The New York herald., 1869-03-16
TIE PROPOSED MTERsATleSM YACHT
RACE.

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD sAinNs3
The communication OF the spirited ana courteo US
owner OF the celebrated Eng Eh yacht Cambria, Mr..
James Ashbury, which appeared In the HERALD OF
the 18th inst, clearly evnces that Mr. Ashbury u
st In search OF Information In regard TO 'rules OF
measurement;" but taking q departure from the
Royal Thames Yacht Club rules and heading In ac-
cordance with them, 1t is questionable whether he
VIII be able to make "Cowes' any other satisfac-
tory "harbor." The "Thames measurement" does
not give even the true SIZE or tonnage OF the
Cambria and would be still more unreliable
in its appllation to the $50 far) unfortunate Sap
pho and as TO appositeness, might be Illus
trated were yachtman Of the Celestial Empire"
to rule that for the purpose OF asceranng the size
or tonnage OF q "Chinese junk' the distance be-
tween the sport and starboard" ocular lookout
the eyes painted the front Of their unksl should
be taken as the length, breadth and depth of said
vessel for the purpose OF calculating her size ton
mage capacity The only difference would be that the
one would not come within signalling distance Of
the true size tonnage and the other 'the Thames
measurement can hardly be said to come within
hailing distance OF the same.
The conclusion arrived at by Mr.. Ashbury with
regard to the great disparity I'm size between the
Dauntless and his celebrated Cambria w0uld hardly
have been reached II the same rule OF measure
the Custom House rule OF Great Britain
and which the New York Yacht Club book Tor 1868,
reIerlea 70 Sy Mr. AsnDury snows 70 De tae RUE oy
the Sappn0 although stl larger than the Dauntless
no exception is taken by Mr.. Ashbury But then he
has "Deen on board OF her" tp0ssbiy saw something
more OF her while hauled out for repars) and, hav
Ing tired concluslons, knows or assumes q know
ledge Of her ''weak points.n
While Mr. Ashbury saspends his answer TO "ob-
servatiOnS made In letter to The Commodore OF the
New York Yacht Club" contained In the HREALD OF
January IL, 1859 (which Is becoming to American
yachtmen what Hunts Nd0azine Is to those OF
Englandl we indulge the nope that the zeal and
ready pen OF MIR. Ashbury wll-Irom d number Of
articles upon measurement, not addressed to
the Commodore OF the New York Yacht
Club, which appeared In the HERALD previously
to the referred tonotice that over the signature
OF ~. b. Van Deusen," Of Thursday, January rs,
1859. Mr. Van Deusen IL too well known in the United
follow hts name. The Phantom, Commodore Steb
bins; Fleetwng, Mr.. George A. Osgood; idler, Mr..
craft have placed him among those who win perpeI
uata the reputation OF George steers. Answering
Mr.. Van Densen may save time now and hereafter
IN this connection: u may be concedea that the
idea OF what yacht should be. practically carried
out BY Mr. Ashbury, Enthusiastically obtains among his
for sI adopting the ROYAL Yacht Thames measurement
and tenacious adherence thereto. The sine qua
of Mr.. Ashbury Ii that "a tall man good sailors
able to walk without STOPPING under the deck
beams" Our yachtmen, however, general
tudes''-a e., IN their shoes-and therefore the in
ducement held out by the "fhaincs rule OF measure
menr' would not be proportlonably appreciated.
II, however the yachts Of England ale built for the
purpose OF atfording large accommodation to the
families OF their owners TO 'scrulse the wide world
over,n then indeed amplest head room may become
an indispensable requirement." even to the extent
OF swinging under the beams any quantity Of super
numerary cradles. Why should yachts not be nui Sc
ries for future "Benb0wS Nelson's and Napiers f'l
But our yachtmen will when aioat even ''st0op
to conquer" aud do not coyet for themselves the
Hoace or rocking cradles on the deep, the "rhames
measurement" IS by them feelingly and deliberately
declined. STARBOARD.