The record-union., 1899-10-04
THE YACHT RACE AND INTEREST
IN YACHTING.

OCe@lC14 III l14lS 4ClCSl COAAICSNt AA~N @@N0
been laughed and worried out of our
center board style of yacht by the Eng
lish, and driven into carrying a fixed
deep keel that is simply a drag when
before the wind. However, we may
hope that the Columbia in the subse-
quent races of the series will win. But
we may as well be prepared for de-
feat, which fear in case of victory will
but enhance our triumph.
The fascination of yachting ano
yacht racing does not appear to be
confined to the owners and sailors OF
yachts. There is a vast number who
do not own, never sail and seldom see
yachts who evidently are deeply In
terested in the sport. One Of the most
enthusiastic of all these interested out
siders is friend Of our acquaintance
who never laid eyes upon high-class
racing yacht. and never rode upon a
sailingvessel of any kind. Yet that man
is a reader Of all yachting news Of the
racing order. and is really better in
formed concerning the rival yachts now
in New York harbor than the most OF
people who live along the edge of salt
water and see sailing races weekly.
We can understand readily why
those who engage in yachting are so
devoted to it. The exhileration for one
- ~ ff
beneath the feet gives to the nerves
for another; the sense Of mastership
over an insensate thing which man s
appliance has all but invested with
life; the skill in management; the dash
aside Of the water by the speeding
boat: the noble swell of the sail: the
spirit Of contest with nature, and Of
contention with g. rival yachtsman--
all these things combine to make the
yacht lover a devotee of the sport.
But why should those who can feel
none Of these things. are inspired nei-
ther by contact with deck or tide,
take such interest as was yesterday
manifest throughout the Union over
the international yacht race? An
American horse going against an Eng
lish thoroughbred would not awaken
any such spirit as was yesterday made
evident to whoever walked the streets.
An American locomotive speeding
against one of English make would not
awaken more than passing interest.
The only rivalry that would possibly
stir up a deeper interest and more gen.
eral concern would be prize-fight be-
tween American and English cham
pions Of the ring.
We are persuaded, however, that the
yacht race kindles the desire for tri-
unph among q larger number of the
more refined order of people, since
there is nothing in such contention to
offend the sensibilities or run counter
to sentiment that is opposed to fisti-
cuff encounters. It must be confessed,
however, that even IN the international
prize-hghts there is an interest made
manifest that reaches into circles
where prize-flghting is condemned in
unmeasured terms. and denounced as
brutal and unworthy the thought Of
any refined mind.
We must resolve the question, why
Is there such general interest IN the
yacht race even among those who
know least OF yachting by two re-
sponses. First and foremost. the in
terest that is most general and largest
in manifest volume relates only to in
ternationa1 yacht contests. We take
concern about such because the spirit
Of victory for anything American rises
triumphant within US. We can no
more withstand it than we can any
other generous impulse of honest pride
We wish our side TO win-and that is
the length and the breadth Of it.
AS to those who love yachting and
concern themselves so much in yacht
ing news. but never take part in the
sport, it is to be said that their in
terest simply represents unsatisfied de-
sire, q natural and commendable de-
sire. Unable themselves to engage in
yachting, they may at least indulge
fancy, and take such comfort in that
direction as is possible They long for
the exhileration of the free sheet and
the bounding keel, the dash into the
waters and the breasting of the waves.
the bellying sail that drags through
the flood the graceful hull. and all that;
but the best they can do is to read
of it all and felicitate themselves in
fancy.
It is much the same prompting that
makes the boy of the Western plains
the most industrious reader of salt sea
stories. though he never touched the
brine of ocean, nor saw merchantmen
nor a modern cruiser. But however all
this may be, certain it is that many
millions yesterday developed intense
interest in the contest between the
Columbia and the Shamrock. and thou
sands upon thousands keep abreast
with yachting news and manifest deer
concern in all manner of yachting
strife who themselves can never even
hope to make cruise outside in a