A Costly Contest

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 221, 21 September 1934, Page 5

A Costly Contest

AMERICA'S CUP RACES OF PAST CENTURY,

The America’s Cup, on which yachtsmen in Britain and the United States have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds (tho four built to contest the right to defend the cup in 1930 cost £600,000), originally cost 100 guineas. It is of silver and weighs 1340z5, stands 27iu. high, is 36in. in circumference at tho centre and 24in. at its base. It is elaborately decorated with panols, which record the various contests, 14 in all. It was given by tho Royal Yacht Squadron for a race round the Isle of Wight, open to yachts of all nations. Solne rivalry existed at the time between-the owners of British and American schooners, and to test their merits, tho schooner America sailed across to England in ISSI and entered for the race. She was a- slim, blackpainted schooner of 240 tons, and carried white cotton sails which set flat. The British schooners and cutters all carried loose-footed, baggy mainsails, and the advent of tho America caused great interest. Sho competed against seven cutters and six schooners, and won the race, finishing eight minutes ahead of tho Aurora, the second boat, with tho others out of sight astern. When the America got back to New York tho owners decided to present the cup to tho New York Yacht Club as a perpetual challenge trophy, and they drew up what is known as “The Deed of Gift.’’ This famous document provides that yachts of foreign countries shall always be eligible to challenge, they must bo built in tho country to which they belong, and must sail to the place of contest on their own bottom. Ten months’ notico of intention to challenge must bo given, together with the name of the owner and of the boat, also her length on water-line, beam, draught, and registered tonnage. As Americans at that time were keen on centroboarders, one of tho clauses allowed centreboards to bo fitted without being taxed for measurement. The original contests wero best two out of three, later altered to best three out of five, and for tho present contest the best four out of seven. Some modifications in tho . original deed have since been made. In tho event of light weather challengers are allowed to be towed when their speed falls below five miles per hour on tho voyage across the Atlantic, and substitutions are also permitted.

For the first race tho challenger had to compete against a whole fleet of boats, and the Britisher finished only in eighth place. This condition was hotly contested by Sir James Ashbury, the first challenger, and it was altered to one defending boat,'but tho Americans could still choose a different boat for each race if thsy so desired, according to the weather. This clause was taken exception to and finally deleted. Now the defending boat is named prior to the contest and continues throughout. The First Contest. It was 1870, just 19 years after the America had won the Cup at Cowes, before a challenge was sent. Sir James Ashbury went across with his schooner, the Cambria, but sho was beaten by tho Magic. Next year Sir James again challenged with a new schooner, the Eivonic. She won tho first heat, but was beaten by the Madelino in tho following races. The next two challenges came from Canada. Tho Countess of Dufferin, a schooner, competed in 1876, and the first of tho cutters Atalanta in 1881, but both wero decisively beaten, the first by the Madelino and the second by the Mischief. The Atalanta was hurriedly fitted out, her sails were said to have fitted like a sailor’s shirt on a handspike.

In ISSS Sir Richard Sutton sent a challenge on behalf of the Royal Tacht Squadron -with his cutter the Genesta, and after some close racing she was beaten by the Puritan. An incident in this contest is worth recording. Just before the start, the Puritan, when on the port tack, fouled the British boat, which was on the starboard, and as all yachtsmen know, the boat on port was in the wrong. The Americans disqualified their boat, and fully expected Sir Richard Sutton to claim the race. When the Racing Committee informed him that the Puritan was disqualified, and if he would sail over the course he would be awarded tho race, Sir Richard replied: "We are much obliged, but' wc camo over here for a race, not a sail over.”

. In ISSG Lieutenant W. Henn, R.N., challenged with tho Galatea, but was easily beaten by tho Mayflower.

• Scotsmen Take a Hand. , The next challenge came from Scotland, Mr J. Bell sending over the Thistle in 1887, but she was beaten by the Volunteer after some good racing. After a spell of six years, Lord Dunraven challenged on behalf of the Royal Yacht Squadron'with the Valkyrie 11. This was in 1893, but she was beaten by the Vigilant after three races. Two years later Lord Dunraven sent the Valkyrie 111 across to try again, and she wa3 met by tho Defender. In the first race tho course was not kept clear, big excursion steamers going ahead of and on each side of the Valkyrie, which won the first heat but was disqualified for fouling the Defender at tho start, due to an excursion boat being in the way. Lord Dunraven hotly contested this disqualification, but withdut avail. He also informed the committee that he would not compete next day unless the courso was kept clear, as it was a danger to his crew and his vessel, besides being unfair to both challenger and defender. This the committee did hot attempt to remedy, and the Valkyrie crossed the starting line in the next heat, but withdrew at once. Thus the issue was left in doubt as to which was the faster boat.

Such a lot of feeling was. stirred up on both sides over the result of tho contest that the America’s Cup was in bad repute in England, and tho Royal Yacht Squadron was not at all keen on backing further contests, at all events under existing conditions, which were later modified as a result of this controversy, and until the challenge of Mr. Sopwith it was Sir Thomas Lipton who strove to win back the trophy for Britain.