RACING REGULATIONS.

Rule I. - A canoe, to compete in any race of the A. C. A., must he sharp at both ends, with no counter stern or transom, and capable of being efficiently paddled by one man, and must come within the prescribed limits, as follows: Maximum length, 16 feet, and for that length a maximum beam of 30 inches. Minimum beam, 28 inches. Beam may be increased 1/8 inch for each full inch of length decreased. No canoe shall have a draft of more than 10 inches, except the unclassified boats, to which class the limits of length and breadth only shall apply.

In centreboard canoes, the keel outside of the garboard shall not exceed 1-1/4 inches in depth, including a metal keel band of not over 1/4 inch deep. The centreboard must not drop more than 18 inches below the garboard, and when hauled up must not project below the keel. Canoes without centreboard may carry keels not over 3 inches deep below garboard, and not weighing more than 36 pounds. Leeboards may be carried by canoes not having centreboards.

Measurements - The length shall be taken between perpendiculars at the foreside of stem and the aft side of stern. The beam shall be taken at the widest part, not including the beading, which shall not exceed 1-1/2 inches in depth. If deeper, it shall be included in the beam. The word "beam" shall mean the breadth formed by the fair lines of the boat, and the beam at and near the water line shall bear a reasonable proportion to the beam at the gunwale.

The "cruising canoe" shall be one which conforms to the above conditions, and, in addition, has a well not less than 16 inches wide for a length of 3 feet 6 inches, with a sleeping space of 6 feet, of which at least 5 feet shall be clear. The centreboard, when housed, shall not project below the keel or above the coaming. The sliding seat shall not be longer than the beam of the boat. and no standing sail shall be used. The Regatta Committee may rule out any canoe which, in their opinion, does not conform to the spirit of these regulations.

The foregoing rules of measurement shall not be interpreted to disqualify any canoe built prior to January 1st, 1890, which conforms to the rules prior to that date.

Rule II. - None but members of the American Canoe Association, unless upon the invitation of the Regatta Committee, shall be permitted to enter its races and no canoe shall enter that is not enrolled on the Secretary's books, and no member who is in arrears to the Association shall compete in any race or claim any prize while such arrears remain unpaid.

No canoe shall be entered at any one meet by more than one man. The "crew" of each canoe shall consist of one man only, unless the programme of the Regatta states the contrary. Members must paddle or sail their own canoes.

A canoe which is not owned or used for racing by any other member present, shall be deemed to be the canoe of the member bringing it to camp. In double canoe races, the owner may associate any other member with himself.

RULE III. - All entries must be in writing, on the blanks provided, and must be handed in to the Regatta Committee within such time as they may direct.

RULE IV. - Every canoe entering, except for an upset race. must have her entry number conspicuously placed on canoe or man while paddling, and on both sides of mainsail while sailing. The clerk of the course shall provide each man, when he makes his entry, with three prints of his number on cloth.

RULE V. - Flags shall be given as prizes as follows: A first prize in each race, and a second in each regular event when more than two finish.

The winners of the Paddling Trophy, the Sailing Trophy and the first record man shall be given large practical bunting flags, with the year sd race plainly marked thereon, and the five best flags at the disposal of the Regatta Committee shall be given to the first five record men. Prizes donated for special races or competitions may be accepted at the discretion of the Regatta Committee. No prizes of money shall be raced for.

Races. - There shall be three record races No 1. Paddling and sailing combined. No. 2 paddling, No. 3, sailing. To obtain a place on the record, a contestant must enter and finish in all three record races. None but men who have entered for the record will be allowed to enter in any record races. Only such contestants as finish in all three races will receive a credit number according to position, relative to each other in each race - the highest number given in each race being equal to the number of the contestants, and the next one less, and so on, the three numbers given added together give the credit amount of the record.

In the record races each contestant shall use but one canoe and one sailing rig, which shall be a practical hoisting and lowering rig. In case of unavoidable accident which prevents a man from finishing in any one race, the Regatta Committee may, at its discretion, permit such canoe to enter the other two races, and her marks to be counted for the record but he shall receive zero for the race which he does not finish.

The contestants obtaining the highest aggregation of points becomes the leading honor man for the year. There shall be a race for the paddling trophy. The total number of contestants shall be unlimited. There shall be a race for the A. C. A. sailing trophy. Conditions as follows: Sailing canoe, A C. A. rules, no limit to rig or ballast, time limit, 3 1/2 hours; distance, 9 miles. Accredited representatives of foreign clubs, not exceeding five in number, shall be eligible. In case of more than five foreign entries, the first five received shall be eligible to start. The total number of starters shall not exceed fifteen and the ten or more vacancies (after deducting the foreign entries) shall be selected from competitors in the special "Unlimited Race," as follows. The Regatta Committee shall nominate two and the balance (after deducting foreign entries) shall be taken from the leading men at the finish in their order.

RULE VI. - The mode of turning stakeboats, and all directions for each race shall be announced in the programme of the Regatta Committee or posted on the bulletin board one hour before the race is called: and any competitor not knowing the course, or mistaking it, or not following these rules, does so at his own risk. Stakeboats and buoys will be left on the port hand, when not stated distinctly to the contrary. The committee shall have the power to change the direction of the race at any time before the first signal and shall indicate the same by flags, according to Rule XIII. The start and finish in all races shall be by the bow.

RULE VII. - No pilotage or direction from any boat or from the shore will be allowed, and anyone accepting such assistance may be disqualified.

RULE VIII. - A canoe touching a buoy or other canoe, unless wrongfully compelled to do so by another canoe, shall he disqualified. In case of a foul, the non-fouling canoe must go over the course, unless disabled beyond the possibility of temporary repair, in order to claim the race. Every canoe must stand by its own accidents. If a canoe, in consequence of the violation of any of the Rules, shall foul another canoe, or compel another canoe to foul any canoe, buoy or obstruction, or to run aground, she shall he disqualified.

RULE IX. - Should the owner of any canoe, duly entered for a race, consider that he has fair ground of complaint against another, he must give notice of same, before leaving his boat on the finish of the race, to the Regatta Committee, and must present the same in writing within one hour.

The sum of one dollar shall be deposited with each protest, to be forfeited to the Association should the protest not be sustained. The Regatta Committee shall, after hearing such evidence as they may deem necessary, decide to protest, and the decision if unanimous, shall be final; but in case it is not unanimous, an appeal may be made to the Executive Committee, when a dollar must be filed, and the Commodore shall call a meeting of the Executive Committee at once to hear and determine the matter, whose decision shall lie final.

No member of either committee shall take part in the decision of any question in which he is interested. In all cases where a protest is lodged on the ground of fouling, evidence of actual contact shall be necessary to substantiate the protest. The Regatta Committee shall, without protest, disqualify any canoe which, to their knowledge, has committed a breach of the Rules.

Paddling Races.

RULE X. - Paddling races shall be started by the starter asking, "Are you ready?" On receiving no answer he shall say "Go." If he considers the start unfair, he may recall the boats, and any canoe refusing to start again shall be distanced.

The combined paddling and sailing race shall be started in the same manner, the word "Go" being immediately followed by a gun.

RULE XI. - A canoe's own water is the straight course from the station assigned it at starting. Any canoe leaving its own water shall do so at its peril; but if the stern of one canoe is a canoe's length ahead of the bow of another, the former may take the water of the latter, which then becomes its own water, and it shall only leave it at its peril.

Sailing Races.

RULE XII. - The paddle shall not be used in sailing races, except for steering when the rudder is disabled, or shoving off when aground afoul of anything, or in extreme danger, as from a passing steamer or from a squall.

RULE XIII. - Five minutes before the start a signal will be given and a blue flag hoisted, and four minutes later a second signal will be given and a yellow flag hoisted, and one minute later a third signal will be give to start and an A. C. A. flag hoisted and left up.

Any canoe which crosses the course side of the starting line prior to the third signal must return above the line and recross it, keeping out of the way of all competing canoes, using the paddle if necessary , but after the third signal the start shall be considered as made, and all canoes on either side of the line shall he amenable to the Sailing Rules. Canoes may take any position for starting, and prior to the third signal, may be sailed and worked in any manner (outside aid not allowed). A green flag displayed signifies that buoys are to be left to starboard, a red flag means to port. The Regatta Committee may vary the manner of starting at their discretion, but all sailing races should be started to windward when practicable, and under a time limit.

RULE XIV. - All shiftable ballast, except centreboards, shall be carried within the canoe and no fixed allast shall be carried below the keelband. Ballast may be shifted, but no ballast shall be taken in or thrown out during a race.

RULE XV. - A canoe overtaking another shall keep out of the way of the latter but when rounding any buoy or vessel used to mark out the course, if two canoes are not clear of each other when the leading canoe is close to and is altering her helm to round the mark, the outside canoe must give the other room to pass clear of the mark whichever canoe is in danger of fouling. No canoe shall be considered clear of another unless so much ahead as to give free choice to the other on which side she will pass. An overtaking canoe shall not, however, be justified in attempting to establish an overlap and thus force a passage between the leading canoe and the mark after the latter has altered her helm for rounding.

RULE XVI. - Canoes close-hauled on the port tack shall give way to those on the starboard tack. In the event of a collision being imminent, owing to the canoe on the port tack not giving way, the canoe on the starboard tack shall luff and go about but shall never bear away. A canoe on the port tack compelling a canoe on the starboard tack thus to give way forfeits all claim to the prize.

RULE XVII. - Canoes going free shall always give way to those close-hauled on either tack.

RULE XVIII. - When canoes close-hauled are approaching a shore, buoy or other obstruction, and are so close that the leewardmost cannot tack clear of the canoe to the windward of her, and by standing up would be in danger of fouling the obstruction, the canoe to windward shall on being requested, go about, and the canoe requesting her to do so shall also tack at once.

RULE XIX. - Should two or more canoes be approaching a weather shore or any obstruction and be so close to each other that the weathermost one cannot bear away clear of the one to the leeward of her, and by standing on would be in danger of running aground or of fouling the obstruction, then the canoe that is to leeward shall, on being requested, at once bear away until sufficient room is allowed for the weathermost canoe to clear the obstruction.

RULE XX. - A canoe may luff as she pleases, in order to prevent another from passing her to windward, provided she begins to luff before an overlap has been established. An overlap is established when an overtaking canoe has no longer a free choice on which side she will pass, and continues to exist as long as the leeward canoe by luffing or the weather canoe by bearing away, is in danger of fouling. A canoe must never bear away out of her course to prevent the other passing to leeward; the lee side to be considered that on which the leading canoe of the two carries her mainboom. The overtaking canoe, if to leeward, must not luff until she has drawn clear ahead of the canoe she has overtaken.

RULE XXI. - A canoe may anchor during a race, provided the anchor is attached or weighed on board the canoe during the remainder of the race. A canoe shall not be propelled by rocking or fanning.

RULE XXII. - A change in these rules desired by any member of the Association shall be presented by the Regatta Committee, with their approval or disapproval, to the Executive Committee for final action; notice of such change having been given in the official organs at least two weeks before the vote of the Executive Committee is taken thereon.

RULE XXIII. - In case of temporary vacancies in the Regatta Committee, the other members shall appoint substitutes.