[Jan. 8, 1898. 
FOREST AND- STREAM. 
35 
The Bath Iron WorKs has contracted to build a steel 
steam yacht for Col. Oliver H. Payne, a sea-going craft 
which will rob the Novtrmahal of the one point of distinc- 
tion she has long enjoyed, as the largest steam yacht of 
American build. The new yacht will be a "floating pal- 
ace," with elaborate furnishings, but it is not stated 
whether she will be of the standard Bath model or 
whether she will be of modern design. Her dimensions 
will be 300ft. long, 35ft. beam, i6ft. draft, with bark rig. 
With a single screw she is to make 15 knots with natural 
draft on a 48-houf trial, Capt. Wm. Scott, who has had 
charge of Sagamore and Eleanor, will supervise the con- 
struction, and will be in command. The yacht will be 
ready by Jifext Spring. 
The action of the Massachusetts Y. R. A. at 'its special 
meeting is satisfactory in two respects: it represented the 
sober and deliberate opinions of the associated clubs, 
and it settles the rules finally for the coming year. The 
question of the abolition of time allowance has awakened 
a great deal of feeling, and has been widely discussed for 
a couple of months before the meeting specially called 
to consider it. As a result a very large number of mem- 
bers have studied it out and reached a final opinion; 
while the delegates have been definitely instructed by 
their clubs. Under these circumstances it is hardly to 
be doubted that the vote against further allowance repre- 
sents the opinion of the majority. It has already been 
shown that the injury to vested interests is confined to 
a very few yachts; nearly all, both new and old, being 
able to accommodate themselves at the top of some class. 
A RUMOR is current that the newest of the "Protected 
Cruisers," Alcedo II., completed last summer, is to un- 
dergo the rather radical alteration of an addition of 22ft. 
length amidships. She is now rSsft. over all, 152ft. Lw.l., 
24ft. 2in. beam, 14ft. hold, and nft. draft. Of course it 
is much less expensive to build a yacht properly at the 
outset than to cut her in two or sponson her in her sec- 
ond season, like Atalanta, Wadena, Wild Duck and other 
notable examples; but as long as American owners are 
satisfied with this method it is hardly worth while to crit- 
icise it as reflecting but little credit upon the skill of 
American designers. 
Through the Sotind in an Oyster Sloop. 
The northwestern sky was heavLly draped witli massive thunder- 
heads. Sharp flashes of dazzling lightning blazed at regular inter- 
vals from the ponderous clouds. Deep, rumblmg thunder grumbled 
warningly. Yet we who formed the crew of the staunch sloop 
Susie C. glanced defiance into the face of such unfavorable con- 
ditions as we hoisted the mainsail. The cham caDle had already 
been hauled short, and Susie floated almost over her anchor. 
"All hands in with the skiff!" The order given by tjam is 
quickly executed, and we lash the tender securely on the starboard 
side of the deck. , ' .„ , ,,, , , „ • --i-i!) 
"Up with the anchor! Stand by the jib halliards! Trim ]ib 
These orders are also quickly obeyed, and under the fresh south- 
west wind Susie heels until her scuppers are under. She rises and 
falls without headwav for an instant, then like an unleashed hound 
she seems to shake herself, and springs away on the starboard 
tack Like a trained warrior, stripped for the fray, she meets each 
oncoming sea and smashes it into foaming fragments. 
"Ready, about!" Excellent judgment, for when Susies bowsprit 
seems about to pierce the white side of Com. Benedict s (Jneida 
down goes the helm, and our little ship shows wonderful obedience 
by the snappy manner in which she swings on to the other tack. 
We notice Oneida's crew alternately eyeing us and the thunder 
squall. The thought enters my mind that they undoubtedly think 
us crazy for leaving a snug anchorage in Indian Harbor m order 
to face the dirty conditions in store for us on the bound. 
"Where are you fellows bound?" The question comes from the 
sailing master of a handsome keel sloop that is pitching at her 
anchor near by. 
"Block Island." ^ ■ >. 
"I don't admire the kind of weather you pick to start out m. 
"'Don't you care!' Guess we'll get through all right, sings 
Stanley, as he rattles a breakdown on the deck with his bare feet. 
"Ready, about!" Thump! I get a crack on the head from the 
boom that makes me think for an instant that hundreds of solar 
systems are falling. It is sarcastically suggested that I had better 
take one reef in my neck, or two in my legs, if I don t want to be 
minus a head. 
It was just seven bells when we swung back on to the starboard 
tack, and found we could point so as to clear Tweed's Island and 
the red buoy off Greenwich Point. By this time darkness was 
rapidly settling over land and water. Astern, and outlined against 
the dark green shore and sooty sky line, the snowy walls and pil- 
lars of Com. Benedict's palace shone like some enchanted castle 
told of in fairy stories. In the semi-darkness they appeared 
ghostly and unreal. The thunderstorm had passed well to the 
north, but indications pointed to a harder one advancing from the 
west. Instantaneous bursts of bright light came at regular inter- 
vals from that quarter. As we could hear no thunder, and the 
blazes of light grew brighter and brighter, we realized that the 
storm must be a terrific one. Although the wind still blew as hard 
as ever, Stanley suggested putting the topsail on. Sam wondered 
if the topmast' would stand the strain, decided it would, and in 
less than five minutes we were sailing with lee rail well under. 
Now that we are well started on our way, it will not be amiss 
to introduce to the reader Susie's crew, and to give a short de- 
scription of the boat and outfit. In the first place, the crew num- 
bered four. There were Samuel Chard, Stanley Chard, Walter 
Avis (my youngest brother), more generally known to the crew 
as Bub, and j^our humble servant. 
Samuel Chard is already known to readers of the Forest and 
Stream. He is the same Sam who experimented on Thomas 
Humphreys and myself with broiled water turkey and alligator 
steaks in Florida. As I have said a number of times before, he is 
the best small boat handler I ever knew. Blow high or blow low, 
Sam never gets rattled, but always does the right thing at the right 
time. 
Stanley Chard Tiad never figured in a trip in wliich I was inter- 
ested before. Like Sam, he is a master liand at the tiller. It 
will fake time, however, to eliminate some features from Stanley's 
boat liandling, which might prove objectionable to persons of a 
nervous .temperament. I refer to a daring recklessness which is 
almost always associated - with perfect health in young persons. 
Many times when it has seemed to me that s,ul should be reduced 
Stanley, 'would cock his eye aloft and "guess she might stand a 
little more." As a fearless sail handler, especially in reefing 
weather, ' Stanley could not be excelled. At the Bridgeport Cus- 
tom House Stanley is rated as Susie's captain. He is nineteen 
years of age, 
iSTonA' comes Walter Avis, or as he will be Tcnown in this narra- 
tive, Bub. Like Stanley, Bub never figured in a trip with me be- 
fore. He is thirteen years of age, and was the photograplier of tlie 
trip. I was a- little undecided about having him with me at first, 
not knowing hovi' he would stand roughing it. My story will 
prove that I had no grounds for misgivings. Excepting an ex- 
asperating habit of asking a dozen different questions in a dozen 
different ways when it was lea?t convenient to answer at all, Bub 
was all right. He proved himself a plucky sailorman. 
Now a word about our boat and I am done with introductions. 
Susie was ■ launched two years ago. She is an oyster sloop, and 
was built at Greenwich by Samuel Chard, Sr. She is 34ft. over 
all and 27ft. waterline. She' has a graceful overhafiging bow and 
stern,. and is 13ft. beam. Her draft is nearly 5ft. without her board, 
and she certainly is very staunch and able. She is full sloop- 
rigged, and her sail spread is unusually large for a boat of her 
size, especially an oyster boat. As in all boats of her kind, the 
cabin is placetl well aft,' so as to allow plenty of deck room for- 
ward. Oyster sloops' cabins must also be small, therefore Susie's 
only contained two bunks. Stanley occupied one on the trip, 
while I held down the mattress in the other, .^am and Bub en- 
joved very good quarters forward in the bows. Susie's lines under 
water are finer than those of many yachlSj and she proved herself 
marvelously Swift. ■ . 
It was eight bells by thfc titiie we weathered the buoy off Green- 
wich Point. Wind a'nd clouds were poking above the western 
horizon. The lightning wa.s dazzling and almost incessant. The 
thunder rumbled warningly, and taken all in all things commenced 
to look serious. I had a notion we were in for business, but Sam 
and Stanley said the sontliwest wind would drive the storm to the 
no'th'ard, as it had the first one. LTndoubtcdly this opinion would 
have proven correct had there not been more storm below the 
horizon than we could see. What proved to be the advance guard 
did pass to the north in a blaze and rumble of splendor. It was 
not over fifteen minutes after, however, before the whole main 
army was roaring and flashing astern. 
The wind was now blowing so hard that even Stanley acknowl- 
edged it time to douse the topsail. To the west, northwest, north 
and northeast thunder storms were in full progress. When the 
lightning was not flashing from one quarter it flashed from another. 
The storm astern was the only one we feared, and we decided 
that as things were so ugly we had better run for the Norwalk 
Islands. We had hardly reached this decision when the wind came 
down on us in shrieks. We were now compelled to double reef 
the mainsail. This was easily accomplished, as the continual flash- 
ing enabled us to see plainly. So bright was the lightning that 
the shore line stood out to view as plainly as in midday every 
time it flashed. 
"I hope the ram holds off half an hour longer," remarked Sam, 
as he strained his eyes shoreward. "If it only does, we'll he an- 
chored safely in Wilson's Cove then." 
"We'll beat the rain this time," replied Stanley. "Listen! We're 
well to the leeward of Green's Ledge now. Don't you hear the 
bell buoy?'; 
We all listened intently, and from up to windward came the 
doleful, though welcome, sound of a tolling bell, 
Bub, who had sensibly gone below in order to be out of the 
way, stuck his head out of the companionway long enough to hear 
the bell, then went below again. We were agreeably surprised 
at the coolness he had displayed thus far. It was his first trip, 
and many an older person would have been frightened half to 
death under like conditions. 
Shortly after hearing the bell buoy we entered Wilson's Cove 
and anchored in two fathoms of water at exactly 8:35. Susie had 
covered twelve miles in one hour and five minutes; two miles of 
the distance we were close-hauled. 
W^e had no sooner furled the sails than the rain came down in 
torrents. What cared we though? Snugly ensconced in the cabin, 
we stored away supper enough to give dyspepsra to an ostrich. 
When the meal was finished the dishes were shoved out on deck 
so as to let the rain do the washing. We then lounged a while, 
talked and listened to the storm beating on the cabin roof. It 
was four bells when we turned in. 
All hands were astir bright and earlir liext morning. While the 
storm had departed, still the sky was more or less covered with 
clouds. There was very little wind, and the atmosphere had a 
thick, muggy feel about it that promised anything but a pleasant 
day. That the storm had been a severe one was plainly evident 
by the amount of water that had fallen in our skiit. It was fully 
one-third full. 
As the tide was favora'ble, and What little wind was stirring came 
out of the southwest, we got our anchor, hoisted our sails, and 
were soon heading on our way. Stanley prepared breakfast, Sam 
held the tiller, and Bub and I lounged around the deck and took 
matters easy. 
After wending our way in and out among the numerous islands, 
we finally came up with Cockenoe Island; we passed it at four 
bells. The wind then left us entirely, and the tide commenced to 
run against us. Soon we got a little air from southeast. It was so 
light though we could hardly hold our own against the tide. 
Finally the clouds departed and the sun pom'ed do\\^l upon us 
like a furnace. We tacked— tacked— tacked, back and forth, back 
and forth, only to brnig up in the spot from which we started in 
the first place. Over and over again did we try to pass the red 
can buoy off Cockenoe Island, but it clung to us like a long lost 
brother. Trolling lines were hung over the stem, but all we man- 
aged to catch was somebody's oyster buoy, which relieved us of 
a couple of hooks and part of a line. 
While drifting hack and forth we noticed numerous schools of 
small herring sporting on the surface. With a small scoop net we 
managed to secure some for bait. 
If there is one thing in this wide world on which I am a crank 
Jt is a wild yearning to possess a heavy coat of tan. To my way 
of thinking there is nothing so becoming to a man, woman or 
chfld as a sun-browned hide. This insane hobby led me into 
trouble. The conditions for getting tanned were so extremely 
enticing that my excited feelings ran entirely away with my judg- 
ment. I not only removed my hat, but my shirt as well. Then I 
smoked and smoked a pipe that was strong enough to walk— and 
1 am no veteran at the smoking game either. Between that du- 
deen and the sun my sea legs went completely from under me. 
Ihe horizon swam round and round, and the sky rocked up and 
down Then I became possessed of a wild, eager desire to pay 
tribute to old Neptune. I realized, however, that this would never 
do. I didn t hanker for the credit of being seasick when I wasn't 
1 also felt too 'stuck up" to own that I was "knocked out" from 
smoking. Iherefore I watched my chance, and when no one was 
nobcing I quietly sneaked below. I went into tlie hold and laid 
down on the cool planks. Here I fought like a fiend for more 
than an hour, and finally overcame the wild, devilish desire that 
filled my soul to fly up on deck and hump myself over the rail. 
VVe monkeyed in the vicinity of tliat confounded buoy until 
i o clock in the afternoon. Then a slight breeze came out of the 
south, and we didn t delay in getting Susie started on her course. 
IJnder mainsail, topsail, jib, jibtopsail, and a small jibtoosail 
rigged as a ringtail, and with the tide in our favor, we glided alonir 
through a sea that trembled with brilliancy. 
. -"^s if to repay us for the vexations of the morning, the wind 
increased to a delightful sailing breeze. The surface of the Sound 
became covered with opal-tinted waves. They laughed and gurgled 
along Susie s sides and piled into a bubbling, snowy wedse of 
spray under her bows. Astern a broad, scintillating trail of radi- 
ance a sparkle with countless beady jewels, it seemed, marked our 
course. Away off to windward, under the sandy cliffs of Lone- 
Island, snowy sails ot yachts and merchantmen inclined at angles? 
which betokened an increasing wind. No cloud floated in the 
purple vault, and the sun shone with that warm, delightful luster 
that IS always associated with a perfect summer afternoon on the 
Welter. 
It was at this stage of the trip that Stanley gave a reckless ex- 
hibition of his ability to "monkey" between sea and sky on a top- 
mast that \vas already swaying like a drunken man from the strain 
upon It there s going to be more wind, fellows," said he, "and 
up aloft I go to rig a topmast backstay. Bet your life, we never 
shorten sail aboard this craft so long as there is a chance of keen- 
ing her deck a-top ot the water." ^ 
After imparting this delightful information Susie's skipper took 
the end of a manilla rope between his teeth and quickly shinned 
the mast by means of the hoops. After reaching the masthead he 
paused an instant and glanced down at the deck, then up at the 
swajang topmast. It seemed impossible for the slender spar to 
stand any extra weight Stanley, however, removed the rope from 
M^"!,'"'^ *^^'^,' ''"'^ assured us in the plainest manner that it 
rould be as well to stand from under there. If I start to come 
nee said he I m not going to stop until I reach the deck or go 
verboard. If i,'ou don't want me coming astraddle some ot your 
backs why you d better keep from under, that's all I've "otlo 
say. Of course none of us hankered to mix in such a collision, 
so we kept ' from under." Glancing aloft again Stanley spat on 
his hands and shinned up until he was able to make the end of 
the rope fast near the topmast head. The spar bent dangerously 
but Stanley stayed until his task was finished. "'^g^iousiy, 
It was six bells when ^ve made Penfield Reef Lighthouse and 
to somWsf ^^"^ ^""^ steadily increased. The wmd gradually veered 
When nearly up with Stratford Point we met a fleet of vachts 
sailing to the westward. They were evidently racing. "Susie 
must have_ presented a fine sight to them, for they waved hats and 
handkerchiefs as we passed. Every sail, including ringtail was 
drawing like a horse, and we were making fully nine knots 
_ From Stratford Point to Southwest Ledge Light we indulged 
in probably the finest and most enjoyable bit of sailing we met on 
the trip for the distance. With boom wide off to port Susie reached 
like a thing of life over surges of green, whose crests were beaded 
with \yhite. Like carved marble the sails stood plainly out, and 
no wrinkle marred their snowy curves. Down in the southwest a 
huge triangular-shaped cloud of a grayish bl/ick had lifted out of 
the bound, it seemed. One point of the triangle appeared to re.st 
on the -w'ater, while its upper side seemed to hang in the sky, above 
where the Norwalk Islands should lie. On the upper edge of the 
triangle, and near its center, was perched the sun like a great 
bursting ball of fire. Two dusky paths showed where the kino- 
of day had pierced the cloud with his javelins of light, and red 
hery shafts penetrated to the uttermo.st liynlts of the heavens. 
Directly benenth the sun apd near tltp edge of the cloud a ijiinia- 
ture thunder storm was in full progress, and twisting forks of 
freakish lightning squirmed and wriggled now and then. The 
whole western sky fine was piled high with massive banks of 
clouds, which glistened in all the tints of the rainbow. To the 
north and east the shores and waters basked under the soft beams 
of the summer sun. The steady sweep of tJie boat, as she rode 
the swelling undulations, imparted a delicious feeling of freedom 
and contentment. Indeed life was worth living, if only to lie there 
on the deck, to gaze, to dream, to worship nature while quafiing 
deep drafts of the brine-laden air. 
It was two bells when Susie swept by the breakwater that ex- 
tends west from Ludington's Rock shoreward. Alter sailing well 
toward Southwest Ledge Light we took in the ringtail, jibed the 
mainsail to starboard and squared away into New Haven Harbor. 
On our way up the harbor we passed a lai'ge two-masted schooner, 
whose dilapidated sails, rigging, and rotten timbers denoted great 
age. Sam pronounced her a relic of the old witaling days. 
VVe anchored off the New Haven Yacht Club house just as the 
-sqn buried its face in a monster pillow of gold-fringed clouds piled 
hi^h in the western sky. 
That night Stanley and I took a run into the country to my 
house. As none of my family was at home I n.aturally had a de- 
sire to see how things were progressing. That was principally 
the reason for making the trip. We didn't forget, however, to 
load up the grocery wagon with green corn, tomatoes, potatoes, 
apples, pears, etc., and to run the whole load down to the wharf 
in the morning. Here we found Sam impatiently awaiting our 
coming. We had agreed to be on hand by 3 o clock, but it was nearer 
7 when we put in our appearance. We quickly unloaded our stuff 
from the wagon into the skiff, then the young man who had driven 
us to the wharf started back for the farm, while we rowed out to 
Susie. 
The wind was blowing fresh N.W. ; Sam said it had been blow- 
ing from that quarter since daylight. He wasn't very complimen- 
tary in his remarks toward us for the delay we had caused. "'If 
it wasn't for you loafers," s.iid he, "we'd be looking at Faulkner's 
Island over the stern by this time." 
"Yes, but we wouldn't have all this corn And other grub with 
us," Stanley answered. , 
"Well, come, let's get sail on her and make a break or We won't 
get away to-day." 
The fruit and vegetables were quickly dumped into Susie's hold; 
the skiff was yanked on deck, and the cable was hove short. We 
then set mainsail and topsail, got our anchor, put the jib on her, 
and away we went like a frightened steed for the mouth of the har- 
bor. Stanley satisfied his hobby for c&tK^PSr sail by setting th© 
jibtopsail and ringtail. 
The morning was one of those bright, crtSp ones, when all nature 
seems to smile, and evertliing is a-sparkle with light. The wind 
blew strong, streaming the smoke and steam of tugs and steam- 
boats in lines parallel with the water, and quickly dissolving them 
in the pure atmosphere. The green waves danced with a vim that 
betokened plenty of sea in the Sound. Not the smallest sign of 
cloud could be seen in the pure ethereal vault, whose depths were 
flooded to their uttermost limits with the mellow rays of the sun. 
"We'll have the' wind sou'west before we've been in the Sound 
long," prophesied Sam. "See how that schooner's got it under the 
Long Island shore?" 
"By George! she's got it in good shape too," replied Stanley. 
"Look! See how she lays over! I'll be hanged, if they aren't 
dousing her topsails!" He had spoken rightly, tor soon all three 
of her topsails were in, and even then the schooner seemed to 
have all the sail she needed. 
By seven bells we were off Morris Cove. The wind had hauled 
to the westward, and it was blowing considerably harder than at 
the start. "That ringtail and jibtopsail 'II have to come in if it 
blows any harder," said Sam, as he critically eyed the topmast. 
"Well, mebby they will," answered Stanley. "We aren't going 
to take them in until we have to though, you can bet." Wc passed 
into the Sound through the channel lietween Lighthouse I'oint 
and the east end of Southwest Ledge Breakwater. We then found 
the wind so heavy that wc were compelled to dispense with the 
ringtail and jibtopsail, though they were carried to the last min- 
ute. The wind gradually veered until it was plumb southwest, 
and it blew to beat the band. 
It was about this time when the thought strvick Stanley and I 
that wc had had no breakfast. We went below, and when we reap- 
peared on deck our stores had been considerably reduced. 
About two bells we were abreast of the Thimble Islands. The 
wind had steadily increased, and Susie w.as swinging over the long 
rolling seas at an 8-knot clip. Ahead of us, half way between the 
Thimbles and Faulkner Island, we could see a large sloop yacht. 
She was under mainsail and jib. and she was evidentl.v heading 
for the race. Suddenly she shifted her helm and started for the 
Thimbles. Her crew had undoubtedly considered discretion the 
better part of valor, and concluded to make a port while there 
was a good chance to do so. Soon after this we were compelled 
to take in our topsail. It pained Stanley considerably to have to 
"knuckle" to the inevitable. It was either take the sail in, how- 
ever, or see the topmast go out of her. 
Bub had been firing questions right and left, but suddenly he 
grew very quiet and thoughtful. We wondered greatly at the sud- 
den change. Our wonderment increased to amazement when he 
guessed "he'd go below and turn in." At first we concluded he 
must he getting frightened, but when he came on deck soon after 
and gazed wildly about for an instant, then sank on liis hands and 
knees and crawled to the rail, arched his back like a canker worm 
and yelled "Yauck! yauck! yauck!'' as though at some marine 
monster far down in the depths of the sea, then we knew he was 
paying his respects to Neptune. Poor Bub! He crawled back 
after a while, turned his bloodshot eyes on us for an instant, sadly 
murmured "malaria," then csrawled down to his bunk again. 
William H. Avis. 
[to be continued.] 
One-Desig-n Classes* 
The New York Sun is responsible for the following absurd at- 
tack upon the "one-design" classes: 
The "one design" classes of yachts, which promise to be 
popular among racing men next season, are causing a goodly 
amount of comment among naval architects, and it will be quite 
easy for a prophet to foretell the future of the yacht designer if 
these classes are to be encouraged to the exclusion of all others. 
It is a fact that a number of boats built from one set of moulds 
do less to advance the science of yacht designing than if the class 
was open to all designers and the product from several com- 
petitors was raced in each of the classes. 
The sport of yachting gains nothing from "one design" boats. 
Scientific designing is lost sight of and discouraged, and the men 
who are depended upon to evolve any future craft that will sail 
under the Stars and Stripes in an international contest are left 
to rust out and gather a meager knowledge of progress in the art 
from the results obtained by others and not by their own work. 
In England this matter is different, and Watson, Fife, Soper and 
others are building boats under the present racing rules, each 
one vieing with the other in order to obtain the best results from 
which information is gained that will be valuable in future races. 
It is plain that American designers should receive some en- 
couragement if yachtsmen expect success. Otherwise the type of 
boats_ by Americans will fall back from lack of exoerience and 
practical tests. In England there is quite a fleet of racing yachts 
in course of construction, no two of which are exactly the same. 
The results from these boats will undoubtedly be an advantage, 
while the architects upon whom Americans depend for their speedy 
types are building few boats outside the "one design" vessels. 
This disadvantage may also be applied equally to the special, re- 
stricted classes such as the 21, 25 and 30-footers. Where boats, 
must be raced within certain lines draftsmen are fettered by 
numberless rules and regulations that are made by men who. as 
a rule, are not competent to sail a catboat. An expert who ft^^s- 
made the subject of yachting a study for many years says: 
"New Yorkers are beginning to see the danger, and in the 
future, so Designer Gardner says, all boats over 25ft. must be 
built under clul) rules, for no special, restricted classes will he 
allowed above this. The New York Yacht Club, when.it put. 
a limit on draft of cutters under 70ft. and scliooners under 85 ft., ,. 
and adopted a rating rule, did that which is an injury to yacht 
racing, besides being most inconsistent, in view of liolding the 
America's Cup where freedom in design on the lengths is given." 
We have no idea \vhatever that Mr. Gardner is - responsible for 
the statement credited to him by the Sun. Mr..- Gardner has 
always favored what the Sun miscalls the "rating rule," and was 
a strong. -advocate of its adoption for, clas.sification, - as well as 
measurement, a few years ago. He was also in favor of the . 
draft limit adopted last season by the New York Yacht Club. 
The great error which the Sun makes is in assuming that the. 
one-design idea is the cause of the present stagnation in' yachting, 
whereas it is but a natural and inevitable effect. It is the un- 
limite^d modern yacht, expensive, short-lived and useless.,, of 
which Defender is such a conspicuous example, which has killed 
yacht racing in the large and even the medium classes, and left 
the designer idle. Last year the one-design idea^ pl&yed no serfous 
