New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-24

WYE oLDTIME RACING
"Under which fag?' is question which is now
agltatng the mind OF the American yachtsman.
large number Of boats to the value Of millions OF
dollars, built on the other SIDE are now owned In
America. The law which applies to merchantmen
In regard to the flying Of the American flag foreign
bnilt vessels is said by yachsmcn Of America not to
apply to vessels used for pleasure. W. A. W. Stewart
was the first yachtsman who dared TO cOnrovert what
was the popular opinion that the American flag could
not ny upon forcignbuilt vessels. on his yacht
Cythera he hosted the American yacht ensign, and
declared that he had discovered a law passed soon
after the OF 1912, which gave yachts, although
built In foreign waters the right to fly that ensign
Mr. Osborne has hosted the American flag his
fOreign-built steamer the Golden Fleece and F.. d.
Morgan. on his yacht Catarna. which he bought from
the Duke Of Sutherland, flies The American yacht
sign.
In fact, Of all the yachts now owned In America
and built in England. there is not al present one
which flies the English ensign. For some time Mr.
Morgan cruised about In the yacht Amy with bare
ensign pole, because he doubted his right to fly the
American yacht ensign. Now he flies it without fear.
There used to be in these waters yachts Of
foreign build flying the blue ensign Of the Royal Naval
Reserve, the Royal Clyde or the Royal Cork Yacht
Club. INT no yacht IS seen which does not bear
the foul anchor Of the American yacht ensign on
the recent cruise OF the New York Yacht Club GER
tain yacht hOistcd a flag which was declared to be
that OF the American Naval Reserve. The yacht was
lying In New-London Iarbor. \ revenue cutter hap
pened to be lying there at the same time. a few
moments after the Yacht had hoisted the flag the
revenue cutter had a boat alongside and the owner
of the yesht ordered to haul down the flag.
Secretary Tracy. Of the Navy, being In the harbor
on board the Despatch at that time the owner OF tho
yacht appealed 10 him. The Secretary said Il
know Of naval reserve connected with the Navy.
have heard that such organization has been
perfected in the state Of Newiork. II has not yet
been mustered into the service OF the United States
and therefore I take no cognizance OF H. The
Treasury Department has entire supervision OF the
flags which shall be flown aboard vessels OF the United
states whether they yachts or merchant vessels
The flag was hauled down, but was subsequently
flown in defiance Of law at Narragansett Pier.
This instance simply serves to accentuatc the fact
that foreign built vessels without let hndrance
suffered to fly American flag. No revenue cutter
has yet sent boat alongside an Englishbuilt yacht
10 inquire by what authority she flew the American
Yacht ensign. 49,
The yacht owners have taken the aggressive on ti'
subicct. and the Treasury Department has never
through It's revenue marine service brought the case
a legal test.
still there are MANY yarhtsmen who hesitate soou'
taking the re>pon sibity of flying the American yacht
ensign on a foreign-but craft The question 10 ho'
one which has been definitely decided and as the phr
chase Of foreign yachts increases il becomes OF moro
and more Importance ManS owners Of foFeignpuhs
Yacht, and many wouldbe purchasers oil iorelehoun'
yachts are DESTROYS OF getting some definite oeclsoh
IN the case. II the flying Of the American yaon' ei
sign on board Of forcgnbuilt vessel Is Illegal ana
unwarranted the yacht might be confscated by the
Government Therefore some legal decision from some
competent court in regard to the matter what Is
most desired a. present by owners OF forelgn-Duis
yachts.
The decline Of the regatta is Of the most marked
features Of American yachting The New'iorS iach'
club is now trying to arrange for a fall regatta Ih'
great club the wealthlcs the most powerful possess
ing the largest fleet of any yacht club Ill america
finding great difficulty in getting enough entries 10 nave
a respectable showing at its fall regatta.
4 weil-known yaChtsman, member OF the New
York Yacht Club. in speaking Of this recently SAID:
at il all because Of the sudden growth Of American
Yachting which has taken place In the last ten years
There are few fast boats. Those boats are wen
known II they enter for regatta the owners Oh
slower boats are not going to spend the money "hch ~
is necessary spend ON every racing yaeht Simply ior
the purpose of furnishing long tail TO the Winning
Yachts kite. schooner racing In England VA hineo
by the Miranda. She proved herself SO much superior
in speed to every other schooner IN England 'na' ho
one would enter boats against her. In this country
there are one or two fast schooner The Merin' inc
sachem and possibly TWO Others are schooners ths'
are so far in advance In matter of speed with any
schooner Of the old type that race between them
sill the old schoones, such the Montauk. the
Crusader and boats Of their type, possess luanNes
which are not to be despised and ought not 10 %
overlooked in the evolution OF AMERICAN yacnIns;
The same thing is true of sluOpS. The Minerva ana
the CossoOn light between them for the sovereignty
of the forty class. In any race where THESE IVY
boats are entered the naIrOws Itself down 10 =
simple contest between these two boats and win e
great sloOps what boat Is there that could beat nc
peerless Volunteer! Now, me way, III ny OPI,oa,
10 revive the regatta and make as II used 10 ue s'
il was when the New York Yacht Clnbs ahhusi H., H.
gait. was the great feature In yachting clFclcs "a ~
year is 10 offer prizes which VIII take IN al ,ho
various classes boats prize might DC 0heel ~
yachts having their ballast on the inside ulat No
iahe In All the old timers. another prize mght o.
offered in which The taxation of eligtl anu san ar
was doubled This could not be done, oil course, Wa.
the rule OF the club, but II might be Done .! sg IS
member Of the club properly authorized 10y uo L 49,
Offering a special prize and offering u unoer eoSu
conditions To double the taxation OK length anu
area ut first sight 70 give very li ~ time
allowance now IN vogue the difference peeweeu 'n99
time allowed BY the allowing boats undcr inc rues ~
the club and under doubling OF TINS allowance wo
m almost every case be only change IRON one hhnuso
10 three minutes, or AZ most hNe' TIC P''Po'"o'' wv
not appear 80 unrcasOhaDlc' IL. - .,.,.o,, in
ono thing which has been lost sight OF entlTcy 10
all recent rcgattas or recent races IN tns tnhir
Sr ,rnising purposes. We have In this country some
Of the best cruising yachts in ne world bua ysS,
stand show In rcglttas ana take no place ~ sa
Mar estimation with the racing machines whish az
ullt on the spur of the moment To beat some ioce
Yacht. -. =. l.. . r,a,ter of
an ncdents but something carefully considcreu Ia
nerfectly evolved We have gone too much ln,y ,ssd
one element of speed. Al yachting i not conPwho
i'm spccd \ yacht is pleasure boat msIi
would ride racehOrsc for pleasure would be al ina
insane Yet we bar out from our regattas sn be.
more solid portions OF the yacht fleet OF Anens con
cause put racing machines under tie s"'H'
dltions.'