost of construction; duration of racing life before 
being outbuilt, and further utility as a crui&er after being 
outbuilt. 
Such regulations need not apply to the smaller classes 
under 35ft. l.w 1., but they might well begin with that size, 
creating such craft as those described by the Olohe. From 
this size upward they should cover at least up to 70ft. l.w.I, 
beyond which size there is no necessity of going, except in the 
schooner division, where they should include the present 
largest class, of 90ft. l.w.I. 
If such a rule were made strongly restrictive, at least as 
much so as the present Knockabout rule, and even more 
rigid in the regulation of midship section and lateral plane, 
any yachts built under it would be ol decidedly better type 
than those now in the racing, and they would befastenough 
to make good sport in their own classes. If such boats were 
built, in even moderate numbers in three or four classes, the 
result would be highly beneficial to yachting in all its 
branches, as all depend more or less on the continuance of 
general racing. If none were built, the situation would be 
no worse than that now existing. If there were any yachts- 
men who felt that they would be hampered by building 
craft a little slower than the fastest ever before known, they 
would still be at liberty to build in the unlimited class, with 
aluminum hnlls, mercury bulbs and any other expensive 
refinements. If the designers, in the same spirit, felt that 
they were unjustly hampered in their search for speed, they 
would also be at liberty to design more useless and costly 
machines and to induce an occasional rich business man, 
with an eye to advertising, or a foolish syndicate, to build 
from their up-to-date creations. As far as we can see, the 
experiment is well worth trying, and if tried should not be 
made a fore-ordained failure by too great deference to purely 
racing ideas. . 
Toledo Y. A. 
TOiBDO— LAKE ERIE. 
Monday, May 31. 
TflE fir.^t race sailed under the new Lake Y. B; IT; rtileS 
took place on May 31 at Toledo, under the flag of the Toledo 
Y. A. The winners were: 
42fb. — Sultana, beating Scud and Oberon. 
37ft. — ^Puritana, sail-over. 
83ft, — Eva, beating Viking and Crescent. 
27ft. — Typhoon, beating Mabel R., Myrra, Pearl and 
Sharper. 
23ft.— Elfin, beating Flirt. 
Riverside Y. C. 
The Riverside Y. C. will sail a special race for the 51, 30, 
20 and loft, classes of cutters and sloops on June 9, starting 
at 12 M. from Riverside Conn. Trains leave the Grand Cen- 
tral .station, New York, at 7 A. M., 9:03 A. M., and 10;06 A. 
M. The race committee of the club makes the following an- 
nouncement: 
The following races will be sailed under the auspices of 
the club dm-ing this season: 
Wednesday, June 9: Special race for the 51, 30, 30 and 15ft. 
cla^'ses of sloops, cutters and yawls, 
Wednesday, July 7, and Saturday, July 10: Ninth annual 
races for all classes. (The race on the first day will be for 
schooners and all classes of sloops, cutters and yawls BOft. 
and over; and the race on the second day for the sloop classes 
23ft. and under, and catboats.) 
Saturday, Sept. 11.— Fall race for the 43, 36, 30 and 25ft. 
clasises of sloops, cutters and yawls, and the 30 and 2r)ft. 
classes of cabin catboats. 
The time of starting each day will be 12 o'clock M. 
All the races will be open to yachts enrolled in any recog- 
nized club, and will be sailed under the rules of the Yacht 
Racing Union of Long Island Sound. Copies of the rules, 
charts of the courses, and the schedules of the racing events 
on the Sound for the season can be had from the committee 
on application. 
Yachts starting in races this season without having been 
officially measured will be disqualified. All yachts in sloop 
classes 35ft. and under, and in all catboat classes, must be 
remeasured this year with weight on board to represent the 
crew. Mr. E. Frank Lockwood, the measurer of the club, 
will be prepared to measure yachts at the club anchorage on 
due notice being ^iven him. 
New official racing numbers must beobtaineed this .season 
for all yachts intending to race. These numbers are fur- 
nished by Messrs. R.ehm & Co. , 157 Fulton street. New York. 
The Atlantic Y. C. having accepted the invitation of this 
club to start on its cruise from off Riverside, and to partici- 
pate in the race of June 7, this event will be of unusual in- 
terest. A steamer will be chartered tor the xise of members 
and their guests for the day, and will be in charge of the en- 
tertainment committee. Facilities will be afforded members 
of the club to attend the other races also. 
A movement is now on foot to establish a special club class 
of sailing dories, boats that will be useful for fishing and 
other purposes, to be built at a nominal cost of from S25 to 
$50 each. Plans and specifications from different builders 
will be submitted at the next meeting of the club on June 4. 
In the event of these boats being built, the committee will 
arrange a series of races for the class in addition to the regu- 
lar races. 
Race Committee — Frank Bowne Jones, George B. Clark, 
H. W. Tyler. 
The Taxation of Extreme Elements of Desig'n. 
SiN'CE the close of the past season the Seawanhaka C. Y.C., 
in the first place at the instance of Com. Rouse, has had un- 
der consideration the question of the improvement of the 
measurement rule, and though no positive result has as yet 
been attained in the discovery of a perfectly satisfactory 
formula, many proposals have been studied and their good 
or bad points accepted or condemned. Those engaged in the 
work have been unwilling to accept unreservedly the various 
crude and ineffective remedies thus far proposed in default 
of reasonable ground for the belief that they would be per- 
manently beneficial. 
The original investigation was directed rather to the prep- 
aration of a formula that should, as far as possible, equalize 
the old and new boats; for the direct purpose of encouraging 
racing among existing craft. It was soon perceived that 
such a measure, even though successfiil in itself, would by 
no means meet the necessities of the case in regulating the 
designing of new yachts specially to evade it; the scope of 
the inquiry was thereupon materially enlarged to include a 
formula which would produne a more desirable type of yacht 
than that at present in existence, under the actual test of 
designing, building and racing for successive seasons. 
Wi thin a short time a proposal has been placed before the 
committee which promises more than any yet advanced, and 
it is hoped that before the time comes for renewed action, at 
the end of the present season, the committee may be able to 
set forth a definite proposition for a new rule. 
In the meantime it has reverted to the original idea of en- 
couraging racing among existing yachts, and to that end has 
taken tip the formula proposed last fall by Mr. Irving Cox 
and explained in his letter published in the Forest aku 
STitEAM of Oct. 17, lb96. As stated in the following an- 
nouncement of the committee, Com. Rouse has offered special 
prizes to be awarded to the winners as measured by this 
formula, in addition to the regular class prizes under the 
club rule. 
In its taxation of excessive draft, overhang and sail area, 
the formula is designed to meet the prevalent complaints of 
the owners of the older yachts. It now remains to be seen 
whether these yachtsmen— and they are by no means few in 
number — are prepared to support the effort of the Seawan- 
haka C. Y. C.'and its committee to give them what they 
have asked for- a fighting chance against the more modern 
yachts. 
We beg to call your attention to the accompanying an 
nouucement of the special prizes offered by the commodore 
of the club for competition at the annual race to be held at 
Oyster Bay, Long Island Sound, on Saturday, June 36, 1897, 
and to invite you to enter your yacht for that event. Tne 
record of recent racing, especially during the last yachting 
season, has shown conclusively that, under the present rule 
of measurement for time allowance, yachts of the older type, 
even such as are of comparatively modern construction, can- 
not successfully compete and cannot be induced to compete 
with the few purely racing craft which embody the most ex- 
tireme development of the elements of speed untaxed by that 
rule. The resulting indifference to racing in the larger 
classes has grown so rapidly as to lead to the conviction that 
unless some new departure is made all interest therein will 
ultimately cease. In September last Com. Rouse addre.^sed 
a letter to us, calling our attention to this unfortunate ten- 
dency and suggesting that a practical effort be made by mod- 
ifying the existing rule of measurement on certain proposed 
lines, and providing for races in cruising trim, strictly defined, 
to arouse fresh interest in racing and at the same time pro- 
mote the final solution of the problem of measurement to 
govern future building. This gave rise to a prolonged and 
interesting discussion of the subject during the past winter 
and spring, in which we have had the aid of several well- 
known yacht designers. Several formula: have been sub- 
mitted, which will be of great value in the final determina- 
tion of the problem. After careful consideration we have 
reverted to the original suggestion of the commodore, as 
developed by Mr. Irving Cox into the formula set forth in 
the accompanying circular, as best adapted to promote the 
Immediate purpose in view. The theory of this formula is 
so to tax the speed-producing features of the modern racing 
yachts as to give vessels of the more wholesome and normal 
type a chance of competing, if not on even terms, at least 
with some possibility of success. It is hoped that the en- 
couragement of this formula for time allowance and the 
condition that the race shall be sailed in cruising trim 
strictly defined, thus avoiding the discomfort and loss of use 
resulting from stripping cruising fittings on deck and below, 
will induce a large entry from among the older vessels. It 
has seemed to us that, if racing in the larger classes is to be- 
come general again, some such expedient must be resorted 
to, and the present is offered, not as a confident solution of 
the problem, but in the hope that a race for valuable prizes, 
sailed under the.se conditions, will be successful enough to 
arouse a lively interest and that the practical test of the 
proposed formula will be of substantial value in further 
efforts to perfect a rule of measurement to govern future 
building. 
We hope that you will feel sufficient interest in the pur- 
poses for which these prizes are. offered to enter your 
yacht. The approximate measurement of your yacht under 
the foregoing formula and any further information which 
you may require will be gladly furnished by the committee. 
The favor of an early reply to the secretary is requested. 
Yours very truly, 
Olivek E. Cromwell, Chairman, 
64 Leonard street. New York. 
Charles W. Wetmoee, 
30 Broad street. New York. 
Walter C. Kerr, 
26 Cortland t street, New York. 
D. Le Ror Dresser, 
55 White street. New York. 
Charles A. Sherman, Secretary. 
64 Leonard street. New York. 
COMMODORE'S PRIZES, SEASON OP 1897. 
Commodore Rouse has offered the following special prizes 
to be competed for at the an nual race of the club, to be held 
on Saturday, June 26: 
First. — A prize open to all schooners. 
Second. — A prize open to cutters of the first class. 
Third, — A prize open to cutters from the 70ft. class to the 
43 ft. class (inclusive). 
The following special conditions will govern the race: 
MEASUREMENT FOR TBtE ALLOWANCE. 
The measurement for time allowance will be computed 
according to the following formula: 
3 A+B+C-1-L W L.+ Vs' A. 
a =P- ^• 
A=Exces.'5 of draft over 1.4Vl .W.L 
B=Excess of over all length above 1.33 (L.W.L.). 
€=Esces8 of Vsail area above 1.05 (L. W.L.). 
CEXIISIN0 TRIM. 
Yachts must sail in cruising trim, defined as follows: 
Cabin, galley and deck furniture, and fittings, and equip- 
ment to be in place; two anchors and full lengths of cnaln 
on board, and at least one anchor on the bow with cable 
bent; full complement of cruising boats on deck, but not in- 
cluding naphtha launches; hig foresails barred onschooners, 
and club topsails barred on schooners, cutters, sloops and 
yawls. 
Conformity with these requirements to be subject to the 
inspection and determination of the race committee. 
The Bahamas as a Cruising Ground. 
The following letter, from a yachtsman, maybe of interest 
to our readers in calling attention to a. cruising ground for 
American yachts of small size that has much to recommend 
it and yet is little known. The cruise to Florida from New ; 
York or Boston, now an every-day matter for even small ^ 
yachts, might be greatly va.ried and extended by the short | 
trip across from Biscayne to the Bahamas, and with much 
less risk than that encountered along the Carolina coast: , 
Cat Cay, Bahamas, May, imi — Editor Forest and 
Stream: A few facts about these islands may be of interest . 
to such of your yachting readers as contemplate a southern i 
cruise after the season north. 
The climate is well known; suffice it to say that from i 
November to June it is (from a yachtman's point of viewj as ■ 
nearly perfect as possible— the thermometer varying from i| 
65* to 85', with regular and moderate winds. i 
The Bahamas lie between 21' and 27° N. lat. and 72" and I! 
79° W. long. The group consists of about twenty inhabited Ij 
islands and an immense number of islets and rocks. Though r 
of easy access from South Florida — ^Bimini, the nearest settle- | 
ment and a port of entry, being less than fifty miles from ' 
Cape Florida— they are seldom visited, and except New , 
Providence, on which is Nassau, the capital, they are almost 
unknown. 
A few honrs' sail from Biscayne Bay, Fla. , brings one to Gun 
Cay Light, on the western edge of the Great Bahama Bank, 
which extends south and east for many hundred miles. With 
an average depth of two to three fathoms, free from obstruc- 
tions, a bottom of smooth white sand, and absolutely clear 
water, the banks form an ideal cruising ground for yachts of 
moderate draft. 
Throughout the islands are plenty of excellent harbors, 
and on account of the clear water a boat drawing not more 
than 5ft. can go anywhere without a pilot, though if one is . 
needed it is easy to hire a local sponger for a small considera- ' 
tion. The natives are hospitable and obliging. Provisions, 
such as poultry, eggs, fruit and vegetables, are cheap, but it 
is advisable to take a good supply of canned goods from the 
IJnited States, and so avoid the exorbitant duties. There is 
good fishing almost everywhere, and in some parts pigeons s 
and ducks are plentiful. A description of even the principal 
islands would take up too much space. From Bimiai, with 
its Fountain of Youth, on the west, to San Salvador, the 
landfall of Christopher Columbus, on the east, they are full 
of interest. Were it better known how easy of access they 
are, the Bahamas would doubtless become one of the most 
popular winter yachting resorts. H. 
Ealage and Handy. 
The two new Cuthbert cutters, which arrived at the Royal 
St. Lawrence Y. C. on May 29, are very handsome yachts of ■ 
their type. Lalage, owned by Mr. J, B. Abbott, is a full 20- 1 
footer, 17fb. 6in. l.w.I., 7ft. 6in. beam, 39ft. on deck, 3ft. draft 
of water, with OOOlbs. of lead bolted on to the keel, and 
500sq. ft. of sail, and will make a very fine cruising yacht, 
that being the first consideration in her design and build. 
The hull is very heavy and strongly built as compared with 
the other racing SO footers, the only light feature being the 
standing rigging, and that is exceptionally light, looking 
as if the first putf of wind would blow it away, but the two 
weeks' sailing from Toronto, which Mr. Cuthbert reported 
as the worst weather he ever experienced, failed to damage it. ' 
She has a roomy self-draining cockpit with room for- 
ward for two to sleep if necessary, and in other re- 
spects fully carries out the owner's wish for a fast and 
safe cruising boat. The other yacht, which will race 
in the 25ft. class, is the Handy, ovvnedby T. S. Gillespie, 
and is a very roomy and comfortable craft. Her speed 
has not yet been tested, but no doubt will prove satis- 
factory. As to sea-going qualities, Mr. Gillespie, who 
sailed her from Toronto wxth the assistance of J. J. Cooley, 
reports her as perfectly safe in any weather that can blow. 
Her dimensions are: 18ft. l.w.I., 38ft. on deck, 7ft. 4in. beam, 
3ft. draft, with l,8001bs. of lead bolted to her keel, and SOOsq. 
ft. of working canvas and l,400iq.. ft. in all. Her general 
qualities are for comfortable cruising, there being a very 
neat cabin, with ice-box provision chest, clothes lockers and 
berths for four. She will not be seen much on Lake St. i 
Louis except for the races, her owner intending to keep her ' 
on Lake of the Two Mountains. By the way Lalage is not 
a word of two syllables, and it is not French. It is a three- 
syllable word and is pronounced La-la-jee, with the accent 
on the last syllable. —Mbrifrreol Oasette, 
