BETTER BOAT LOST

Evening Star, Issue 21836, 27 September 1934, Page 9

BETTER BOAT LOST

AMERICA S GUP CONTEST CHALLENGER OUT-MANOEUVRED Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. NEWPORT, September 25. Mr Sopwith declared to-night: “My protest concerned violation at the start, but inasmuch as I won the start and lost the race fairly I feel 1 should not go on with the pi'otest.” Thus ended a great international sporting contest, but not without disappoinment, for almost everyone concerned is convinced that Endeavour was the better craft, but the American boat was better manned and better manoeuvred. For the Americans the victory was not unadulterated. They admit the superiority of the challenger, and are unhappy over the protests. Mr Sopwith to-night explained his statement yesterday that he was bitterly disappointed with the treatment he received here. He explained that he referred only to the manner in which the Race Committee had handled his protest of Saturday and not with the way he had been received in America. WILL NEVER CHALLENGE AGAIN MR SOPWITH’S DECLARATION. NEWPORT, September 2S. To-day’s race was one of protests. Hardly had the boats crossed tho finishing line when Mr Vanderbilt ordered the red protest flag to be set in the starboard rigging. It was based on manoeuvres just before the start. So quickly was it set and answered by a protest flag flown on Endeavour that observers cynically remarked that the flags must have been “ in stops,” the way head sails are held when sent aloft before breaking them out. Mr Vanderbilt, when informed that Mr Sopwith had withdrawn his protest, did likewise, and the, incident was considered closed, but Mr Sopwith announced that he would never challenge again. LAST RACE DESCRIBED. Endeavour to-day, as on every day, proved that she was the better boat, although she might have had a sea anchor trailing over the stern for all the chance she had against the smart seamanship aboard Rainbow. When she could sail her own race she crept up on the defender like a thunder cloud, carrying through the water with tremendous impetus. Rainbow was 50seo behind Endeavour over the starting line, having had to Juff to avoid colliding with the challenger, thus losing headway. As Endeavour approached the line she was going at full speed and the start was perfectly timed. She hauled steadily ahead. Mr Sopwith succeeded in “ back-winding ” Rainbow. The British boat drew further ahead, and wfyen the second mark was rounded' Rainbow had dropped back until she was Imin lOsec behind, but once round that mark it was obvious that the men aboard the challenger were not getting the most from their big sloop. Mr Sopwith kept his big Genoa sail and split tacks with Rainbow. The Genoa, which is considered the sail best known to American yachtsmen, and not familiar in British yachting, did not give Endeavour what she needed to maintain her lead. Endeavour’s winches, moreover, were not considered adequate for handling this large sail.

Rainbow now pointed high and steadily drew out to windward, tacking smartly and using her small headsails with much economy of movement, while Endeavour had to luff to get her huge foresail sheeted home and then went off on a long starboard tack which took her some distance from the course. That marked the end of the race, for the American sloop, with its white hull, drew far ahead of the bluehulled challenger, and the lead wasincreased until at the second buoy Rainbow was ahead by 3min 50sec, so much more expertly had she been handled on the windward leg. But once again Endeavour, left to her own devices, showed she could sail, even though her spinnaker fouled when it was broken out for the run home. It was several moments before it broke loose and bellied out, but then it pulled magnificently. The breeze was fresh, and the challenger tried hard to overtake the defender. Endeavour pulled up steadily, closing up the gap until it seemed that she might pass the defender in the last two or three miles. She gained Imin -15-sec on the last leg, but it was not enough. Although Endeavour is a triumph of the designer’s art it was not enough for victory. ENDEAVOUR'S RETURN VOYAGE NEWPORT, September 26. (Received September 27, at 10 a.m.) Mr Sopwiih has ordered the Endeavour to proceed to a shipyard at Bristol, to bo fitted with a jury rig for the return voyage to England. Mr Sopwith plans to return homeward almost immediately. He has definitely stated that he will not challenge again. WITHDRAWAL OF PROTEST ACCLAIMED AS CHIVALROUS GESTURE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 26. (Received September 27, at noon.) Mr Vanderbilt’s £BO,OOO yacht Rainbow retained the America’s Cup. American yachting experts insist continuously that Endeavour was the laster boat, but that Rainbow was better handled than Endeavour, which cost £30,000, and was manned by amateurs who had less experience in working together. though Mr Sopwiih is full oi praise for theni.

Observers say that Endeavour lost much time compared with Rainbow in sail changing. Mr Sopwith’s withdrawal of his protest against Rainbow in yesterday’s race is acclaimed in the American Press as a chivalrous gesture to prevent a protracted controversy. Mr Sopwith pays a warm tribute to tho sporting attitude of the American public, who, he says, gave all hands in Endeavour a wonderful and touching reception. ENDEAVOUR'S CREW EXPERIENCE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FOR AMERICA Writing in the ‘ Yachtsman ’ in July last, Arthur Lamsley described the strike in the Endeavour’s crew and quick replacement by an amateur crew just prior to her departure from England. ■Whilst Mr T. 0. M. Sopwith, owner of Endeavour, is naturally concerned at tho dramatic behaviour of the major portion of his crew, he is quite unperturbed as to the result of their action. The strikers’ places will be taken by young amateur yachtsmen, all of whom will be especially chosen for their general efficiency and experience in crewing a racing yacht, and for their physical fitness. Mr Sopwith could find a dozen amateur crews in a few days. Both Mr Charles Nicholson and Captain Williams assured me this morning that the crew’s action will not affect the departure of the yacht materially, except for perhaps a day or two’s delay whilst fitting more interior accommodation for the comfort of the young amateur crew. In a talk I had with Mr Charles Nicholson he treated the matter with good humour, and said “ the work of preparation, with the exception of a few modifications, would be completed to scheduled time, and the challenger will sail for the United States with the good wishes of England behind her during the coming week-end.” The trouble would 1 not be in replacing the crew with efficient young amateurs, but with the final selection from such an amazing number of applicants. I visited the yacht yard where Endeavour is dry slipped for inspection of her under-water body and for the removal of her centre-board. Artisans are working night and day to prepare the yacht for sailing on Saturday or Sunday next. Captain Williams and the loyal members of the crew are also working very long hours rerigging Endeavour. The cause of the trouble was the wage clause in a new contract which the men were asked to sign for the period of the America’s Cup contest, which is approximately twelve weeks. The men were offered, by Mr Sopwith, ten shillings extra above the weekly £2 14s they receive for English racing, together with free food, and special prize money at the rate of £3O per man if the America’s Cup were won, and £ls each if lost- Mr Sopwith also made a sporting alternative of £SO per man if the cup were won, but no prize money if it were lost. The crew refused this contract, and presented Mr Sopwith with what amounted to_ an ultimatum of their wage and prize money demands. They wanted £1 per week additional to the £2 14s now received, £1 5s weekly food allowance, and £SO each if the cup were won, and £25 if it were lost. Mr Sopwith was unable to accept these terms, and told the men to think it over. They presented a new demand of eighteen shillings weekly instead of a pound, saying they were willing to accept a 10 per cent. cut. These terms, so little different from the crew’s original demand, were equally unacceptable. Their behaviour in leaving the ship at such a critical time is inexcusable, and shows a lack of imagination and loyalty to responsibility on their part, especially on the face of the wages offer by Mr Sopwith, which upon examination seems to be extremely fair, especially as it provides a crew with an extra two months’ work at a guarantee of £5 10s per week if they lost, and £0 10s per week if they won, or, as a sporting alternative, £4 9s per week if they lost or £8 per week if they won. When one considers that the average wage, including prize money, for the English season works out to aproximately £3 6s per week, Mr Sopwith’s offer, apart from its sportsmanship, seems to be economic and adequate. Mr Sopwith gave the disgruntled elements in the crew till noon on Sunday to decide, telling them before taking any definite action they had better sleep on it. Some of the men reconsidered and accepted the contract before noon. The majority of the crew, however, held to their demand, but as an act of grace, Captain Williams would have been willing to sign them on up to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The men were still adamant, however, so Mr Sopwith decided to replace them with amateurs. This decision a few years ago would have made it impossible for Endeavour to sail, as professional yachtsmen had a monopoly, but during the last sejen yearss the sport of yachting and yacht racing has become so popular that Mr Sopwith will not only have an opportunity of choosing the rest of his crew from hundreds of capable young Corinthian yachtsmen, but will also experience a great deal of trouble in having to refuse the services of the sporting offers of amateur yachtsmen pouring in from all over the country. In support of this contention it should be stated that whereas a few years ago there were professional skippers at the helm of all the big racing vachts, to-day wc have six out of seven of the “ J ’’ class yachts helmed by amateurs, as also are the vast majority of yachts in the small classes. In fact, no paid hand is now allowed to touch the helm of any of the smaller class racing yachts after the ten minutes warning gun. Mr Charles Nicholson told me that since the action of the crew has been made public, be lias had dozens of telegrams and telephone calls, and many people have called in person at Ins yacht yard. I met some of the latter this morning. With a second night’s sleep, a number of the crew repented this morning, and intimated to Captain Williams their reconsideration of the contract, but it was too late. Air Sopwith was communicated with by telephone, but intimated his decision of Sunday was final. The position at present is that fourteen places in Endeavour’s crew will be filled by amateurs. Mr C. R. Fairy, owner of Shamrock, and an aircraft manufacturer, like Air Sopwith, has visited Endeavour’s owner and offered Air Sopwith any of the crew of his own yacht if he eared to take them. Already he has trained this season three young university men in Shamrock —Alessrs Broadman, de Quincey, and Bellville — who will probably now join Endeavour. Mr Nicholson assures mo, however, that the final selection will not be made until Wednesday. Already Air Sopwith has been ably supported by two amateurs in Endeavour throughout the season;—Air Frank Murdock, who has been responsible for tuning up all the

scientific equipment, and Air Geiald Pennv, brother of Sir George Penny, ALP.' who has been responsible for training the crew, and could be relied upon to train a crew of amateurs, all expert young yachtsmen, to crew Endeavour. Besides these two aniateuis, and Captain Williams, seven of the crew have resigned. They are: —W. Day. mate; J. Diaper, second mate; R, Frost, J. Haste, stewards; J. Caller, boatswain; and two able seamen, J. Taw and T. .Kenneth. Captain James Blair, who has been acting as mate since Endeavour was launched, is also leaving the yacht, but his departure has nothing at all to do with the strike. Air Sopwith has relieved him of his appointment for purely personal reasons, and generously paid him up to the end of the English racing reason.