NEXT YEAR'S COMPETITOR FOR THE YACHTING CUP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8928, 17 December 1887, Page 4 (Supplement)

NEXT YEAR'S COMPETITOR FOR THE YACHTING CUP.

Mr. Bull, the owner of the Thistle, has reached homo. In the course of conversation he said that the only point on which his boat was beaten on her merit* was going to wind* ward. He believed that the prize might still be g&ined by England. Already Mr. Charles Sweet, a Scotch gentleman residing in New York, had sent in a challenge to compete next year for the international prize as a representative of the British nation. Mr. Hell remarked : — " Mr. Sweet is a threat friend of mine; and he is going to have a new yacht constructed on the Clyde which, it is hoped, will succosbfully compete with the Yankees. The race will come off probably in June." Mr. Bell explained that he had no intention of running the Thistle or any other boat in 18S8 for the America Cup, bis reason being that the field was already fully occupied by Mr. Sweet. When asked whether he thought the course next year would be altered, Mr. Bell gave it as his opinion that that of the. first race was certain to be. It would be shifted a little further into the open, and the feeling in New York was all to the effect that no international match would ever again be started inside the Narrows. Mr. Bell also stated that there would be no centre-board in the new yacht, and he added that the de signer of the Thistle, Mr. Watson, would be the architect of the new boat. In conclusion Mr. Bell expressed his conviction that they would never have abetter or nobler opponent than Gen, Paine, the owner of the Volunteer, and that he was convinced that British yachtsmen would be very fortunate in meeting next year as honourable an antagonist as that gallant gentleman.