The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-30
WILL APPEAL TO THE CLUB.
SIR. sTRACHAN TO LAY HIS GREW
ANCEs BEFORE 1T.

Commodore Starr Receives a Letter
From Mr.. straehan Notifying Him
of This IntentiOn-Mr. Strachan
CriticIses Severely the Ruling OF
the Sailing COmmittee-Says That
He Has Been Treated With Injus-
tice and Unfairness-Sentime nt
That Entries in the Regatta should
BE Limited to the Club Member
ship.
The protest of Mr.. r. D. NJ. strachan.
captain and owner of the Marie, which
was ruled out of the second-class race
in the regatta of the Savannah Yacht
Club, after crossing the line ahead of all
the other boats, was received by Commo-
dore Starr yesterday. The protest is en-
bodied in a lengthy epistle, and scores
severely the sailing committee of the
club. by which the Marie was ruled out.
According to Mr.. strachan, the commit
tee has been guilty of inconsistency, I'M
fairness and arbitrary treatment in the
manner in which it has acted towards
the Marie. and that injustice is a mild
term by which to characterize the ruling
by which Mr.. strachan's yacht was de-
barred from taking prize which she had
already won.
Mr.. Srachan goes at length into the
history of the contest, and shows what
he considers the truth of the controversy
and the wrongs he has suffered at the
hands of the committee. The rules Of the
Yacht Club also receive attention, and are
explained especially those touching the
matter of the structure of a cabin yacht,
and it is contended that these have been
complied with fully, In letter and in spirit,
in the construction of the Marie.
Mr.. Straehan ascribes the ruling of the
committee to its lack of acquaintance with
the rules of the club, and says that had
its membership comprised those acquaint-
ed with yachting, the result would have
been different, and the Marie would have
received full justice, which her owner
claims has been denied her in this in
stance.
The requirements of the yacht club on
the subject of what is and what is not a
temporary cabin received particular at
tention, and Mr.. Srachan shows that the
structure aboard the Marie was built in
fun compliance with all of these rules.
The cabin of the Marie is compared with
those on board other yachts in the feet
and it is demons rated that there is no es-
sential difference between them. The DIFF
ference, II any, according to Mr. Strachan,
consists in the decoration and adornment
of the cabins, and not in the matter of
utility, convenience or receptiveness.
Mr.. Strachan will carry his contest be-
fore the next meeting Of the club, and
win ask of the entire membership the
justice that he feels has been denied him
by the sailing committee. 1t is the opinion
of the members generally that this Is the
only course open to him, after the turn
affairs have now taken, and it is doubtful
If anything can be done even by the club.
The rules say that the decision of the
sailing committee shall be final and that
there is no appeal There have been in
stances where something has been done
for member that the club feels has been
aggrieved but these are rare and Isolated
and scarcely furnish a precedent for such
action in the future. How The club will
view the matter of the decision can only
be surnlsed.
Another matter that is causing consid-
cradle discussion among the members of
the club, most of which Is unfavorable,
is the practice of admitting to the re-
ber no matter by whom she is owned or
sailed. This discussion is caused by events
that transpired in the last race and which
have caused much dissatisfaction. The
members of the club are strongly averse
to discussing these matters for publca-
ton but among themselves they are talk
ed over with true nautical vehemence,
whenever two or three are gathered to-
gether."
The sentiment is strong that entries in
the regatta should be limited to yachts
owned or controlled by members of the
club and sailed by them in the races.
The practice that has prevailed for quite
a length of time, TO invite all corners 10
enter the race, has been productive of
a spirit that is far from sportsmaulike
and that is thought to have no salutary
effect in the attainment of the end for
which the club is striving, to inculcate
interest in amateur yachting and raise
the sport TO the highest possible standard
in Savannah. 1t is more than proba BILE
that at the next meeting of the club an
amendment to the constitution will be in
troduced by which all yachts entered in
the regattas are required 20 be owned or
controlled and sailed by members.
is thought, and with apparent justice,
that it should be the ambition of the club
TO nculcate a purely amateur spirit and
that the prizes offered ought to be the
last incentive to an effort to win a race.
1t Is felt that as long as the rules of the
club permit entries by any and every body
that the ends sought for cannot be at
tanned and that an amendment to the con-
stituton is not only desirable, but almost
essential TO the future well-being of the
club.
NO MORE MARINE RECRUITS.