The elements of the fastest types which have developed in small yachts under the rule can be studied in the tables given in the chapter on Racing in the Solent Classes.
One of our ablest designers has consistently advocated the introduction of a tax on beam into the formula. He did so in 1886, and again in 1892, when he proposed to tax draught also.
Unfortunately the mathematics of the rule make it difficult, if not impossible, to do so, because the blow on L. is lessened when it is shared by other quantities.
Thus by Mr. Watson's modification of the rating rule, proposed in October 1892, viz.
English R = (2L + 2B + D) × S ÷ {constant, say 17,000} (II.)
'Doreen' is of smaller rating, although both longer and more beamy than 'Decima.' They are of the same rating for racing by the Y.R.A. rule. Mr. Watson's formula would therefore encourage even greater length of hull than the Y.R.A. rule. No such difficulty is encountered by the introduction of such taxes into the Seawanhaka rule, where the plus sign replaces the multiplying sign used by us. This rule was adopted by the American Yacht Club of its name in 1882, the form being
American R = (L + √S) ÷ 2 (III.)
The New York Yacht Club has raced for a number of years under a similar rule for time allowance,[6] viz.
American R = (2L + √S) ÷ 3 (IV.)
and just as the Y.R.A. rule can take the form