The Universal Rule determined a yacht's eligibility to race in the America's Cup from 1914 to 1937. Boats built according to the rule reached their peak in the large J-class yachts. Before 1914, the Seawanhaka Rule was used, and after 1937 smaller boats were desirable, and so the International Rule regained its popularity and became the standard. The 6, 8 and 12 Metre Classes were the most popular and the latter was used for the America's Cup until 1987, the last year the America's Cup was sailed in 12-meter yachts.
Yacht designer Nathanael Herreshoff devised the rule in 1903. Herreshoff had designed winning America's Cup yachts which fully exploited the Seawanhaka rule, which was based only on a yacht's waterline length and sail area, to create narrow boats with long overhangs. This reached its peak with Reliance, the defender of the 1903 America's Cup, which was described as a "racing freak", suitable only for certain conditions. This prompted Herreshoff to propose a rule which also took into account the displacement of the boat.
Read more about Universal Rule: Universal Rule Formula
Famous quotes containing the words universal and/or rule:
“That we can come here today and in the presence of thousands and tens of thousands of the survivors of the gallant army of Northern Virginia and their descendants, establish such an enduring monument by their hospitable welcome and acclaim, is conclusive proof of the uniting of the sections, and a universal confession that all that was done was well done, that the battle had to be fought, that the sections had to be tried, but that in the end, the result has inured to the common benefit of all.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
“Without doubt God is the universal moving force, but each being is moved according to the nature that God has given it.... He directs angels, man, animals, brute matter, in sum all created things, but each according to its nature, and man having been created free, he is freely led. This rule is truly the eternal law and in it we must believe.”
—Joseph De Maistre (1753–1821)