The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-01
WONDERFUL MACHINES.
The Great Yachts That Will Race This
Month.
The Vigilant's Sail Area Larger Than
the City Hall Park, New York-Some
Comparative Statistics About the
Yachts That Make the Landsmen
Open Their Eyes.
From the New York World.

From the New York World
A half million dollars has already been
spent III this years contest over the
Americas cup. This includes the cost
of the four American cup defenders and
of the Valkyrie, Colonia, Pilgrim and Jubi-
lee, which cost about Sc, 900 apiece to build
and equip. The Vigilant cost about $780,
600. This is more than has ever before
been spent upon yacht of her size. The
added cost Of the Vigilant was because of
her bronze hull below the water line.
This bronze is said to have cost 800 for
each plate and it was built on the frame
like the plates of the steel put on a man
of-war The bronze hull, which added a
fraction of second to the yachts speed
in a mile, cost 5000
The cost Of the Valkyrie was somewhat
less than that of any of the other four
boats because Of the cheapness of labor
and material in England. The Volunteer
cost about $50, 600, although built of steel.
and the schooners which raced before the
days of the big sloops cost about the same
amount.
For the first time in recent contests
over this historic trophy prominent men,
bers of New York society are actively
represented. William X Vanderbilt and
his brother Fred are among those who
put up money to build the Colonia, and
among the owners of theVigilant are Perry
Belmont. Oliver II. p. Belmont, August
Belmont, Charles r. Flint, w. Butler
Duncan, ,Jr., G. o. Iselin and +. ID. Nor
gan. Several other prominent New York
society men are interested in the boats
These as a rule did not content them
selves with the simple patriotic duty of
producing the cash to build the boats.
In the trial races G. Oliver
Iselin and w. Butler Duncan have
been aboard the Vigilant and taken an
active part in her management. MIR
Morgan was on his steam Yacht the
May. He is commodore of the New York
yacht club, a position to which no man
can aspire who cannot spend at least
Sl50,00O year on yachts. None of the
Vanderbilts have put on rubber-soled
shoes and an oil-skin cap to take part in
the management of the Colonia or obey the
orders of the sailing master, as any owner
would have to do. That is said to have
been one cause of trouble on the Vigilant
that there were too many men in authority
on board, owners differing in opinion from
sailing master, with consequent weak
ness of policy and a posi- bility Of a con
hict of orders.
Lord Dunraven, it has been figured
cannot send the Falkyrie over here in the
way he is doing al a less cost than $500
per week This includes the wages of
the crew, provisions, wear and tear on
the yacht with bookings, charges and
transportation. She will be absent from
England altogether about ten weeks. and
to make the race at the lowest possible
estimate will cost Lord Dunraven s. goo
and probably more, leaving out the boats
cost
The contest will have cost good deal
more than $500, 900 before il is decided
and the intrinsic value of the Americas
CUP at the present price Of silver is about
$500.
ne Americas Cup is not a cup at all.
1t is an old ugly jug of no possible use or
ed vinegar bottle. Nevertheless. IL is the
most precious yachting trophy In exist
ence, as it represents the yachting supre-
macy of the world, and has long and in
teresting history. 1t has never been in
Europe since captured by the America in
1851
The old America, it may be remarked,
is still yacht in commission. She ought
TO have been sent to the worlds fair. She
is fast boat even in these days Of modern
improvements For long time she be-
longed to Ben Butler, and is now the
property Of Paul Butler. When Ben But
Ter was In the south during the war he
heard Of the America being sunk in a
river. After the war was over hereturncd
south and bought the America for a song.
had her raised and equipped and used her
as q yacht He afterwards discovered
that while she was sunk the pores OF her
wood became impregnated with kind Of