396 
THE NORTH AMERICAN YACHT RAC- 
ING UNION. 
The formal organization of the North American Yscht 
lR,aciDg Union took place at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. New 
York, on Oct. 30. the articles of association being adopted 
and 'officers elected. The movement for the establishment 
"of a national yachting body began early last winter, and re- 
united in H conference of yachtsmen in New York on May 1. 
Thongh many of the delegates present, especially those from 
a distance, were in favor of immediate action and organiza- 
tion, it was at last decided that nothing final should be done 
"until the fall; a special committee being appointed to draw 
"up articles of association and sailing rules during the sum- 
mer, these to be submitted to all clubs and associations for 
criticisms, and after Hnal revision to b6 acted iipon at a 
•meeting in October. The aiiicles of agreement and sailing 
Vnles. as prepared by the committee, have been published 
already in the foRKST ASTt Stream of Oct. 9. tbe date of the 
Sneeting being fixed for Oct. 30. 
All of tbe members of the cnmmittee, Messrs. N. B. I^aw- 
ton, 'S\ Bowne Jones. JSmelius Jarvis, L. M. Clark, J. M. 
Macdonough, A. J. Prime and 0.swa.ld Sanderson, were in 
New York on Friday, Oct. 29, and the chairman, Mr. Law- 
%on, entertained the other members at dinner at the New 
York Club. This gave occasion for an informal but thor- 
ough discussion of some points in the propo.sed rules, on 
which " difference of opinion existed; but when the party 
teroke up at 1 A M., there was still nothing like a complete 
agreement on some very important details. 
The committee met again on Saturday, at 1 P. M., at the 
Seawaiihaka C. "Y. G. house for lunch, and the same disputed 
points wer« further discussed until 3 o'clock, when the mem- 
bers adjourned to the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Other delegates 
were already present in parlor F, and the meeting was called 
to order by Mr. Lawton at 3:15. Mr. Jones, the sebretar^ of 
the committee, was requested to read the call fbt the tneet- 
ing, as follows: 
To the Yncht Associations and Clubs oj' the tihited States 
and Canada: 
Pursuant to a resolution adoptjea at a conference of the 
representatives of the yacht associations and clubs of the 
United States and Canada, held at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, 
'in the city of New York, on Saturday, 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 measurement 
■and classification rules, and other riales dependent thereon, 
'copies of which are hereto annexed, and which we forward 
to you herewith for the purpose specified in said resolution 
■of "having same submitted to the different clubs represented 
■at said meeting, and such other clubs as it has been deemed 
■advisable by tbe committee to furnisli 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 having such associations and clubs appoint and instruct 
'delegates as to the action or position they desire to take with 
respect to the same, at a meeting which, we hereby notify 
you, will be held at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, in the city of 
New 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 by said resolution. 
Dated Sept. 25, 18.97. 
Nl!WBtrBT D TjAWTON, 
JSmelius Jakvis, 
Louis M. Clark. 
Alanson J. Prime, 
James M. Macdonough, 
Oswald Sanderson, 
Frank Bowne Jones, 
Special Committee. 
Nominations for chairman of the meetiag were then called 
'for, and Oliver E. Cromwell was nominated by Mr Prime, 
■seconded by Mr. Lovejoy, and elected. Nominations for secre- 
tary were called for, and W. P. Stephens, who had served as 
secretary of the May meeting, was nominated by Mr. Love 
.joy, seconded by Mr. Jones, and elected. The roll was then 
called, as follows: 
^melius Jarvis (Royal Canadian Y. C), Y. R. U. of the 
Great Lakes. 
B. B. Hart, H. W. Tyler, Oliver E. Cromwell, F. Bowne 
Jones, C. P. Tower, Sfcuyvesant Wainwright and P. E. 
Towle. Jr., Y. R. U. of Long I.'-land Sound. 
M. Clark (Massachusetts Y. C), Massachusetts Y. R. A. 
A. J. Prime (Yonkers Cor. Y. C), New York Y. R. A. 
J. M. Macdonough (Pacific Y. C), Pacific Interclab Y. A. 
E. W. Radder (Cleveland Y. A.), Interlake Y. A. and Lake 
Michigan Y. A. 
E. H. Ambro!=e (Royal Hamilton Y. C. ), Lake Y. R A. 
A. F. Bancroft, Henry S. Jeanes (Corinthian Y. C. of Phil- 
adelphia. 
Oswald Sanderson, JobnF. Lovejoy, Larchmont Y. C. 
F. T. Adams, N. D. Lawton, Atlantic Y. C. 
P. H. Jeannot, Wm. Cagger, Brooklyn Y. C. 
Rawson Ilnderhill, Penataquit Cor. Y. C. 
Mr. Prime moved that in voting on all questions at this 
meeting each club shall be entitled to one vote, and each as- 
sociation shall be entitled to one vote for each club compris- 
ing such association. Seconded by Mr. Jarvis and carried. 
The report of the organization committee was then called 
for, and on motion of Mr. Jarvis seconded by Mr. Adams, it 
was decided that Mr. Lawton should read the articles of 
association seriatori,, and that those to which no objection 
was made should be considered as approved by the meeting. 
The first five articles were then read and accepted without 
comment; in the amended form as given hei-eafter. When 
Art. 6. relating to the management, was read, Mr. Radder 
moved, seconded by Mr. Wainwright, that the chairman 
and treasurer must be members of the Council, and that the 
chairman should preside ac all meetings of the Union. Mr. 
Radder suggested the desirability of leaving the secretary- 
ship free from this limitation, a-j someone not a member of 
the Council might be available for the office of secretary. 
Mr. Jones opposed thii-', and offered an amendment: "The 
Council shall from their number elect a chairman, secretary 
and a treasurer." Mr. Sanderson seconded the motion, and 
Mr. Clark suggested the addition of the words "who shall 
be chairman of the Union." Thi.s was acciipted by Messrs. 
Jones and Sanderson, and after discussion it was carried iu 
the following words: "The Council shall elect from its num- 
ber a chairman, who shall preside at all meetings of the 
Union, a secretary and a treasurer." 
In considering Art. 7, Mr. Radder suggested the advisabil- 
ity of ten days' notice of special meetings, instead of five. 
After some discussion of the subject of special meetings, ivir. 
Jones moved to insert the word "ten" for "five," which was 
carried. The remaining articles were read and approved; 
and on motion of Mr. Clark, seconded by Mr. Sanderson, 
were formally adopted as the articles of association. 
North American Yacht Raclnj? Union. 
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION. 
1. Namr, — The name of this organization shall be the 
North American Yacht Racing Union, 
8. Objects.— The objects of the Union shall be to en- 
courage yacht racing and promote the adoption of uniform 
racing rules tbrougbout the United States and Canada. 
3. Organization,— Any yacht club in North America hav- 
ing a regular membership of over fifty members and over 
fifteen yachts of 15ft.. racing measurement or upward en- 
rolled in its fleet, or any association of yacht clubs,, §.hall be 
eligible for membership in ihe Union. 
4. Representation.— Each asgotsiation or club shall be 
entitled to be repre.sehted in this Unioii as follows: 
Each local association belonging to this ITnion shall be 
entitled to choose from the delegates from the clubs of which 
it consists, representatives to this Union, the number of such 
representatives to be determined as follows: One representa- 
tive for each club having 100 members, and one representa- 
tive in addition for each additional 200 members. Each club 
belopaing to this Union, but not connected with any local 
association, shall be entitled to choose from its members one 
representative for 100 members, and one representative in 
addition for each additional 200 members. 
5. Powers.— The Union shall have power to adopt racinjg 
rules, but no ass-ociation or club having membership in this 
organization shall be bound by such rliltes until ratified by 
such organigation. 
6 MANAOEMEWf.-^The affairs of the Union shall be man- 
aged by a tjonncil, consisting of fifteen representatives, who 
shall he elected annually by the Union at the annual meet- 
ing, and shall hold office for one vear, or until their succes- 
sors are elected, and shall have power to fill vacancies in its 
nnmber. 
7. Duties ( f Council —It shall be the duty of the Coun- 
cil to consider and act upon application for membership in 
the Union, to appoint special officers and committees, to 
frame racing rules for .auhmission to the Union, and to de- 
termine and settle all difficulties and disputes relating to 
yacht racing which may be properly referred to it for de- 
cision; and, further, to take such, steps as it may consider 
neces,sary and expedient td cart'y into effect the objects and 
purposes of the Union. 
The Council shall elect frdm its number a chairman, who 
shall j> reside at all meetings of the Union; a secretary and a 
fcreasui-er. 
The Chairman may call special meetings of the Council 
Whenever necessary, and shall do so upon the requi.sition in 
writing of five members, in which case ten days' notice must 
be given of such meeting. 
The Council shall meet at such times and places as it may 
consider expedient. 
Five members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting 
of the Coiincil. 
8. Meetings. — There shall be an annual meeting of the 
Union, at such place as the Council shall determine, on the 
first Saturday of October in each year. The Council may 
call special meetings of the Union whenever it may consider 
it necessary 
Fifteen representatives shall constitute a quorum at any 
meeting of the Union. 
Ten days' notice, in writing, of a meeting shall be given to 
each representative. 
At any general meeting of the Union voting shall be al- 
lowed by proxv. 
9. Dues and Assessments.— Tbe fee for membership for 
each association or club shall be $5 per annum, and the ad- 
ditional expenses of the Association shall be apportioned 
and assessed among the associations and clubs a.s maybe 
determined by the Council; but no assessment to exceed $3 a 
representative shall be levied in any one year. 
10. Amendments. — Amendments to these articles may be 
adopted at any meeting of the Union by a two-thirds vote 
of those present in person or by proxy, provided that the 
proposed amendments in full shall be contaiuediu the notice 
of the meeting, 
After the adoption of the above articles, Mr. Clark moved 
to proceed to the election of the Council, and that the chair 
should appoint a nominating committee of three. Mr. Rad- 
der seconded the motion. Mr. Lovejoy suggested that .some 
means be taken to ascertain which of the representatives 
were qualified to act for their clubs A discussion followed, 
in which Messrs. Sanderson, Radder, Jonea, Adams, Prime 
and others took part. The point was raised by Mr. Sander- 
son that the Larchmont Y. C , having but one meeting each 
year, iu February, had taken no action since the May meet- 
ing, and that its delegates were not authorized to join the 
Union. Mr. Prime and others spoke in favor of immediate 
action, as otherwise it might never be possible to organize. 
Mr. Prime, seconded by Mr. Jones, moved to poll the dele- 
gates to ascertain how many were authorized to join the 
Union. Mr. Clark called for a vote on his motion, which 
was carried. The chairman named as a nominating com- 
mittee Messrs. F. Bowne Jones, Stuyvesant Wainwright and 
F. T. Adams, On motion, a recess of five minutes was 
taken. 
When the meeting reconvened, the nominating committee 
reported the following candidates for members of the Coun- 
cil: E. W. Radder, melius Jarvis, J. M. Macdonough, A. 
J. Prime, A. T. Bliss, F. Bowne Jones, G. H, Duggan, N. D. 
Lawton, Oswald Sanderson, E. H. Ambrose, Oliver E. Crom- 
well, A. F. Bancroft, R. N. Ellis, L. M. Clark, J. A. MoUen- 
hauer. Mr. Jeannot moved to accept the report, seconded 
by Mr. Chellborg, Mr. Lovejoy requested that action be 
suspended until Mr. Sanderson, who was absent from the 
room, should return. The motion was carried, and on mo- 
tion the secretary cist one ballot for all the caadidates, who 
were declared elected. 
Mr. Jones moved that the proposed sailing rules be then 
taken up. Mr. Jeannot, seconded by Mr. Clark, moved that 
the rules be considered as accepted in default of any objec- 
tion; carried. Mr. Lawton then read the proposed sailing 
rules. In the first section Mr. Radder suggested the substitu- 
tion of the word "organization" for "club," which was ac- 
cepted. 
Under the second section thei-e was some disCussion as to 
the preparatory signal for the entire race versus the prepara- 
tory for each separate class. The question of galley" fittings 
was discussed at length under Rule 7, Mr. Radder, seconded 
by Mr. Ambro.se, moving to omit the words, "galley fixtures 
and," which was lost. Mr. Radder moved to amend the sec- 
tion relating to trimming by. dead weight, but the motion 
was not seconded. 
Under Rule 17, Section 12, "Coiiverging Close-hauled," a 
long disciissiou followed, Mr. Lawton finally moving, sec- 
onded by Mr. Tower, to substitute the word "windward" for 
"leeward," which was carried imanimously, after some final 
remarks by Mr. Clark in its favor. A letter from Mr. R. N. 
Ellis was read, but the suggestions were not adopted. 
Under Rule 18 Mr. Lwvejoy, seconded by Mr. Radder, 
moved to substitute "shall" for "may," which was carried. 
Mr. Jarvis off'ered the following amendment: "A yacht 
after crossing the finishing line shall not interfere with any 
yacht still in the race," giving an instance of a race on Lake 
Ontario in which a yacht allowing time to another finished 
first and then went back on to the course and blanketed the 
smaller yacht to the line, claiming the right to do so in de- 
fault of anything to the contrary in the rules. This amend- 
ment was accepted, but in the course of the di.scussion Mr. 
Stephens pointed out that the rule headed "Disqualifica- 
tion" really included, as worded, several provisions which 
should be classed under other heads. Mr. Lawton, seconded 
by Mr. Wainwright, moved to insert a new rule under the 
heading "Interference," leaving only the final section of the 
rule as printed under the original head of "Disqualifica- 
tion." The motion was carried, Mr. Jarvis's proposal being 
included in the new rule. Mr, Lovejoy proposed the adop- 
tion of Section 3 of Rule XXV., of the Larchmont Y. C, 
"IE a yacht, after having been officially measured, makes 
changes in her trim, causing an increase of L.W.L., or 
makes alteratioas in her sail plan, should enter a race with- 
out remeasurement or notifying the regatta committee in 
writing that alterations have been made, and a request for 
remeasurement, she shall be disqualified." The amendment 
■^a^ nQt adopted. Oa motion of Mr. Tower, seconded by 
Mr. Wainwright, it was decided to refer to the Council the 
wording of the rule relating to protests. 
Mr. Radder brought up the question of the amendment of 
the sailing rules, and Mr, Prime moved to amend in the 
same manner as the articles; seconded by Mr. Radder and 
carried. 
Mr. Tower, secondfd by Mr. Wainwright, moved that the 
rules be accepted as finally amended, which was carried: 
North American Yacht Raolngr Union. 
RACIiia EtTLES. 
Rulel. MA^^■A(JEMl^NT. — All races and all, yachts sailing 
therein shall be under the control and direction of the race 
committee of the organization giving the race. All matters 
shall be subject to its approval and control, and all ques- 
tions and disputes which may arise shall be decided by it. 
No member of any race committee shall take part in the 
decision of any question in which he is directly interested. 
A member of a race committee who is the owner of a yacht 
sailing in a race shall not act upon the committee in the 
management of such race. 
Rule 2. Application.— Yachts shall be amenable to the 
rules frnm the preparatory signal. 
Rule 3. Ownership.— No two yachts owned wholly or in 
part by the same person shall compete in the same class. 
Rule 4. Entries -Entries shall be filed in the manner 
prescribed by the organization under whose auspices the ra8e 
is sSfilficl 
Rule 5. iNSTRUCTioN. — 1. The owner of each yacht en- 
tered for a race shall be furnished at the time of the entry, 
or as soon thereafter as possible, with written or printed in- 
structions as to the conditions of the race and the courses to 
be sailed. 
2. The race committee may change the courses or amend 
the instructions, provided notice of such change is given to 
each vacht before the preparatory signal is made. 
Rule 6. Sails.— 1. The following sails may be carried. 
0?i sc/iooners; Mai asail, foresail, forestaysail, jib, flying- 
jib, jibtopsail, working main and fore galf topsail, maintop- 
mast staysail, spinaker, and club topsail when specially per- 
mitted. 
On sloops and cutters: Mainsail, forestaysail, jib, flying- 
jib, jibtopsail, working gafftopstopsail, spinaker, and club 
topsail when specially permitted. 
On yawls: The same as on sloops and cutters, with mizen, 
mizen staysail and mizen topsail. 
On cathoats: Mainsail. Balloon sails may be set over 
working sails. 
3. No extra spars, booming out or whisker poles, except a 
spinaker boom, shall be used, 
4. A working main or fore gaff topsail must be jib-headed 
and must not extend above the topsail block or beyond the 
end of the gaff. A spinaker must be triangular, and must 
not extend above the topsail block or beyond the outer end 
of the spinaker boom. 
R ule 7. Fittings, Water and Ballast.— 1. Floors 
shall be kept down, and bulkheads and doors left standing. 
Galley fixtures and fittings shall be kept on board in their 
proper places, and one ser\'iceable anchor and cable shall be 
carried. 
2. Trimming by dead weight shall not be allowed, and 
neither water nor ballast shall be taken in or discharged. 
Rule 8. Numbers —All yachts shall carry racing num- 
bers, which shall be placed above the reef points, at an equal 
distance from the luS and leach, on each side of the main- 
"^Riile 6. PoaTt-ONEMENT.- The race committee may post- 
pone a race, should unfavorable weather or other circum- 
stances make a postponement advisable. 
A race postponed or resailed shall be considered a tiew 
^'^Rnle 10. Time at Start and i'lNlsH.- 1. All starts shall 
be flying, and shall be "time" or "one gun" starts, as may be 
specified in the instructions. 
2. In time starts an interval shall be allowed for crossing 
the line, and the time of each yacht shall be taken when the 
point marked by the foremast in schooners and the main- 
mast in siugle-maated vessels and yawls crosses the starting 
line. A yacht crossing tbe line after the starting interval 
shall be timed as having crossed at its expiration. 
3. In one-gun starts each yacht shall be timed from the 
starting signal. ^ , , , , 
4 The time of finish of each yacht shall be taken when the 
point marked by the foremast in schooners, and the main- 
mast in single-masted vessels and yawls crosses the finish 
line. 
5. In any start, if the point marked by the foremast in 
schooners, and the mainmast in single-masted vessels and 
yawls, has crossed the line before the signal for the start in 
her class is made, she must return and recross the line. 
A yacht so returning, or one working into position from 
the wrong side of the line after the first starting signal has 
been made, must keep clear of, and give way to all yachts in 
the race, , , , 
Rule 11. Propulsion.— 1, No means of propulsion, other 
than sails shall be employed. 
3. Manual power only shall be used in handling sails. 
Rule 12. Marks.— A mark is a vessel, boat, buoy, 
other object used to indicate the course. Should any stakfe 
boat, buoy or other mark be absent or moved from its proper 
position during a race, the race may be resailed or not at the 
option of the race committee. 
Rule 13. Anchoring.- A yacht may anchor, but must 
weigh anchor again and not slip. A yacht shall not warp or 
hedge, or make fast to any buoy, pier, vessel or other object, 
except for purposes specified in the following rule: 
Rule 14 Running Aground and Fouling.— A yacht run- 
ning aground or fouling a buoy, pier, vessel or other object, 
may use her anchors, warps, boats, etc., to get clear, but 
mav not receive any assistance except from vessel fouled. 
Any anchor, warp or boat so used must be taken on board 
again before continuing the race. 
Rule 15. Accidents.— Every yacht shall render all possible 
assistance to any vessel or person in peril, and if in the 
judgment of the race committee she shall thereby have im- 
paired her chance ot winning, it may order the race to be re- 
sailed between such yacht or yachts and the winner in her 
class. 
Rule 10 Sounding.— No other means of sounding than 
the hand lead and line shall be employed. 
Rule 17 Right OF Way.— When oae yacht is approach- 
ing another yacht so as to involve a risk of fouling, one of 
them shall keep clear of the other as follows: 
1. On Diffiereut Points of Sailing.— A yacht free shall keep 
clear of one closehauled. 
3. On the Same Point of Sailing with the Wind on Oppo- 
site Sides.— When both yachts are closehauled, or both free, 
or both have the wind aft and on opposite sides, the yacht 
with the wind on the port side shall keep clear. 
A yacht is deemed to have the wind on the side opposite to 
that on which she is carrying her main boom. 
3. On the Same Point of Sailing with the Wind on the 
Same Side. — When both yachts are free or have the wind aft 
and on the same side, the yacht to the windward shall keep 
clear. 
4. Wind Aft.— A yacht with the wind aft shall keep clear 
of a yacht on any other point of sailing. 
5. Overtaking.— An overtaking yacht shall, as long as an 
overlap exists, keep clear of the yacht which is being over- 
6. Passing and Rounding Marks.— Should, however, an 
overlap exist between two yachts when both of them, with- 
out tacking, are about to paas ^ mark on the req^uired side. 
