New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-31

sail, may receive the benefit in the shape OF
time allowance.
The challenger for the Americas Cup is not
measured by the present measurement rules of
the New-York Yacht Club, but by the
sa rfe rule that has been in vogue In the
club for many years, and the one by
which all the match races for the Cup have
been governed The rules which govern the
measuring say that yachts shall be rated for
time allowance according to this system; To
the square root of the sail area add the load
waterline length. and divide the sum by two
The result is the measurement for time allow
ance. Like many other things. it Is not dlfhcult
to do when the system is known.
The spars of the yacht are always measured
first The measurer stretches his tapeline from
a point midway between the jibtoPsail stay. and
the lib stay on the bowsprit. in a straight line
to the end of the main boom. with the excess OF
the length of the gaff measured from the after
side of the mast the end, and over 80 per cent
of the topu1ast measured from the hounds to the
lower side of the sheave Of the topsail halyard
block This forms the base line of the triangle.
of which the total area Of the sail plan Is COM
posed
If in the Judgment OF the measurer there is
any question as to the location of the hounds
the lower point of measurement for the top
mast will be the upper side of the sheave in the
upper throat halyard block. The length OF the
base line as above defined shall be modified, the
rule says, IN any case where the sp1nnaker
boom measures more than the distance from the
foreside of the mast to the forward point OF the
base line as previously defined. Any excess or
the spinnaker boom beyond this point must be
added to the base line.
The measurer is then hoisted UP in boats
wain's chair almost to the truck of the topnast
halo feet
of the Reliance-he measures on the after side
Of the mast from the underside of the sheave
for the gafftopsaiI halyard to the upper side OF
the main boom, when it is resting on the saddle
or the lowest part of the gooseneek. The dis
lance of this point from the main deck is to be
recorded by the measurer. This is called the
perpendicular measurement. o.
To obtain the estimated area from these fig
ures the rule is to multiply the base by the per-
rendicuIar and divide the product by two
The load waterline length is the distance in
straight line between the points furthest for
ward and furthest aft where the hull. exclu-
sive Of the rudder post. is intersected by the
surface of the water when the yacht is afioat in
racing trim with any person persons
board who may be on board when the measure
ment is taken stationed amidships. provided al
ways that if any part Of the stem or stern post
or other part of the vessel below the waterline
projects the length mentioned such projection
or projections shall. for the purpose of the rule.
be added to the length taken as stated.
The waterline measurement in any yachts
having overhangs, like the 9Ofooters. is obtained
by dropping plumb line from the deck over the
bow and stern of the yacht at the extreme
points of measurement. A long. fiat batten is
then hoated lengthwise with the yacht. under
her bowsprt. The inner end of the batten is
made to touch the hull at the stem The point
where the plumb line touches the batten shows
the exact length OF the yachts Overhang. The
same process is gone through with the after
overhang These two measurements are then
transferred to the deck. and by means OF a
spirit level set on straight edge the exact
length Of the waterline is obtained by stretch
,ag the line from the inner end OF each over
hang.
Having obtained the total number Of square
feet Of canvas in the yachts sails; in other
words her sail area, its square root must be
found. and applied as stated Every large yacht
club book contains a table of allowances for
one nautical mile in seconds and decirnals. To
md what a yacht OF any measurement should
receive from larger one take the figures to be
found opposite the smaller measurement From
these subtract the figures opposite the measure
ment Of the larger yacht and the difference.
multiplied by the number of nautical miles of
the course, viii give the amount Of the allow
ance due to the smaller vessel. in seconds and
hundredths or a second.
Example: What time Will yacht OF 20 feet
racing length have 10 allow one OF 90 feet
racing length. in a course OF twenty miles?
The time opposite IS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS a.
opposite 20 feet IS rs
Differences
Number Of nautical miles %
Allowance 1890
or minutes II So seconds.
THE MODERN WAY.