FOREST AND STREAM. 
278 
ctapter on "Yacht A.pcliitecfcure in Germany" describes fhe 
ejreat nros;ress made in recent veara; designs of some o£ tte 
la*'pi' Grfirraan va.chts are also given. 
Whether dpalinec with the more abstruse theories of design 
or the everv-day methods of the shipyard and boat shop, Mr. 
Kemp's treatment of the subject is alwavs direct and prac- 
tical, and tlif> book is quite as well adapted to the amateur 
and the working builder as to those of greater experienceand 
education. 
Numbered Names. 
As a matter of legal rieht a very wide latitude must cer- 
tainlvbe allowed to the owner of avacht in namini? his craft; 
a name may be as trite, commonnlace and meaniuerless as 
many really are. and yet. provided it is not already in use. it 
is in one sense no one's bnsiness but the owner's. At the 
same time it must be admitted that as a matter of ereneral 
interest and the common eood. a yachtsman is under some 
miblic obliffations in naming his new vacht. Of course, the 
first que.stionsare those of the moral right and of eood taste, 
an owner who has selected for his new vacht a new name or 
one not in present use, has a moral right to its sole and un- 
disputed use, and may justlv resent the subsequent appro- 
priation of the name by a fellow yachtsman, though such a 
practice is by no means unknown. Simi'arlv, an owner whp 
has mado famous such a name as Pnritan, Volunteer, Vici- 
lant or Defender, m«v object to ha ving it bestowed promiscu- 
ouslv on freaks, cruising tnbs. hay barees, tugboats and 
similar craft. Tbe first owner of a name has a moral right 
to its sole nse, at least within the area of the vessel's service. 
If the owner has certain risrhts he at the same time is 
nnder certain responsibilities in selecting a name. In tlie 
case of a racinsr yacht, at least, she does not belong to hira 
alone, but to his clubs and to the racine .system of which 
thpv are a nart. The least he can do is to select a name 
which will fully and definitely identify the yacht in the 
minds of vachtsmen. The doubling up of names, with or 
without numerals, is a nuisance to all parties, especially to 
those concerned in the manaaement of races. The Field 
comments as follows on the adontion of tbe custom in this 
country, something which as yet has not gone very far: 
It will be noted that the British fashion of nutting Roman 
numerals after a vacht's name, to denote the number an 
owner has built of the same name, has tak^n on over the 
other side of the water. We believe it was introduced in 
this conntrv in connection with the series of Dragons built 
bv Mr. F. O. Hill about ten years ago. Tbe fashion has now 
heen introduced into steam yachting, and although it may 
be onlv an innocent sort of whim in the case of small yachts, 
it is likely to cause confusion in delivering letters to the 
owners of cruising yachts. The name of the original yacht 
can bechaneed, of course, bnt tb^re does not appear to be 
anv reason left for adding IT,, ItT. or IV.. as tbe case may 
be," to the yachts which follow. Years ago it was a common 
practice for an owner to build a succession of yachts of the 
same name, and among these many will remember Cant. 
Whitbread's Queens, Lord Alfred Paget's Violets, Mr. 
Kirbv's Violets, etc. We think most of these retained their 
original names to the last. Indeed, the rage for changing 
tbe names of vachts is of quite recent origin, and, of course, 
the practice has grown because yachts now so frequently 
change hands." In the earlv davs of yachting an owner gen- 
erally stuck to a vessel he had built as long as he lived, but 
owners come and go now faster than the moon changes. 
The Dragon series is a ease in point; these three yachts cover 
a most interesting stage of development, the production of a 
new and admirabletype on the first adoption of the old rating 
rule, and the changes which paved the way to the fin-keel. 
Each of t he three was a very 8u^cep.ofulboat, almost asnotable 
and interesting as their sister ships from Mr. Will Fife's board. 
Clara and Minerva; but while the historv and identity of 
the latter is clear and distinct, the identities of Dragon T., 
Dragnn II., Dragon III , are completely mixed, and further 
comnlioation follows the subsequent changes of name to 
Mollv and Idalia The same is true of the three Valkyries 
aud five Spruces; the histories and the identities of the vari- 
ous boats, interesting as they are, must alwavs be in an inex- 
tricable tangle, except to their original owners. 
There is a good deal to be thankful for, so far as American 
vachting historv is concerned, that there is only one Arner- 
ica, one Mischief, one Puritan, Mayflower, Volunteer, Vigi- 
lant and Defender. 
I The Liarchmont Matches. 
The first two of the series of races for the 51ft. and 36ft. 
classes for special cups offered by Com Postley, of the 
liarchmont Y, C. were sailed last week, Syce, in the 51ft. 
class, and Acushla, in the 36ft. class, winning both races, so 
that a third was not necessary. On Sept. 22 there was a 
fresh nor'easter blowing, with of course a lively sea on the 
Sound. The first leg of the course was the three miles to 
the Hempstead mark, then four miles to windward to the 
east mark in the Sound, and four miles to tbe line The 
starters were: Syce, sailed by her owner, F. M. Hoyt; Vence- 
dor, sailed by j. F. Lovejoy, and the 36-footers Acushla, 
Wilmer Ilanan; Anoatok, Oswald Sanderson, and Vorant II. 
With Mr Sanderson were Com. Jarvis, of the Royal Cana- 
dian Y. C. and Mr. N. D. Lawton. Colonia was under way, 
as well as the steam vacht Sagamore. Tbe 51-footers started 
at 13:0.5. and the 36-footers at 12:10. Vencedor was over 
within 153., Syce being a little later, but to windward. She 
carried no topsail, but a baby .jibtopsail. The 86-footers 
made a smart and even start, Acushla carrying whole sail 
and the others each having a single reef. Syce very soon 
led Vencedor in the reaching, and Anoatok passed Acushla 
to windward just after the two came on the wind at the 
Hempstead mark; but Acushla regained her lead. The mark 
was timed; 
Syce. ..... 1 07 8i Acushla 
Vencedojr , 1 16 45 Vorant II 
Anoatok 1 33 36 
With spinakers to starboard they ran to the line, and the 
first round was timed: 
.Syce ,..,..t40 03 Auoatok 1 58 55 
Vencedor ,.,...,....149 40 Acushla 1 59 05 
Vorant,,,., Withdrew. 
The reach across to Hempstead showed a hot fight between 
Acushla and Anoatok, but when on the wind again the 
former gained very rapidly. The times at tbe East mark 
were: 
Syce , 8 40 35 Aciisbla 8 45 .'^O 
Vencedor 3 02 03 Anoatok 3 18 29 
Spinakers were set again and they ran to the finish, being 
timed: 
Syce 3 11 03 Acushla ,3 15 30 
Vencedor .»S 20 15 Anoacok 3 18 29 
The final times were: 
51ft. class. 
Length. 
Svce. F. M Hoyt. rO.86 
Vencedor, H. M. Gillig 47.64 
36ft. class. 
Acushla, Hanan Brothers M.Qi 
>inoatok. O Sandfrson 33.97 
Toranc 11., G. G. Tjson 34.00 
..1 24 33 
. .1 40 00 
Wednesday— bavin .given place to fine warm weather- A 
good start was m^de bv all the boats, the signa.i'^ being at 
12:05 and 13:10. Vencedor a,nd Acushla. as on Wednesday, 
led their classes. The wind was so light that the -Sfift. class 
soiled but one round, the 51 footers sailing two. The times 
of the rounds were: 
First Second Honje 
IVTorlr. Mark, ATapk. "Finish. 
Svoe 12 44 on 2 M 4" 2 5P 46 5 38 00 
Vpnca'fi'or ' 19 4'? 1R .S 14 27 3 41 49 Not timed. 
AcaBbl". 1^ M IV 2 R7 .^"^ .<? 08 
Anoatok 12 M 11 .S 01 59 3 .3(5 44 
Vorant II ...ta 34 3 13 08 3 4? 26 
51ft class. 
Lfneth. Elapsed. 
Svce. P. M, Hovt FO.RR 5 33 no 
Veijcedor. H. M, Gillig 47.67 Not timed. 
SeFT. CLASS. 
Acushli. w. Hanan 34.04 15 08 
AnoafnV O 8n-'d«ri50n ........ 33, Q? .3 9B 44 
Vorant II , G. G Tv-^nu 34.00 3 33 26 
Syce and Acushla win the cups. 
Elapsed. 
8 06 06 
3 21 15 
Corrected. 
8 08 06 
3 17 28 
3 40 28 
3 43 24 
Did not fluish 
3 40 23 
The preparatory signal for the second 'race was given at 
noon on Sept. 25 with alight S S. W. wind and smooth water, 
the threatened cyclone— of which a taste was met with oq 
Western Yachts.' 
FOX I^AKE T. 0. 
Chicago. III.. Sept. 24,— The final race was sailed Sept. 19 
^et.wpen Mabelle, winning boat of the Fox Lake fleet, 
and El Capitan tbe season's winner in tbe regattas of the 
Delavan Lake Y. C., of Wisconsin, the event coming off nn 
Delavan waters. Rough weather was met both davs of the 
sailing, and the last contest was finished in a gale not much 
short of that which tore the deck off El Canitan the dav pre- 
vious. Mabelle was well sailed, and proved a nuzzle for thp 
Delavanites. who saw her make the best time ever sailed 
around the Delavan course. Mabelle had never previousW 
equalled her record of Rent. 19, which broke the local rpcord 
one minnte flat. El Capitan was sailed by Capt. Philo King, 
Mabelle by Capt. Frank L. Grannie, whose crew was Mes«rs. 
K Douglas. O. Ware. W. Bower. C, Murray and Dr. PleB-l«r. 
Mabelle belongs to Bald Eagle Y. C , of Fox Lake. This 
probablv will close the season of interlake racing. Time in 
the final race was: Mabelle, 1.04,00; El Capitan, 1.17 00. 
COLTOIBIA Y. C. WATER FETE. 
Tbe Columbia Y. C. of Chicago, held a carnival last week, 
all the fleet turning out decora-ted. the following boats being 
in the harbor about the club boat-house: Toxteth, Com. 
Baker: Siren. G. W. Pearce: Charlotte R . C. M. Smaltey; 
Weasel, William Hpnnessv: Genevieve. Robert Haves: Wiz- 
ard, J. Ingersoll; Atalanta. Robert Young; R.. F, Porter; 
Skate, Wightman; Blade. Com. Ramsdell; Allie T., W. H. 
Thomnson; Pathfinder, Com. F. W. Morgan, and Vixen, 
Com. Bowles. 
The prizes for the open regat+a were distributed to the 
winners. The schooner Mistral received the Steffens cup, 
and the Lawrence a.nd Kimbark schooner cup. Siren got the 
Hennig cup, and Microbe the Farwell cup, both time prizes. 
The Hyman-Berg shield went to Peri, and other cups for the 
race went to Siren, Blade and Microbe, 
On Sent. 23 Weasel and Microbe, of Columbia Y, C , in- 
dulged in a little private contest, sailing over the course 
from Van Buren street gap in the Government pier to the 
Chicago avenue Waterworks Crib and return. The boats 
got off to a good .^tart. Weasel rounding the Crib first and 
running home winner by 10m.; time, 1:47:00 Weasel is 
owned by W. H. Hennessey, Microbe by Rosing ^ Thorn. 
E. Hough. 
The Proposed National Association. 
The following circular has been sent out this week, ac- 
companied hv the proposed articles of association and sail- 
ing rules. There is everv nrosnect that the end of this 
month will witness the birth of a strong and permanent 
nnion of American yacht clubs: 
To the Yacht Associations and Clubs of the United States 
and Canada: 
Pursuant to a resolution adopted at a conference of the 
representatives of the yacht associations and clubs of tbe 
United States and Canada, held at the Fifth Avpuue Hotel, 
in the city of New York, on Saturdav, May 1, 1897, we. the 
undersigned, a committee appointed by the chairman of the 
said conference, hereby give you notice in accordance with 
said resolution, that we have prepared articles of association 
and sailing rules, omitting from the latter the measure- 
ement and classification rules, and other rules, de- 
pendent thereon, copies of which are hereto annexed 
and which we forward to vou herewith for the pur- 
po.se specified in said resoliition of having same sub- 
mitted to the different clubs represented at said 
meeting and such other clubs as it has been deemed advisa- 
ble by this committee to furnish with copies of such articles 
of association ^and racing rules, in order and for the purpose 
of having the same reported back to this committee and hav- 
ing such associations and clubs appoint and instruct dele- 
gates as to the action or position they desire to take with re- 
spect to the same, at a meeting, which we hereby notify 
you, will be held at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, in the city of 
iSTew York, on Saturday, Oct. 30, 1897, at 3 o'clock in the 
afternoon; which meeting we hereby call for the purpose 
specified in and as directed bv said resolution. 
Newbuey D. Lawton, 1 
Aemelitts Jaevis, I 
Louis M. Clabk, I 
Alanson J. Peime, Special Committee. 
JAMES M MACDONOUGH, | 
Oswald Sandebson, | 
Frank Bowne Jones, J 
Dated Sept. 2 5, 1897. 
The Massachusetts Y. R. A. Meeting-. 
The Massachusetts Y. R. A. has a very wise provision for 
a meeting in October for the consideration and adoption of 
amendments to the rules; in good season for the early plac- 
ing of orders for new boats. Secretary Bliss has .sent out the 
following notice to the delegates: 
The October meeting of this Association will be called on 
Thursday, Oct. 21, 1897 (notice of which will be sent you 
later), at which meeting amendments to the by-laws and 
racing rules should be made; and as our rules require that 
"the notice of such meeting shall have contained the pro- 
posed amendments in full," it will be necessary for you to 
have such amendments in the hands of the secretary, to be 
inserted in notice, at least one week before the meeting. 
The aim of this Association is to improve and perfect its 
rules, and each delegate should present this matter to his 
club at its next regular meeting, and also confer personally 
with racing men vnth regard to any changes which might be 
beneficial to yacht racing. 
Prominent among ideas which have been advanced are the 
increasing of the class limits 1ft.; to establish 15ft. and 35ft. 
classes; to subdivide the third class into cabin and open 
boats, and as to postponing the abolishment of time allow- 
ance, etc., etc.. all of which should be presented to your club, 
and you should come to the meeting prepared to vote as your 
club .may have instructed you. 
This is businesslike and very much to the point; if owners, 
delegates and clubs will do their part in suggesting and dis- 
cussing proposals for the improvement of the rules, much 
may be accomplished; and that in time to be utilized next 
season. 
Winninjor Flags. 
One excellent feature of modern racing is the growing im- 
portance of continuous records as compared with individ- 
nal prizes; the coranetition in many cases beins out of all 
proportion to the intrinsic value of the prizes. This is par- 
ticularlvthe case in the did'erent racing as=<ociations, such 
as the Lake Y. R. A. and the Massachusetts Y. _R. A.; the 
cash nrizes are generally small, but everv yacht in the fleet 
is racing for a place on the official record. The Lake Y. R. 
A. has for some years nast awarded flags of different colors 
for fir.st, second and third nlaces in its races; the competi- 
tion for these flags being far keener than it would be for 
such cash nrizes as the association coiild aflford. The Massa- 
dhu.setts Y, R. A. preserves an official record of every race 
and every vacht, from which is compiled the official average. 
At the end of the season a bronze medal and a pennant are 
given to the vacht having the highest percentage in each 
class, and a diploma is given to the vacht winning the high- 
e.st percentage in all the classes. At the end of the season 
there is published in pamphlet form the official records of 
every race and of every class, showing tbe relative work of 
each yacht in tbe fleet. In most of the races the prizes are 
in cash, and small in amount, but there is a strong and 
healthy rivalry for a place on the record. 
In other localities, where the matter has not yet been re- 
duced to a .system, the English custom of flying a winning 
flag, the owner's burgee, for each race, is becoming more 
popular every year. 
It is unfortunately the case that very valuable prizes do 
not attract entries, as instanced this year in tbe case of the 
Gnelet cups and the Larchmont schooner cup; and. on the 
other hand, where there is really a .snirit of rivalry between 
owners, as in the 30Et. class and the Boston classes, there is 
gnnd racing for comparatively small prizes in cash or cuos. 
With this evidence before them, it is to the interest, of the 
associations and clubs to encourage as far as possible the 
fashion of racing for records. 
One essential of this system is the flying of winning flags 
as an evidence of victory; and this usage should be encour- 
aged, but at the same time It must be regulated by laws, or 
it will soon fall a victim of abuse. The Yachtsman, in a 
late issue, discusses the English usage as follows: 
From time to time the custom of flying winning flags for 
prizes other than firsts has engaged attention, but no defin- 
ite rule or recommendation has been made by the Yacht 
Racing Association on the subject. This seems a pity, for 
winning flags are the only emblems whereby the general 
nublic pan be made aware of the successes of a yacht, and it 
is certainly delu.sive to find one craft flying say twenty flags, 
of which perhaps only two or three represent firsts, while 
another in the same class may boast only fifteen, ten of 
which may be for firsts. It is now the custom, too, to "fly 
flags for third prizes; and, no doubt, where a fourth prize is 
. given, it would be held to carry a flag with it, A few years 
£go thi« custom did not exist, and we think that some steps 
.should be taken to alter it, for it is calculated to rob a time- 
honored privilege of mnch of its value. 
Suggestions have been made that flags denoting second 
and third prizes should be of different shapes from that of 
the firsts, or that the difl'erent values of the flags should be 
denoted by separating each lot by some fancy flag. This cer- 
tainly wotild be better than the present indiscriminate habit 
of flying all together, and perhaps it would be well to allow 
no yacht to fly a flag for a second prize unless there were at 
least five starters in a race, nor a third prize flag unless there 
were seven. If the Y. R. A. intends to undertake the regis- 
tration of racing flags, it might also at the same time consider 
this question. 
There are in the above several suggestions which are 
worthy of the attention of American associations and clubs, 
as it is desirable that every encouragement be given to this 
inexpensive and valuable stimulus to yacht racing. Should 
the proposed national association become a reality this fall, 
as we earnestly hope it may, it cannot do better than to take 
up at once the entire flag question, assuming the task of 
formally registering racing flags; in fact, all private signals, 
even of cruising owners, and of establishing a definite sys- 
tem of recording prize positions in races and indicating them 
by means of winning flags. There has been for some time a- 
demand on the part of yachtsmen for some official registra- 
tion of private signals, but this is hardly a matter that the 
Government can be expected to btirden itself with, and none 
of the existing associations or clubs possess the requisite 
jurisdiction. Such work, however, is well within the func- 
tions of a national association. 
The same is true of records and winning flags, while some 
associations have attempted to deal with the matter, one 
uniform system, such as can best be established and main- 
tained by a national union of all associations and clubs, will 
be in every way superior. It is hardly necessary now to dis- 
cuss the details, but there should be some standard symbols 
for first, second and third place; and some limitations, such 
as suggested by The Yachtsman, of a minimum number of 
starters as requisite to the award of such places. 
The Speed of Yachts. 
The present year has witnessed some exceptionally high 
speeds on the part of small yachts in this country, both on 
salt and fresh water. The following observations on the 
speed of large yachts are contributed to the Field by Mrs. 
Wynham Fitzherbert, of the Royal Dorset Y. C. : 
I note that in referring to the fast sailed race between 
Aurora and Bona round the Shambles Lightship, at the 
Royal Dorset Y. C. regatta, on Aug. 21, mention is made of 
the memorable duel between Satanita and Britannia in 
1894 over the same course. On comparing the speeds of tbe 
yachts on the two occasions they prove to be very similar. 
In 1894 Satanita covered the 81 miles in 2h. 32m. -3.53., and 
Britannia in 2b. 37m. 8s.. while at the late regatta Meteor 
took 2h. 35m. 45s.; Aurora 2h. 85m. 50s ; and IBona 2h. 44m. 
35s. to complete the same course. Satanita's rate of sailing 
works out at 12,19 knots per hour; Meteor's at 11 94 knots, 
Aurora's at 11.93 knots, Britannia's at 11.82 knots, and 
Sona's at 11,30 knots. In 1894 the sea was worse, but the 
wind was not quite so heavy; Satanita and Britannia carry- 
ing jibheaders over reefed mainsails, whereas this year the 
yachts with housed topmasts had all they could stagger 
under. 
In 1894, the wind being E. by N., the yachts could not 
fetch No. 1 markboat, one and a quarter miles from the 
committee boat, but had to make two tacks in the first 
round and one tack in the second round to weather it, so 
that more water was sailed through on the occasion of the 
1894 race than in the last. Although a high rate of speed is 
attained by large yachts while racing in a strong wind, races 
in which this point of sailing alone is exemplified, are un- 
satisfactory as tests of all round capabilities, and it is un- 
fortunate that the formation of Weymouth Bay is such as 
to preclude the oiitside markboats from remaining safely 
in position when a heavy blow occurs from any point be- 
tween S.S.W. and E,N. E. .SaUing committees of clubssitu- 
ated on the landlocked waters of the Solent are luckily 
spared the markboat anxiety, for well-known buoys and 
lightships furnish them with all they require, whatever may 
be the state of the weather. Less fortunately situated com- 
mittes are lialle to be confronted at the last minnte with 
the necessity of substituting an inferior course for that in- 
tended, owing to the sudden collapse of one of the necessary 
turning points. 
