New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-25
THAT YACHTING LETTER
RATING RULE DISCUSSED.
Why America Vas Not Represented
at international Conference.

can, chairman and George A. Cormack secretary, |
Of the Atlantic Coast yachting conference to the !
Yacht Racing Association Of Great Britain, was |
made public yesterday by the New-York Yacht |
Club. The letter was IN response 10 an invitation |
70 send delegates the international yachting
ference in London There was considerable ad- /
verse comment among yachtsmen here and abroad /
when it was learned that a letter was to be sent
instead of delegates
After advising that the club. in carrying out the |
wishes of the British association, had held a con-
ference at which representatives OF the Atlantic |
the New-York, the Larchmont. the Boston, the
seawanhaka Corinth,an, the Corinthian OF Mar
behead, the Eastern, the COrinthtan or FhladeA-
phia, the Yacht Racing Association of Long Islahu
Sound and the Yacht Racing Association Of Massa-
chusotts We're present, the letter Whlch Is u
much interest to all American yachtsmen' goes
10 say:
ject of much discussion among y'r 5iffere1t sye
country during recent years Many rasTecfiye
merits have engaged the attention of those most IN
terested in the sport aided 10y the technical A"o"i
edge of designers and otler experts. 7,-+t,,
Our conditions are such as To MAKE lI!e 49,
Of common rule practically a hgCgsf 5 Atlantic
tomary for yacht to belong 70 Two OF tL me
them, and races are constantly held IN "tTt tbar
From this circumstance as well as from Ie -
that varying rules Of rating dlstiity tSat uni
form or common rule of measurement 5 Il
but Practically necessary condition 70 tho progress
and development of the sport, ~ .so-.to, a.,
such a uniform rule no effort has been spared
COMMITTEES have been 2PP Sce has been obtained
ana n most earnest effort made to sink ali indlNlo
ul 1IT T,,ie as under all th6 circumstances
Upon 49, $50 dleicr1afed to work for the common
Sgg,is0 is natural in any such attempt many
conflicting views had to be recohyllcN 80 ~ in
instances concessions made by one or ano Ii ami
resulted in the adoption OF Ullo' From time to
time il mas been adopted by others, ana lasL sFinS
principal clubs interested in yachting on tnF A.
lantC coast secured ne .,rrser,Crt
mon IL have extended through number OF ye4li9.
ana you will easily understand thdt the '0SA -
Wiener the rule finally evolved is the best rule
that could be framed. time and experience elo a
ready been built under ~ ana o'te57 ME nromse5
and the general opinion is tdL me 'I NJ. Iay-
TO work Satisfactorily, and marks, IN any w. ~
listed before us a9opl1 + g1rfber elperience may
I'm one or another detail, but the main princlp5[S
OF the rule have thus lar WORKED 70 THO ''''
We have been at pains thus to explain the , CON
YOUR Communication to the New-York yacht GluD
was received, in order tn,L you rgand may fully
understand that it is through no lack OF hgtbr
II The the m IoPs2 of ths object which in
view the courtesy OF your wa L,I-a decided
that it would be Impossible for US to take RdIo N
great part OF what we have already accomPnsnteI.
The conference of representatives or JIe r3I
yacht clubs called by the NeW-Aor A<CI 5 r1s,,sc-
above stated has instructed us, VINO s'tOtu -
I WIN, il is that with however great reluctance,
they have been compelled 10 TINS mart IN
the movement TO bring about uniform hue Fa itT
ttonal rule OF rating IL ToTo % ne rule which has
already been adopted unanimously IN TINS country
is of course TO the interests Of yachting IN tSIt
own country and Il was I5 e most unise and
verv observation-disclosures to those interests 70 LSopT
which We have only Just succeeded, AFTER 50 g[yt
effort, in procuring TO be s9IItet ti the question
10 he deterTnined by your conference was wiener
- Would adopt our rule not. Such position
pating in your conference In the spia sti11 when
we Gould pToperIy discuss with the representatives
OF other countries wouIa De ,sISi interest OF ali
whole, would be 10 me E,o go nature Of such
come with open minds ready 10 receive aS "'-I DIS
70 PaAe ioWever is unfortunately just what our
present conditions Will not allow us oS no value
Ioss e. nave n certain degree Of pernanence'
Vessels have been built and G{ne IF its Continued
existence Should the question now pc Leope'ltG ~
our joining a b an result would be not only unfair
ness TO those who haye alrea4y Draotf31 Of doubts
9s 70 !.s ~ a The benets which We're designed
our conference was further OF the OPINION own
WecbfinS agree 10 be bound by any international
rule Osr rating. though the one tivt'9l
be that already adopted here n the hesol'.Lli ~
Se+taar The difTereut interests in this country WiCA
rsII1ted in the adoption OF the present RUE Ihete
were as we have said. numerous cOuIuctlnB ttIt
SCIDa v-ern un0ualidedly IN favor OF the rue as d
ma TER IF principle Others were In favor or ADOPT
Inc II exUermentally. with an opportunity OF H4N-
ING later such notifications II any as eApeIi-Lt,S
might prove to be necessary. IleTs W. no - -
ruent between the clubs eSJaDLSullS tiIe Ilie -
remain in force for any given period -acn cluo
adopted II separately and lnltp -,
theess Il was understood, IN TACT tLouSn I,'ItlgS
not through official action that the several ttutS
would fairly consider any modhcatlo4S lIdl HL5ll'
he I1ropOsed i'm the light Of actual experience
While we have yet no reason 10 cLfahse OgJt
Views as TO the correctness Of the rule II ptlnclple
and its satisfactory operation we 90 not lose ts4t
Of the fact that experience may teach US LnI some
modification i'm detail may. be ueslId1e' anu W .
Jag~, a. essential that We should be able TO make
eI1ch changes If they should be found advisable
1t was I'm view of these copsideratons tRat ttle
American clubs TO participate in the formulation
! and adoption Of international RUE even tlouE "a
that should he the which they had already
oIoDted because of the extreme dulCultE OF max
IN, anv modification I'm rule entered into through
agrear1pD+ with other nations, whose consent 10
s1Icb change would have to be sought
We beg you to believe thit We elll 80 q L 7-tr
" your courtesy I'm asking us 10 take part IN your
delibera tons, and that we regret extremely t41I
il should have come at n time when DO ls poSs!uLe
For ma 10 accent IL without eudangerlng the inter
that You will agree with us that ms would ne the
result OF auv action that we might take at the
present time ard under our existing conditions.
Corr,arv France Denmark and other nations
7,,,r, Yacht clubs were represented at the inter
+ rational Yachting conference IN London. which
ended last week. The European rule OF measure
,ent was edopted at tho meeting, and II ratified by
the clubs It will become permanent for ten years.