The adoption of the present Y.R.A. rating rule in the winter of 1886 practically killed the 'Length' classes; for, although the Solent clubs continued to support them for another year, no more 'lengthers' were built, and, the existing boats gradually dropping out, the racing with 'footers' collapsed.
The year 1887 was a turning point in small yacht racing on the Solent, as elsewhere.
There was much diversity of opinion as to the suitability of the new rule for small yachts. Mr. Clayton declared in January that 2-1/2-raters would soon be 29 or 30 feet long. Mr. Dixon Kemp, on the other hand, so late as 1881, when the sixth edition of his book was published, gave 'the lengths of water-line ... possible in the classes ... as follows':--
60 raters, 60 to 70 feet, their 1892 developments being 68 feet 40 " 50 " 60 " " " 59 " 20 " 40 " 50 " " " 46 " 10 " 30 " 40 " " " 38 " 5 " 20 " 30 " " " 34 " 2-1/2 " 16 " 20 " " " 28 " 1 " 10 " 12 " " " 21 "
This forecast erred in the three smallest classes, where prophetic utterances, if only for six months, are extremely hazardous. The fact gives additional piquancy to small yacht racing.
The Solent clubs most interested in this racing began the year 1887 with a conference on January 28 at Southampton, and another on February 2 at Portsmouth, when it was finally agreed to recommend:--
I. The continuation of length class racing for the season of 1887.
II. The adoption of two new classes of square-sterned boats to race under the new rule, viz.--
_(a)_ 2-1/2-raters not exceeding 21 feet L.W.L.
In both classes an overhang limit of 1 foot and a mainsail limit of 55 per cent. of the total sail-area.
Two new boats were built for class (_a_), Miss Cox's 'Madcap' and Colonel Bucknill's 'Thalassa' (see table). They were well matched, the rig being the same, viz. sloop with a small topsail of about 80 square feet. They were capital 'day boats,' with roomy wells, and fairly good performers in a sea-way. At first 'Madcap' proved the faster, but towards the end of the season 'Thalassa' won most prizes, and captured the class medal of the R.S.Y.C.
Mr. Campbell's 'Merrythought' was the only new boat in class (_b_), but she failed to beat 'Tootsie' (afterwards named 'Minnow'), which belonged to Mr. Payne, and was altered to fit the class. On the whole, the racing in the new classes was somewhat disappointing, owing to the small number of competitors and of races. See the following table, which also includes the races for the 'Solent Classes' in 1888 and 1892, and shows the great development of the sport during the past five years.