New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-16
IN THE CANOEISTS CAMP.
10 CRUISING RACE THIS YEAR-cLUB SIGNALS
AND TOTEM:.

40 CRUISING RACE iEhh|NHoD SNN-S
AND ToTEM:.
American Canoe Association Camp Wiiisooro ro'"'
Lake champlain. Aug. ID tspecinl-seioo" '''
canoe meet suffered like the present one VIII" ore
, nors and dry ones down the opening OF the
,veeI for the races STILL everybody Is good natured
and hopeful for good weather between the LOU. au
the GOTH when The rnces are to be saheu vi P"'''
Pm, ~ the wet weather holds, the races may run ihto
the following week.
II has been pretty well established by lormer meets
that the men come to camp fun and to see or take
mart in the races and this year proves 10 cohciu'es
A few men IN the association have community ursea
c,so in connection with the camp and races, claiming
that many would enjoy It and take part IN IT, anu
that unless snch feature were added inc hhha' meet
would grow less popular 10 time. but te cruising
race will not come of at this meet In spite VI the
sentiment IN Its favor.
good authority I'm capOe-racng says fhat unless
a boat gets good start II has pracucaiiy ITO
chance Of winning The larger the feet, The greater
Is the advantage Of a good start. There are three
conditions necessary to the making OF good start:
skill on the part OF the skipper In haidng MS chhoe
on time, n start to wIndward over line long enough
TO give the whole feet plenty OF room, ana accurate
timing Of the guns. The first condition mas 10 90
with the canoc-soilor only; the other two depend
on the Regatta Committee. man may be sKil-
fnl sailor and vet never get a good start II the line
Is short one or badly laid ont, that one end OF
II Is the best starting position In That case the
whole fleet Is punched Immediately after gnfire ana
fouls are inevitable. II the guns fall to go on at
the proper time the start Is piece OF luck,
and the worst bunglcr has n better chance than
the expert OF getting of first. When ten or more
canoes start in race. these points arc important
details. since seconds at start mean
minutes ut the finish. The leading
has a great advantage, as It Is not hampercd
by other boats II takes time make even fast
th.tx
canoe ahead Of both boats Is increasing Its lead.
fast canoe IN the hands OF shlful sailor IL often
badly handicapped BY a poor start In large feet
through fault Of lis own. The hafmlle legs OF
the usual triangular course far too short for
feet Of ten canoes, some one Is sure 10 be
blanketed nearly all the time. It is not always
possible to lay out course that leg Is dead
TO w1ndward, breefes do shin about In an arbitrary
manner, but there is no reason why the guns should
mise Gre or be over or under timed they
than half the time at canoe rsattss. Another I'm
portant point is to have the finishing line st hight
angles TO the final leg Of the course, that can b
crossed at any point Of Its entic length without handi
Gaping a canoe. When 1t is necessary TO round q
buoy at the finish and two near together.
the leading boat may be forced on her true course and
actually beaten By her opponent establishing over
lap and rounding close TO the buoy This state OF
Affairs IS sure create ifceling and is entirely IN
Necessary. The American Canoe Association recog-
ni7ed this point years ago and provided for II.
II IS believed that changes will be made IN the
stuon Of the American Canoe Association. providing.
first, extension OF power n the division officers
and executive committees. giving them greater
troll matters OF membership. complaints against
members. ETC.. and second. the establishment OF
small and much more compact body than the general
executive committee, acting Independently OF H. and
serving a board OF appeal. as we'll rs a governing
body with general supervision Of the finances.
l,,ar t~hA -. oil
signals and tofems At the meet Of 1895 every
was compelled 10 place his number In the American
Canoe Association upon his sail. As the numbers
into the thousands. 1t a dificult matter to dis
cover always, even with glass; the identity OF the
canoest The present method OF giving man
racing number which shall last through the whole
ard which IS also scwed upon his SAIL has proved
| to DO much better In 1887 II required tina;
| the club totem should be placed the sail I;
but this discrcditcc at the meet VI 1858.
! The origin Of the totem singular
In 1850 q member OF the New. York Canoe Club sewcd
circular disc OF red bunting on each side OF his main
sail, the peak, with the OF the IN
white letters on It, As the private signal nags arc
small he mean. this a distinguishing signal for
his csn0o. The red ball was adopted the clubs
signal year later and all the New York Canoe Cubs
canoes competing In the at Lake George IN 1882
Ind this mark on the sni. The dea caught mp
| BY other clubs. Toronto selected "A rcd circle with
white centre; Hartford used the crescent and star
The Mohicans went oDe point further and called the
club mark a totem, and adopted the turtle theirs.
The Rochester Club chose green frog for their EN-
blem. and the members have since been known the
! frogs. The red hippocampns OF the Knlckerbocker
club IL one OF the prettlest designs OF ALL but the
totem Of the Jabberwocks Is the most original.
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