The New York herald., 1869-03-14
THE PROPOSED OCEAN YACHT RACE.

Letter from the Owner Of the Yacht CambrIas
BRIGHTON. February 1863. !.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:- =
Consequent upon the distance reside from New
York labor under some disadvantage in replying u
articles which appeared In several numbers OF your
paper and In other newspapers Of your city. but I
am anxious, as briefly as possible TO place my views
clearly before your readers so that there may be
misunderstanding about the arrangements think
necessary for fairly testing the merits OF English ana
American yachts during the approaching season.
Imay In the frst place, state that several gontle-
men, members OF your yacht club have had the ad.
vantage Of inspecting my yacht Cambria. while, ON
the other hand, have no knowledge whatever Of
your yacht Dauntess except what CLEAN from the
'New York Yacht Club Bookn for 1858. BY compar
ing the area OF her In square feet and her tonnage
with the corresponding figures against the Sappho,
which vessel l have been on board Of
From this data have come to the conclusion thas
the Dauntless Is nearly double the size OF my yacht
and therefore fair competitor In an ocean race.
where IN rough size and power are known to be
essential to success
have by this mail written TO the New York Yacht
Club, asking them TO be good enough to furnish me
with their rule for the measurement OF yachts for
racing which I cannot procure In England. This
win enable me to determine whether or not ought
"
sent them the registered tonnage and the dimen-
sions OF the Cambria, a. ascertained By the meat
sufers Of tho Royal Thames Yacht Club, whose rule
has been adopted by all the clubs in this country
since It's establishment In 1923 the only rule found
IN practice to meet all tho objections that have for
80 many years embarrassed this difcult question In
your country and my own. II Is the only rule With
which We are acquainted that works out fairly with
an the different forms OF yachts TO which 1t u
used, and which ct the same time offers no induce
ment to the constructors Of useless class OF vessel
In fact, mere racing machines The yachts OF this
country all built for the purpose OF onering large
accommodation to the families OF their owners. 70
cruise all the world over, and as much speed a. our
skill can produce Ia then given, subject TO this im-
portans requirement. In ordering the Cambria
made II ssae Qud non that any tall man with hs
hat on should DO able to walk without STOPPING
under the beams, and that her accommodations
should be spacious for my friends In travel about the
world. Then | said TO the builder. Mr.. Michad
Ratsey. give me a much speed ~ possible wiz
am OF opinion that until am furnished with Inc
information that ask for from your side that u
made by Mr.. Charles n. Haswell In his letter ad-
dressed TO the Commodore Of the New York Yacht
Club.
For several years past II has been the custom Of
the Royal Thames Yacht Club to add TO their races I'd
the river Thames and It's estuary one or more 70 a1
extended distance, TO Havre. Cherb0urg. &c. and ~
them the term ocean match has been applied; and IN
readily accepting the challenge from the Sappho fog
IN ocean match supposed that her owner intonde6
similar course and distance, and therefore gave
him choice or three, two Of them being quito m
accordance with his suggestion; and he must be
quite aware that should decline TO sail mis- vessoU
out IN the Atlantic for the reason that have not yce
agreed To sail the Dauntess believing that both vcs~
ses are nearly or quite double as large ~ my own
Besides, the owner OF the Sappho must be aware o1
the weekly engagements Of the Cambria In our clubs
all through the season, up to within few days Of
the time for starting for New York, 80 that can only
few days. but have no objection TO sail f&0 miles QUE
mt sea beyOnd the Eddystone-vz., round the Bish-
ops Rock Lighthouse, making the distance from
Cowcs go milos further than round the former hight
house o dlstancc and course long enough and free
from land winds and currents SUFFICIENT TO try aud
prove the superiority OF any two vessels.
remain, SIR, yours truly,
JAMES AsHBURY.