The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06
SIR LIPTON'S VISIT
BOOM TO YACHTING
Arrival Of Noted Irish Baronet
Causes Stir Among Co.
rfnthians.
NEW RULES DISCUSSED
Proposed Conference With
British Yachtsmen Holds
Attention Of Local Clubs.
NEW RULES DISCUSSED

With the arrival Of Sir Thomas LIP
ton. followed by the news that the
Yacht Racing Association OF Great
Britain 10 anxious to hold an interna-
tional conference to change the rule Of
measurement. and the arranging Of
dates for the Yacht Racing Association
OF Long Island Sound. the last tan days
have been full Of interest for the Amer
loan Corinthian. Tho proposal OF the
British yachtsmen Is decidedly the most
important happening. II such . confer
ence Is held It may possibly change the
whole history OF the sport.
Yacht racing depends upon . rule Of
measurement. With the exception Of
class racing all yachts race under some
sort Of . measurement rule and thor
hapdicaps arc based upon their meas
urements. One design and restricted
class racing IL popular. ~ It 10 con-
landed that the sport Is then moro up TO
the skipper than It Is to the yacht In
open racing the designer has q great
deal to do with the success Of = yacht.
Naturally open racing develops more
different designs in yachts. which some
contend Is the backbone Of the spsgt
Some years before the war Great
Britain called conferences similar to
the one that has Just been suggested.
America was to take part IN the con-
ference. In fact the United States went
10 far In the matter that several Of the
American delegates arranged for pas
eago to the other side. Then something
happened. According to Dame Rumor
the New York Yacht Club began to
grow suspicious OF the conference. The
Americas Cup was brought up. and
that would interfere with future races
for the historic trophy tho United
States did not 30 to the conference.
Unsuccessful Ruie.
The English conference decided upon
a rule of measurement that Ia known as
the International rule. II has not been
the most successful one. The rule de-
veloped a poor type Of yacht that was
slow and topheavy. All sorts OF re-
strictions were placed upon the boat
save on sail area. Still II had to be
used for certain number OF years by
English. French, German. Spanish and
other European yachtsmen.
At about the same time the New York
zach Club decided that the United
States also should have a new rule OF
measurement. As there IL no national
yachting body In this country, the New
York Yacht Club took II upon itself to
call meeting. which was named the
Atlantic Coast Conference. Representa-
tives OF the important yacht clubs on
the Atlantic coast attended, and, after
working the greater part OF the winter
\ N ted ant Ia ha
universal rule. It was to last for Ave
years Oficlally II no longer exists.
StIll. 4 has proven TO be such n satistac-
tory rule that no one thinks Of suggest
ing any change.
The principal drawback TO the inter-
national rule, which now Is used
throughout the United States and Can
ada, lies IN the fact that II needs an en-
pert naval architect to measure q boat.
Also he IL never sure OF his work. II
has been said that no architect can
measure a boat twice and get the rame
dimensions. OF course the difference Is
only slight. still II Is enough to make
trouble. Were this eliminated II Is be-
lieved by yachtsmen that the universal
rule would be ideal. Certainly II de-
velops a speedy. seaworthy yacht
Amendment Probable.
Undoubtedly American yachtsmen
never would consider the international
rule. Also It Is believed that until the
universal rule Is 40 altered that the Or
binary Corinthian Is able to measure
his craft the American rule will not be
popular abroad. Still indications point
to the American rule being slightly
changed and its new form being ac-
cepted by British sailing men. II such q
thing happened II would wonderfully
help the sport
The Shamrock ". which has been
over here since 1914. was built under
the universal rule. The well known
mutual agreement clause Of the deed
Of gift OF the Americas Cup allowed Sir
Thomas Upton and the New York Yacht
Club to accept the universal rule as the
basis of the race that has yet to be
sailed for the historic trophy Shamrock
". Is the first big yacht to be designed
abroad under the rule and it's work nat
urally will mean a great deal TO British
yachtsmen. II 1t proves a success I'M
dcubtedly Great Britain will think still
more favorably OF the American rule OF
yacht measurement.