YACHTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 111, 12 May 1936, Page 4

YACHTING

THE AMERICA CLP POSSIBLE CHALLENGER. MR. SOFWITH’S ENDEAVOUR 11. Air. T. O. Al. Sopwith, who came so near to ‘‘lifting” the famous America Cup in September, 1934, with his “J” class Nicholson designed cutter Endeavour, has sold her to Air. H. A. Andrcae, a well-known Southampton yachtsman, and has placed an with Alessrs. Camper and Nicholson, of Gosport, for another challenger to be named Endeavour 11. Work is steadily proceeding on Air. Sopwith's new Endeavour, and she will be ready to race in the coming British yachting season, which staru early in June and continues until September. As only ten months’ notice of a challenge is inquired by the rules of the America Cup contest, Air. Sopwitb •has plenty of time to try out his new boat, which will also be painted Royal blue, before sending in a challenge for a race in September, 1937. Last September Air. C. R. I'aiicy sent a challenge to the New York Yacht Club for a race for the cup in 1936 or 1937, the boats to be “K ” class, smaller and naturally less costly than the “J ,? class. Mr. Fairey, who is tihe owner of the late Sir 'ihomas Lipton’s Shamrock V., and commodore of the Royal London Yacht Club, Las talked abut a challenge ever since the last contest, which he follow*! closely. A “K” class boat is one class smaller than the ‘‘J” class, to wfiich all recent American Cup challengers and defenders have been built. The two classes compare as follow: “J” Class. —Rating 76; maximum length on water-line, 87ft.; tonnage (displacement), 146 tons; sail area, 7560 square feet. “K” Class. —Rating, 65; maximum length on water-line, 75.2 ft.; tonnage (displacement), 107 tons; sail area, 5580 square feet. No “K” class exists at present either in England or in America. Thus if a single challenger and a single defender of this class were built, ncit'her side would possess any yacht able to lie used as a ‘‘trial horse’’ for the purpose of tuning up the contestants. Although the deed of gift of the America Cup permits a challenge by a single masted yacht between 65ft. and 90tt-water-line length, it does not bind the New York Y’acht Club to accept a challenge under cither “J” or ”K” class conditions. The challenge of the Royal Yacht Squadron in 1934, when Air. Sopwith sailed the Endeavour, was accepted bymutual consent under “J” class conditions. Another challenge in the ‘‘J class would unquestionably be accepted, but this does not imply acceptance of a challenge by a ”K” class yacht. The latter would cost about £16,000, compared with about £25,000 for a “J” class vessel. As all Cup defenders are built upon the syndicate principle, not much importance would be attached to cost in defending the cup by the New York Yacht Club. After due consideration Mr. I’airey’s challenge for a contest with a smaller boat was politely but firmly declined by the New York Yacht Club.