APBA Fall 1903 Meeting

 

Cup For Power Boats

Open Challenge Trophy Offered By American Association

Time Allowance Schedule Of Local Body Has Been Adopted In Great Britain

Changes In Rules

The American Power Boat Association will put up for competition next year a cup to be known as the American Power Boat Open Challenge Cup; and which will have a value, probably, of about $500. That was decided upon at a meeting of the association held recently at the Hotel Navarre, and a committee was appointed to decide for which class it will be advisable to offer the cup and what rules shall govern the race. The committee is composed of Henry J, Gielow, Atlantic Yacht Club; J. H. Wainwright, American Yacht Club; E. W. Graef, Brooklyn Yacht Club, and A. B. Cole and E. M. McLellan, Manhasset Bay Yacht Club.

It was decided also to begin next season with a big race on Decoration Day, of which the details will be arranged by the Executive Committee. To that committee also was referred a proposition to provide an association pennant which may be used as a winner's pennant by the association and its members.

Secretary John H. McIntosh reported that in its first season the association had held races at the Columbia, Indian Harbor, Atlantic, American, and Knickerbocker Yacht Clubs, and that twelve or fifteen outside races had been held practically under the association's rules. In the regular races there were sixty starters. The Marine Motor Association of Great Britain, the Secretary reported, had paid the younger association here the compliment of adopting its table of time allowances.

In the rule for rating gasoline explosive engines the constant for two-cycle engines was changed from 900 to 750. The clause was amended to read as follows:

Gasoline Explosive Engines,---To be calculated by multiplying (A) the area of one piston in square inches by the number (N) of cylinders, multiplied by the stroke (S) in feet, multiplied by the maximum number of revolutions (R) per minute, and divided by a constant (C) of 1,000 for four-cycle and 750 for two-cycle engines:

                     A*N*S*R    
Four-Cycle engines = -------
                      1000

                    A*N*S*R    
Two-Cycle Engines = -------
                      750

The following new rules were added to the present rule relating to time allowance and endurance contests:

Points in endurance contests shall be scored as follows: Fifty points shall be allowed for speed, and 50 points shall be allowed for performance.

For speed.---The corrected time shall be calculated in accordance with the rules and tables of allowances. Each yacht making the fastest corrected time in its class shall receive 50 points. Each other yacht in the same class shall receive the number of points (X) equal to the fastest corrected time in her class, expressed in minutes and decimal fractions (T) multiplied by 50. and the product divided by such other yacht's own corrected time expressed in the same manner (T')---The formula being

    T * 50 
X = ------ 
      T' 

For performance,---Fifty points shall be given for perfect performance of motor, which must run from start to finish for the race without adjustment or manipulation of motor, dynamo, batteries, reversing gear or any part connected with the motive power of the boat, except for purposes of lubrication by means of the usual devices provided for that purpose.

From 50 points the following deductions shall be made:

Five points for each stop of the motor or propeller for any cause, and in addition thereto.

Five points for each minute or fraction thereof duration of stop or stops.

Two points for each adjustment or manipulation of motor, dynamo, batteries, reversing gear, or other mechanism connected with the motive power of the boat, except for lubrication.

Fifty points for any stop of 5 minutes duration, or 50 points for three stops.

Courses for endurance contests shall be so arranged that at least two hours shall be required to complete the race for boats rating 26 feet and under, and at least three hours for boats rating over 26 feet.

Every competing boat shall carry, in addition to her usual crew, one disinterested person, who shall act as judge of performance. He shall keep a complete record of the performance of the motor, &c., during the race, the results to be handed by him to the committee having the contest in charge immediately upon its completion.

(Transcribed from the New York Times - 1 Nov. 1903. p. 15. )

[Thanks to Greg Calkins for help in preparing this page]