474 
[Dec. 12, 1903. 
Southern Y. C. 
New Orleans, La., Nov. 16. — Editor Forest and 
Sfri-ain: Tl ere was printed in your issue of Jan. 31. 
19C3. a lengthy article on the Southern Y. C. new rules 
for measurement and time allowance, which had just 
been adopted, and there were given also deductions 
and reasons why the novel departures in the way of 
a measurement rule and method of time allowance 
were made. The measurement formula, which has 
proven eminently successful here in a season's trial, is 
"85 per cent, of the square root of the sail area (as 
measured by the old Seawanhaka rule) equals the rac- 
ing length," or, more properly, the racing rating; or, 
VSA X 85 = rating. 
The Herreshofif time allowance tables were discarded, 
and to nse with the measursraent formula, a rule was 
adopted making the figure of time allowance an ar- 
bitrary one of "five seconds per foot difference per 
mile of course." This has also been found to work 
well in practice, and the Southern Y. C, nor the five 
other clubs enrolled in the Southern Gulf Coast Yacht- 
ing Association would think for a moment of wishing 
anything better at the present time. 
As a general proposition the yachtsmen of the South 
are rather conservative, and. while it was realized last 
year by a few that our classes could be made more 
wholesome by restrictions and limitations, it was 
thought best to go slow and not attempt too much at 
one time, so the rule makers were content with a start 
in the right direction. 
Prominent among the writers and the designers who 
look with favor upon the new rule was Mr. B. B. 
Crowninshield, of Boston, who said that "the rule 
was an excellent one." At that time Mr. Crownin- 
shield endorsed the writer's views that the various 
classes to race under these rules would be kept from 
too much of a racing machine type by the adoption of 
scantling restrictions and a maximum limit over all 
length for each class. These suggestions have just 
been adopted by the Southern Y. C., and by the S. G. 
C. Y. Association. Tt would have probably been better 
had the committees gone farther and greatly improved 
the classes by having a minimum limit on least free- 
board, a minimum limit on beam and likewise a mini- 
mum limit on ballast: the latter insuring a depth of 
hull, which the displacement rules of the North attempt 
to encourage, the limit on freeboard insuring at least 
a certain fixed weight off hull, and the minimum beam 
assuring that boats too narrow are not produced. The 
limit of sail area is already fixed by the upper limit of 
the class rating. 
The scantling restrictions adopted are patterned after 
those of the Y. R. A. of Massachusetts, our two classes 
corresponding to their 25ft. and 21ft. cabin sloop, re- 
stricted classes. A third restricted class was adopted 
in the shape of a 20ft. one-design knockabout class, 
boats to be eligible to be built exactly from plans and 
specifications as gotten up by Mr. C. D. Mower. 
The classes and the limitations and restrictions are 
as follows: 
Class of 30 Rating and Over — Stem, sided at htad, 
3l4'm.\ keel, minimum thickness, 3^^; frames, maximum 
spacing, isin., sectional area at bilge, 3; bilge stringers, 
sectional area, middle 4. ends 3; deck beams, maxi- 
mum spacing I2in., sectional area, 3^; plankmg. mill- 
dressed, I in. thick. Maximum limit on over all length, 
soft. 
Class Under 30 Rating— Stem, sided at head, 2Hin-; 
keel, minimum thickness, 3; frames, maximum spacing 
I2in., sectional area at bilge 2>^; bilge stringers, sec- 
tional area middle 3. ends 2; deck beams, maximum 
spacing I2in., sectional area 2^; planking, mill-dressed, 
}im. Maximum limit on over all length, 40ft. 
General specifications and explanations of scantling 
table: 
Stem — The minimum siding (thickness) measured at 
the rabbet at highest point on stemhead, no decrease 
of siding allowed. 
Keel — Alinimum thickness allowed for a length of 
one-third of the load waterline length, beyond which 
may be tapered to one-third less at stem and stern. 
The breadth of keel will taper from point of greatest 
section to siding of stem and stern. 
Frames— The sizes laid down in the table show the 
minimum uniform sectional area of bent frames, the 
siding multiplied by the moldings. The sectional area 
is that of a single frame for a uniform spacing be- 
tween centers of not exceeding i2in. This required 
area may be made of smaller frames spaced closer to- 
gether, area being proportionally decreased, or of corn- 
binations of large and small frames with appropriate 
spacings. This minimum sectional area shall apply to 
a space of at least two-thirds of the L. W.- L. length in 
the center of the vessel; forward and aft of this, the 
sectional area may be reduced 20 per cent. Two ad- 
joining frames abreast each mast, and one at each 
runner plate must be increased in size in propor- 
tion as they are cut by the chain-plate fastenings. 
Sawn frames must be one-third larger in sectional 
area at least than bent frames. 
Spacing of Frames^ — The maximum spacing of frames 
as given in table, is based not on the size of the 
frames, this being variable, but on the thickness of 
planking allowed for the class,, being the greatest 
spacing that will insure a tight seam with the usual 
calking for the minimum thickness of planking allowed. 
Bilge Stringers — The minimum sectional area at 
middle shall cover at least one-half the full length of 
bilge stringer, with taper allowed at the ends. At least 
one bilge stringer must be run on each side, at about 
the lower part or turn of bilge. In yachts whose ex- 
treme beam exceeds twice the greatest depth from 
under side of deck to upper side of keel, two such 
strmgers on, each side must always be fitted. Two 
bilge stringers and two clamps to be full length of 
boat. 
Deck Beams — The sectional area of deck beams 
shall cover at least the middle third of the beam, allow- 
ing a taper, in the molding, to each end. There must 
be one larger main beam at the bitts, two at each mast 
(partner beams), one at fore end of cabin trunk, one 
a|: after en4» two at each skylight, hatch and cg-ropanion 
in flush-decked vessels and one at transom. The aux- 
iliary beams and the half beams abreast of house, sky- 
light, etc.. may be of smaller areas. The beams may be 
spaced at will, provided the maximum distance be- 
tween centers does not exceed that given in the table. 
The beams should be jogged into the shelf or clamp 
a distance equal to one-third the molded depth of 
beams at end. 
Floors — There shall be at least six strong floors in 
the center of the vessel and two at each mast step. 
There shall be but one rudder and one board. 
L. D. Sampsell. 
Boston Letter. 
Boston, Dec. 7. — There is a movement on foot at 
present to start a class of 30-footers to be raced under 
the auspices of the Eastern, the Corinlhign and the Man- 
chester Y. C. It is said that these yachts, if built, will 
also take part in the open events of the Yacht Racing 
Association of Massachusett.s, if that organization will 
adopt the class when formed. It is said that there are 
five yachts in view, but some of the prospective owners 
have yachts at present in the 25ft. restricted class, and 
their entrance into the new class may depend upon the 
sale of their old boats. 
What the restrictions and the system of measurement 
of the new class are intended to be have not, as yet, been 
announced. The Yacht Racing Association has already 
adopted a 30-rating class, the rules for which are ex- 
pected to be put into such shape at an early date that 
yachtsmen who intend entering may go ahead with the 
building of their boats. As long as it will be necessary to 
provide some system of rules and measurement for the 
proposed Marblehead 30-footers, it would seem reasonable 
to have the promoters of that diss confer with th^: 
promoters of the newly adopted class of Y. R. A. 30- 
raters. A class of .30-footers woula undoubtedly prove 
successful in Massachusetts Bay waters, once it has been 
started, but it is very doubtful, if two classes should be 
formed, that either would prove very successful. There 
has not been any racing of 30- foolers in these waters 
since 1899, and it does not seem that the revival of in- 
terest is great enough to warrant the formation of two 
classes. An endeavor was made at starting a class of 
30-footers at Marblehead a year ago, but for some 
reason the scheme fell through. There is no doubt that 
such a class is wanted, and upon the yachtsmen depends 
its introduction. 
A practical indorsement of the new Y. R. A. 2Tft. class 
has come from Rear Commodore Walter Burgess, of the 
Boston Y. C, who has ordered one of the boats, and 
also from Mr. W. B. Stearns, of the IMarblehead Yacht 
Yard, who will design the boat. Rear Commodore Bur- 
gess is one of the niost enthusiastic yachtsmen in the 
country, and is a veteran racing man. He is an expo- 
nent of the sound construction and rational form idea, 
and has always owned good boats. He has not partici- 
pated in active racing to any exent in the past few years, 
and has made no secret of his reason being that the kind 
of boat allowable under the rules was not the type he 
desired to own. He feels tiiat the new 21ft. class fiiJs the 
bill. 
Mr. W^ B. Stearns, who has been asked to design the 
boat, speaks veiy highly of the class, and, on account 
of his great familiarity with raceabouts, knockabouts, and 
other boats of about 21ft. waterline, his opinion is of 
great value. Mr. Stearns says that the boat to be pro- 
duced under the rules of the new 2tft. class is of a good, 
health}' type, is a stronger ard better boat all-round than 
those built under the racabout rules, and more of a 
racer than the old knockabout. He says further that 
the type is the logical outcome of a demand for a racing 
restricted class, somewhat larger than the i8-footers, and 
without the full lines in the bow, which, he states, make 
the 18- footers objectionable to many. 
The deductions of Mr. Steams tend to show that this 
new class is exactly what was intended to be obtained 
when Hon. Charles Francis Adams, 2d, went to work on 
the rules. The length of the boats appeals to many 
yachtsmen, as was shown by the great interest niar.i fc;;lc I 
formerly in the raceabout class. The raceabout class, 
however, has lost much of its footing in !\lassachnsetts 
Avaters, and the new class is calculated to prove a very 
worthy substitute. 
It is in the iSft. knockabout class that the greatest 
activity is being shown up to date. It is known that eight 
new boats are building or are to be built, and it is likely 
that more will be heard from before the building season 
closes. This class seems to gain in popularity from 
year to year rather than to lose. Some changes in the 
rules were made recently, but the only effect they will 
have will be to strengthen the class. Some of the older 
boats have changed hands, but the owners are more con- 
tent to hang on to T8-footers than they are to yachts of 
other lengths. The reason for this is undoubtedly in the 
establishment of rules that give a yacht as good a chance 
in one year as another. 
A. few boats have been ordered under the rules of the 
newh' adopted Y. R. A. 15ft. class, but the number is not 
yet great enough to assume that a lively interest is being 
taken. The 22-footers will be raced next season, and it 
is possible that one or two more boats will be built. Mr. 
C. C. Clapp has been spoken of as a prospective builder 
in the 22ft. class, but as yet it is not known that he has 
placed an order. It is quite doubtful if any boats will be 
built this winter for the 25ft. restricted class. There are 
four boats in the class that may be raced next season, 
however. 
Mr. B. B. Crowninshield is at work on the lines of a 
28]4it. auxiliary yawl for Mr. T. R. Wheelock, of Bos- 
ton. This yacht will be built and will be sailed at St. 
Andrews, N. B., where Mr. V\'heelock has a summer 
residence. She will be supplied with a 10 horse-power, 
2-cycle kerosene motor. Mr. Crowninshield also has an 
order for a keel raceabout for a New York yachtsman. 
This boat will have a straight sheer and will laave much 
more tumble home than is usually seen. He is drafting 
changes in Uncle Sam, the 21-footer, which captured the 
German Emperor's cup at Kiel. Uncle Sam will be given 
a greater draft and a larger rig. The sails, blocks, and 
rigging will be made in Boston. He also is at work on 
the lines of a 50-ton fisherman for Capt. Joseph McGill, 
of $b,elburnej N. to b$ us€4 in sip fishiug^ Tb« iSiC, 
knockabout which this designer turned out for ^Ir. Linus 
M. Chase, has been completed at Lawley's. 
The greater part of the new work in the yards at 
present appears to be on power boats. This is particu- 
larly the case in the smaller yards, although the larger 
plants are probably turning out more power boats than 
anything else, Messrs. Murray and Tregurtha have just 
finished a 45ft. launch for Mr. Thomas H. Webb, of 
Peoria, III, a prominent member of the Columbia Y. C, 
of Chicago, and of the Corinthian Y. C, of Marblehead. 
She is called the Saint, and was built to take the place 
of the Sinner, which ]\Ir. Webb owned last year. Saint 
is of the torpedo-boat type, 45ft. waterline, 42ft. on deck, 
8ft. beam, and 3ft. draft. She has a 3-cylinder, 16 horse- 
power, Alurray and Tregurtha engine, which will send 
her better than tt miles an hour. On her trial trip she 
covered measured miles in 5 and 6 minutes. Although 
she is somewhat narrow, as gasolene boats go, she has 
good room, and is fitted up for cruising. After spending 
some time on Lake Michigan Mr. Webb intends cruising 
down the Mississippi to New Orleans. 
John B. Killeen. 
Lake S JIingf Skiff Assoc ation« 
The annual meeting of the Lake Sailing Skiff Asso- 
ciation took place in Hamilton a short time ago. The 
following officers were elected: 
F. Birley, President; R. Slee, Vice-President; H. F. 
Darrell, Secretary-Treasurer. Executive Committee — 
E. K. M. Wedd, Royal Canadian Y. C. of Toronto; 
G. Judd. Royal Hamilton Y. C. of Hamilton; H. 
Sweetlove, Queen City Y. C. of Toronto; Jas. Comme- 
ford. National Yacht and Skifif Club of Toronto; C. 
F. Crawford. Victoria Y. C. of Hamilton; T. A. E. 
World. Royal Toronto Sailing Skiff Club; W. Gibson, 
Parkdale Sailing Club of Toronto; N. Forest, Toronto 
C. C. of Toronto; W. Gibson, Mimico Boating Club 
of Toronto. 
Two new classes were added to the association — a 
small ballasted class and an i8ft. dinghy class. 
The ballasted class restrictions are as follows: 
A. Maximum L. W. L. i6ft. 
B. Maximum draft 4ft. 
C. Sail area 350 sq. ft. 
D. Minimum beam L. W. L. for keel boats. 5ft. /in.; 
minimum beam L. W. L. for centerboard boats, 6ft. 2'm. 
E. Minimum area largest immersed vertical cross 
section, 6.125 sq. ft. 
F. Minimum draft for at least 4ft. length of keel. 2ft. 
3in.; minimum freeboard keel boats, i8in.; minimum 
freeb®ard centerboard boats I7in. 
H. Cabin trunk, width not gi eater than 70 per cent, 
cr less than 50 per. cent, of the greatest beam on deck. 
Cabin trunk height at least 2j/2in. for every foot greater 
beam. 
I. Stem-sided at head, 2in. 
J. Forward overhang timber oak, rock elm or fir, 
1 34 in. thick. 
K. Aft overhang timber of the same. 
L. Frames, oak or rock elm, sectional area i sq. in., 
spacing, 9in. 
M. Floors, ^in. thick. 
N. Clamp, oak, rock elm or fir, hard pine or spruce, 
234 sq. in. 
O. Bilge stringer of the same. 
P. Deck beams oak, sectional area, main 2]/2 sq, in, 
auxiliary 1^/2 sq. in., half beams i sq. in., spacing gin. 
Q. Planking to finish full ii-i6in. 
R. Deck to finish full j^in. thick. 
S. House deck to finish full 7-i6in. thick. Solid 
spars; wood centerboards, weighted only sufficient to 
sink; 75 per cent, sail area to be in mainsail; 25 per 
cent, sail area in fore triangle. 
Sailing dinghy class, i8ft. over all; Minimum beam, 
5ft. 6in.; depth, i8in.; planking, f^in.; ribs, tin. by lin., 
gin. centers; centerboard not over 75 pounds; sail area, 
250 sq. ft., main and jib. 
It was intimated the Rochester Y, C. may join the 
L, S. S. A. If so, international racing in the small 
classes will be the result. The other class now in the 
association is i6ft, class (corrected length), viz.. 24ft. 
over all, about 13ft, L, W, L, ; 6ft, 6in, beam, i2in, free- 
board, 330 sq, ft. canvas (rig sloop), 100 pound board. 
Kin. planking, ribbing, i sq. in. to the foot; also a 
14ft, sailing dinghy with 150ft. canvas. 
The annual regatta will take place in Toronto July 
I, for Walker cup, i6ft. class; Birley cup. dinghy class; 
Labor Day the Cakewalk cup in Hamilton. 
YACHTING NEWS NOTES. 
For advertising relaticp to this department see pages ii and iii. 
Messrs. Cousens & Pratt are at work upon sails for 
a 50ft, L. W. L. yawl, built by Mr. Lawley for Mr. 
Robert Saltsonstall ; 52ft. schooner, building by Law- 
ley for Mr. J. H. Cromwell; also new suits for the 
schooners Babboon, Gerfalcon, Penelve and Columbia; 
the 2Sft. knockabouts Kalifa and Margaret; Burgess 
Packard, 2i-f®oters for Mr. T. W. Rogers and Mr. 
Chester Bearse. A 21-footer for the new Massachusetts 
Y. R. A. class, designed and built by Stearns & Mc- 
Kay for Mr, Walter Burgess, The 21ft. knockabouts 
Betsey and Jennie Wren; the i8ft. knockabouts of 
Boardman's design, for Mr. J. W. Olmstead, Mr. Chas. 
F. Adams, 2d, Mr. C. H. W. Foster and Mr." R. DeB. 
Boardman; from Burgess & Packard's design, for Mr. 
Bowden, and from Mr, Crowninshield's design for Mr. 
Geo, P. Keith; also a 15-footer for the Massachusetts 
Y, R. A. class, designed by Boardman, for Mr. Pevear, 
of Annisquam. and a class of nine racing dories, built 
by Emmons, and designed by Mr, C. D, Mower. 
The schooner building at the Townsend & Downey 
plant at Shooters' Island, S. I., from designs by Messrs. 
Cary Smith and Barbey. is for Mr. Chester W. Chapin. 
The vessel is built of bronze and will be known as 
Azara. She is 113ft. over all, 85ft. waterline, 21ft, 4in, 
breadth and 5ft, Sin. draft. 
m 9t m. 
The annual meeting and dinner of the Manhasset Bay 
,Y. w^s held at the Hotel Manhattan pn the ^v^ning 
