The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-10-14

land before winning tho coveted cup
/ Of course 30 mny b.. argued that n
/ tHose dHsf ,uohts were buut much more
.uuDh tbHn tbcy are now. they were
more sra boau than mere racing craft
and that the old schooner America could
not compete now with either the dpfou-
der or tho challenger Those who argue
on thIs llne maintain that the boat
which has to cross the ocean now. De- nt
co certain disadvantage. but the recent
races make this argument doubtful in
spite of the disadvantage or supposed
disadvantage of having To- be So built
that the yacht could cross the ocean, the
shamrock showed qualities which made
her practically the equal of the column
bia. as far as the sailing qualities and
the build of the yachts were concerned.
There is however an element which
cannot be eliminated, and that Is the
practice and experience Of the crews
and the captains in the particular wa
tiers over which they have TO sail. To
the American captains and crews every
flaw of the wind, every turn OF the cur
rent is as well known as the bottom
Of the sea was to an old Nantuckt skip
4 per who could tell where his vessel was
/ by tasting the sludge at the bottom Of
/ the lead. which legend AYERS used TO be
brought down 10 his bunk, from which
| comfortable place Of repose the worthy
men used TO conduct their navigation.
! To the British captain and crew the
navigation is not 50 well known. Their
knowledge is theoretical in a great mea-
sure, and can only become thoroughly
practical after much experience.
Arguing on this theory two solutions
are offered. one is TO exchange captains
and crews and have another set Of
races. This has been proposed in the
present case, but it is not likely to be
carried out. The other is for Sir Tho
mas Upton 10 leave the Shamrock on
/ this side Of the Atlantic, and challenge
! for the next year. As soon as the yacht
ing season commenced, his captain and
crew might be daily exercised IN some
other yacht till they become thoroughly
of weather and under all circumstances.
This would not be enormously costly,
and would be quite within Sir LiptOn's
means, in spite Of the heavy expense he
has been put TO in the Two previous
races. But it Is very evident that this
course, though an eminetly wise and
satisfactory one, viii not be followed.
Sir Thomas Upton will build no more
Shamrocks, ana the cup may be regard
ed as safe on theis side of the water for
some years TO come, If it IS ever again
contested for.
The international yacht race has,
however, as many international events,
when carried out on true sportsman
like style, served to bring out good
qualities and good fellow feeling among
the main participants and all thorough
spOrtsmen. The only people who have
hard feelings are those who have
wagered large sums of money on the
result and have lost. If the element of
betting could be eliminated from sport,
the complete cleanliness OF sport could
be established. Instead Of praising one
or another sportsman for his modesty
In victory and his good feeling in defeat
such qualities would be the "slne qua
non" Of all competitors, and the true
halcyon days Of sport would have COM
menced. But whether we shall ever
reach ideal sport or not, the interna-
tional yacht races have been a lesson
that will sink into the minds and con-
sciences Of many minor sportsmen.