New-York tribune., 1885-07-18
THE AyERjCA's cur CONTEST.

IHE IN nEAit1 ~ W. 'V<'fI'''
In its malignant and diseased disposition to
find fault with every existing condition OF
things regardless alike of fact or of reason,
The Ncg- York Times makes u stupid attack
upon the holders of the Americas Cup, betray-
ing "a lamentable Ignorance both OF yachting
affairs in general and of he motives which have
guided the New-York Yacht Clubs committee
ir its preparations for the defence OF the great
trophy in the approaching contest with the Eng
lish cutter Gencsta. The Times says that dur
ing the last quarter of a century -compara-
tiyely little progress in the building aud sailing
of racing Yachts - has been made in this coun .
try. while "England has male mdch.' y
sufficient answer to this reckless statement Is
that the fastest time ever recorded by sailing
vessels has been made by American yachts IN
American waters aud that boats are now III
commission, built from designs OF Cary Smith
or Philip Ellsworth. which have no reason to
fear rival in any Ems gish boat of their re-
spectve sizes afloat.
Nor Is it true, as The Times states, that any
deficiency now exists here in one -masted
yachts. So long as we have boats that can
cleave through the water Mt the speed OF the
Mischief or the Fanny or the Oracle. we are
safe from the inslnuation that we lack vessels
of high class. II is fact that we had no yacht
competent to NEE; the Genesta equtably, but
it remains to be seen whether the discrepancy
was one merely of size and sail capacity or
whether It was one of model and rig. This is
an entirely new question. IL has arisen only
since the close OF the last season. when the
English cutter, launched only a few months be-
fore had achieved notable record. In view
Of the fact that the Genesta and the Galatca
were both built for the especial purpose OF
hunting this Cup it is moth ing to the discredit
IF the Cups holders that they employed every
resource Of modern art in its proper defence.
On the contrary, it is tho best feature OF the
great races to como that for almost the first
time since the America won the original contest
they will afford true test between the Aneri
can and the English types OF boat. This was
the expressed object OF Beavor- Wcbb's chal-
lenge, and the New-York Yacht Clubs COM
mittee is to be warmly commended in that it
has accepted his challenge with full apprecin-
ton of that friendly rivalry. The T,ms' re-
mark that had the club "insistcd that q
schooner must be the challenger, the Cup would
have been comparatively safe" only lays bare
its dense and grotesque ignorance OF the rules
which govern these contests. The club could
not have made any such requirement. The
u deed of gift" under which it acts as trustee
for the Cup expressly provides that il may be
sailed for "by any yacht or vessel propelled
by sails only The Cups only significance is
that it typifes the yachting supremacy of the
world irrespective of rig.
SO far there has been no step nor word on the
mart of either the challcngrrs or the defenders
that could call for harsh criticism. Indeed, this
promises to be the faircst, most interesting and
most harmonious of all the contests for the
possessi, of this rich and honored prize. And
there is no apparent reason why the American
colOrs should not fly as gayly at the en- i of the
race as now.