New-York tribune., 1900-11-30
YACHTING.
\ LEGAL. OPINION OBTAINED on
KNOTTY POINT IN RACING RULES

In producing a pamphlet of revised racing rules
for the twenty-five clubs IN the Inland Lake Yacht
ing Association the officials are in some doubt as
to the right wording Of the clause relating 70
yachts "convergiag ciosehauIed,'' Section 10 OF
the rule 70 right OF way says:
When two yachts both closehaUed the same
yaS 5aSf aiding 56f bsie 1 Y [eah aS nsr % cn @
yacht t" leeward Tor windTardo shall keep clear
J. ". Taylor, president Of the Inland Lake Yacht
ing Association, has written TO The Tribune ask
ing whether this should read ''windwari" OF lee
ward in the last line There is authority for
both readings IN the Sew-York Yacht Club Year
book. racing rules of 1900. it reads 'leeward'' IN
the 1898 rules Of the Larchmont Yacht Club 1t
reads '1eeward. In the present racing rules of the
Penataquit Corinthian Yacht Club it Is The same
But in the Seawanhaka Corinthtan book OF this
year II reads ''windward' also in this years rules
OF -he Atlantic Yacht Club and those Of Yacht
Racing Association OF Long Island Sound The last
issue oc Who Won. 1886, under the head OF Yacht
Routine in Use by the New-York. Larchmont,
Eastern and Seawanhaka Corinthian Clubs the
rule reads 'leeward II Is said b. an Old member
Of the New-York Yacht Club that the rule was
originally framed in his club He said: 1T was
frame! by who sailors who had for
gotten more offshore ocean cruising than most
Long Island Sound yachtsmen Will ever know"
Owing to the conflict OF authority q written
opinion has been obtained from yachtsn2an who
is a lawyer Of some experience il marine cases a
copy Of which is follows;
The wording Of the section, by reason of the
teeWaTq i5i- yacht holding better wind. may
vessels receiving winds slightly different ii
rtSl!on Or Il may intend 70 provide for the case
WIeFe one coat lies closer 20 the wind the
other on account OF superior ability. Thus il
line might sometimes lead TO an iafraction OF one
Of the best known lavas of sailing which gives
655r 1sR X "{ Is 10 0oss on the star
boat in this position gives way 70 nothing-sorne
heceSsl'les oi the racing Held being eXcepted-tUd
would b. ignored by the maritime law in case dam
vessel sails by the wind She is entitled 70 he
right OF way when cIosehaUIed on the starboard
doing her best at about seven points or the winds
eye, she is entitled 70 hold her course against
spectve courses to the collision point The C6inr7
rT4ft Wiz a Iee1i iIIfv r., kasT t@ , o Lse
lited to right of way. Aut here 5hs c.oII-nbts i
practically though not technically. an .overtaL-
ing yacht" which. under Section tNew-York
Yacht club rules) is bound keep cIear-tlis
tioa showing the general intention Of the whole
leeIslation. that yacht being overtaken shall
In the construction Of the wording 81 one
section may be used 70 interpret another. and a
rule that would make the wIndward yacht keep
clear in the case submitted would d. contrary 70
the spirit OF the section about luf,ing which
to prevent another from passing her tn wiriWarI
provided she begins 10 lun before overlap is
established This shows the general intention 70
he that the windward yacht in this position shall
be allowed to hold her course straight along n
make the win6ward boat 'the one being outsailecl
experience all the disadvantages of the situation
would, moreover, .e unfair 20 the slower boat
To bring the OF the square riscer to the racing
course suppose a little dOry. which. perhaps sails
| equally badly ny me WIND IS a9out % meet the
Columba-the situations being the same as above
| i the dory 10 give up her place in her class
aGw the faTr he oc 2@a' @ 919Iarr class 70 60 past
! uusouud for rhe Sound. or anywhere else