Oct. 14, 1905] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
Boston Letter. _ 
i‘ Rating Rule Proposed for Y. R. A. — The annual 
meeting of the Yacht Racing Association of Massachu- 
setts will be held on Thursday evening, Oct. 19, at 
f which several important amendments to the' racing 
. rules will be proposed. The most important of the new 
I measures is the proposed adoption of classes under the 
I new uniform rule of rating. The classes suggested for 
1 adoption are from M, of 33ft. to 40ft. rating, to Class 
i R, which rates under i8ft. The new rule has already 
j been adopted by the Eastern Y. C. and the Corinthian 
' Y. C., and the Boston Y. C. sailed two of its handicap 
i classes under the rule during the .season that has just 
passed. If the measure proposed in the Y. R. A. of 
Massachusetts is adopted at the annual meeting, it will 
mean the general adoption of the uniform rule through- 
out Massachusetts Bay, as about all the clubs hold 
their open races under Y. R. A. rules. It is expected 
that there will be considerable discussion over the 
adoption of the proposed classes. 
It is also proposed to adopt the rules and classifica- 
tion of the American Power Boat Association, a matter 
that has been seriously considered by those in the Asso- 
ciated since early spring. There are many who believe 
that the control of the general power boat racing by the 
Y. R. A. will insure greater attendance at open events, 
and will aid greatly in developing racing among power 
craft in the Bay. 
Amendments relating to the restrictions of 15-footers 
and to the method of obtaining sail area are proposed. 
It is also proposed to drop the 30ft. cabin class and 
the 2ift. restricted class. 
Cape Catboat Association. — There is no doubt of the 
earnestness of those who have been interested in the 
revival of the once popular catboat, and who have been 
interested in the recently formed association for the 
development of the type. At a meeting of the Cape 
Catboat Association, held in Quincy on Oct. 2, a very 
complete set of restrictions were adopted for the future 
; building and racing of the class, which are likely to go a 
; long way toward assuring long life to the racing of 
: catboats. Those interested were aware that a set of 
i general restrictions on principal measurements would 
. not be sufficient, but as there was not enough time when 
' the Association was formed, the boats were allowed to 
race during the past season, under the best rules that 
could be devised at the time. The new restrictions just 
adopted are intended to cover everything and to encour- 
age the building of new, boats, it has also been voted that 
the restrictions adopted are to hold good for three years 
without amendment, unless some serious defect is dis- 
covered in them. The general restrictions follow: 
1. A Cape catboat belonging to this Association 
shall be a seaworthy cruising and racing yacht, of cen- 
terboard type, strongly constructed, properly ballasted 
with fixed ballast, having good freeboard and sub- 
stantial cabin trunk, with suitable cabin accommoda- 
tions for cruising. No boat shall be admitted having a 
full, blunt bow, square sides, double rudders, bilge or 
leeboards, reverse curves in the fore-and-aft center line, 
or any other unusual features, and all boats admitted to 
the Association from this date must conform to the 
following specifications: 
2. The over all length shall be not less than 22ft. nor 
more than 27ft., and the waterline length shall not 
exceed 25ft. 
3. The total amount of the overhangs shall not ex- 
ceed 20 per cent, of the length of the load waterline. 
4. The racing length shall be the length of the load 
waterline plus one-third of all overhangs. 
5. The minimum freeboard shall not be less than 
%in. for every foot of waterline length. The minimum 
freeboard at the bow shall not be less than i^in. for 
every foot of load waterline length. 
6. The forward side of the mast shall not be more 
than one foot aft the forward end of the waterline. 
7. All ballast shall be below the cabin and cockpit 
floors or the transoms, and shall not be moved during 
races. 
8. The topside of the cabin floor shall be below the 
load waterline not less than j/ain. for every foot of load 
waterline length ; for a space including the centerboard 
casing, the floor shall be not less than 3ft. wide and 5ft. 
long for boats under 24ft. waterline. 
9. The minimum head room, in the clear, under the 
cabin trunk beams, over the cabin floor for the space 
required, shall be not less than 2j4in. for every foot of 
load waterline length. ' _ • ^ 
10. There shall be a substantial partition at the after 
end of the cabin, two lockers, and two transoms of 
suitable size to form a bed; cushions for each transom, 
orre blanket for each member of the crew, receptacle 
fqr two gallons of water, one anchor and suitable cable, 
two life preservers, compass, lantern or lamp, lead and 
line, pump, fog horn, boathook and bucket. The fittings 
shall be on board in all races of the Association when 
the boat is measured. 
11. The crew shall consist of not more than one 
person to every 4ft. of waterline length. The full num- 
ber of crew the owner elects to carry shall be on board 
when the boat is measured. 
12. Working sails only shall be used, to consist of 
mainsail and jib. 
13. There shall be no reverse curve in the fore-and- 
aft center line of the boat; that is, the keel and keelson 
shall have a fair sweep from stem to sternboard. 
All allowances shall be figured by the Herreshoff 
table. 
Complete scantling tables are provided, giving re- 
c[uired size of every part, and the wood to be used. This 
provides for strong, but not clumsy, construction. The 
materials chiefly specified are oak and hard pine, or 
their equivalent in strength. 
Existing boats are eligible to the class, provided they 
conform to the rules regarding over all length and 
overhangs, and to the spirit of the rules in the judgment 
of the measurer and executive committee of the Asso ■ 
ciation. 
Two new boats have already been ordered for the 
-class. Besides the one for Messrs. Dudley & Hodge, 
before mentioned in this column, Messrs. Small Brothers 
have received an order for a boat for Mr. A. L. Lincoln, 
of the Hingham Y. C. Mr. Lincoln sought to enter the 
former champion 21-footer Harriet last spring, but it was 
considered that she did not conform to the spirit of the 
rules. He has since sold Harriet to Mr. John Early, a 
Harvard student, who will race her in Pleasant Bay. 
New Auxiliary Schooner.— An auxiliarv schooner is 
being built by Mr. John Bishop, of Gloucester, for Mr. 
J. Fred Brown, of the Boston Y. C., who has been well 
known as a racing yacht. sman for many years, but who 
forsook the racing ranks in 1901 for his cruising sloop 
Mariette, in which he has since sailed each season. The 
new schooner will be of the Gloucester type, 85ft. over all 
and 65ft. waterline. She will be equipped with a 50 horse- 
power engine. She is being built on the lines of the fish- 
ing schooner Priscilla, which Mr. Brown owns. 
"New Skene Designs,- — Mr. Norman L. Skene has an 
^ order for a high speed launch for Mr. Herbert Austin, 
' of Boston, which will be built at Lawley’s. She will be 
32ft. long and 5ft. loin. breadth, and will be equipped 
- with an engine of 25 horsepower. Mr. Skene also has an 
order for a cruising cabin launch for Mr.. A. J. Kellar, of 
Buffalo. She will be 26ft. long and of 6ft. gin. breadth. 
Power Boat for Rochester. — Messrs. Small Brothers 
have an order for a 65ft. twin-screw power yacht for 
Commodore Pritchard, of the Rochester Y. C. This boat 
will have a fan-tail stern and clipper bow. She will be 
flush decked, with the exception of a pilot house, and will 
be fitted with two poD masts. 
New One-Design Class for Duxbury. — Members of 
the Duxbury Y. C. are to have a new one-design class of 
iS-footers. These boats will be something like the Y. 
‘R. A. IS-footers, but will not be so powerful and will 
have less sail area. John B. Killeen. 
The Canada Cup Challenge. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Whether the Rochester Y. C. will accept or reject 
the challenge of the Royal Canadian Y. C. to contest 
.next year for the Canada cup, won in August by 
Iroquois in the match with Temeraire, is, strictly speak- 
ing, a question to be decided by the members of the 
local club, and in which it would ill become an out- 
sider, not to- say a landsman, to offer an unsolicited 
opinion. Nevertheless, there can be little doubt that 
-if the sentiment of the sport-loving people of this city, 
and even the people who would not confess to a weak- 
ness for sport, were to have any weight in deciding the 
question, it would be overwhelmingly in favor of 
answering the challenge in the affirmative. 
The writer is not aware that acceptance of the 
challenge would entail the expense and labor of building 
a new boat to defend the cup. There does not seem 
to be any reason why the winner should be under any 
such obligation; for they may well say to the challenger, 
“Defeat our present boat, and we will try again" with 
a new one.” Assuming then that Iroquois is eligible 
to enter another series of races for the cup, would it 
be creditable to the Rochester Y. C. to decline granting 
Bi9 
the wish of the northmeii for a chance next year.. 
The cup was retained this year by a victory won under 
circumstances that might give color to- the suspicion 
that denial of a race next August was inspired by fear 
of the result. Neither the Rochester Y. C., nor the 
community which the organization may be said to 
represent, can afford to rest for two years under such 
an imputation. In fact, there should not be any hesita- 
tion in advising- the Dominion sportsmen that they 
world be welcome to another meeting off the harbor 
of Genesee as soon as they get their new boat in the 
water. They are the ones who will have to build, try 
out and go through all the worry of providing a chal- 
lenger. If the Canadian designers and builders have 
learned anything now about the August winds and 
waters of the south side of Lake Ontario, they are 
entitled to> a chance to- demonstrate their increase in 
wisdom, and reap the reward — if they can. Unless the 
terms under which the cup was offered call for the 
holder to build a new boat every time a challenge is 
received, there would be no excuse for giving such a 
check to yachting on the lakes as would result from 
refusal to meet the Canadians next year. It would be 
more to the credit of Rochester sportsmen to engage 
in a match where they were sure of defeat, than to de- 
cline giving the Toronto men a chance at the silverware 
in igo6. No one with any red blood in his veins can 
sail from this side into a harbor on the Canada shore 
without hauling down his colors, until the challenge to 
sail for the Canada cup is accepted. Nor should there 
be any understanding, either expressed or implied, that 
the most skillful skipper in the Dominion must not 
hold the helm. The races are supposed to be for the 
purpose of demonstrating the capacity of the respective 
people as builders arid sailors. In this keen encounter 
of maritime wits, of our hyperborean neighbors can 
handle the toy better than our young sailormen, the 
latter cannot learn the fact too soon, and put them- 
selves to' mending. Possession of the cup is not of 
overwhelming importance in any event; but it is very 
important that it be held no longer than can be done 
with honor. 
Evidently the time must come when neither side can 
improve the speed of its boats, for perfection will have 
been attained. We may have reached that point now, 
and if so, all that remains to keep up interest in the 
international contest is to determine which side happens 
for the time to have the sharper skipper and crew. In 
such a comparison Uncle Sam’s boys have usually given 
a good account of themselves, and there is no reason 
to fear that the breed is degenerating. 
Genesee. 
Rochester, N. Y., Oct. 7. 
YACHTING NEWS NOTES. 
For advertising relating to this department see pages ii and iii. 
New York Y. C. Meeting. — The fifth general meet- 
ing of the New York Y. C. was held at the club house, 
West Forty-fourth street. New York city, on Thursday 
evening, Oct. 5. Commodore Frederick G. Bowne 
presided and Mr. Oliver E. Cromwell acted in place of 
Secretary George A. Cormack, who is cruising in 
foreign waters on the steam yacht North Star with 
Cornelius Vanderbilt. The reports of the several com- 
mittees and officers were read. Forty new members 
were elected, and three more that had been suspended 
were reinstated. Commodore Bowne appointed a com- 
mittee to revise the racing rules. The following Nom- 
inating Committee was unanimously elected: Lewis 
Cass Ledyard, J. Pierpont Morgan, W. Butler Duncan, 
Jr.; Philip Schuyler, Seymour L. Hnsted, Jr.. Robert J. 
Doremus, G. C. Clark, E. D. Clark, F. L. Rodewald and 
F. H. Von Stade. 
« 
Auxiliary Schooner Whim Launched. — There was 
launched from the yard of the Gas Engine & Power Co. 
and Charles L. Seabtiry & Co., Cons., Morris Heights, 
N. Y., on Tuesday, Oct. 10, the new auxiliary schooner 
yacht designed and built by the above firm for Mrs. 
T. B. McGregor, of Mamaroneck, N. Y. The boat, 
which was intended for southern cruising, is of shallow 
draft. She is 90ft. over all, 65ft. waterline, 21ft. breadth 
and 3ft. draft. Whim, for such is the boat’s name, is 
of wooden construction. She is equipped with a 28 
horse-power, 4-cylinder Speedway engine. Her com- 
plement of boats consists of a 12ft. dinghy, a 21ft. cutter 
and an i8ft. power tender. The yacht will leave for 
Florida in a few days. 
GAS ENGINES AND LAUNCHEIS. 
Their Principles^ Types^ and Management* A Complete and Practical Manual* 
BY F. K. GRAIN, M. E. 
Bound in cloth, with 123 pages and 20 illustrations. Sent, postpaid, for $1.25. 
'' i H I S compact and comprehensive handbook contains all the information essential to users of the marine gasolene 
^ engines, and will be welcomed by the thousands of men now owning and running power boats. Laymen and 
experts will alike find the book invaluable. It treats of the various types of marine gasolene engines, points out the 
good in each, and tells how to run them. A knowledge of the contents of this book will help to overcome difficulties 
and avoid accidents. The most complete book of its kind ever published. 
FOREST AND STREAM PUBLISHING CO., NEW YORK. 
