The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-02
new BOOK COMPLIES
YACHT RACING RULES
Publication Edited by Men Of
Prominence Should Be Of
Great Value.
GIVES MANY PRECEDENTS

II. De r. Parsons, Joseph NJ. Mac
donoush and Frederic o. spedden. the
regatta committee Of the New York
Yacht Club. have compiled a Handbook
on American Yacht Racing Rules" which
gives an explanation Of their meaning
and application which will be a great
help to yachtsmen. not only those who
race. but to those who are also In
terestcd In watching the races. TIE
book has been published by the Knicker-
booker Press. q. r. Putnam's Sons. and
is dedicated ITO the true sailor. whether
before the mast or on the quarterback.
on whose skill and alertness the victory
so much depends"
In TIE preface tho authors say tho
object Of this work is to guide the be-
ginner and aid others TO an understand
ing of the underlying principles OF the
yacht racing rules. as accepted by
helmsmen OF experience. The rules Of
the International Yacht Racing Union,
while substantially the same as those
In use In tire United States, differ In
some particulars. When no difference
exists between the American and the
international rules II has been found
advisable 20 accept the interpretations
Of the Council OF tho Yacht Racing
Association Of Great Britain. The
authors have confined themselves to an
Interpretation OF the rules An ut present
In existence and have refrained from
any expressions OF opinion on the excel
lence of the rules as they stand.
las II IL perfectly well understood
that all race committees are omniscient.
hydraheaded. and therefore all seeing.
and that all yachtsmer. at the end OF
their first season racing. are Thoroughly
conversant with the 'rtricacies of the
racing rules, IL may we'll be asked why
this book Is written. The authors have
the temerity to doubt tho above soul
satisfying assumption and have found
that there Is. even among experienced
helmsmen and race committees. some
diversity OF opinion as 20 the meaning
OF the racing rules and their applica;
ton in actual racing. Therefore II has
been suggested that few words In
explanation would not be out OF place.
The book contains chapters on the
race committee and It's duties. time AL
lowance. racing rules. instructions TO
measurers, methods of scoring points.
protests and decisions. and the time al
!owance table II Ia thoroughly Illus
trated, diagrams are drawn to illustrate
the meaning of the many rules and
these diagrams will be OF great help
to the student of the rules.
What will be of particular interest
to the racing yachtsman will be the
chapters devoted TO protests and de-
cisions. Several protests have been
made in the past few years and have
been decided, and the publication OF
these decisions make a record establish
ing prscedents that will be useful for
the guidance OF all racing men should
similar conditions occur In the future.
In all there are eleven cases which
have been brought before regatta COM
mittees, and each one settles some DIFF
ferent point and difference Of opinion.
II has been customary in England TO
publish the hearings and decisions in
all protests for many years and the ac-
ton OF the committees have helped much
In having the rules properly interpreted.
This book is the first TO include record
OF protests on this side Of the Atlantic
except for u few very important cases
such as in the races for the America s
cup and the Manhasset Ray challenge
cup, and yachtsmen will be pleased 10
find out just what conclusions have been
drawn and the decisions which have
been rendered.
The new book fills $50 pages. All the
matter is well arranged and indexed 80
thoroughly and carefully that anything
wanted can he found Mt once. Messrs.
Parsons. Macdonough and Speddon. who
have devoted much time this winter on
the work, have earned a debt OF graft
tude from all yachtsmen in this country.
neither they race on salt or fresh
water.