Jan. 22, 1898.1 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
75 
. Knockabout Class. — ^Fof the past two years your com- 
mittee, impressed by the conspicuous success of the rac- 
ing in the special 30ft. class, and in other one-design 
classes in England and here, has had in contemplation 
the establishment of a one-design racing class under 
the auspices of the club. This idea took practical form 
in August last, and negotiations were entered into with 
designers and builders for the preparation of plans and 
estimates of cost; and at a meeting held at the Oyster 
Bay Club house on Sept. 4 last, commitments were se- 
cured for the construction of ten boats under the plans, 
and specifications and bid submitted by Mr. W. B. 
Stearns, of Marblehead. The interest thus initiated rap- 
idly developed, and has resulted in placing through your 
committee with Mr. Stearns orders for twenty-two boats, 
which are contracted to be delivered at Oyster Bay on 
or before April t5 next, at a base price of $775 a boat, 
with certain optional extras not afifccting their speed or 
general character. Several of these boats are already 
substantially finished, alid the work on all is so far ad- 
vanced as to promise completion well within the con- 
tract time,. Mr. H. M. Crane, of Boston, has kindly con- 
sented to act as inspector for the owners under the con- 
tracts, and reports that so far materials and workmanship 
are highly satisfactory. The class Avill be known as 
the Seawanhaka Corinthian Knockabout Class, and the 
owners of the boats ordered through your committee are 
as follows: William E. Iselin, Leonard J. Busby, R. C. 
Wetmore, E. Hope Norton, George Trotter, John Mur- 
ray Mitchell, Tohn T. Sherman, W. H. Russell. Daniel 
Baccn. F. S. Hastings, Nelson E, Burr, F. G. Bourne, 
H. C. Rouse. Frank W. Boytr, George Bullock, W. R. 
Garrison. John Sherman Koyt, Kenneth Otis Rouse, 
Charles Osborne. John C. Scott, E. C. Benedict, C. K. J. 
Billings. 
Through Mr. W. Biitler Duncan. Jr., orders for nine 
additional boats have been placed with Mr. Stearns by 
members of the Country Club, of Westchester, to be 
built according to the same plans and specifications as 
the others, and under the same form of contract as that 
proposed by your committee. There will, therefore, be 
thirty-one boats of this one-design class during the com- 
ing summer on the waters of Long Island Sound, from 
Westchester to Oyster Bay and Stamford, 
Your committee is also informed that six boats from 
the same plans have been ordered in Philadelphia, and 
are building by the Harlan & Hollingsworth Co, In 
outlining the design for these boats, your conimittee has 
sought to combine satisfactory speed qualities with a 
high degree of comfort for day sailing and adequate ac- 
commodations for cruising, and while allowing varia- 
tions in finish, has been very careful to prevent all dif- 
ferences in qualities affecting speed. The committee has 
every reason to expect, therefore, that as far as careful 
design and superintendence can secure such a result, 
the speed of the boats will be equal. The number of 
boats ordered and other evidences of widespread sympa- 
thy in the objects sought for, lead your committee to 
anticipate that there will be the liveliest interest in this 
class during the coming season. 
It is the purpose of the committee to organise this 
interest, and to devote special attention to the racing of 
these boats. To that end we propose to establish two 
regular races a week at Oyster Bay, one for Saturday 
and one for, say, -Tuesday or Wednesday: to lay out 
special courses, and to award not only the usual prizes 
for first, second and third boats, but also for the best 
record on points, either for the season or for series of 
races on some carefully devised system; and for helms- 
manship and seamanship. We shall offer facilities for 
a'^d encourage sweepstake races and interclub matches. 
While two men could undoubtedly race one of these 
boats under ordinarv conditions, the rules permit a crew 
of four, and it will thus be seen that there will be ample 
opportunity for our B class members to serve in the rac- 
ing crews, and, indeed, probably a most active demand 
for their services. We cannot imagine a better chance for 
voung lovers of the sport to cultivate their taste and 
develop their skill as Corinthians than will be offered 
in this class next season. Before the season opens we 
shall endeavor to lay this matter before them in more 
rlefinite form. 
Measurement Rules. — In our last annual report at- 
tention was called to the importance of undertaking a 
revision of the present rules of measurement, and the 
action of j^our committee there taken and then in con- 
templation was explained; and it was announced to be 
"our intention to formulate a rule for practical trial" in 
the next annual race, and possibly in some special events, 
which, if found to be satisfactory, "might then be pro- 
posed for general adoption." The conference and cor- 
respondence with designers and others on this general 
subject, which had been begun before the last annual 
meeting, were therefore continued. On Jan. 30, 1897, 
the following letter was sent on behalf of your committee 
to several experts in designing, professional and ama- 
teur: 
New York, Jan. 30, 1897-— My Dear Sir: Referring 
to the recent conferences which have taken place on the 
question of the rule of yacht measurement, the race 
committee of the Seawanhaka Corinthian Y. C. is very 
anxious to follow up the matter and accomplish some 
definite result. With this in view, I wrote, at the request 
of the committee, to ask if you will not be good enough 
to give us your views in writing, covering the follownig 
points: 
1. In contriving a new rule of measurement, what 
should be the purposes aimed at; that is to say, should 
the rule tend to the encouragement or development of a 
so-called "wholesome type" of boat, or should racing 
qualities mainly be considered and the effort be re- 
stricted to such regulations as will insure the develop- 
ment of these qualities along fair lines, without special 
reference to cruising qualities? 
2. Should the purpose be recommended of encourag- 
ing a "wholesome type" of boat, what constitutes, in 
your opinion, such a type? 
3. Is it correct in principle, or desirable, to fix arbi- 
trary limits upon any element of speed, as, for example, 
sail or draft? 
4. What elements of speed should be taxed? 
5. What cognizance should be taken of the difference 
between centerboard and keel types? 
At a meeting of the race committee held this week, 
specially to consider this subject, it seemed to be the 
general view that a new rule should tax l.w.I., sail area 
and draft, and possibly beam, either separately or asso- 
ciated with draft; and that perhaps displacement should 
be introduced for what may be called "inverse taxation" 
or premium; also, that lightness of construction, or 
factors dependent thereon, such as the ratio' of ballast 
to displacement, might also be considered. 
If you will sufficiently interest yourself to answer these 
inquiries, and especially to formulate for our benefit a 
definite rule of measurement embodying your own ideas, 
it will be very much appreciated by the committee. We 
are inviting expressions of views from several of those 
who have shown the greatest interest in the subject, 
and as soon as possible after we receive them, we shall 
endeavor to make some proposal for final consideration. 
Yours very truly, 
(Signed) C. W. Wetmore, 
For the Race Committee. 
Replies were received from Messrs, A. Cary Smith, 
John Hyslop, W. P, Stephens, A. Cass Canfield and G, 
H. Duggan. These, together with communications from 
Commotlore Rouse and Mr. Irving Cox (to which par- 
ticular reference was made on the last report), and from 
Mr. Gerard Beekman, and some correspondence with 
Mr. N. G. Herreshoff, were made the subject of fiill 
discussion and consideration, which continued into the 
spring of this year. In view of the pains taken in the 
preparation of these papers, and their value, full copies 
of the replies referred to are annexed hereto, in order 
that they may be preserved on the files of the club for 
future reference. 
In inviting this discussion, your committee had in 
view not only the formulating of a ride to govern future 
constructions, but also the end, proposed by Com, Rouse 
in his letter of Sept. 17, 1896 (annexed to the last annual 
report), "of promoting a greater interest among yacht 
owners generally to race their vessels"; that is to say, 
of enabling the older yachts to compete against the 
modern with some chance of success. The only formula 
submitted to us which gave much promise of accom- 
plishing the last-named object was that proposed by 
Mr. Irving Cox, which is given below. Your committee 
therefore decided to give this formula a practical trial 
in the annual race, and special prizes therefor, already 
referred to, were offered by the commodore. 
We omit the details of the race, which are set forth 
in full, with the efforts of the committee, by direct ap- 
peals to individual owners to race their boats. The re- 
port continues: 
Thus it appears that Iroquois, Uvira and Queen Mab 
were the only yachts of the older types which availed 
themselves of the opportunitj' offered, to which, how- 
ever. Bedouin woidd have been added had her class 
filled. 
The result of this effort to arouse interest in the racing 
of vessels of the older tj'pe a.gainst the new was pro- 
foundly discouraging, and your committee has reached 
the conclusion that further efforts in this direction are 
useless, and should be abandoned. In considering the 
problem of measurement, we think that we should look 
to the future on\y, and that a rule should be framed 
as nearly as practicable on scientific principles, having 
strict regard to the definite purpose in view, and without 
consideration for so-called "vested interests." Indeed, 
in the larger classes there may almost be said to be no 
vested interests. Racing among such vessels is dead, 
and a frank recognition of this fact is the first condition 
of success in devising measures to revive it. To revert 
to the definite proposals that have been made for a new 
rule, or the principles that should govern in rlcciding 
upon one, we summarize certain deductions that we have 
drawn from the oral disaissions and the papers sub- 
mitted: 
1. There is entire unanimity of opinion that the present 
rule of measurement is inadequate, and must either be 
wholly changed or supplemented by detailed restrictions, 
2. There is also substantial unanimity of opinion that 
the end to be attained in the larger classes, say over 30ft. 
racing measurement, is not speed alone, but seaworthi- 
ness and comfort; in other words, the development of 
a "wholesome type." 
3. As to what constitutes a "wholesome type," there 
seems to be some difference of opinion, but a concur- 
rence, in this, that such a boat must be able, if not "to 
keep the open sea," at least to sail under all except ex- 
traordinary weather conditions in safety and with reason- 
able comfort. 
4. As to the specific details of a rule, there is the 
vijidest difference of opinion. One proposes to add to the 
present rule a tax upon over-all length and draft over 
an assumed normal of these dimensions; another to 
tax beam and draft in addition to L,W.L. and sail area; 
another, not to tax beam and draft specifically, but to 
provide that, if the sum of these two dimensions shall 
exceed three and one-third times the scjuare root of the 
area of immersed midship section, the excess shall be 
added to the racing length, and the converse; another, 
to leave the present rule unchanged, except by adding 
certain arbitrary limitations of form, as, for example, 
that the extreme draft shall be placed at the intersection 
of the sternpost and keel, that the sternpost shall be 
straight and the rudder be hung from the sternpost; an- 
other, that the ratio or relation of displacement, used as 
a divisor to sail area, shall be the governing principle in 
formulating a rule, and that all dimensions shall be neg- 
lected; and another, that the L.W,L. shall be multiplied 
by the square root of the sail area and the product be 
divided by the cube root of the displacement or tonnage, 
or by the square root of the area eiflier of the immersed 
or full midship section, the quotients being the racing 
measurement and certain constants being used as multi- 
pliers to reduce the quotients to conform to the existing 
classification. 
5. A preponderance of opinion favors the idea of 
placing, in one way or another, a premium upon the in- 
crease of the area of the midship section or displace- 
ment or bulk, while preserving the t^x on sail and water- 
line length. 
6. There is a tendency to favor a system of restric- 
tions upon scantling, at least in wood construction. 
■ 7. There is substantial unanimity in the opinion that 
the restrictions upon the smaller classes, perhaps those 
under 30ft. racing length, should be different from, and 
less severe than, those imposed upon the larger classes. 
Your committee has reached the following conchi- 
sions: 
1. That there is pressing need and urgent demand 
for a change of the rule of measurement at the earliest 
practicable moment. 
2. That an essential clefflent in the rule of meastire- 
raent to be formulated will be full recognition of the 
factor of displacement or area of immersed or full mid- 
ship section, so treated and guarded as that it must pro- 
duce vessels of moderate dimensions and adequate dis- 
placement, while preseiwing the tax on sail. 
3. That in formulating the rule distinction should be 
made between the larger and smaller classes, dividing 
them perhaps at 30ft. racing length and leaving tbt 
smaller classes comparatively unrestricted. 
4. That a scientific system of scantling restrictions 
for each class should be devised. 
5. That a rule, when adopted, should prevail un- 
changed at least for a certain mhiimum period. 
6. That the material collected is of so excellent a 
character as to warrant confidence that a satisfactory 
solution of the problem can be reached. 
In advancing the discussions to the present stage, 
your committee feels that it has done, as a committee, 
as much as it should undertake with clue regard to its 
other duties, and, moreover, that it is not particularly 
well qualified to prosecute the work further. The sub- 
ject is, however, so important and interesting, and the 
progress made so substantial, that they desire to recom- 
mend that a special committee of experts be appointed 
to take up the further consideration of the problem, 
with the request that such committee shall make a defi- 
nite report to the club at the May meeting. While inde- 
pendent action by this club in the adoption of a nlle 
would not be desirable, yet we think the object in view 
can best be forwarded by independent action to the 
point of a definite recommendation, before conferences 
with other organizations are sought. 
It is fortunate that, pending the adoption of a new 
rule, the one-design classes are likely to do so much to 
stinnilate the spirit of racing. 
Yacht Racing Association. — The club has continued its 
membership in the Yacht Racing Union of Long Island 
Sound, and to cultivate its friendly relations with the 
other members of the union. Still further progress lias 
been made in systematizing the machinery of racing. 
On Oct. 30, 1897, the North Ainerican Yacht Racing. 
Union was formed at a meeting, held in New York, of 
the representatives from a large number of the yacht 
clubs and associations of the United States and Canada, 
at which the chairman of your committee presided. The 
objects of the association are declared to be "to en- 
courage yacht racing and to promote the adoption of 
uniform racing rules throughout the United States and 
Canada." and its articles of association provide that "Any 
yacht club in North America, having a regular member- 
ship of OA^er fifty members and over fifteen yachts of 
upward of 15ft. racing measurement enrolled in its fleet, - 
or any association of yacht clubs, shall be eligible for 
membership in the union." 
Tlie Union has adopted racing rules substantially iden- 
tical with those now in force among clubs of the Long 
Island Soitnd Union. The latter will change its name 
to the Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound, 
and will adopt the racing rules of the National Union. 
The powers of the Union, like those of the Sound As- 
sociation, are advisory merely, and its action is not bind- 
ing on any constituent club until ratified. A committee 
of the Union has been abroad and has conferred with, 
members of the Yacht Racing Association of Great Brit- 
ain upon the subject of common rules to govern meas- 
urement and racing, but no definite results have been 
accomplished. Until the New York Yacht Club has al- 
lied itself with the Union.it is not likely that international 
negotiation on these subjects will make tnuch progress. 
We understand that the Union contemplates some definite 
action on the measurement question next autumn, and 
this furnished an additional reason why we should pursue 
the subject activeh^ in order that our influence and co- 
operation may then be effective. 
Your committee is in entire sympathy with the un- 
derlying purposes of these tmions and associations, so 
long as they are conducted on the present lines, and 
recommends that they shall continue to receive the 
active support of the club. 
General Remarks. — Dissatisfaction is an essential con- 
dition of progress, and it is in the spirit of this apothegm 
rather than that of fault-finding that your committee 
confesses that it has not been contentect with the record 
of the past season. The Corinthian spirit of the club 
has not yet been awakened as it should be. In our B 
class we have now sixty-nine members, of perhaps from 
eighteen to twenty-nine 3'-ears of age, among Avbom there 
must be manj^ readj' to avail themselves to the full of 
the opportunities for sport and instruction that the club 
has in its power to afford; and these should naturally 
draw to themselves friends of their own age and similar 
tastes. Without organization, however, progress will be 
slow: with it, the club should develop rapidly in num- 
bers and in enthusiasm. Believing that, while much 
remains to be done, the conditions are most favorable 
for rapid advancement, we approach the coming season 
with enthusiasm and confidence. 
Respectfully submitted, 
(Signed) Oliver E. Ckomwell, Chairm;m. 
D. Lkroy Dressek, 
Walter C. Kerr, 
Charles A, ShermIn, SecA-, 
Charles W. Wetmore, 
Race Committee, Seawanhaka Corinthian Y. C. 
Seawanhaka International Challenge Cup. 
Agreement covering the special conditions of the 
match for the Seawanhaka international challenge cup 
for small yachts, to be sailed by the representative yachts 
of the Royal St Lawrenqe Yficht Chib, of Montreri.1, - 
