Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-20
FOREWARNED IS FoREkRMED.
What II Suggested In England About
Measuring the VigiIaDt in Racing Trim.

Measuring the NigilaDt In Racing 1rim'
"Thalassa," in the London Yachting
World Of June lst under the caption OF
BE Nigilant." warns British yachtsmen
that they must be on the lookout regard
ing the famous bronze boat, aud suggests
the methods that should be adopted in
measuring her in racing trim. "Tha-
lassa" is Lieutenant-COlOnel j. L. Buck
NH. who IS a member of the Yacht
Racing Association and OF several British
yacht clubs Ever. -ince the Nigiant s
victory in the cup races Colonel Bucknill
has had much To say about yacht-racing
ia America. and was not at all pleased
when the announcement was made that
none Of the American Shooters would
be put in commission this season. That
was, Of course, while the Nalkyric was
sun here and long before the Nigilant
changed hands. Evidently he has some
respect for the Vigilants speed, and IS
not likely 20 advocate the granting Of
many concessions to the Yankee craft.
lie says:
BE NIGlLANT.
"Vieilant comes! Then be vigiant oh,
We English Yachtsmen, who are fortunate
in owning $50 or 100 raters!
First and foremost, have your boats
carefully measured for rating length and
the marks affixed 50 that they represent
Tor exceed the extreme length for i'm
morsion when the yacht is lying in smooth
water in her usual racing trim. including
racing crew on board at and about mid
overall length BE careful to have the
number of persons on board noted and
recorded when the yacht is measured by
the official measuTer. Let this be a covering
number 10 include guests when racing;
never exceed this number. and when Vi
gilant arrives be careful to have her
measured in a similar manner and strictly
in accordance with the rule just quoted.
Remember that Nigilant beat Nalkyre
principally, If not solely, because she was
driven by greater horse-power-by a
larger sail area.
If she be measured properly in racing
trim il is evident that no extra hands
can be carried when racing under our
rules unless these extra hands be on board
when the length is taken. 1t is a we'll
known fact that the extra hands she car
ried In the cup races gave her additional
length and stability. which her rival. be-
Ing Of smaller beam, could not effectively
obtain In a similar manner.
THE VIGILANTS "BALLAST'
she carried no less than 1850 square
feet more canvas than Valkyrie. and 10
a great extent did so by means OF ballast,
which was not on board at measurement
The racing here should be conducted
strictly in accordance with y. II. \. rules
and the spirit of rule Is Is antagonistic 10
any form OF shifting ballast other than
that Of a contreboard and the ordinary
crew Of q racing yacht In the smaller
classes. lO-rating and under. this principle
has been applied, limits in the total num-
her of persons on board during race
heing laid down for these classes by
rule "A and the measurement FOR length
taken accordingly. The words racing
Trim In rule can therefore only be trans
1ofeI 10 mean, with all persons on board;
and This matter, although II may seem in
sionitic-,f,t 10 some people, Will probably
have a great bearing on the success or
otherwise of the Nigilant In these. or IN
deed any other, waters.
..The Yacht is so good that we cannot
afford to give away any points III tnc
rame. and. although there Is nothihS III
our rules To prevent her putths VIZ
I,rg. number of people on board, We can
and should insist upon that NUMBER oe''e
hero when she is measured, ana we can
aod should insist upon that number never
bring exceeded in any of our races Vi
matches. g -, NVono
.Nlr. Henry Allan, owner OF the Neho'
,,ah wrote 10 the Field last week con-
cerning the inconvenience and the aiiii-
c en- wv Of attaching the marks for rating
length; but the arrival Of a foreign : SaCm.
Sor ,aclne in our waters at once shows
the Importance Of having such nna MARKS
ON the hulls Of all the conpe'i'o' 80 g.,
,,,,,ich can be examined by any one III "
-. either before or ate" a race. In
,s me absence Of such marks the racing
trim might be altered very consider s, ~
w., ~ .yer the rating length of a yacht he
increased without the owner eelns aware
Of IL or intending 10 do anything "ions,
THE marks are grea, "e,p 49,,
W., oJvantaee: and the small amount OF
az, rnuhle connected with them is mere
.l l,,,'.,,, when compared with the
,e,nnest OF worries that continually blows
on a racing owner