The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-16
AN OCEAN YACHT RACE.

he dCCluenlS winch nave Defallen the
vessels which are to compete in the forth
coming international yacht race has call
ed into existence a very general convic-
ton that in the effort to facilitate speed
the sea-going quality has been lost sight
Of in such contests.
Whatever substance there may be in
this view of the principles of naval con-
struction represented in the creation of
the vessels chosen to contest for the In
ternational prize, it goes without saying
that such contests have no significance
whatever except as toy races, unless the
vessels engaged are capable of living out
any gale in which an ordinary vessel can
be expected to survive.
The G o come weeks ago suggested
that in order to effectively test the real
merits of the competing yachts an ocean
voyage would be an excellent thing. No
mere drifting match such as the last
contest was in great measure has any
true significance in determining the rela-
tive merits of British and American sea-
manship.
Sir Thomas Upton has signified his de-
sire that no matter what the outcome Of
the coming races in American waters
may be between his and the Anne lean
yacht, there should be an ocean race be-
tween them
This is thoroughly sportsmanlilze sug-
gestion It-is a challenge which the mass
of the American people, believing in the
superior qualities OF the American ship
and the American seaman, would like
very much to see accepted.
The contests represented by the in
ternational cup have no meaning if they
are not designed to test the question of
the superiority of American and British
standards. 1t has been an American
boast for century and boast, too,
which has the amplest historical ground
work to rest upon, that in competition
with the Yankee seaman and the Yankee
craft neither Britain nor amy other ma
ton rules the wave. Can we make the
boast good at the opening of the twen-
tieuh century as we appear to have done
through the international yacht contests
year after year for a quarter of a CEN
fury, and as we succeeded in doing
through the Yankee clipper ship for over
fifty years before2
The result of no mere toy boat con-
test viii answer this question. Let US
have transatlantic contests by all
means. The gentlemen of the New Yorl,
club are no more qualified to stand for
American seamanship than are the ath-
letes of Yale and Harvard to represent
the physical prowess of American man
hood. Week after week we have con-
tests take place between the leading
Steamships as to speed and sea-worthi-
ness. They are decided on the waters of
the Atlantic ocean. Fifty years aro cor
responding struggles were fought out bv
American merchantmen running around
the horn. The public have had Quit.
enough Of the contests around a lig,htshtD
outside Sandy Hook. Sir Thomas Lipton's
challenge should be accepted. Should
the gentlemen of the New York Yacht
club for any reason which they deem
sufficient. decline the implied Challenge
OF Sir Ihomas Upton, it is sincerely to be
hoped that the owners of the Indepen-
dence or Of some other American yacht.
VIII offer to carry the American flag sue
cessfully through such contest with the
British boat and that the offer may be
accepted by the owner of -.lamrock II.