New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-08-14
TIE Y1CHT CONTESTS.

When the America won the cup of the Royal
Clrb in English waters twenty-five years ago,
she WAS the sole representative abroad of the
only American Yacht club. At that time the
Ncw-York Club numbered only about half
score small boats, some of which had been
bnilt for and were then employed in the pilot
service. On the other hand, when the America
appeared in English waters it was 90 challenge
any boat OF fully five hundred, bclOngNg To
probably twenty different clubs, some OF which
dated back to the days of Charles II. In every
considerable harbor OF the United Kingdom
there then existed a prosperous yacht rllD
now the pleasure navy OF England numbers
over 100 vessels, and the clubs have nearly
doubled in numbers and trcbled III mem
bcrship since the Americas race. Inc IN
crease in the number of yachts and clubs
of this country has been even more remark
able. The Americas victory seems to have
suddenly created an interest In yachting In TINS
country aud pOpularized the sport even among
those who could not afford TO enjoy Il; so that,
instead OF a single club of say 10 boats, we
have now about SO clubs and several hundred
first class vessels. The American fleet, too,
within the time indicated, has developed vessels
of uueGualcd speed; our leading yachtmen
have undertaken the most daring and danger
GUS cruises Gas for instance the ocean race IN
which the Henrietta was victOrlOus); and we
have constructed the largest and most costly
Measure boats ever put atGat by other than
ROYAL owners. Many of these costly vessels
have been in the nature of experiments, which
have either suggested Improvements IN models
or TAUGHT shpwrights what faults of construc-
ton to avoid. This spirit of emulation and
enterprise was largely awakened by the
Americas victory. 1t il not, therefore, inn
modest to claim that in the quarter of IA CEN
tury which has since elapsed we have done
full share in building up the pleasure navies
of the verdi
In no other country except England has the
same emulation produced like results and in
view of the last contest it is reasonable to
doubt if her success in improving the model
of the yacht has been equal to our own.
Twice she has attempted to wrest from us the
trophy which the New York pilot-boat snatched
from her Royal club in 1851; and each time
she has been beaten. The Llyonia few years
ago and the Countess of Duerin last week
were equally unsuccessful under circumstances
highly favorable to them. The Livonia's
owner claimed that she was not required to
sail against a whole fleet as the America had
done, but against the America herself, or some
representative yacht of the club to which she
had belonged. Ii was plausible and possibly
Just claim, and was conceded by tho New
York Club The America was at the
time no longer q pleasure yacht, but
in Government employ, and another
vessel was chosen for the race or course this
decision put each member of the club ON his
mettle and excited some feeling among the
yachtmen themselves, but it took away from
the contest much of its interest for the public
by dcpriving it in measure of its interna-
tonal character. Our public pride could not
be seriously hurt by victory over single
vessel out of hundreds of swift ones, and the
public grew indifferent to the reSllt. The
same indifference prevailed with regard to the
races of last Friday and Saturday. The America
on this occasion could not respond to the chal-
lenge of the Countess of Duiitrin, as she be-
longed to the Boston Club. The Madeleine
was accordingly selected to represent the New
York Club. Our columns this morning tell how
easily she beat the challenging vessel, and
kept the Americas cup.
OF course, it will be claimed that the
contest settles nothing; that the speed of the
two vessels was not thoroughly tested. On
behalf of the English yacht it will be said that
rougher weather would have shown her sail
ing qualities to greater advantage. The claim
Of superior strength and sea-gong qualities
will continue to be put forth az an excuse for
English inferiority in speed, and it will re-