New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-17
THE LENGTH OF YACHTS.
TROUBLE CAUSED BY MEASUREMENT
RULES.
PLANS AND POSSIBILITIES OF THE cLuBs-soME
10 NEW LISTS OF OFFICERS.

The New-York Yacht Racing Association Il AZ las'
getting down to work. On Friday evening an army
Of delegates met at o'NeIll's banQuethal in Sixth
ave. and had any amount of fun discussing nautical
matters In the debate Of the question Of sailing
length t became painfully apparent that individuai
interests were considered to great extent. as was
nrophesIed IN this column the racing length was inc
stumbling block of the meeting, and It is said tnat
number OF old tars who were there went home with
their hair several shades grayer than when they came
there In fact, some Of the opinions expressed were
really worthy of being preserved in the annals OF the
sport as solemn warnings to future generations. The
hinge Of the discussion was the method OF deermih
ing length overall. The committee appointed W
draft the sailing rules thought the length inside, Dc
tween the rail- forward and the rail aft would hit inc
nail ON the head Half dozen men at once jumped
up and protested that their respective iolly-boa"
did not have any rail at ALL Then somebody wsnte1
10 base the overall length on the plank-shear anu
those who had their plank-sbeaS tapertng out two
feet over the bowsprit put In an obleeuon. tn sI
from the forward end OF the stem TO tho extreme e
OF the storm. When this was voted on ana passeu
the delegate for the Staten Island Athletic CLUB re-
marked wofully that the stem Of his yacht EXTENDED
about three feet beyond his deck
The New.Yorl Yacht Racing Association has prob
ably the most conglomerate feet ever gotten together
in any waters outside the Kattegat Newfoundland
fishing village. The designs covering the lines Of the
craft are Of the Invention OF about three generations
back and to harmonic them as to get racing
rules which will be Just TO all will exercise those VINO
attempt It far more than the Pigs in Clover puESo
1t has been the experience Of yachtsmon ever since
Yachting became sport that measurement rules had
an effect IN time upon the lines and dimensions OF the
yachts themselves. II Is not to DO doubted that uo
present rule win not be an exception ana speeu%
ton upon the unavoidable outcome, II the CLUBS arc
game enough to build to win, is enough to drive any
body into melaneholia. DR.. W. Seward Webo 70
building at Wilmington, Del, yacht which WI
have n movable stem and stern, and In that faet
may be found timely suggestion No yacht coa"
compete with another under racing association rufS'
which was supplied with such useful appliances oh
A pleasure trip a lib and mainsal craft OF this Nnd
could have all the grace Of clipper bow ana over
hang stern, and In race though shorn, perhaps VI
six feet Of grace, II could win bobtaed race on OH
stern snugly packed away amdships. Inc uou sGS
Is u horrible one to contemplate but WIN rsSTh ~
rules which invite mudscow lines, what ese Gu w
expecied7
II is encouraging TO note that old foJism' OF ms
sort applies only to the cat-boat clubs Even the
Knickerbocker and the New Rochclls clubs have re-
Trained from endangehng their laudabe progress py
binding themselves TO sail nothing but canal-6oas IN
1890 And in view Of all that has been sald one can
even look with satisfaction upon the fory-footef
mania7 which IS gaining ground every day what
over be the result OF the tendency toward short, deep
dFHuRht vessels, VITA great baii-hPIthlt
ASSURED They will look pretty, and all the iggllns
their crews arc subjected to will be too far away TO
Interfere with the enjoyment OF the women patrons OF
the sport board the stcam-y achts' nhaVeNet "
ppay.rs So Of those who sing Of white win' out
TO preserve rs against racing rules Wnlch wiz Pi"-
auco cOal-barges IN the ninety-foot cas-
Talking Of yachtswomen, II the term may be per-
m,ttrd naturally reminds OF the SeawAnhaks girls,
who are learning the of the marinspiko and whose
efforts have been the subject Of graceful comments
from the pen Of Captain A. J. Kenealy. Ono night
last week number OF the young women met at the
lsnuse OF Charles A. Post, No. 81 Washington Square
An, dinner they were introduced 10 an improVisod
r4getpe-lon ordinarily Sir Posts paror. and John
F. Byno the expert ngger, who shows tho Sea"
Co,tuthfans how 20 splice a rope, came forward IN
conventional suit Of evening black AMI superntended
tho manoeuyres Of dainty fingers engaged IN maAns
eve splioes single and double walls Matthew Msiher;
manrope knots and Turks heads The pupils snogea
remarkable aptitude and no ono need display SUBTLE m
MGR with crew OF female sailors
The Atlantic Yacht Club. OF Brooklyn, is making
preparatons 20 make things hum the coming season.
so as to keep on tho weather side OF some Of us
,ser ORGANIZATIONS At the last regular meeting the
attendance was larger than II has been through the
winter The club then appointed commii'eo "
arrange for improvements In the elub-properV' as
we'll as 10 facilitate communication with the city ana
add 10 the convenience for the club'memberS Inc
arguments set forward by tho members show spirit
Of widening the field OF the club, and making u secohu
20 none In these waters. The Atlantic even now %
second 10 none but the New-York Yacht Club, ana IN
respects ranks higher than me ys tbere
is an ABSORPTION Of the AlcyOne Boat Club when Is
itself hourishlng organilAooh
The New-Haven Yacht Club has elected these
officers Commodore, C. Cooper Clark vice Sommodore'
A. II. Seymour; rear commodore, W. \: haI''' 30"
treasurer, RODeE fOOte.
james r. smith, who died at Nyaek on FIiaAys Wa
VEL anS%a ny SsTR ds wave Madsns Oracle Storm
King Republic Phantom, Vision, Branhudo anu "@"'
other weIl-known yachts -.
The schooner-yacht Alarm, formerly owned p
Handren Robins has been sold for Junk 20 nsmer
caused Mr.. Handren to dub her the Nsuu AlAin' S"N
II was an appropriate name 80
The steam.yscht Oneida, which has been fitted with
A new boiler has been tested, and her owner y: =.
penedlct is highly pleased with the improvement 10
August Belmonts mysterious forty.footer Is getting
along famOusy. The new sloop e building ngn' W.
Strong and shows her racing qualities even now ~
& sad that She VIII have plenty of opportunity 10
John T. smith. the boat-bufder, of No. 100 South;
St has built three new boats for Tho steamysoht
Anita They ideals OF grace and finish ana are 80
fitted with every modern invention eonuiDu'ins "
comfort and beauty.
Tho New Haven Yacht Club has appointed com
mittee to urge upon the Gonnecae k,l similar 10
that adopted in Massachusetts, and pending IN o'hS'
Statos -
Commodore II. b. Pearson Of the Jersey CITY Yacht
Club resigned his position ss member Of the eSsJ
tive contee OF the NewYork Yacht Racing AssS cnh
was TOO well represented Commodore J. r. Lalor
was elected 30 MI tho vacancy
The steam yacht Susquehanna, Of the fastest OF
the American Yacht Club feet, viii begin 10 ~ out
al Wilmington the first OF next month. She Is 20 De
supplied with a new propeller. which Is expected 70
increase her speed
The annual election of tho New-Jersey Yacht Club
Will be held on March 90. A number OF tickets are
in the field but all made up Of excellent men, and
the fight win be amicable
These have been elected Officers OF the Canarso
Yacht Club for the coming year: Commodore, DIT
William e. Dc Long; vice-commodore, Daniel J.
RFinsley: treasurer, Frederick A. Reid; secretary,
o. ri Z Hinrichs; executive committee r. j. Kallon:
bach, John Ives israel Fischer A. II. Alderman and
p. Ketchum.