The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-23
Copyright. 1851

Copyright. 1851
No better news could possibly hay
been given to the yachtsmen OF Amer
ca than the announcement some week
ago that Sir Thomas j. Upton woul
positively challenge for the America
cup. 1t caused the blood OF every anna
teur sailor to pulsate more vigorousl
through his veins at the prospect of
revival Of the splendid series of interna
tional yacht races. After the compare
tive inactivity that has.been forced up
on yachtsmen. especially those who owl
large craft. fhis season, on account o
the war. nothing could have been sug
gcsted that would revive interest il
their fsvorite sport more than this.
The challenge did not come aitogethe,
as surprise, for 1t was rumored last
May that Sir Thomas was soon to issue
def for that wlll-o' -the-wisp OF Eng
lish yachtsmen. The fact that the noted
English merchant has challenged
favorably commented on. The def was
sent TO the New York Yacht club
through II. C. Kelly secretary OF the
Royal Ulster Yacht club. which has
been well known for years on account
of the splendid sport furnished by 1t
and the prominent names enrolled In
the membership list. The commodore,
tho Marquis OF Dufferln and Ava, has
been an honorary member of the New
York Yacht club for many years. The
last annual regatta of the Royal Ul-
Btcrs. sailed on July Is in Bangor bay,
included matches between the cutters
Ailsa and Bona. while the 52 footers
provided splendid sport. and there was
a great showing OF small craft. there
being present a Dublin contingent OF
25 foot load water line boats and three
classes of Belfast Lough boats.
Sir Thomas will challenge with q cut
ter which is to be called the Sham
rock. That II a particularly appropri-
ate name for yacht, especially for a
representative vessel from an Irish
club, but Ii is not new on either this or
the other side OF the water. Mr.. Max
wells schooner Shamrock, now owned
by Mr.. Willard p. Ward of the N. Y.
Y. c.. everybody In the yachting line
will remember. and her races have been
famous.
The boat which Sir Thomas will send
over next summer to try to take away
the Americas cup will, be essentially a
product OF Ireland. He has given an
order to William Fife, Jr., of the we'll
known yacht building firm OF Fairlie. on
the Clyde TO make the plans, and the |
boat itself will be built at Belfast by |
the world renowned Harlan & Wolff. |
Bne VIII be under lock and key during /
the period of construction. SO that no /
premature publication of her lines may |
come across the water. All the New |
York Yacht club requires to know is
her length on the water line, according
to the deed OF gift.
Sir Thomas Upton n reported 70
have said that he wanted no conditions
beyond those called for by the deed of
gift, and this sportsmanlike challenge
FOR fair open race is heartily praised.
especially because OF its contrast with
the Earl of Dunravcn's conduct. A re-
mark made by a well known sporting
man hits the nail on the head as re-
cards popular feeling in the matter.
He said:
Upton gave sf25.o0o to the Jubilee
fund and was knighted. If he wins the
Americas cup, he will get pcerage."
The fact that Watson is not to be the
designer OF the Forthcoming challenger
has occasioned good deal OF comment
among yachtsmen over here. William
Fife. Jr., has been even more success
'ul than George Watson as a designer
" small yachts-20 raters and 40 raters.
Many boats now in the water on this
''dc OF the Atlantic were planned by
,in,. One OF the most important VIC
orics on this side OF the ocean of a
Fife yacht was that of the Canada.
which few seasons ago won the in
ernational race on Lake Erie. Per-
laps the most famous large yacht ever
designed by Fife is the AiIsa. She In
wned In England at the present time
md was fairly successful during her
,rst two seasons. "
or the American boats designed by
no the best known and fastest are the
lara. 53 foot cutter. owned by ].
Toward Adams OF New York: Minerva. =
40 footsr. owned by Joseph Z. Fletch- I
= OF Providence. and Uvira, n q footer. | .
wned by Clifford v. Brokaw of New
'ork. Many, others are owned in New
orlS. Boston and Philadelphja. :
For more than 100 years the Fifes OF h
'oirlic have made the Clyde famous AZ y
nc cradle OF yacht building. None OF
no leading architects OF the present o
ny designs more beautiful boats than q
lose planned by Fife. Their lines are q
ERECTION. and they ride the waves like n
eritable living creatures. His little 81
Flows" have raced in and out for three o
Ears In the regattas around the Brit
n coasts with constant success. The d
ifcs fought against the weighted CEN 81
'rboard In the past. but were over 2,
iled, and some. OF the younger de- M
gncr's hest recent creations are built b,
the very principles he once COM n
tied. si