The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-04-16
THE VOLUNTEER,

1t may be interesting Just at this time, to
review the history of the Americas cup, and
the long series of triumphs which has held it
in the United States for so many years. The
big, ever shaped, solid silver trophy known
as the Americas cup, emblematic of the
2 yachting supremacy of the world, was origi-
nally offered by the Royal Yacht squadron as
prize to be sailed for by yachts of all ma
tions over the squadron's course around the
Isle of Wight. 1t has been frequently, but
enormously, called the Queens cup.
The first information exhibition held in
England, in 1851, greatly interested Ameri-
cans. They wondered what contributions
would be sent from their country. It was
suggested to Commodore John c. Stevens, of
the New York Yacht club then in its sixth
year, that, as there would be an unusual collec-
ton of yachts ct Cowes, the club should send
over a representative yacht to sail in an inter-
national match. Commodore Stevens deter
mined to have a typical Yankee yacht built
to beat any thing afoat, and George Steers
was selected as the designer.
THE AMERICA.
The America was launched III March 1851.
Mr.. Stevens had agreed to pay $50, 900 for her
if she beat the sloop Maria. She failed to
do this and was purchased by her five owners
Messrs J. c. Stevens, Edwin \. Stevens
Hamilton Wilkes, J. BeeEman Finley, and
George R. Schuyler. The America crossed
to Havre in twenty-one days. She was then
rugged like the pilot boats of those days, hay
ing neither foretopmast nor jibboom.
- The cup for which this race was to be sailed
las the One Hundred Guinea cup of the
Royal yacht squadron, but since the race it
has been known as the Americas cup. 1t IS
deliberately ornamented. 1t stands full two
feet high and weighs at least 100 ounces.
Around its broadest part are medallions,
variously inscribed The first inscription is
as follows: zone Hundred Guinea cup, won
Aug. -, 1851, at Cowes, England, by the
yacht America, at the Royal yacht squadron
regatta, open to all nations, beating" and
then follows the names of all the vessels
which started in tie race of 1851 On the
next medallion is engraved Schooner Amer
lea, 10 tons, Commodore John c. Stevens;
built by George Steers, New York, 1857 On
the other spaces are inscriptions recording
the results of the races with the schooners
Cambria, Livonia and Countess of Dufferin
and the sloop ATLANTA.
Nine schooners, including the America,
and nine cutters were entered for this re-
gatta. They ranged from 392 down to AZ
tons There was no time allowance for ton
mage and no prescribed time for accomplish
ing the distance, about sixty miles, from
Cowes, around the Isle of Wight.
The owners of the America kept the cup
until July s. 1851, when they conditionally
offered it to the New York Yacht club, with
the view of making it a perpetual challenge
cup. The conditions were that any organ
Il lied yacht club Of any foreign country,
through any one entitled to claim the right
of sailing match for the cup with any yacht
of not less than thirty or more than 800 tons.
The parties desiring to sail for the cup might
make any match with the yacht club in pos
session of the cup that might be determined
upon by mutual consent. In case Of a dis
agreement as to terms, the match should be