864 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Nov. 28, 1908. 
all. measuring less than a foot smaller. These 
ratings, as was known from the many races 
which these craft had sailed against each other, 
were very fair. 
“The 25-footer Novice, if she had started, 
would have allowed the 22-footers approxi¬ 
mately about one foot, which is also fair. 
“This being the case, it seems as if the Sea- 
wanhaka rule was the most satisfactory ob¬ 
tainable at the present time to rate our racing 
craft. 
“There are, however, certain drawbacks in 
this rule which have caused it to be discarded 
by yachting authorities, which work hardship 
on our present fleet and which we should en¬ 
deavor to overcome. 
“The principal fault with the rule itself is 
that it encourages a yacht with extremely small 
waterline when measured and long overhangs 
to lengthen out this waterline when heeled, 
thereby securing the minimum measurement for 
the greatest sail-carrving capacity. Excessive 
length of overhang is a well recognized draw¬ 
back to both weatherly and lasting qualities in 
a yacht, and the carrying this point to extremes 
is one of the greatest arguments against the 
present rule. 
“Another unsatisfactory point about the 
present rule is the method specified for meas¬ 
uring sail area. The measuring of the after 
sail to the halliard blocks has developed the 
practice of securing the longest possible top¬ 
mast measurement by lowering the throat block 
to a dangerous extent and the rule which 
measures all excess of spinnaker pole over the 
base line of the fore triangle to be added to 
that base line, has caused a cutting down of 
spinnaker poles to such an extent that in a wide 
yacht they scarcely extended any distance be¬ 
yond the rail, thereby reducing' the value of 
the spinnaker greatly. 
“Many times it has been proposed to measure 
actual sail area in the working sails and 
limiting spinnaker poles in the various classes. 
The main objection to this would be the 
rating of the existing boats too low in their 
classes and allowing a very much larger yacht 
to compete with them, thereby breaking up the 
close boat for boat racing that now exists. 
“Mr. Frost has come forward with a rule 
which does away entirely with this objection. 
His rule follows closely to the method of ob¬ 
taining sail area used in the universal rule in 
many particulars; in fact, departing from it only 
in the foretriangle and then in a way that is 
certainly not objectionable. The dividing of the 
mainsail into two theoretical right-angled tri¬ 
angles can meet with no real objection and in 
the case of the foretriangle, obtaining the actual 
area of this triangle from the foot of the mast 
to the masthead and forward to the foremast 
headstay, measures the actual area of this tri¬ 
angle and permits the owner to carry what sail 
he pleases in the triangle. The tendency to 
shorten this triangle to gain measurement 
would be checked by the rule which permits the 
carrying of a spinnaker pole 50 per cent, of the 
base line without penalty, as shortening the 
base line would also shorten the spinnaker pole. 
Measuring to the deck also does away with the 
practice which was followed under the uni¬ 
versal rule of raising the gooseneck as far 
above the deck as possible to gain extra sail 
in the foretriangle without paying for same. 
“Nutmeg, an excellent example of the general 
type of racing boat in these waters, measured 
by the formula proposed by Mr. Frost, will rate 
exactly the same as she does under the present 
formula with the exception that she is allowed 
a spinnaker pole 22.4 feet long in place of the 
present one of 15 feet 8 inches. 
“The area of the two triangles in the main¬ 
sail are 360 and 453 square feet, respectively, 
and of the foretriangle 285 snuare feet, making 
a total of 1098 square feet. The square root of 
this amount would be 33.13 added to the water¬ 
line and divided by two would give 28.16 feet, 
her present rating being 28.19 feet or 28.2 under 
both systems when taken for time allowance. 
“The new method of measurement is so simple 
that it is easily understood by both measurer 
and boat owner, and it is easily possible for any 
boat owner himself to verify the measurer’s 
figures. 
“Regarding the allowance for spinnaker poles 
of 50 per cent, of the base line, this figure was 
fixed upon only after careful study. In the case 
of very wide yachts 55 per cent, would give a 
pole that could be handled on their decks, while 
in the case of narrow vessels 45 per cent, would 
be a more reasonable allowance. Fifty per 
cent., however, will work no hardship on either 
style of boat and give a pole of reasonable 
length, and one that can be handled with com¬ 
parative ease on any type of yacht. 
“The matter of measuring sail having been 
worked out, the harder problem of regulating 
the length of overhang comes up. Many plans 
were proposed, but all were of an arbitrary 
nature and tended too greatly to restrict the 
boats. 
“After studying over the types in these 
waters and also the available classes in other 
waters which would be suitable for purchase 
here it was found that the “freak line” could be 
safely drawn at all boats whose waterline was 
less than 60 per cent, of their over all length. 
In none of the saner of the Massachusetts Bay 
classes does this rule seem to be violated, al¬ 
though the 22-foot class in their original trim 
would come a trifle under, but as none of these 
boats can measure at present down to the 
original 22 feet they conform to this rule, as do 
the 18-footers and the better of the 25-footers, 
while the big sleds like Sally VII. measure con¬ 
siderably less than this on the waterline, as did 
Little Haste. 
“Having obtained these figures, Mr. Frost 
suggests that we adopt as a minimum load 
waterline for any boat for the purpose of meas¬ 
urement 60 per cent, of her over all length, and 
that any boat presented for measurement whose 
load waterline is found to measure less than 
this amount, 60 per cent, of her over all length 
shall be used by the measurer in making up his 
rating as the waterline factor. 
“This proposition, while somewhat revolu¬ 
tionary in its scope, will be found to work no 
hardship to our present fleet, nor to the pro¬ 
spective purchaser of a type of boat suitable to 
our needs, but it will handicap a big freak, 
forcing her to assume a waterline in proportion 
to those of the boats against which she is 
racing, a plan that is eminently fair, as when 
she is heeled to her sailing lines she is using 
fully as much of her side, if not more, as the 
boats which conform to this rule without being 
penalized. 
“If after due consideration of these points 
this body sees fit to adopt and also recommend 
them for adoption to the different bodies which 
they represent, it is to be hoped that they will 
put sufficient energy into their explanation to 
secure their adoption at the earliest possible 
moment, as there are a number of men who 
have expressed their willingness to purchase or 
build if they can be secured a fair rating and 
protection for their boats which this rule ought 
to give. 
“It should be fully explained that we are 
nroposing no change whatever in the rule itself, 
but are simply offering a fairer, simpler way of 
securing both the sail area and hull factors 
which go to make up the rule, and the results 
obtained therefrom will effect but slight changes 
in the rating or allowance of any of our present 
fleet and will guarantee the development of a 
useful type of racing craft for these waters or 
at least will so handicap a craft of the extreme 
type that she will rate at a figure that will make 
the chances of the more moderate boat equally 
good, and who would consider for a minute the 
building or purchase of an extreme freak if she 
stood but an equally good show to win as a 
far more comfortable, easier handled yacht? 
“It has been suggested that we change our 
present rule, substituting in place of load water¬ 
line the length measurement as obtained under 
universal rule. 
“I do not question the feasibility of this, or 
the fact that it would rate a universal rule boat 
much more advantageously that at present; in 
fact, it would probably rate the boat built under 
the universal rule too advantageously, so that 
a boat purchased for racing only and built under 
this rule would win a majority of the races. I 
take this stand from the fact that Dorothy Q, 
racing in these waters the past season, made 
practically as good a showing, boat for boat, 
as any of the 22-footers, while rating at the 
same measurement under the Seawanhaka rule. 
I do not think that with any fairness would the 
present 22-footers allow Dorothy Q more than 
a small amount of allowance, and in certain 
conditions she is well able to hold her own 
without allowance. So it seems unnecessary to 
adopt any rule giving the universal rule craft 
advantage. Further than this, it is for this body 
to legislate in a manner to protect our present 
fleet rather than to hurt it. There are at present 
four 22-footers racing on this bay, and from 
confidential advices received it is almost sure 
that there will be three more added to our 
present fleet. These are the boats on which we 
will have to depend for our best racing for some 
time to come, and if the time arrives when it is 
deemed advisable to take up the universal rule 
it seems to me that it would be better to adopt 
it in toto, rather than to attempt any compro¬ 
mise rule of our own. 
“Another very important point brought up 
by Mr. Tillinghast is the question of adopting 
the rules of the Atlantic Coast conference with 
the exception of its measurement rules. These 
rules are the best that have been devised up to 
the present time and are at present in force in 
every section of the country except Narragan- 
sett bay, and as they differ from our own sail¬ 
ing rules in no important detail and are far 
more concise and better arranged, it would seem 
our plain duty to adopt them, adding, as has 
been done in the case of other associations, 
such rules as are made advisable from local con¬ 
ditions.” 
Spanish Yachts in 1910. 
The Eastern Y. C. has arranged an interna¬ 
tional match with Spanish yachtsmen for 1910, 
when Sonder class yachts will be sent from 
Spain to Marblehead. King Alfonso has an¬ 
nounced that he will have a yacht to take part 
in that match. 
Preliminary arrangements have been made by 
the Eastern Y. C. and the Federation of Spanish 
Yacht Clubs, and in the match each side is to 
be represented by three yachts as in the match 
next year with German yachtsmen. This 
arrangement is the result of the match in 1907. 
when three American yachts raced against 
Spanish yachts at Bilbao and San Sebastian 
These races were won by th.e Spanish, although 
the American yachts won some prizes. 
The king’s interest and encouragement led 
the Spanish yachtsmen to express a willingness 
to participate in a return match in American 
waters, which doubtless would have been held 
the coming summer had not the Eastern Y. C. 
previously arranged for a match with the Ger¬ 
mans, against whom they have twice raced, 
each side winning a match. Feeling that if two 
international matches were held off Marblehead 
in one season, the home club might not be in 
a position to do either group of visiting yachts¬ 
men justice, the invitation to the Spanish 
yachtsmen was issued for 1910, and was sent to 
Senor Doriga, president of the Federation 
Espanola de los Clubs Noticos, as the national 
Spanish yachting association is termed. A re¬ 
ply was received recently, stating that the 
federation accepted the invitation with pleasure. 
The fact that there will be an international 
match with Sonder class boats at Marblehead 
both in 1909 and 1910 presages continued life 
for this class in American waters. Since their 
introduction here for the first German-American 
match in 1906, the German Sonders, or special- 
class boats, have been gaining in favor with 
American yachtsmen. They are neat and handy 
little craft, resembling a small 21-footer. The 
rule under which they are built—length plus 
breadth plus draft, not to exceed 32 feet—as¬ 
sures moderation in design. The cost of such 
boats is moderate, and a permanent character 
is given the class by the fact that the rule is 
permanent and not subject to “tinkering.” It 
