AMERICA CUP

Evening Star, Issue 20570, 23 August 1930, Page 10

AMERICA CUP

—•* * FIRST MAPLE LEAF CHALLENGER YANKEE BOAT, CANADIAN BUILT COUNTESS OF DUFFERIH WEIL BEATEN [By For’ard Hakd.] « No. V. Only two challenges, apart from those by England, have been made by other countries. Both came from Canada. The first challenge was by a schooner yacht, Countess of Duffenn, but she was really a Yankee boat, built in Canada. She was easily defeated by Madeliene, yet it was claimed for her, and with a certain amount of truth, that she had given as creditable performance as James Astbury’s Livonia. Five years passed after James Astbury’s second attempt to win the America Cup before another challenge was mado. In April, 1876, the Now York Yacht Club received a challenge from the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, the schooner, Countess of Duffer in, of which Vice-commodore Gjfford was the representative owner, being named as the challenging boat. The challenge was promptlv accepted, and the club waived the condition of six months’ notice, stipulating that the races were to bo sailed in July. . , . , , ' Countess of Duffenn was designed by Alexander Cuthbert, a Canadian yacht designer of considerable local fame, and was built for a syndicate of members of the Roval Canadian Club, with Mr Gifford at the head. The building was the result of the.firing of the ambitions of the designer. Some time previously a sloop yaclit, Cora, had been built for a Canadian yachtsman by a New Jersey builder. Cora went to Canada and beat everything in her class. Cuthbert built a yacht and named her Annie Cuthr bert. She beat Cora, and the wins prompted Cuthbert to design a boat competent to put up a good race for the America Cup. Countess of Duffenn was ,107 ft over all, 24ft beam, with a draught of water of Oft 6in. She carried 4,000 ft of canvas. Canada was very optimistic over the boat’s chances; but the New Yorkers were not in die least perturbed ovpr the sanguine ro- ■ ports of the Maplo Leaflander clipper. The Cup Committee felt confident that a number of schooners on its list could defend the cup successfully. On Julyi 18 Countess of Dufferin arrived at New York. “ Her sails, which seemed to fit like a purser’s shirt on a handspike, were unbent the same day and sent ashore to be put in shape,’’ reported one authority. , “ They certainly required it, for they looked as if they had been cut by a circus tentmaker, who had never, seen a spar. There is nothing foreign about the schooner. Her shape is ■ American, her rig is American, and her blocks are the Waterman patent of New York. Her steering gear is of'New York manufacture, and from stem to stern, inside and out, alow and_ aloft, she is simply a Yankee yacht built in Canada.” All the American newspapers claimed that if Countess of Dufferin succeeded there would bo nothing creditable in the victory for ; Canada. The more the Americans saw of Countess of Dufferin the less formidable she ■ appeared to them. To the critical eyes her many defects mado her appear more of ‘ a clumsy coaster than of a racing yacht challenging for the world’s prized trophy. . . - . , The first taste of the quality of tbo challenger was given on July 27, when | the race was held for _ the Brenton’s j Reef Cup, air international challenge | trophy. The entries were Tidal Wave, Wanderer, Idler, and America. The Countess of Dufferin went over the course. There was a fine breeze from the start, and the American schooners •sot all their flying kites. At first tho Canadians were satisfied with their lower sails, but as the Countess of Dufforin was dropping hopelessly astern they set every stitch of balloon canvas and gave chase. That a hayjack can run before the wind is an old nautical axiom, and with tho spanking breeze on the quarter the Canadian yacht boomed along. She rounded the first buoy thirty minutes behind Tidai Wave, and actually beat America by Bmin. Hauled on tho wind the Countess showed she was not much good at windward work. She sagged away to leeward, and came in hours later under s’nug sails. The Countess was hauled out of the water and was scraped, pumice-stoned, and sand-papered until the roughness of her bottom was reduced. She was then given a good coat of pot lead and tallow'. A nearly complete suit of American sails were bent, and she was then thought fit for racing. Madeleine was the chosen defender. She was built as a sloop in 1868, and was later lengthened, remodelled, and changed into a schooner. From 1873 to 1876 she had won many races. . Heir record was remarkable, and . her owner withdrew her from racing for one sealson, as he did not wish his yacht to be known ( as a “ pot hunter.” .Madeleinb was slightly smaller than the Canadian boat. She was owned -by John S. Dickersen. The first race was on August 11, 1876, over the New York Club’s course, and was witnessed by many thousands of people. The wind was moderately strong.. Madeleine, had the better of the start, and she was not headed throughout-the race, winning by lOmin 59sec. * ... The second and decisive race was sailed the following day over a windward and leeward course. With a view to'seeing iiow tho oldv champion would shape against tho modern racers. General Butler fitted America out for the race, and she was allowed to sail over the course. It was a dqll exhibition of windward work, there npt being enough wind to make it exciting. Madeleine was first about for the run home, three minutes ahead of America, with Coun less of Dufferin barely rt;no minutes back. Balloon canvas was hung out.tr the gentle wind to waft the yachts back to the line. They glided along nicely, but it was dark when Madeleine arrived. She beat America by Smin, and the Canadian yacht by 27min. The boat was laid up for a white at Stfaton Island, and it later leaked out that to Captain Cuthbert belonged the greatest share. It was his idea to make extensive alterations, and challenge onco more for the cup. However, finan cial difficulties arose in which the sheriff figured. The Countess of Dufferin was taken to Chicago, where she was sold, anti later sailed many fine races on fcho lake.