FOREST AND STREAM. 
[JAN. 6, 1906. 





ACHITING _| 








THE |VACHTING OUTLOOK, 
Witu the continued prosperity of the country 
and the increasing interest in yachting the sport 
will make greater progress during the year 1906 
than it has in any twelve months of the past. One 
who has noted the developments in yachting, 
during the last decade, can take no other view of 
the situation; for the far-sighted men who rep- 
resent the vested looked  suffi- 
ciently far ahead*and have anticipated nearly all 
contingencies, so that to-day so firm a founda- 
interests have 
tion has been laid. 
The unusual demands of yachtsmen the 
matter of racing craft and the weakness of the 
rating rules brought about a reign of terror in 
the racing boats that well-nigh that 
branch of the sport and brought it into ill-repute 
with more conservative supporters. Forfunately, 
all this is a thing of the past, and a much-needed 
reform has taken place. The adoption of a good 
rating rule, sound in principle and reasonably 
satisfactory in practice, has done much to bring 
about a change, and all the blunders of the past 
have been so educational that the ideas of the 
yachtsmen themselves have crystallized, until they 
know more clearly what they want; and the de- 
mand is for safe and substantial boats that can 
be put to some other use than mere racing. This 
in 
wrecked 
supplies ample work for the naval architects, and 
now that they are designing vessels that are per- 
manent monuments of their skill, they will ex- 
pend their very best energies in the new produc- 
tions. 
American designers are by 
the world, a fact that has been 
beyond any question in nearly all international 
matches in which American boats have partici- 
pated during the past fifty odd years. However, 
the importation of British yachts has been of im- 
measurable benefit to our owners and designers, 
and to-day our own boats ‘compare favorably in 
appearance with the imported creations. 
Many feel that the racing is the backbone of 
the sport, and in a measure this is true; but the 
man who thinks yachting on the wane because 
the racing has languished in certain localities for 
a few years past lacks the ability to see the situa- 
tion in a broad way. While yachting would have 
enjoyed greater prosperity had the racing not 
been in this transitory state, a valuable lesson 
has been taught and the outcome is just what 
was desired. The three great international 
trophies, the America’s Cup, the Canada Cup and 
the Seawanhaka Cup, are all now in the posses- 
sion of American clubs. That challenges have 
not been received for the America and Seawan- 
haka cups is not an altogether bad sign. Certain 
conditions have militated against challenges, and 
until these matters are cleaned up interest will 
not be sufficiently aroused to warrant foreigners 
entering the lists. 
Sir Thomas Lipton will, no doubt, be seen in 
American waters in 1907 with a challenger that 
will be designed under the new rule. If he chal- 
lenges with a schooner, his chances of winning 
far the cleverest in 
demonstrated 
will be improved and greater interest in the 
matches will be taken. 
The attitude of the Rochester Y. C. regarding 
a challenge from the Royal Canadian Y. C. is in- 
explicable, and their refusal would hardly be in 
accordance with the ethics of good sport. The 
Royal Canadians showed themselves to be ag- 
gressive and enthusiastic sportsmen in their dis- 
position to challenge on top of a defeat, although 
their boat lost in 1905 not because she was slower 
than the defender, but because the weather con- 
ditions just suited the American. Such incidents 
as these do more than anything else to bring 
about dissension and discord. 
The Royal St. Lawrence men who so long de- 
fended the Seawanhaka Cup against all comers, 
were not sorry when the trophy returned to 
American shores, for the racing had become too 
one-sided. This is about the only club the Man- 
chester organization, which now holds the cup, 
could look to for a challenge under the present 
conditions governing the boats that are built. By 
failure to modify these conditions, so as to pro- 
duce a better sort of craft, the Manchester Y. C. 
made a grave error. To perpetuate such a type 
of boat as the rules of the trophy now produce, 
was hardly in direction of progress. That these 
shells are fast there can be no doubt, but that 
is their only recommendation. 
Aside from these international trophies, racing 
will thrive during the season of 1906. New boats 
are being built, old boats that are favored by the 
universal rating rule will be brought out after 
having been laid up for several seasons; regatta 
committees are better able to .cope with the 
problems that confront them; more ocean races 
will be scheduled and better prizes will be put up 
for competition; inter-club matches will be fos- 
tered and everything in the line of healthy racing 
will be encouraged. That is the tendency not only 
along the coast from Halifax to New Orleans, 
but on the many inland lakes and rivers. What 
better conditions could be asked for? 
That ‘a few of the Long Island Sound clubs 

MORE TROUBLE. 
Photo by Walters. 
