The America Cup.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 203, 3 September 1901, Page 1

The America Cup.

Tins month Shamrock 11. is to make the eleventh attempt to carry off the America Cup from tho United States. This trophy has now been fifty years in the possession of tho New York Yacht Club, one yacht after another having failed against the Americans.

The first race was hold in connection with the Crystal Palace Exhibition, and was arranged by the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes, which offered a prize to be competed for amongst all nationalities. The only foreign competitor came from America, which at that time was the greatest ship-building country in the world. The yacht America came in eighteen minutes before the fastest of the fifteen English schooners and cutters. Tho prize cup was then presented by the winners to tho Now York Yacht Club as a perpetual challenge cup for friendly competition between foreign countries. So far only England, Canada, and Scotland have disputed American pre-eminence.

In 1870 tho Cambria, one of tho finest English schooners of her time, challenged and sailed' against a fleet of twenty-four yachts, but came in only eighth. Next year tho sironia competed in five races, each time against a single yacht. The defenders, however, had the privilege each day of choosing whichever one of their boats best suited tho weather, so that it is not surprising tho Sironia was defeated four times out of fivo.

Canada made two attempts, first with tho Countess of Eufferin, and afterwards with the Atlanta, both of which were badly beaten. Then, in 1885, tho English again tried their luck, but their deep, narrow cutter, Gencsta, had to yield to the broad and shallow Puritan, which led from start to finish, and came in sixteen minutes ahead.