if, tm>t 
Long Island Sound Y. R. A« 
special general meeting of the Y. R. A. of Long Island 
Sound was held on Dec. 12 at the Windsor Hotel, New 
York, to hear the reports of the executive committee 
in the matter of scantling regulations. There were pre- 
ent representatives of eleven clubs out of the twenty-two 
composing the Association. The report, as given below, 
was read and adopted, being favorably discussed, but it 
was decided to submit it to the Association before final 
action. The tables accompanying the report will be 
printed and sent out at once, and a general meeting will 
be held on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at which final action will be 
taken. As this is a very important matter ,it is desirable 
that every club be fully represented at the meeting, which 
is open to all individual members of the Association, as 
well as to the representatives. 
Special Report of Ihe Executive Committee, Dec. 12, JS98* 
At a special general meeting of the Yacht Racing As- 
sociation of Long Island Sound, held 011 Nov. 3, the fol- 
lowing resolution was adopted: 
Resolved, That the executive committe be instructed 
to prepare a scheme of restrictions as to scantling, con- 
struction, etc., for all classes from 30ft. downward, to 
the end of establishing cruising classes as distinct from 
racing classes, and that the committee shall report to a 
special meeting of the Association at the earliest possible 
date. 
A special meeting of the committee was held on the 
following Monday, and meetings have been held regular- 
ly every week up to the present time; while specific por- 
tions of the work have been intrusted to different mem- 
bers, to be done by them in. the intervals. In the ab- 
sence of the chairman, Mr. Cromwell, Mr. C. E. Pierce 
was chosen acting chairman, and Mr. C. H. Crane ap- 
peared as proxy for Mr. Cromwell, 
In undertaking this task the committee is fully im- 
pressed with the importance of the work at the present 
time. During the past two seasons there has been very 
little building in the regular classes of the Association, 
and but ilttle racing ; this condition being elue to two 
distinct sets of causes, those directly pertinent to yacht- 
ing, and those foreign to it, such as the war and the 
general condition of business. There is now every prom- 
ise of a change for the hetter in these external conditions, 
and of a strong reaction in yachting from the dullness and 
depression of the past season ; and if a reasonable amount 
of improvement can be made in the immediate conditions 
affecting building and racing, a new era of active sport 
may be looked for. 
The first question confronting the committee was that, 
of the amount of consideration to be accorded to the ex- 
isting fleet in framing new rules. On the one hand, the 
futility of marring new legislation by compliance with the 
demands of old and outclassed yachts has been demon- 
strated time without number; and on the other it is evi- 
dent that under the most favorable conditions it cannot 
be expected that new classes will be built up in one or 
two seasons. For the coming season at least, the clubs 
must depend on the yachts already built rather than on 
those which may be built, for ful lentry lists. 
While the first effort of the committee has been toward 
the improvement of yachts yet to be built, it has at the 
same time endeavored to make all changs as easy as pos- 
sible for the owners of existing yachts; and to afford to them as 
many inducements as possible to resume racing. 
An examination of the Sound fleet as it exists to-day, 
outside of the special classes, will show that the ''vested 
interests' 'are represented* almost entirely by yachts that 
are both outclassed in measurement and so far below a 
fair standard of modern' design and construction as to 
have no longer a chance of success against a yacht just 
built to the limit of the class, even though it be a whole- 
some and well-constructed craft, and not a racing ma- 
chine. 
In accordance with the sentiment expressed at the gen- 
eral meeting, the committee determined at the outset to 
arrang the racing fleet in two divisions, one to include 
yachts built exclusively for racing, with the object of 
developing the highest possible absolute speed in each 
class; the other to include yachts which, while as fast as 
possible, and fully capable of affording exciting sport, 
shall at the same time be strong enough for safety under 
all conditions, and for a permanent life of some years; 
and also fitted in dimensions and general arrangement for 
all-round use in everyday sailing and cruising rather 
than for match sailing alone. 
It is not the intention of the committee to suggest such 
legislation as will make slow yachts win from fast ones; 
but rather such as will draw a fair line between extreme 
speed, regardless of all other qualities, and such a high 
speed as may be had to-day with good design and con- 
struction in- a vessel that honestly deserves the name of 
yacht. That this is perfectly practicable is shown in the 
success of the Boston knockabout class, in which yachts 
built under wholesome restrictions are not only far re- 
moved from the "tub" cruiser, but are second in speed 
only to the latest racing machines. 
The name "racing division" naturally suggests itself 
for the unlimited racing yachts; but thus far no suitable 
term has been suggested for the other ; and the committee 
has been forced to resort to the use of the inadequate 
one of "cruising division" until a better one may be found 
in some one word, which will express the idea of a fast 
but serviceable yacht, adapted for the joint ends of class 
racing and general use. 
As a practical starting point in establishing rules and 
classes for the latter division, a list was made out of the 
yachts which have raced in the regular classes on Long 
Island Sound in 1897-8. This list, in which are not in- 
cluded the special 30ft., the knockabout and the .20 and 
15ft. Seawanhaka classes, numbers about 100 yachts of 
from 36ft. R. M. down to 20ft. Of these, but half a 
dozen were built within the past two years, and hardly 
more than a dozen can be classed as up-to-date, and with 
a fair show of winning in their respective classes. Most 
of the mare outclassed in measurement, and only start 
when they find a few of their own kind at the line, and 
they would no tstart if confronted with a new yacht, even 
though she were of wholesome type and construction. 
As the elates have gradually grown up on the Sound, 
there are now a number, but many of them with very few 
yachts, It is evident that successful facing depends on 
exactly the reverse of these conditions, viz., a moderate 
number of classes and a large number o fyachts in each 
class. With the above mentioned list as a guide, the com- 
mittee has endeavored to build up and strengthen those 
classes, wbich have proved their popularity by the num- 
ber of yachts built to them ; and on the other hand, it is 
recommended that such classes as now exist on paper, but 
which can show no better reason for such existence than 
a few outclassed yachts, be discontinued. 
Before taking up the subject of scantling in detail of 
parts and sizes, it was obviously necessary to settle upon 
the classes to which the proposed restrictions should ap- 
ply, The present classes of the Association are 30ft, 25ft., 
arft. and 18ft, by the Seawanhaka rule; the latter two 
having recently been changed from 20ft. and 15ft. respec- 
tively. It is now so generally recognized that this rule, 
including only two factors of speed, length and sail area, 
does not meet the requirements of modern yachting in 
producing a yacht of reasonably large displacement and 
accommodation, that the committee was reluctant to rec- 
omment its continued use as the basis of a new and very 
important step in yachting legislation. 
The alternatives, as summed up and carefully con- 
sidered, were three: 1st, to adopt for these classes the 
new rule in which girth is a factor, as recently adopted for 
the larger classes; 2d, to propose another new formula 
tending to produce yachts of greater displacement; 3d, to 
extend the system of arbitrary and fixed restrictions 
now in use in the knockabout classes to cover the regular 
classes. 
The first alternative, the adoption of the girth rule, was 
rejected for the reason that from all that the committee 
has been able to learn of the opinions and wishes of the 
Sound yachtsmen, the new rule will not be acceptable for 
building in the smaller classes; and also its adoption 
would involve much labor in the remeasurement of ex- 
isting yachts. The second alternative, of a new formula, 
is not practicable, as it would only further complicate the' 
measurement question to put still another rule in opposi- 
tion to the one just adopted ,and as yet untried in the 
larger classes. 
At one point in its deliberations, the committee had 
practically decided upon recommending a system of re- 
stricted classes in the cruising division, and the details 
of the necessary restrictions were carefully discussed. 
Mr. F. B. Jones visited Boston on behalf of the commit- 
tee, and was present at the meeting of the executive com- 
mittee of the Yacht Racing Association of Massachu- 
setts, while similar restrictions were under considera- 
tion. It was proposed to establish classes with fixed 
limitations to waterline, sail area, ballast, and other of 
the more important factors of advantage, with more 
stringent cabin restrictions. One advantage of this plan 
would be that the special knockabout classes of 21ft. and 
25ft. l.w.l. could be assimilated with the regular classes, 
thus much simplifying the racing and producing fewer 
and stronger classes. It would also be of mutual advan- 
tage if the two associations of Boston and New York 
could be drawn more closely together through increased 
uniformity of rules. 
When it came to the question of actual details, it was 
evident that to secure satisfactory results in establishing 
the necessary maximum and minimum limits of ballast, 
beam, sail, etc., for both keel and centerboard types in 
the same classes, was a task that could only be dealt with 
by experts, who would devote much time and labor to it. 
Apart from there being no one at hand to do this work 
voluntarily, the necessity for immediate action, and the 
length of time required for the preparation of such a 
scheme of restrictions in addition to the scantling, made 
it impossible to carry out this method. 
As a last resort, the committee has been compelled to 
recommend the retention of the present rule, as involv- 
ing the least possible disturbance to racing. There is 
good reason to anticipate a general revival of yachting in 
the season of 1899, in which racing will have its share. 
Any material alteration of the rules is certain to have a 
deterrent eect on the racing for the following season, and 
under present conditions might lead to a repetition of the 
experiences of the past year. 
If it had been possible to find a new rule of any kind 
which promised positively to attain the ends generally 
recognized as desirable, the production of yachts fitted 
for both racing and general use, the committee would not 
have hesitated to recommend its adoption, at whateA'er 
temporary cost. The three alternatives alrady outlined 
are at best but experiments whose success is doubtful, and 
each of them involves a serious disturbance of the familiar 
measurements, class limits and methods which is certain 
to operate disadvantageous!} 7 at the present time in con- 
fusing yachtsmen and discouraging entries. In retaining 
the old rule, all this, at least, is avoided; and there is also 
good reason to anticipate that the new measures here 
proposed, the isolation of the extreme racing yachts, the 
imposition of scantling restrictions, and the revision of 
the cabin requirements, will all act strongly to improve 
the type built under the rule. 
The committee then recommends the following classes 
by the present rule. 
Cruising Division. 
Sloops, Cutters and Yawls. — Cabin — 30ft. class, 25ft. 
class. Open — 21ft. class, 18ft. class. 
Catboats. — Cabin. — 30ft. class, 25ft. class, 21ft. class. 
In order to qualify for any of these classes a yacht must 
conform to the standard Table of Scantlings and to the 
Cabin Restrictions. 
A yacht which does not comply with the scantling and 
cabin restrictions may sail in the racing division of her 
class, under the above class limits. 
In view of the possible objection that by this plan the 
number of classes and prizes is doubled, it may be pointed 
out that there is very little probability of both divisions of 
each class filling. A fair trial of the unlimited racing 
division and the restricted cruising division, side by side, 
is likely to prove that but one of them will attract the 
favor and support of owners. While it will be desirable 
for the present to offer prizes for yachts in each division 
in a class, when they come to the line in such numbers 
as to justify it; the matter is after all a mere question 
of the survival of the fittest, which may be left to settle 
itself. 
In taking up the question of construction, the commit- 
tee referred at the start to the woi-u done last year for 
the Yacht Racing Union uf the Great Lakes, by W, Pi. 
Stephens. The conditions and the end in view were prac- 
tically the same as in the present case ; from such informa- 
tion as the committee has been able to obtain, the table 
has proved satisfactory, and ii is approved by such design- 
ers as have had occasion to become familiar with it. The 
compilation of a new table would involve a great deal 
of labor, and would inevitably delay matters for some 
weeks more; and under the circumstances the committee 
is well satisfied to recommend this table to the Associa- 
tion. At its request, Mr. Stephens has revised the figures 
to fit the altered class limits recommended in this report, 
which are different from those of the lakes, and they have 
been extended to cover the smallest class. 
The dimensions as given in the table are based on 
actual practice, as shown in modern yachts of good con- 
struction ; and it is believed that they represent as fully as 
possible a desirable point of compromise between light- 
ness and strength. In laying down restrictions of this 
kind, while it is desirable to avoid unnecessary complica- 
tion, it is at the same time absolutely necessary to specify 
every essential. In order to carry out the intent of the 
Association, as expressed in the resolution, and to pro- 
tect to the fullest extent those who build honestly in this 
spirit, it has seemed necessary to approach the extreme of 
complication, rather than the reverse, of few and simple 
requirements, which may be filled literally and at the same 
time evaded in spirit. 
The Committee recognized fully" that a table of this kind 
is based on an assumption which is by no means correct- 
viz., that the same dimensions and disposition of parts 
are equally applicable to all types of yachts. On this 
point it may be said that, as it is manifestly impossible to 
arrange special tables for each possible type; the present 
one has been based mainly on that general type which has 
always been largely in the majority in the cabin classes, 
the. moderately wide and deep keel and centerboard. 
Assuming that the table is correct as far as it goes, 
there, are several secondary points connected with it, In 
the first pake, there will be found some existing yachts 
whose scantlings do not comply with those laid down, 
but which are of heavy construction and ample strength 
as tested by use. These should be admitted to their 
proper classes. It may in time prove necessary that some 
provision be made for an inspection of yachts under con- 
tsruction, in order that some provision be made for an in- 
spection of yachts under construction, in order to guar- 
antee that they are built in accordance with the table ; and 
also to take some means to ensure that after being thus 
built, yachts shall be maintained fully up to the required 
standard. It would obviously destroy the entire effect 
of the rule if a yacht after her first season were allowed 
to plane down her deck and planking and to cut away 
other members to gain an advantage in weight. 
There will in time be the question of approved methods 
of construction other^than the particular one dealt with 
in the present table, such as steel, aluminum and com- 
posite. In the opinion of the committee, the work which 
it now presents, though all that has been possible at the. 
present time is but the beginning of a very extensive 
scheme, which can only be perfected by continual care 
and labor in the future. 
The two subjects of the restriction of the Knockabout 
classes and the cabin requirements for the regular classes 
have been carefully considered, and the committee pre- 
sents new limits which it considrs desirable. They have 
ben drawn as far as possible in conformity with those of 
the Y. R. A. of Massachusetts, which has, with the Boston 
Knockabout Association, given much attention to these 
matters. 
At the general meeting of Nov. 3 the Association voted 
to adopt for the classes of 34ft. and over the rule recently 
adopted by the Yacht Racing Union of North America. 
At the present time there is a decided difference of opin- 
ion as to the merits of this rule in producing a yacht of 
greater internal capacity than that of late resulting from 
the old rule. This question can only be settled by the 
practical test of designing and building and racing under 
the rule; and it is highly desirable that such a test be 
made at once. The new 36ft. class offers a most favorable 
opportunity for such a test, and the committee would 
urge that every effort be made by the clubs of the As- 
sociation toward building up this class for the coming 
season. The class permits a yacht of about 30ft. l.w.l., 
of any type, from the cruiser of full section to the fin- 
keel, according to the preference of the owner. It is as 
yet very far from certain which type will win, or in fact 
whether any one type will win in all conditions of racing. 
Those who desire to build a yacht of some living accom- 
modation and yet to race her regularly, can find in this 
class at least a good fighting chance. In order to induce 
the building up of this class, the committee has extended 
the table of scantling to include it ; so that those building 
may at least be sure of a strong and durable yacht with a 
permanent sale value, and not a mere racing shell The 
cost of building a 36-footer, even for a first-class craft, is 
by no means excessive ; if the class is taken up in time by 
the Association and the clubs, there will be a certainty o: 
good class racing through the mext season: and until more is 
known of the practical working of the rule, there is at least a 
fair sporting chance of prizes for each type of yacht. 
It may not be out of place to say that any early premonitions 
on the part of the committee as to the amount of the work in- 
volved in carrying out the resolution of the Association have 
been more than realized; and at the same time the committee 
cannot feel that it has been able to complete the task in a man- 
ner which is thoroughly satisfactory to itself. 
The committee is impressed with the truth that the results of 
legislation are not of necessity dependent entirely upon the act- 
ual details of the laws, but upon the spirit with which they are 
accepted and obeyed, There is, at the present time, a geneal 
desire to establish yacht racing upon a more .satisfactory basis 
than it has occupied for some years past. Whether this can be 
done depends not alone on the rules, but on the spirit of the 
yachtirg commumt'-. If the yachtsmen of Long Island Sound! 
wiM individually accept the rules and display a proper sporting 
spirit in building new yachts or racing their old ones if at all- 
possible next season; and in the endeavor to improve and 
strengthen the rules by interpreting them in the spirit of true 
sport, rather than in destroying them by at once pushing them 
to the most extreme limit of the letter, the results can hardly 
fail to be satisfactory, both in the present and the future. 
Respectfully submitted, C. T. Pierce, Acting Chairman 
C. P. Tower, Sec'y, E. Burton Hart, F, Bowne Tones 
O, Chei.boro, W. P. Stephens, 
