6cz. zi li^i 
at (he Herreshoff yards. The latest Bristol report of 
Mineola is that her bow is turned up in the air and her 
hull badly strained and out of shape,— New York- Trib- 
une, Oct 5. . ' ' ' ■ ' . . . . 
The following is irom the New York Times: . 
A report comes from the Hefreshoffs' works that these 
builders ha>ve contracts to construct ten of the fifty-one- 
loot class pi yachts, to be completed in season for the 
racing next summer, and that the class will be head- 
quartered at Newport, as were the thirties and the seven- 
ties. It is also reported that August Belmont's name 
is among the yachtsmen who will own one of the new 
bdats, and in Wew of that fact had his seventy-footer 
Mineola towed to New York recently, to be offered for 
sale. 
According to Le Yacht the new challenge for the Sea- 
wanhaka cup will be designed by Harley Mead, of Cowes. 
Mr. Currie will try her early in the season, in time to 
build another boat should she prove unsatisfactoiy. It is 
probable that the English challenge will bring out a num- 
ber of boats for the trial races of thfe defense from all 
parts of Cana^ia, and that the new fleet on Lake St. Louis 
will be national rather than local. It is reported that at 
least one other English yachtsman will build a trial boat. 
A VAGUE report is current, coming from Berlin, that the 
Emperor William has placed an order with Mr. Watson 
for a yacht a little larger than the new Sybarita, to make 
her debut in the Mediterranean next spring. 
The action of the council of the Yacht Racing Union 
at the annual meeting, in rescinding the linear rating ot 
"girth rule" adopted two years ago, leaves the measure- 
ment question just where it then was, and where it is 
lilcel}^ to remain so far as the Yacht Racing Union of 
.\merica is concerned. Though this organization has had 
a special committee at work for some time on the meas- 
urement question, it has no new proposal for a rule. The 
clubs and associalijjas which looked to the Y. R. U. of 
N. A. for aid anl^uidance in this matter are now left 
to shift for themselves. Apart from the waste of time, the 
onl}' harm that has been done, except to the prestige of the 
new Union, is on the Great Lakes, where a good rule was 
abandoned for a very poor one, with the result that the 
staunch and sturdy keel yacht in successful use on all the 
lakes has been handicapped in favor of the extreme type 
of cap.sizable racing machine. This result of itself is 
enough to justify the strong protest which we Irad the 
pleasure of making before the meeting of 1898 against 
what has proved a most unfortimate leap in the dark. 
The Ballasting of the 70ft. Class. 
The following letters were made public in New York 
on Oct. 7 and 8 respectively through all the daily papers. 
We give them without any comment, as they cover all 
that is known about the case to others than those directly 
connected with the four new 70-footers. ' ' 
The first letter is addressed to the regatta committees of 
the New York, Seawanhaka and other clubs, a copy being 
.?ent to each : 
:^ew York, Oct. 5.— Dear Sir : The owners of the four 
so-called 70-footers entered into an agreement which 
governed certain of the races between them during the 
last summer. It was my general understanding of this 
agreement that it gave the right to any one of the yachts, 
at her own option, to add ballast for the purpose of bring- 
ing her waterline length up to that of the longest yacht, 
and for this purpose I took in additional ballast on board 
Rainbow at different times. 
My attention has just been called to the fact that I had 
no right to take in additional ballast in any case, after the 
yacht had once been measured, without notifying the 
authorities under which the races were conducted, or pro- 
curing an official remeasurement. It had never occurred 
to me that I was obliged to comply with this condition, 
but I hasten to say that I think my yacht was subject to 
disqualification for taking on additional ballast without 
being officially remeasured, and that she was not entitled 
to any prizes won under these circumstances. 
I deeply regret that I should have been guilty of such a 
blunder and can only frankly say that it was a blunder, 
but was committed thoughtlessly and without intention. 
I cannot, of course, consent to accept any prize which 
was won by my yacht in violation of the rules, however 
unwittingly such violation occurred. I beg, therefore, to 
say that I must decline to accept the prizes offered by your 
club, to which I otherwise would have been entitled. 
I shall at once notify the other owners of these facts, 
and shall at the same time write to the various committees 
in charge of the other races which I have sailed, and 
inform them of my error and how it came to be made. _ At 
the same time I shall return all the prizes T have received 
and refuse to accept the ones not yet delivered. 
Respectfully yours, 
I Cornelius Vanderbilt. 
The following is a statement given to the press by Mr. 
H. B. Duryea : 
In an issue of a morning paper I find a reference to 
myself in connection with Mr. Vanderbilt's letter return- 
ing his cups, as follows: 
"What called forth this letter is somewhat a mystery, 
but it is rumored that Herman B. Duryea and Harry 
Payne Whitnej^. who owned and raced Yankee, intimated 
that Rainbow had an advantage over the other yachts 
which she should not have had." 
The suggestion, as I understand it, is that Mr. Vander- 
bilt was driven to this recent attitude by insinuations made 
by Mr. Whitney and myself. This does him great in- 
justice, as well as us. 
The facts are that not until the racing season was 
over had we any idea that any such thing could_ have 
happened. Immediately upon the information reaching us 
I sent Mr. Vanderbilt a letter, of which the following is 
a copy: 
"My Dear Vanderbilt : It has come to my knowledge, 
by such conclusive evidence as to leave no doubt in my 
mind that your skipper, Capt. Parker, in the middle of our 
recent racing season, and after we had all been measured 
by the official measurer of the New York Y. C, changed 
the trim of Rainbow by putting in more ballast, without 
notice to the oificials having charge of the racing and 
without any official remeasurement, in violation of the 
agreement we made with each other, as owners of the 
70-footer class and in violation of the rules of all yacht 
clubs. I am sure you will agree with me that you should 
be put in possession of the fact, that you may inaugurate 
yourself the measures proper to be taken under the cir- 
cumstances. Upon application from you I will, if Capt. 
Parker denies it, furnish you the proof. ' 
"Very truly yours, 
"H. B. DURYEA.^^ 
We never had the slightest idea that Mr. Vanderbilt was 
cognizant of the transaction, and we did precisely what we 
would have expected another gentleman to do to us— 
we mentioned it to no one, but informed him at once. 
It is a matter of congratulation that Mr. Vanderbilt, by 
his sportsmanlike action, has cleared himself of blame, as 
he has in every one's mind, and Mi*. Whitney and I will 
lie the first to insist that the cups remain where they are, 
and certainly we will never sail for them ourselves, but 
neither will' we sail in any competition in which Capt. 
Parker is the sailing master of a pompeting boat. 
He is the one who has placed Mr. Vanderbilt and 
American yachtsmen in this position. .Capt. Parker was 
to Rainbow what I was to Yankee. He managed and 
sailed her, as I did Yankee. Mr. Vanderbilt had a right 
to rely upon him as a person experienced in the rules of 
lacing. He had sailed all his life in England and knows 
that after a boat is officially measured a man may not 
change the weights and immersion of his boat without a 
remeasurement and official certificate showing his com- 
plance with the conditions of the race. 
The rule is differently stated in different associations, 
and in soine cases one is permitted to give notice and be 
remeasured after a race, but nowhere would it be deemed 
Ijonorable to change your weights and immersion and 
accept the results of a competition without an official 
certificate of the measurer that your boat complied with 
the conditions of the race. 
A fine situation we would have been in as yachtsmen if 
this matter had slept and Capt. Parker had gone home 
and reported, as he quite likely would have done, that we 
were given to such practices. Mr. Vanderbilt's action has 
saved us from any imputation of intentional wrongdoing, 
but as to Capt. Parker, the case is not the same. The cir- 
cumstances showed plainly that Capt. Parker knew well 
the character of his acts. 
Mr. Whitney and I had been a good deal puzzled in the 
middle of the season by the sudden change that had some- 
how come about in the sailing qualities of the different 
boats, especially Rainbow. After being officially measured 
on July 13, Yankee won of the first five races four, and 
was second in the other. We were quite unable to ac- 
count for the subsequent racing of the boats, but neither 
made nor entertained any suggestion that there was any- 
thing wrong about it. , 
Just as the racing season was ending facts were stated 
to us to which wc were obliged to give attention, to the 
effect that Rainbow had extra ballast on board. We still 
did not believe it. We knew that if it was on board it 
would necessarily be removed at some time, and until the 
removal had been actually seen by reliable witnesses we 
would not believe any such thing. Capt. Parker removed 
it at night in the most secret manner, and his men engaged 
in it skulked and denied what they were doing. It was 
then that we wrote Mr. Vanderbilt, believing that he had 
been deceived as-well as we. 
The truth was. Capt. Parker was deceiving him as to 
the rule and us as to the facts. 
It is fair to say that if our information is correct as 
to the quantity of ballast added by him. Rainbow's im- 
mersion was not only considerably in excess of the longest 
boat, but in excess of the 70ft. limit of our class as well. 
However, the amount of change made by adding ballast 
is not to the point. We may not guess at the length of 
our waterline or the amount of our immersion^ and add 
and subtract ballast as we guess. 
The official measurer's certificate is a title to enter a 
class, and we may not change our weight or immersion 
on any view of our own without official verification of our 
act. This is the rule throughout the world, and no one 
knows it better than Capt. Parker. 
H. B. Duryea. 
The Yacht Racing: Union of North America. 
The fourth annual meeting of the Yacht Racing Union 
of North America was held on Oct. 6 at the Yachtsmen's 
Club, New York. The following delegates were present: 
J. M. Macdonough, Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Associa- 
tion; A. F. Bancroft, Corinthian Y. C, of Philadelphia; 
F. M. Hoyt, C. P. Tower, E. M. MacLellan and Frank 
Bowne Jones, Yacht Racing Association of Long Island 
Sound; A. J. Prime, New York Yacht Racing Associa- 
tion, and Newberry D. Lawton, Atlantic Y. C. 
Mr. N. D. Lawton presided. The report of the secre- 
tary showed that the membership included nine associa- 
tions, comprising 113 clubs, and ten separate clubs. The 
Connecticut Y. C, of Jamestown, R. I., was elected to 
membership. The special committee on revision of the 
measurement rule, Messrs. F. Bowne Jones, C. H. Crane 
and R. N. Ellis, made a report, after which the following 
resolution was adopted ; 
Whereas, The adoption of a new rule of measurement 
is to be considered during the coming winter, and as it is 
probable that a rule will be suggested that will be gen- 
erally acceptable, 
Resolved, That the rule of measurement now incor- 
porated in the racing rules of the Union be rescinded suid 
that it be recommended that the associations and clubs 
represented in the Union use locally such rule of meas- 
urement as they consider most desirable for the purpose. 
The following council was elected for the coming year : 
L. M. Clark and A. H. Higginson, Boston ; Newberry D. 
Lawton, F. Bowne Jones. F. M. Hoyt. A. J. Prime and 
Oswald Sanderson, New York; A. F. Bancroft. Philadel- 
phia; Benjamin Carpenter, Chicago; G. Herrick Duggan, 
Montreal; Ralph -N. Ellis, Newport; ^melius Jarvis, 
Toronto: Joseph M. Macdonough, San Francisco; A. M. 
Potter, Providence, and J. Adolph MoUenhauer, Brooklyn. 
Gttising: a la Mode^or Much Ado About 
Nothing. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Having' read a few of the perilious cruises described 
in the pages of various journals devoted to the noble 
sport of yachting, it occurred to me that possibly you 
might like to have some of my experiences. 
I observe that the most approved style is to quote 
verbatim from the log. I regret I am unable to do this; 
as mine went down in the late terrible gale when my 
anchors dragged and my craft was brought up all stand- 
ing — (I believe that is the correct expression, but if not 
I daresay you will kindly supply the proper phrase)— 
against the stage, where the maid servant draws the 
water from the duck pond, but as the details of that 
awful time are indelibly impressed upon my memory 
you may rely on the fact being strictly accurate. With- 
out further complaint or apology I will begin: 
Bank Plohday, Aug. 6, 1900.— Eight bells just gone, 
— Billy Jones come aboard, bringing luncheon basket 
— followed by under-gardener wheeling a barrow full of 
beer, After much exertion and difficulty wheeled this 
aboard, found only way was to lighten the contents 
first — they answered admirably. Take great credit to 
myself for thinking of it. 
Two bells. — All stowed snugly; began lunch. 
Four bells. — Felt less sleepy. Suggested Billy should 
see how weather was and if fine get up the mainsail. 
No answer. Had a pick-me-up. 
Four bells. — Billy woke .me up, said it was 6 o'clock. 
He thought anchor was coming loose. Told him to go 
to But he didn't, so I got up, and finding it really 
was the second dog-watch, thought we'd better step 
ashore and get ready for dinner. 
Aug. 7, seven bells. — Found anchor had held, at least 
the yacht was where we left her, i, e., jammed against 
the bank under the old willow tree. Two ducks (birds) 
had got on board. Billy goes after them. Being too 
energetic he trips over the foresheet. Goes head over 
heels into the pond. Luckily wind had lulled; not much 
sea, so I am able to save him. Got a bit muddy. Water 
fully two feet deep — mud six feet possibly. While I Was 
doing this, awful squall got up from the E.S.E. N. 
This was right off the land. Result, yacht with me and 
Billy aboard blowm out into the middle of the pond. 
Two bells.— The cable has parted. We are driving help- 
less and broadside on to the stage to leeward. Nothing 
can save us 
Three bells. — We are bumping awfully against the 
stage. The gardener, brave chap, sees our peril. _ He 
rushes down with the garden line. He heaves it wildly 
right in the teeth of the blast. Alas! in his agitation 
lie has let go of the other end and the whole bag of 
tricks, iron spindle, winder and peg, all some crashing 
through our weather scantling. We are doomed. The 
yacht gives a few frightful lurches, fills and would have 
sunk only there was not enough water just there. We 
only just step a.shore in time before the mud yields and 
our fine boat goes down gunwale under. 
Aug. 8, eight bells. — ^Arrive at the office just as the 
governor gets there. No more now, but trusting this 
])erilous adventure will be of interest to your readers, I 
remain, 
Jack-all-Alone. 
Beverly Y. C. 
buzzards bay. 
Saturday, Sept. 8. 
Courses: ii^ miles for 25ft. and 2ift. classes; 7%. 
miles for 4th class catboats and 15ft. class. Wind, light 
N.E., hauling to S.W. good breeze. Tide, flood. 
2Bft. Class— Start, 1:05. 
Length. Finish. Elapsed. 
May Queen, D. L. Whittemore 25.00 3 08 45 2 03 45 
IJlula, W. H. Winship 25.00 3 17 23 2 12 23 
Nokomis, Alfred Winsor 25.00 3 17 44 2 12 44 
Eina, J. Parkinson .25.00 3 18 25 2 13 25 
Brundhilde, S, R. Dow 25.00 3 24 16 2 19 16 
21ft. Class— Start, 1:15. 
Cvrilla, R. W. Emmons 2d 21.00 3 31 01 2 16 01 
Quakeress, W. F. Harrison 21.00 3 33 51 2 18 51 
Amanita, Louis Bacon. .21.00 3 36 22 2 21 22 
Edith, C. M. Baker 21.00 3 44 01 2 29 01 
Fourth Class Cats— Start, 1:25. 
Weasel, F. Burgess 18.00 2 54 43 1 29 43 
Hod, H. B. Holmes 18.00 2 58 27 1 33 27 
Howard, H. O. Miller 18.00 2 59 39 1 34 39 
Daisy, H. Stockton 18.00 3 02 26 1 37 26 
15ft. Class— Start, 1:30. 
Uarda, J. Parkinson, Jr 15.00 3 01 22 1 31 22 
Vim, F. W. Sargent 15.00 3 01 40 1 31 40 
Flickamaroo, N. F. Emmons 15.00 3 02 42 1 32 42 
Peacock, Robert Winsor 15.00 3 02 53 1 32 53 
Go-Bye, S. G. King 15.00 3 03 02 1 33 02 
Teazer, R. W. Emmons 2d 15.00 3 03 58 1 33 58 
The winners were: 2sft. class. May Queen, first; Ululu, 
second. 2ift. class, Cvrilla, first; Quakeress, second. 
4th class cats. Weasel, first; Hod, second. 15ft. class, 
Uarda, first; Vim, seocnd. 
Judge, David Rice. 
Dorchester Y. C. 
DORCHESTER — ^BOSTON HARBOR. 
Saturday, Sept. 29. 
The Dorchester Y. C. held its third ladies' day on Sept. 
29, a part of the programme being a race, the third and 
last of the series. The times were : 
Elapsed. Corrected. 
Scoot, C. Keves Brastow 1 03 30 0 54 30 
Dorothy, H. A. Goddard 1 06 20 0 56 20 
Athena; T. W. Souther.... 1 07 50 0 56 50 
Irene, F. B. Driscoll 1 10 15 0 57 15 
Marion II., George R. Coolidge 1 02 45 0 57 45 
Spinster, L. M. Clark 0 .59 45 0 59 45 
Louis F., R. Billings 1 14 40 1 01 40 
Petrel, A. H. Murray Withdrew. 
The judges were Hartford Davenport, Oliver F. Daven- 
port, Charles H. Nute and Thomas Leavitt. 
The first prize for the series, a silver cup. was awarded 
to Scoot, the second to Dorothy and the third to Spinster. 
Irene and Athena were tied for fourth place. 
The Forest and Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday. 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach us at the 
latest by Monday and as much ^oarlier as practicable. 
