New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-20
NEWS IN YACHTING CIRCLES.
THE RUMoRs ABOUT INTERNATIONAL
CHALLENGES.
PRIVILEGES OF YACHTS BUILT ABROAD FOR
AMER1cANs-vARIoUs NOTES FROM THE

PRIVILEGES OF YACHTS BUILT AbHOAD FOi'
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. NOTES FROM THE
CLUBS AND sHIPYARDs.
There have been so many rumors Of late about
yachts being built in England for the purpose Oh
competing for the Americas Cup that the last re-
mort which has came from London, created
scarcely a ripple In yachting circles the report
was to the effect that two challenges are afoot
and that neither challenge relates to the
Meteor the new yacht being built for the Ger
man Emperor Members of the New-York Yacht
Club have no official knowledge OF the matter ana
are borrowing little trouble on account OF the re-
port These rumors to a possible challenge when
have sprung up about once week TOT se'eiH,
months said a member Of the club. nave amouh'eo'
to nothing 1t is true. but they show, just the same
that there are thoughts that way In England. ana
that the expulsion Of Dunraven did not finish inter-
ma tonal yachting forever and a day" II was saa
also the fact that Englishmen still look to"ard
the Americas Cup with longing eyes, ana snow no
disposition give up the fight for It's possessiQn 10
due largely to the influence of the Prince Of Wales
II he had asked to have his name taken from the
friend Dunraven was expelled he would have given given
interna onal yachting blow from when II would
ing member and tacity indorslng the club he en-
courages his countrymen to go anead ana t'y asai"
American yachtsmen are deeply interested In the
bill introduced in Congress by Serene II. Payne The
meesu is intended to amend existing law as to
privileges extended TO foreign guests. by which
yachts belonging any foreign nation may use the
United states ports without entering or clearing al
the Custom House This privilege is ACCORDED yach's
belonging to foreign countries where similar adVan
tages are granted to American yachts MI. fayhe >
bill contains this clause:
Yachts built outside OF the country and owned
chartered or used by citizens OF the United States
This Is a direct slap at those Americans who have
their yachts built abroad, and as there are many
OF that class the interest in the bill becomes great
Among the members OF the Newfork Yacht Ciub
who own yachts which are built abroad are W. IL
Vanderbilt F W. Vanderbilt, L ID. Morgan. AMI
l.. Barber A. j. Cassatt f. n. Dckerson Mrs
John r. Fell. Perry Belmont. John Taylor LORD
T.. G.. D'Hautevile and 4. V. Armour Besides the
vessels owned by the foregoing. there are now being
built on the Clyde, from designs BY G. L. Watson,
magnificent yachts for A. J. Drexel. Robert Goelet
ogden Goelet and Eugene Higgins. member OF the
New-York Yacht Club was recently quoted as say
Ing on this subject: There is doubt that the
American owners of forelgn-built yachts have en-
joyed unfair privileges under our law as 1t stands
that It was never intended to convey An American
nj present cannot bring foreign merchant snip
under our flag unless she has been wrecked and
Of her value. or unless he obtains special legislation
to register her but yachtsman may buy foreign
American nag without paying duty upon her or OBJ
taInng any SPECIAL LEGISLATION, He Is ,, not Ssaiy
but there is no way 10 prevent him Tnat Is why
the Sylvia Valiant and the rest fly the american ienc
flag. though they no more entitled 10 than d
Cunard steamer"
The Entertainment Committee OF the Seawanhaka
Corinthian Yacht Club. consisting OF Clarence
Goodby Stanley w Dexter and Edward VI. Town
send jr. have issued invitations FOR mess dinner.
which Will be given at the Arena. No g West
william p. Stephens Will give an Informal talk on
half-raters.
The most important business transacted at the
meeting OF the Hudson River Yacht Club last week
was tho changing OF the form OF the clubs flag.
until now Il has been the o1-style hshtaiL Ihls
has been changed TO the popular triangular
The Larchmont Yacht Club will open its house on
Decoration Day BY that time the additions and
improvements TO the house which have been spoken
OF In these columns will be completed The club
Portable buildings OF the kind Anywhere and will be
a popular place during the seNson
A. j. Drexel arrived from Europe last week on
the Teutonic but will not remain in this country
long He Is reported having said that he would
return 10 England shortly and come back here with
a party Of friends on his new yacht. the Margarita
which IL in course OF construction on the clyde
When the pilots abandon their sailing craft and
take to the steam pilot-boats there VIII be some
good vessels. suitable for pleasure sailing on the
market + Marion Crawford made use OF the
opportunity and bought the Ezra Nye. The boat is
a schooner and was used in the Sandy Hook pilo.
service When she has been thoroughly overhauei
II is said that she viii be sent abroad early in the
season. and viii go directly TO the Mediterranean
where Mr.. Crawford has a home.
Tho piIot-boats which the New-York pilots are
said to have decided upon for use in place OF the
sailing vessels are to be i feet long 9Ssr all
There is much activity In the various American
shlpyards At Eilzabethport. F. A. b. Widener s
steam yacht Josephine is rapidly approaching conf
pletion. At Port Jefferaon, Commodore Edward VI.
Browns Sylvia Is being overhaued at the same
yard with Vice-Commodore +. T. Adams's sachem.
Mss f. L. Breeze hopes TO put her steam yacht
Elsa In commission next month. and + having her
be comma nded by Captain W; F. cronk; James II.
Brcslin's stella and j. F. Ackermans Gavota are
also In Port jefferson yards
Wherever there Is man who Is Interested in
American yachting there Will be deep regret over
the death OF the veteran yacht-buider. James Rich
Steers who helped 10 design. build and sail to
victory the famous America, and brought the cup
from England which the original owners have
been unable TO recapture. he was eighty-e;gnt
years old when he died. but his interest In the last
International contest was as keen that Of men
who were halfcentury his Juniors.
H. Maitland Kersey was n passenger on the
Cunarder Campania. which arrived Saturday. He
was an interested spectator during the regatta on
the Mediterranean and sailed the Asa and on
the Britannia Mr. Kersey said that the Ailsa had
been much improved being as good to-day as she
was two years ago. and much better than last
year. The Satan,ta has also been improved. and
he thinks her the best Of the three boats. He was
a passenger on the Prince OF Wales's Britannia
when she met with the accident by which part or
the copper heathng was ripped off her Keel; Al,
from III. NJ. >. CamDrlan Hlaue all
Efforts 20 repair her she could not be made to act
well after that Mr.. Kersey saw Mr. Rose, VINO
challenger and he saw most OF the English yachts
men but heard nothing about challenge. AS TO
for sale II she was not sold already. but that Lord
Dunraven had said nothing to him on that suDject'
When asked how Dunraven took the sentence I'm,
noscJ on him Mr.. Kersey asked TO be excused. ana
said that II not proper matter TOT u'scusso''