The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-09-21
YACHTING.
The Challenge Cup of the New York Yac.ss

A"o >""ne"so Sup oil the rev hOrA Aacos
club.
VIVA. From Land and Water, August 26.l
Win the object OF enabling us to explain to our
shortly going to New York. that gentleman has been
SO KIND Is to give US copy OF his last letter 70 the
CimD IL Is dated London, August ~.
rms letter recaDitulates some particulars regard
ing last years challenge and the writer relates his
the deed q giit'' and the terms on which the cup
as long as these terms renamed unaltered Mr. Ash
curry saw nut little chance OF being able 20 win the
sail against large neet OF Competitors. luck might
be against him; and SO he accepted the representa-
ZION Of no less than twelve different clubs intending
Dy tnis means 10 san as many matches as he held
certicates OF In this letter he senas
these twelve certificates and quotes the ;eegraphc
ana accepted. The New YORK Yacht Club, however,
have altered the original conditions OF tic race APP
arc only gong to enter one vessel against him.
Thus far all would seem smooth enough; but we
able to understand. what is nteliigible enough. or
else there still remain unsOlved difficulties and pos
sDV more mtcnes Inan one In the carrying out Of
In the first place. we imagine that the New York
Yacnt club nave not the slightest intention OF allow
Ing him to make twelve attempts TO win the cup
each time sailing only against one vessel for such
an Arrangement would be virtually giving the cup to
which makes any mention OF the cup going to the
winner Of majority Of races; and in the absence or
but once out Of twelve times she would carry or the
prize. Now, suppOsing the Americans were clever
enough to seect very fastest yacht and suppos
would be very great that the iLvOnia would win
once out OF twelve tnes surely there is no vessel
anOat that can always win, certain elements OF luck
being ever present to greater or less degree. And
surprising a fresh vessel were entered against her
each time, these Or some OF them, wOu d ncceSsa-
rily be- inferior vessels and the Livonia's chance
would be again increased. But thus Is reducing the
affair to an absurdlty. IL is ncOnceiyable that the
Americans would allow 1t; and, moreover 1t ia owl.
IDENTITY not part OF Mr. Ashbury's programme TO
letter by saying, IN the Lvonia Should
win the majority Of races the cup would then go to
the cluO under whose nag sailed the last anu final
race" &c. But where or when any such rule was
made we are unable to inform our readers, not
knowing ourselves.
Another difficulty seems to be suggested in the
wording OF the telegraphlc message IN which the
Commodore OF the New York Club accepted the
English challenge. 1t ran thus:-"New York Yacht
Club consents TO waive the six months notice, and
accepts your challenge, as representative OF the
Royal Harwtch Yacht Club, to race for Americas
other similar kilograms, but that is not likely; or
there may have been one other telegram conveying
the missing information as TO whether the members
Of the American club accepted more than one chal-
lenge from this one vessel the LlvOna. On this
point we are ignorant; and the letter which Mr..
AsDury has been klna enough to send MS does not
that other question as to whether there Is a new
rule which admits OF tile cup being sailed for in a
series Of matches, ana won by the winner OF the
majority To be in the dark Is 10 be nervous: and
certainly are both: we arc In the dark as to the
conditions Of the coming competition, and nervous
lest some unforeseen hitch should occur TO spoil the
taught to look out for.
One man, deeply versed In mathematics to whom
pretended to see fresh difficulty, for said he, it
wa possible that twelve matches might be sailed,
and majority be won by neither side; but with all
his hgures lie failed to prove that this was at all u
probable result