THE AMERICA CUP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 185, 6 August 1936, Page 7

THE AMERICA CUP

BRITISH CHALLENGE MR. SOPWITH TO COMPETE RACE FOR NEXT JULY [British Official Wireless] RUGBY, Aug. 4. The Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes this afternoon sent a challenge for the America Cup to the New York Yacht Club. The challenger will be Mr. T. O. M. Sopwith’s jib-headed cutter Endeavour 11, of 76ft. rating. The proposal is that the first race of the series should be sailed on Saturday, July 24, 1937. While racing at Cowes yesterday the Endeavour II was dismasted as a result of failure of the preventer backstay winch. She was towed to Gosport, where a new steel spar will be fitted. Two other yachts were dismasted during yesterday’s racing. Mr. T. O. M. Sopwith, the famous aeroplane builder, launched his new yacht Endeavour II at Gosport on June 8. The yacht was designed by Mr. C. E. Nicholson and built to the full length of the J class. At the Plymouth Regatta in her first hard sailing test she distanced all her rivals including Endeavour I, and critics were impressed with her chance of winning the America Cup. On his last attempt (which was also his first entry) with Endeavour I, Mr. Sbpwith won the first completed race by 2min. lOsec. and the second by under a minute. The American yacht Rainbow won the next four races, however, the third by 3min. 26sec., the fourth by Imin. 15sec., the fifth by 4min. lsec., and the sixth by 55sec. The fourth race was the cause of trouble, Mr. Sopwith protesting and the New York Yacht Club holding that he had raised his flag too late. On his return to England he stated that he would never challenge again. “I do not feel vindictive at my treatment at the' hands of the New York Yacht Club,” he said before sailing. “But I do feel completely disillusioned.” He had found the races run as big business, something for which he was unprepared. He knew that mistakes had been made during the contests and for that he took the responsibility, the crew and the boat receiving nothing but praise.