The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-10-03
THE HISTORY Of TIE CUP.
A TROPHY BRAVELY WON AMI
DEFENDED.
Has Become a Classic Contest Enlisting
The Zeal and Sportsmanlike Senti-
ments of Both Britain and America

1t is a far cry from the modern ninety
foot racing yacht of today designed
with mathematical accuracy and plan
ming, where steel and bronze have re-
placed heart of oak and pine spar, to
the Maria of 1874; the first yacht built
by the New York Yacht Club, then
organized with nine members.
Yet all along the line of American
racers from the America to the Con-
stitution there have been points of re-
semblance not usually appreciated by
the public. The Maria 110 feet over
all with beam of 26 feet s inches car
ried outside lead and a hollow boom.
She drew six inches under her forefoot
and five feet three inches aft but her
centerbOard made her draft twenty feet.
AS a fiier, she was a wonder. She
logged seventeen nautical miles in an
hour although she was fast in smooth
water only and was not good sea boat.
Experts of the day did not consider her
an ideal craft, but pinned their faith
to the American pilot boat, the stanch-
est, speediest craft of her size in the
world.
Such boat was the America that in
the memorable race around the Isle of
Wight on August %. 1851 brought back
from England the inartistic but highly
priced America cup. The English still
maintain that the triumph was not con-
elusive, their best boat the Arrow hav
ing run aground.
In those days the American spread
of sails was considerably less than that
favored by her transatlantic rivals, but
the canvas was trimmed as fiat as "a
board and revolutionized sail making in
England until today the Shamrock ii
sails across seas and displays racing
sails that experts declare fit as snugly
and well as that of the home boat
The Americas usefulness, unlike the
modern racing machine was not out
lived with the race. During the civil
war she ran the blockade under the
name of the Memphis, was sunk in St
Johns river, Florida, raised and con-
fiscated by the Government, and con-
verted into a training vessel for naval
cadets. In fairness it should be stated
that while in British hands she was
sailed against and defeated by other
Lnglish yachts.
The cup was not thought of again un-
til 1870 when, encouraged by the beating
received by the American yacht Sap
pho in England, the Cambria was sent
to regain the trophy. Yielding to popu-
lar sentiment the government reftted
the America with navy rigging that
would have served for a whaling voyage
and the hopes of the English sportsmen
were again destined to be lowered.
On December 10. 1869, for a stake of
ninety thousand dollars blow high, blow
low sail or pay James Gordon Bennett S
yacht Henrietta raced across the Allan
| tic against the Vesta and the Fleetwing
from Sandy Hook to the Needles win
ming in thirteen days, twenty one hours
| and fifty-fiVe minutes. Raced every
| inch of the way, with sturdy spars and
| swelling canvas, when modern chal-
lengers cross under jury rig and the
| convoy of a steam yacht. This or course
was not cup event however
In 1870 on August s, eighteen vessels
started in the cup race and the Cambria
was beaten by nine American yachts.
The next year Mr.. Ashbury returned TO
the fray with the Livonia and was beat
en- in four races out of five. In 1876 the
! Canadian boat the Countess of Dutterln
and in 1881 the Atalanta, hailing from
the same shores were hopelessly whip
ped.
In 1881 the cutter type of boat entered
the field to be changed again when the
Defender caused the abandonment OF
the center board until then the very
pith and marrow of American yacht
designing.
In 'S5 came a close call for the return
of the cup to British soil. The defender
the Puritan beat the challenger Genes
ta by the narrow margin OF a minute
and half in a twenty mile run TO lee
ward and return. EhpSllS 5CtCt 90 -
advance the theory that had William
Sutton brought over the Genesta in o.
he very likely would have been success
full. AS it was he came nearer TO th'
cherished cup than any other challenge
Next year the Galatea, designed by
Beavor- Webb, who also designed th'
Genesta, proved a failure, while TN
American Mayfower built by Burgess
PROVED far faster than his first Puritan
and easily defeated the English yach'
Then George l.. Watson designed tn
first British racing machine. For IN
first time a naval architect built boa
for the express purpose OF winning i
certain water and certain probable con
ditions.
The result was the Thistle now Gale
the Meteor and owned by the Empero
of Germany. She was built on tn
Clyde in 'S7 for James Bell of the Roya
CLYDE Yacht Club. She measured
fraction under ninety feet and possess
ed a radical departure in beam G
over twenty feet
Burgess was called upon once NOR
1 and responded with the Volunteer, pei
J haps the fastest boat that ever went
windward. The straight stem. wa
J done away with in favor OF the cllpp'