New-York tribune., 1901-07-15
CUP YACHT RACING.
THE FIELD REGRETS THAT 1T is MADE So
MUCH A NATTER OF NATIONAL
SENTIMENT.

The London Field in its current issue makes
some interesting remarks regarding the influence
and tendency OF cup yscht racing as al pTsse''
conducted. The Field says. after resrettins tnaI
the races are made so much matter OF national
sentiment:
In the races between valkyrie II and Valkyrie
III owned by the Earl Of Dunraven. and the cut,
fers VigiIant and Defender in the years ls9s anc
fsS5 me so-caIled Datrotic broilings the CUP
were greatly Increased in the United States. and
interest taken in lie Americas cup has been of the
kind which governs the feelings OF the y4isaT mo
sportsmen. British yachtsmen have watched tnis
The have seen the time honored interests of the
sport thrust TO one side and me nont't % mas az
duction OF Irrelevant issues and spurious senti-
ments First of all We have the bare idSs os
conditions The measuremeni RUE by WI wnicG YhT chs
club and it is according 10 modern ideas. most
unsatisfactory formula because II mas tendeney f @
The original battle the types. English and Amer
todsv The contest is merely Watson against Heres
hor governed by a rating rule under which neither
,I that Scientists see in the Americas Cup but
there are other drawbacks which are ~ appareho @ 20
OF the old established nome regattss have been
sacrhSed 10 the pcai races for these yachts
having been organized in the middle OF the prlci-
pc; such innovations are strongly to be condemned
and il is equally important y yaf h en TIe 10 = ap ~
attempt of interference on the part OF ignorant lay
millionaire having no knowledge OF horseaeSh. &
uere 10 attempt 10 dictate to the stewards OF the
Jockey Club his views upon the rules OF racing. racing,
How ridiculous indeed. would IL appear "a Sifnllar
persen never having handled bat in MS NE We're
~ claim a right discuss with the committee OF
the Metropolitan Cricket Club the laws OF cricket;
i+nfort,natelv the public and the press nave an
svtremelv limited knowledge of yachting. ana nish
sSuriinv sentiments and statements. however
rSSicuiols are always readily reiterated by the
daiiI journals when they relate to the capabilities
oS G,,1 cballengers or defenders. To-day we hear
~ = transatlantic race between International cut
-. to-morrow some equally fatuftous statement
viii he afoot promulgated presumably with no
rtber object than TO bring notoriety 10 Its autEcr
Snrh fa1cies are particularly painful 10 YACHTING
men and We think that II the facts were more
tyIdeIv understood they would be equally nauSeous
The Vessels built for the Americas cup, aoout
,htnb 90 mich has heen said fine weather
,nachines OF the most exaggerated type, haVlnS no
smgrestion that they could with safety cross tne me
Atlantic in bad weather or racing canvas u ,hn a
empty boast The per who have SUI sung IN, sne
nraises n, these yachts % udly before the eNent
are not only lacking in kT1Wiedge OF tns @ -,
cal s;de of the subject which they would nave %
oconire before their opinions could carry wsisnt
~ tbav do not possess the elementary uua
tions OF practical yachtsren 1t IS undenit ne sae
he International trophy had tenehcia, luIuenCe.
on vacht racing in bygone years but at the preSet
ttme the Americas Cup is doing more hai imam
nd a Yachting.