New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-17
TIE DEFENDER LIKELY TO STAY HERE.
DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY OF HER RACING
ABROAD.

ABROAD.
The rumor about the Defenders racing again has
been received with its usual grain Of salt. This
rumor is expected to go the rounds periodi-
cally. number Of yachtsmen have been consulted
about the report concerning the Defenders being
raced in the Mediterranean the coming winter
and almost every has seemed hold different
for believing that the Defender would
stay at home. One member Of prominent racing
club seemed to have given the matter a good deal
of thought. II a long conversation can be boiled
down to the required space without losing the APP
pearance OF care with which he guarded some OF
his statements. the points he took up were as
follows:
The proba bes in this matter can be pretty
well settled by sizing up the advantages to be
gained by tho trip. If the advantages are not
worth the candle. It is safe to suppose that the
boat won't start Now. what would the Defender
have to against? She would probably meet
the Bona small boat that takes a perfectly
killing time allowance. and which in somo winds
would have a good chance OF finishing within the
limits OF her big gift. She has done so with the
Meteor. and may easily do 80 again under similar
conditions Such race no matter how Il ends.
IS absolutely valueless.
THE boat Aurora would also take time
allowance. She Is practically unknown. with
no record behind her. and Is disappointment 10
her owner. The bad licking che would probably
receive could be of possible interest 10 any one.
IF the Defender should go 10 the Mediterranean
It could be expected that the influence Of the
Prince OF Wales. matter how remote and I'M
traceable. had been making Itself felt. The prone
ness toward Cancellation which the Prince has for
many years exhibited Is to be considered. His re-
cent meetings with w. X. Vanderbilt and his pro-
posed standing as godfather TO Mr. Nanderbilts
grandchd must also be regarded. The presence
OF the old Britannia could. therefore. be counted
on and the Ailsa would certainly come out II the
Princes boat appeared. When. last season, the
Britannia remained OFT Of commission rather than
sail against the Emperors Meteor. the Ailsa did the
same The A!sa Will follow suit every time.
but fail to see what interest Mr.. Vanderbilt or
any one else could have In beating these two old
timers with the Defender.
THE truth Is that there are only two boate In the
world for the Defender TO race with. For the rest
no one cares a brass farthing The Valkyr!e III
and the Meteor are foes worthy OF STEEL
mean aluminum-boat But TO expect the Ger
man Emperor to race his yacht against tho De-
fender is to fly in the face OF all the facts Will
lam does not play In the backyard OF any family
that has the caricature habit. Judge and other
comic publications hit him where he lived-in his
divine right of kings-and since then when he has
hung up prizes for competition American boats
were rigidly excluded. This wars the case with
the Meteor Challenge Shield and in the recent
race from Dover to Hegoland. When Mr.. Gould
was at Cowes with the Vigilant and dined with the
Prince Of Wales ard the Duke OF York the German
Emperor was quite Obvious of his presence. His
yacht Of that time, the former Meteor previously
called the Thistle. Of sacred memory in Amerca).
was running alongside the competing boats to see
how near shs could keep TO them. but she was
not entered In any Of the races. and her owner
showed his resentments in evidently intentional
way--not against Mr.. Gould personally, OF course.
but simply to make America feel bad though the
occurrence never reported in this country and
the United States lived on. unconscious OF having
received any shock
tn ebnu, hat ba1o IN
wafnes that the Defender and the Meteor don't
meet And the chance Of her meeting the yalkyre
uenGeS ns4. by vague
his c s vanity may get anothf twist toward
pleasantness. but Dunrayens expulsion from the
vented any boat Of his from competing with
craft representing the same club; That's fiat.
And IL any one doubted The fact. which no club
man would, the sentiments Of the valkyrie.s owner
altogether unbeatable way or course. Mr.. Van
derbilt may. for all know belong to other clubs.
yacht clubs but 1t IL quite certain that II the
YscS CUB nj there viii be- race
between her and the Valkyris SO long as Dunraven
nos SUGGESTING as for moment that Dnnraven ex
pulsion was wrong or even to be depiored am
What, then. would the Defender go TO meet
Aa o the S is %
be held in view. namely. that Dunraven Is still
Yacht Racing Association Of England; This means
that in the estimation Of the united yacht clubs
Of England. tho merits or dement's OF his po-
a row OF pins They back him. right or wrong.
and the action that the other English yachts might
take when the Defender arrived. II under the same
burgee, is not yet known.
Again Is IL certain that the Defenders hull is
In a condition 10 make the ocean passage? For
several years rumor has stated with a good deal
of positiveness, and the published matter the.
subject has never been denied, that the Defenders
Go BE- Or %
water upon her thin aluminium plating during the
years she has remained ahoat and inactive near
New Rochelle Is not known Aluminium Is
parativey new metal. and was. when the Defender
was built entirely new In the yacht-builders
hands. Its tensile strength Is reasonably ques
toned. owing partly to the fact that the alumni
nun cleats and other pieces used In the rigging
of the Defender when she first appeared pulled
out and Immediately showed such q dangerous un-
trustworthiness under strain that every Of
them was removed and replaced with satisfactory
metal"