The Portland daily press., 1889-03-30
AINE. SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 80, 1889.
LORD DUNRAvEKS FLEET vALKYRIE.
The Boat Which viii Contest fo, tho
Americas Gun.
She Is Provided With a Place for a
centerboard.
An American Syndicate ArraneIne a
New system OF Races.

NEW YORK, March 29.-The London cor-
respondent of the Herald telegraphs the fol-
lowing account of an interview he had YES
terday with Lord Dunraven in regard to his
lordships proposed challenge for the Amer
lea cup:
when was your challenge posted?" 1
asked.
"Last Thursday, March 21st," Lord Dun
raven replied. sit should reach New York
tomorrow. 1t is addressed to the Secretary
of the New York Yacht Club. 1t was drawn
up by the Royal Yacht Squadron, who
proffer the challenge on my behalf, and, of
course, gave the necessary particulars of the
yacht. But besides this. wrote privately
to the club, making certain suggestions as to
the details of races. To begin with, pro-
posed that the winning average should be
the best three out OF five, instead If two out
OF three, and the sailing date of the first race
l suggested as September 30th. IL three
races are agreed upon the second and third
races will follow on October I'd and 4th. The
six months notice required gives American
builders an opportunity Of turning out
special boats, in the construction Of which
they would naturally be guided somewhat by
the data furnished in my challenge. also
want the races to be sailed outside, starting
consider the inside course too crowded"
Can you give me the dimensions of your
boat?"
Here they are. but don't run away with
the idea that have had new boat con-
structed specially for the America cup.
want to use 1t for racing over here in place
OF the Petronella, which carried off between
10and IL flags last year. There is nothing
very special in the construction of the Val
kyrle, for that is the name the cutter is to be
hf4n q "a Iotryo ord nr,
the 2lst Of next month. Mr.. Watson de-
signed her and she is fitted with place for
centreboard, but l do not think one will be
used. The registered dimensions are as fol-
lows: Length, S5 feet beam, 15.9 feet; depth,
l1.6 feet; tonnage, 5676. The length on the
load water line is just 70 feet, so as to come
within the second or 70 foot class of Ameri-
can yachts. The keel was cast February 5.
cannot. with sufficient accuracy, give you
the other dimensions, as am troubled with
somewhat detective memory, and might
make mistakes which would be misleading.
l shall take twelve or fourteen men
and intend to run over to
the States for the matches, but l shall not
go out on my yacht. My time is so fully oe-
cupled over here that have leisure only for
flying Visits. If / had an opportunity |
should very much like to 90 in for a seasons
racing all round the American coast, and, by
the way, wish some Of the American yacht
owners would come over here and try con-
III.
80, understand, the Valkyrie is being
built on conventional English lines, narrow
ana heavy, as opposed to the American plan
OF plenty of beam?"
we think comparatively heavy deep
body to be the type best suited to the condi-
tlons mentioned, and, as l have stated, the
Nalkyrie is intended for racing here. It may
interest you to learn that an American syn
dlcate proposes to start another international
contest, on somewhat similar lines
to those that form the basis of the
America cup races. Mr.. j. Beaver Webb
OF New York has addressed a letter to me on
the subject. The cup is to take its name
from the first winner, and is to be confined
TO yachts not exceeding 70 feet on the load
water line The first race is to be sailed
over the Newport course. and the results are
TO De based on the best tive races out of three
or the best three out of FIVE, the races being
completed before Oct. 30. Doubtless this is
circular letter and has been addressed to
written that, subject to agreement as to the
conditions, and the match not interfering
with races for the America cup, l would
enter the Valkyrie. have also suggested
the mean OF the two systems adopted re-
spectiyely by the New York Yacht Club and
the English Racing Association"
do you consider that there is anything
unfair in the six months nOtice@
mo, | think it perfectly fair. In all cases
the party challenged has the right to certain
advantages; but It is injudicious, If the OBJ
lect Of international racing is to arrive at the
best type and model of vessel. 1t is not
likely that we shall ever have precisely simi-
lar types on both sides of the Atlantic, the
condition Of wind and sea being so different.
At least. that is my opinion. II 70-footer
and 40footer would come over here for
season, working their passage round the
coast and racing with our yachts, it would
do more to prove whether the American type
Is the best than any amount Of international
racing. Some of our small yachts have been
very successful in America, and we are nat
uraliy, cautious in departing from our own
type"
His Lordship stated that Mr.. Draper, bet
ter known as Tommy Dutch" would be
the Valkyrie's skipper.