The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-05
THE OCEAN RACE.
HISTORY OF THE CHALLENGE.
The Discussions and Objections
apd Final Acceptance.
Full Description Of the Cambria
and Her Career. Dauntless
as She Was and as Altered.
The Result---A Brilliant Season
OF Hand.


lished elsewhere. IL time for the contestants to
be under way, and now that they are struggling on
the ocean-rdsng out on the broad Atlantic, encom.
passed by no shelterng NOTES.-The universal desire
Is that the better yacht may win. II Ia England
against America. Nautical science, skill, seaman
ship and pluck will be brought to the finest point
yet arrived at while an instructive lesson In naval
architecture will be given 10 the world Perhaps no
event In the long annals Of friendly contests, aloat
or ashore has created such profound interest 1t s
heartfelt throughout the length and breadth Of this
Iand-the eyes OF the European Continent anxiously
look forward to the result. 1t is idle to speculate
upon the issue. There Is such thing luck OF sea;
but in the long superiority, whatever side it
exist, viii most assuredly be triumphant. Which
ever yacht bears OF the palm OF victory-be 1t the
Cambria or the Daunt!css whichever will first
ring out the joyful answer to the glorious gun
al or Welcome; whichever ilyl Will first listen to
the gong at the Lights hip beyond the Hook,
it is certain that even the vanqulshed will
have completed task worthy brilliant record
so long as there is timber to build ship. Now that
such wonderful excitement prevails, Y will not be
uninteresung to give full history Of tnis great
international affair." Its inception, its obstacles and
preiimlnaries, together with 9 complete though
succInct description Of the Two competitors.
THE CHALLENGE
The glorious achievement or the famous yacht
d. America, in 1851, when she carried Off Queen Victo-
ria's Cup still fingered in the minds OF yachtmen
on the other side. Years had reAel on, and the
hopes OF recovering it were not at all bright. While
England was making rapid strides In the progress
OF her pleasure, America was Keeping pace with the
times and her fleet OF yachts was unsurpassed IN
the world And thus matters stood, until a circum.
stance created revolution IN the minds of
nh IN fhpr of
winning back the cup. 1t will be remembered
that In 1858 the schooner yacht Sappho, almost I'M
recognizable as the magnificent vessel to day,
crossed the ocean and without preparation injudi.
ciously entered into contest with English yachts
around the Isle or Wight The Cambria was victo-
rious, and then commenced her fame. Emboldened
by the triumph, and dazzed at the prospects OF
Wrestling the much priced cup from Amerca-for 1t
was enormously supposed that the sappho as she
then stood was first class specimen OF all American
yacat-Mr. AshburH the owner OF the Cambria, as
representative English yachtnian, CALAMITY issued
challenge the Sd Of October 1865, to all America.
Mr.. Ashbury's propositions were as fol!ows:-
gt's o. propose that during or before the season
OF 1869 The New York Yacht Cub select their cham
pion schooner, oil tonnage not to exceed ten per
cent of the Thames measurement Q0S tons) or the
Cambria.
l. Secondlv-The vessel referred to would desire to
see arrive In England In ampe time to take part in
the matches of the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes
and the Royal Victoria Yacht Club at Ryde, for
which aces she will doubtless be permitted to enter
ON time allowance and measurement as per rules OF
those clubs. These races take place early in August,
SIX TO eight or nine IN number, round the island
sixty miles, the Victoria anu Queens courses (also
about sixty and probably a run to Cherbourg and
back. The prizes would be the annual Queens Cup,
8ioo each from the towns Of coWes and Ryde and
several e1o0 and GOO cups; and may aad that If the
yacht could arrive about month earlier she would
be In time for some OF the best ocean racesof the
Royal Thames Yacht Club.
At these races your representative vessel would
meet all the best and fastest English and Scotch
yachts-among others, sc.ooners Gulnivere, Alarm,
Cambria, Nne, Egerla, G0rana, Albertine, Blue
Bel, Pantomine. Geert &C.: yawls Luifa and julia;
cutters Olnara, Condor, Fiona, ARROW, &c.-and
would have fair opportunity OF testing her quail
ties during the height OF the Isle OF Wight yachting
season, and with the temptation OF many prizes
highly valued and much sou Int after, but no. for
their mere Intrinsic value.
Ihhdlg-On or about the LIST OF September would
race your vessel from tbs Isle of Wight to New YORK
for cup or service OF silver value s25O no time
allowance and no restrictions as TO canvas or num-
Der OF hands.
Eou,thty-I would then, at an carly date, race the
said vessel round Long Island, on the Royal Thames
Yacht Club measurement, and their time allowance
two races out OF three this course to decide as
to the championship and the final possession of the
cent the New York YacHt C or the owner Of Pre- ae
successful vessel with cup value 100 guineas, or
would race any other schooner Of about my ton
by the New York Yacht CLUB as he fastest
vdulg the sand vessel had not been built since the
dale OF this commune ton, and was In al respects
eagolng vessel ana not mere shell or racing
machine.
CONDITIONS OF HOLDING THE CUP.
The Secretary OF the New York Yacht Club at once
Informed Mr.. Ashbury Of the conditions under
which alone the cup won by the America was placed
by Its owners in charge Of the club.
Any organized yacht club of any foreign country
shall always be entitled through any one or more of
,no~n ccyo,,
for this cup with any yacht or other vessel of not
less than thirty than 800 tons measured by
the Custom House rule Of the country to which the
yacht belongs.
The parties desiring to sail for the cup may make
any match with the yacht club In possession of the
same that may be determined upon by mutual con-
sent but In case OF disagreement as to terms the
match shall be sailed over the usual course for the
annual regatta Of the yacht club in possession Of the
cup and subject to Its rules and sailing regulations
the challenging party being bound to give six
months notice IN writing. fixing the day they wish
TO start. This notice to embrace the length Custom
House measurement, rig and name Of the vessel.
1t is to be distinctly understood that the cup TO
be the property Of the club and not of the members
thereof or owners Of the vessel winning 1t in match
and that the condition OF keeping open to be sailed
for by yacht clubs OF aliforegn countries upon the
terms above laid down shall forever attach to it,
thus making 1t perpetualy challenge cup for friend
ly competition between foreign countries.
The proposition contained In Mr.. Ashbury's chal.
lenge for an ocean race from Cowes TO New York
was accepted by Mr.. J. G. Bennett owner OF the
schooner yacht Dauntless, to sail on the LIST septem
her, 1859, for cup valued at f260; or II chat should
not be agreeable he offered to race against the Cam
bria on the same terms and for like amount from
Cowes TO the Azores and back or to any other place.
not less than 5000 miles at sea. Mr.. Ashtyary de.
clned to sail, but subsequently modified his refusal
and desired to leave the acceptance OF the challenge
by the owner Of the Dauntless open, uni. the settle.
ment OF the question whether an arbitrary rule tof
measurement adopted by one country should be bina.
.is On vessels OF another in an international coma