The New York herald., 1921-09-18
APPEAL TAKEN ON
YACHT BUDDY CASE
Larchmont Clubs Ruling to Go
to AssOciation-New Rule
Suggested.
BY ARTHUR r. ALDR1DGE.

The executive conmittee OF the Yacht
Racing Association soon will have to
pass on a peculiar decision rendered by
Yacht Club. In the last race of the
series of Race Week, Butler Whiting.
who was sailing Carroll b. Alker's VIC
tory sloop Buddy. dared TO sail the
yacht across the restricted area, thereby
mourning the displeasure of the regatta
This restricted area is marked
by dories and is to keep the starting
line clear for those yachts whose signal
is next to come.
Yachts are supposed to move into the
restricted area when the preparatory
day of the trouble the wind was very
light. the tide was running strongly to
the west, and If a helmsman took his
yacht far from the line he was In danger
of not being able to cross with the Sig
nal ands to practically lose the race
then. The Buddy sailed across this re-
stricted area in order to get into posi-
tion to make fair start but Whiting
did this before the preparatory signal
of his class was made. The Buddy did
not get In any other yachts way; in
fact, 1t very carefully avoided doing this.
The committee ordered the yacht out OF
the zone, and Whiting rather brusquely
resented this perenptory order He kept
on with his yacht and was then told
that his time would not be taken. It was
not officially taken. but the yacht sailed
the course. got away well and finished
first.
The prize for the series was donated
by Commodore James b. Ford, and up
to the last race the point score was very
close. The Blue Jacket, II II could beat
Buddy would win, but IL not the prize
was Buddy's. Naturally the contest was
very keen between these two yachts, and
1t was disappointing to many to find
that Buddy was ruled out from the start.
Rule a Local one.
The .Larchmont Yacht Club commit
tee can make any rules 1t likes for the
management of It's own races. The Long
Island Sound Association Is purely an
advisory body. It's delegates discuss
changes and amendments to the racing
rules, and to be ratified those amend
ments must be accepted by the clubs en-
rolled in the association. Having agreed
on the uniform rules, the different re-
gatta committees have to see that they
are enforced. On the Interpretation OF
rules there may be differences OF opin-
ion, and should a yachtsman think that
the regatta committee Is wrong in It's
Interpretation 1t may appeal to the ex-
ecutive committee Of the Yacht Racing
Association. That committee. however.
does not pass on any questions or fact,
but simply on the law
Whether the association has any
power to rule on the restricted zone mat
ter is a question. That, many think. is
up to the Larchmont committee. 1t Is
certain. though. that many yachtsmen
are strongly opposed to this zone because
IL IL Is rigidly enforced under all condi-
tions of weather poor starts would be
the rule rather than good ones. There
have been days this summer when II
would have taken an hour or more to
buck the tide and sail through the zone
to the line.
The racing association will have an
other matter TO settle this winter. 1t Is
not in the way Of protest. but mat
ter that has come to the attention OF
yachtsmen in the races. Twice this sea
son the yachts OF the Victory class have
been seriously interfered with at the
start because a yacht that should have
started minutes ahead of the Victories
has been late and reached the line just
as the other yachts are crossing. Yachts
on the Sound are started at five minute
intervals, according to classes. The start
Ing line Is probably the most important
part Of the race. In a class where the
yachts are well handled the whole fleet
will cross within a few seconds.