International Motorboat Union [1908]

International Congress On Motor-Boat Racing

The Motor Yacht Club An International Association Automobilism Motor Yacht Club

The second international congress on motor-boat racing, convened by the Motor Yacht Club, was held on Saturday last at the Automobile Club de France, in Paris. The clubs represented and their delegates were as follows:--The Motor Yacht Club, the Scottish marine Motor Club, and the Motor Yacht Club of Ireland by Commander Mansfield Cumming, R.N.; the Sussex Motor Boat Club by Captain Pryor, R.A.; the Automobile Club de France by Count Recope; the Helice Club de France by Count Faramond; the International Sporting Club de Monaco by M. Georges Prade and M. Demanest; the Kaiserlichter Automobile Club, the Kaiserlichter yacht Club, the German Motor Boat Club, the Rhine Motor Yacht Club, the Motor Yacht Club of germany, and the other clubs included in the German Motor Yacht Association by Professor Busley and M. Bauer; the Royal Belgian Yacht Club by M. Grosar; the Royal Italian Yacht Club by Lieutenant O. Sumner. Mr. Scott Hayward, who had been appointed as a delegate of the M.Y.C. of Ireland, and the representatives of the A.C. of Switzerland and the Club Nautique of Nice were unable to be present.

An official report supplied to us states that Count Recope was elected president and Professor Busley and Mr. F. P. Armstrong vice-presidents of the congress.

After welcoming the delegates the chairman moved the adoption of the resolutions which were passed at the first congress, which was held in London on January 29 last.

These were as follows:--

(1) "That it is advisable, in the interests of the sport of motor-boat racing, and particularly with a view of facilitating the holding of international contests, that international measurement and racing rules be formulated, as has been done in the case of the kindred sport of yacht racing."

(2) "That it is advisable that an international association be formed on a national representative basis for the purpose of drawing up and administering such international rules."

(3) "That for the future the international delegates will not recognize any other international organization."

These resolutions were adopted unanimously, and the international association was formally inaugurated with the above-mentioned clubs as the representative of their respective countries. M. Georges Prade was appointed secretary, and it was decided that each year the president of the association should be appointed by the clubs of the country in which the annual meeting of the body is held.

After settling the constitution of the international association the delegates proceeded to the discussion of the international rules, the discussion lasting until a late hour in the afternoon. The rules decided upon will come into force in 1909, and will not be subject to alteration until 1911. They relate solely to international events, individual clubs and countries being at liberty to adopt what rules they please for local regattas and races. On the other hand, by the rules of the association, participation in any international event not held under the new rules will render the person so competing ineligible to compete under the international rules. To this regulation an exception was made to meet the new case of the British International Cup until such time as it is found possible to alter the rules which at present govern the annual contests for that trophy

The Monaco rules for 1908 were taken as the basis of the new international rules, which were directed to be published in all the principal European languages. A number of important modifications were, however, proposed and adopted. The maximum length for the two racer classes will be 15 metres instead of 60ft. as heretofore, the power of one class being unrestricted, while the other will be limited to four-cylinder engines having a bore of 155mm., or the equivalent in the case of engines of other types. It was decided that the length restrictions in the four cruiser classes, which will be known in future as the racing cruiser classes, should remain the same, but as a result of a report presented to the congress by the technical committee of the A.C. de France it was resolved to adopt a formula which will enable boats varying within certain limits as to their power and weight to compete together on level terms.

Among the proposals put forward by the British delegates and accepted by the congress was that in every international event held under the new rules every competing nation should have the right to appoint a representative on the executive of the meeting.

(Transcribed from the Times of London, June 10, 1908, p. 15.)

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

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