by Edwin M. and T.M. Chance
In the early 90’s a type of shoal-draught boat was introduced in England that came to be known as the Half-Rater. These boats were from I2 to 15 feet waterline length, with extreme overhangs forward and aft. The English boats were generally rigged with either a modified lug, or a sliding gunter, mainsail' with a jib carried either to the stem head or on a short bowsprit. In the United States the boats were developed both as true fin keel types, carrying a bulb of lead on a plate fin, and as centreborders. The owners and designers of English boats were inrested in the American boats and for that reason races between the two countries were suggested. The first contests were staged by the Seawanhaka-Corinthian Yacht Club for the Seawanhaka International Challenge Cup and were sailed between half-raters of this type, the foreign challenger being the Spruce IV and the American defender Ethelwyn, the challenger losing the series. The racing of these small boats led a number of the men interested in the class to develop hulls of greater displacement and carrying more sail, permitting the use of larger crews. From this foundation arose the unrestricted classes of the Massachusetts Bay Yacht Racing Association.
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