New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-22
REPLY TO AN INLAND YACHTSMAN

A REPLY TO AN INLAND YACHTSMAN.
SOME POINTS IN THE ETIQUETTE OF INTERNA
TIoNAL YACHT-RACING.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir There appears in this mornings issue Of
your paper interesting communication from a
Schenectady yachtsman: interesting exhibit
ton of the density OF ignorance and generally be-
fuddled state OF mind Still existing among some
persons even though they be "habtually spec
tators' Of the cup races
First a unique and curious suggestion is offered
or implied. that the holders of challenge cup
should invite the chal.engers to join with them in
Interpreting the rules under which the contests are
conducted by mutual agreement. which definitely
states to whom disputes under those rules shall
be referred. Perhaps. however, this policy, which
has been followed both sides OF the Atlantic for
generations. should now be abandoned. We hold
the cup: an Engllshman challenges: invite the
Engishman to take charge of the affair and there
you are. no chance of a growl from the Brtisher.
Further on in the letter from Schenectady
learn that mot being called back the Valkyfie
over the course. supposing 1t a She
and found 1t was not race" This refers.
evidently 20 the second race. Now who is to
blame for disseminating such information that
in the country districts? There doubtless
much to confuse the inland yachtsman, as wei as
the seaboard one IN the various newspaper ac-
unfortunate contest but where did the idea orgi
nate that 1T was not race? Here is bit OF Tu-
dimentary yacht racing Information FOR the dement,
OF Schenectady yachtsmen. When yachtsman
considers that another contestant in race has
committed FOUL he shows protest signal ana
finishes the If possible; the protest Is consd-
cred and decided by the proper authorities after
the race. and the race Is awarded to that yacht IN
whose favor the verdict is given. Hence the De
fender went over the course in order TO make II
race. and Valkyrie, instead Of finding 1t T. be no
race which many OF us wish had been the case
most decidedly found that it was race. and that
she had lost the second leg for the cup. Perhaps
too much space has been given to fact generally
so thoroughly understood, but facts seem to get
and It Is well TO make II pain as possible at the
start.
The Schenectady yachtsman asks, sarcastcally
upon the assumption that the Defender is the better
boat was ne Dunraven) then bound to sail simply
ting them M beat ''i the Talkyrie?7 The answer OF
any true sportsman would be yes. emphatically
exactly the way to state stt it. Whether Lord Dun
not, whether he thought the outcome foregone
conclusion not he should have given the De
real contest: He should not have Withdrawn from
a race the start because he feared the possible
although at the star: the course was admitted to be
unusually clear and ne had the assurance OF me
right to complain much as he chose to before or
after the races OF the interference of steamers. and
to refuse to enter future contests under similar
conditions but truly spor{sma Mix spirit would
rate and, in case Of interference, to request that
the be resailed. which request would undoubt-
eddy have been complied with had the interference
been serious.
In any event his position before yachtsmen would
have been better than X IS to-day whether the re-
quest had been granted or refused. II IL the
American spirit to fight 1t out 10 the end, even
when appears TO be surely beaten at the start
and | believe 1t to be the English spirit also, all
though II may be lacking in any given individual
on either side OF the ocean.
The Schenectady letter c.Oses dsmally, RELOCATING
the cup dime museum This is trife prema-
ture In view OF the challenge which appears the
first page OF the issue OF The Tribune. Let
hope that there may be many more races for the
ugly old trophy, and that in future disputes yacht
Ing authorities from Schenectady elsewhere
may not be too ready condemn their country
men for Lnfairness without at least fairly thor
ough knowledge of the facts and conditions
New-York, Sept. q. 1895 DOWN EAST.