The New York herald., 1869-10-20
aBaUI An OCEAN YACHT RACE.
SCHOONER YACHT GAMBIA,


To THE EDITOR or BELLS LigE IN LosDON:--
Having appeared so much In print in connection
with Lae above and the proposed race against the
pauntess and other American yachts | nave the
greatest didence In again replying TO one OF your
given may be OF such interest as TO ultimately
Justify my TAX ag mp so much OF you valuable space
"Mcrchant Skipper aud others appear to have been
under an impression throughout the summer tnlt
Il race to New York between tue Cambria and the
Dauntiess would take place. but iconfess know Of
nothing have said or written which would lead TO
that conclusion. had no desire or intention for an
ocean race alone; especially wished for an Aneri-
q series OF races both In English and American
waters. with the ocean race inter- rgenlg aud II such
had takcn place felt sure and stu do so. that the
best vessel would have been known before the ocean
race took place, and irrespective Of It's results. Mr..
Bennett, the owner OF the Dauntess. In accepting
America, against sChoOncrS OF u specified tonnage,
only accepted one race, not the series, and II II had
taken place the result as TO which was really the
fastest vessel would not have been conclusive with.
ont the addition OF those stipulated tor. Rightly
or wrongly, declined to accept the American vessel
on the ground OF excessive tonnage, still with the
nope that more suitable vessel would ne found;
but in the absence OF any smaller yacht taking up
the gauntlet there was no prospect OF the ocean
race taking place, inasmuch as 1t mad become erl.
dent the Dauntlcss was not anything near the limit
item per cenp OF sizo liked, and from fact that
on the 2sth OF May letter from me appeared in the
Field stating that had no intention oil glylng the
Dauntless challenge for an ocean race or accepting
one unless sne came within about the terms OF
my challenge. The ffrat time had the pleasure
OF seeing the pubc-splrced owner Ct the Danntess-
race from CoWeS TO New York or TO the Azores
and back on the 7th Of August. l unresecvedly &C.
ceted for the race from COWes to New York. to sail
on the LIST OF September no question as to tonnage
ana no restrictions IN any way or shape Iextended
the tIfnc 10 the 9TH or sth of september but the
owner Of the Daunt.eiS Of opinion ne could not
be ready bSfore the l6. Your nautical readers can
form their own concus 0ns as to whether there was
time To reduce the masta OF the DauntesS eight feet
and set up the rigging again between the date OF &C.
ceptance and date Of departure, and ! declined
sailing so late rs the 10th, wnen there was no need
for u. SuCu Ce.ay would nave driven us INTO the
midst OF the equDoctial gales which under ordinary
circumstances would have been entirely or partially
avoided by leaving on toe Isl of September.
As regards ''Mcrchant Skipper's' sugges-
tlon that The CamDria should go out to
IL possible this may be sO inasmuca as l have
quite recently challenged tie Dauntess tor nvc
races to come Off in March, rsr round the Isle OF
Wight; second, round Cherbourg breakwater and
back; third, Cowes to New York; fourth and fifth.
In New York waters. II circumstances should pre-.
vent Mr. Bennett5 accepting my proposals concm.
plate giving up the early part OF the next London
best American vessels IN their own waters. and III
accordance with the rues and reSniaions oi the
New York Yacht Club. There IS, however, no abso-
ute certainty, rs IN my capacity as chairman and di
rector OF several RAILWAYS my time about that period
ls not always my Own: out am san guine shall bc
able 10 carry out my wishes
Regarding "derchant SMppef's" oiier to sail any
yacht to New York, may state that Tor the conteLl
plated Yate TO New YORK | nave enga gea sa.llng
snring shoud go; II he does not ] shall have much
pleasure in putting myself in communication with
your correspondent II he VIII kindly aand hts adj
dress to yours truly, JAMES ASHBURY.