The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-11
PORTS
ONE.DESIGN BOATS
Fever Is Epidemic in Yachting Cir
cles Says W. P. Stephens.
PLAN HAS MANY ADVANTAGES
Several Local Men Consider 1T the
Panacea for All Ills Of
80 ~ =:
the Sport. 4

tOne-design yachts are considered by
many local yachtsmen the panacea for all
the ills that this great sport is heir to.
Should the present experiment with one
design catboats at Lake Minnetonka prove
a success, the men in favor of the idea
will start a movement for a class OF one
design sloops, to be built during the COM
ing winter, SO as to be ready for next
years races.
So far the catboats have not had one
really adequate trial, since only two OF
the boats were entered in the Memorial
Day regatta. In view of the attention
which the experiment has attracted, how
ever, the following extract from an article
by W. P. Stephens in the current number
OF Outing, upon 'tOne-Design Glasses in
Yachting" will prove of interest to local
boatment. Mr.. Stephens says in part:
To all appearances the onedesign fever is
epidemic, appearing, like Ia grippe, in vari-
GUS places at the same time. The idea is
no fashionable novelty: very little has been
said or written Of late in favor of it, and
there has been no concerted action on the
part OF the clubs and associations: but the
fact remains that onedesign = classes are
springing up in every direction. The Ameri-
can Yacht club, at Milton Point, Long Island
Sound, will have two; it's netghbors, the
Horseshoe Harbor and the New Rochelle
Yacht clubs, will have each one; the Ardsley
Yacht club at Ardsley on -the Hudson, will
have one: there is one on Buzzards' bay, one
at Shelter Island: the Chicago Yacht club
will have one, and others are planned for
clubs On the eastern coast and inland.
Latest of -Four Stages.
The ne-design-or monotype class, as it is
known in Europe-is the latest of four stages
OF racing development. The first racing, in
the early days of the past century, was be-
tween yachts of all sizes and rigs without
allowance of any kind except purely arbi-
trary, handicap Following this came the
measurement formulas by which more or less
Intellectual attempts made to measure
the speed possibilities of each model. This
system, about forty years ago, developed in
England certain fixed class limits-ten, twen-
ty, forty, sixty and eighty tons measurement
which were regularly built to, without al
lowance between the yachts Of any one class.
The stage of restricted classes was reached
later on as various local clubs, finding the
established formulas ineffective in producing
such yachts were desired by the majority,
supplemented the rule by special restrictions
OF dimensions, scantling sails, and ballast
ing. The one-design system, as it stands
to-day, represents a further extreme of re-
striction in that it enforces an absolute
equality in design, dimensions, elements, con-
struction, ballasting, and. as far possible
In the maintenance of condition. Every yacht
in the class is built from a standard design,
which specifies each detail Of form, cons,truc-
tion and iballasting, and it is at least i'm
piled, if not rigidly set forth in writing, that
no changes shall 'be made in the yacht as
delivered by the class builder. Further than
this, there are usually limitations to the
number OF new sails allowed in season and
to the number OF times a yacht may be
docked and painted. .....-.. 80. -. -
1t will be seen that the one-design system
ts IN erect, protest against the extremes Of
modern racing-conditions which require a.
yacht of extreme form, costly and delicate
construction and limited value. apart from
racing, with heavy incidental expenses
through the season in the way of special suits
of canvas, hollow spars and alterations of
HULL, TO keep ahead of the class. > ~
Advantages of the Plan.
A very few years experience in modern
unlimited class, such as the 7O-foot schooner
or the 51-foot cutter, too often drives a man
out of racing and into a big steam yacht
The advantages OF the one-design class are
briefly:
First-The initial cost of the complete yacht
Is reduced to a minimum by thes use of q
single design and the building Of feet of
six to dozen on ; a single order. F..
Second-The cost of the seasons racing is
reduced by the prohibition of extra sails and
spars, too frequent docking and similar ex-
penses. ....-. .
Third-The two cost items above are accu-
rately known in advance. ...'
Fourth--A yachtsman, in building to the
Class, has guarantee Of a certain number of
races and OF a fair field of competition in
each race -''.- ,r
Fifth-success depends solely upon the skill
and energy OF each Individual owner in keep.
ing his boat in condition and, sailing her
properly. .-.;.
Sixth-There is no necessity for the adop.
tion of freak features, or of a type which
is other than stanch, seaworthy and service:
able for afternoon sailing and cruising as
well as racing. - -...: =,
sseventh-The sport can go on for an in
definite time without the boats being out
built, and, should owner desire to sell
he is likely to find a. fair market