The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-05
$500, 900 FOR EMPTY FAME.
That is What 1t Will Cost to Defend
the Americas Cup.
From the New York Press.

Yachting costs money. The expenses,
direct and Indirect of the trial races and
the final effort to keep the Americas cup
in this country will be stupendous. This
expense is borne by about a dozen million
aires, but it is a strain even on their
purses.
There are yachts and yachts. Some can
be bought as cheap as 5000. But if a man
wants something nice in the way of a
steam craft he will pay about $4,000 for
it, while the Astors and Vanderbilts spend
about $500, 900 and get the finest things
afOat.
When even a millionaire talks Of sail
boat he hardly expects to put out more
than $25 900 or $780, 600. Sometimes as
much as $50, 600 or $4,000 is spent for a
large schooner, but In that event she is
always intended as a racing machine,
built for the purpose Of winning cups and
bringing purses TO the pocket and pride to
the heart of the owner.
Within the past week there were four
yachts in the harbor which were fine
specimens of American yacht building.
Each was "the fastest boat a1oat' until
the trial races, when the Vigilant out
sailed all competitors and proved her po-
sition.
To see her sail up the bay one would
hardly think that she represents any
great amount in value. If at night,
bound for port, she happened to pass a
signal station, without displaying signals,
she would simply be reported as IAN un-
known sloop bound i'm She might pos
sibly be rated as an oyster boat, but
under no consideration would be raised to
the dignity of fishing smack.
$4,000 THE FIRST COST.
And yet this boat designed and built to
defend the American yachting interests
against those of England, cost the syndi-
cate that built her over $4,000 before she
left the ways, and will cost, before the in
ternational contest is decided, between
$4,000 and 1925 900. More than 500, 900
was expended by the time the trial race
was won.
Take the three other yachts, the Colo
MIA Jubilee and Pilgrim, all Of which
were built especially as cup defenders,
and the cost of the acceptance of the chal-
lenge is quadrupled. This means that
100000 have come out of the pockets Of
American yachtsmen in the hope Of hold
ing the cup here.
And yet the cup if not won by the Earl
of Dunraven's Valkyrie will not become
The property of the owners Of the Vigil
liant. In the deed of gift of George 3.
Schuyler, the owner Of the cup, to the
New York Yacht Club, is the clause:
1T is to be distinctly understood that
the cup is TO be the property of the club
and not of the members thereof, or the
owners of vessel winning it in a match,
and that the condition of keeping it open
to be sailed for by yacht clubs of all the
foreign countries upon the terms (of the
deed of the gift laid down shall forever
attach to it, thus making it perpetually a
challenge cup for friendly competition be-
tween foreign countries. -
MR.. IsELEN's FIGURES.
The exact figures of the cost Of the Wig
liant are not known at present even to
Mr. G. Oliver lselin, who is practically
the backbone Of the syndicate which or
dered and paid for her. Mr.. Iselin has
been so busy in looking after the yacht
that he has had no time to look out for
money. yet he was able TO give rough
estimate Of what the boat has and will
cost.
The bulk OF the cost Of the cup defender
Is in the hull, which has footed up about
S65 900.
The sails Of the yacht cost $4,000,
which is tho second largest sum in the
expense Of building and equipping the
Vigilant A good hull is all right II there
Is "a good suit Of sails. Without them the
yacht might be a dismal failure. Wilson