The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-06
COSTLY SPORT.
The Coming Yacht Races VIII Cost
Each Side About 100000.


New York Herald.
The rather startling statement was made
by Sir Thomas Upton four years ago that
the mere cost of the Shamrock L was be-
tween 100000 and $5OO.OOO while the ex
pense of bringing the vessel across the
ocean and that of her officers and crew
was extra That seems big lot to pay for
the vessel. but Sir Thomas should be the
best authority the subject of the cost
of the yacht.
If he expended sum approaching a half
million dollars four years ago for his chal-
longing yacht the money the present trip
is costing him must be far i'm excess of the
figures named. The Upton feet now here
is proof of that. 1t is easy TO believe that
the Shamrock III cost quite as much to
build the Shamrock l, and it is quite
sure the bringing over of three crews, those
of the Shamrocks and of the tender Cruizer
must stand him a bigger amount than the
single crew of four years ago and the addi-
tiOnal assistance ne obtained in this coun-
try.
lenSers outlay the first attempt he made
upon the Americas cup, II can safely DC
estimate that something in the neighbor-
bills at home and here incidental 10 his
third trial to win the old trophy.
With the amount that 1t costs the de-
Tending side, however, the interest Is more
widespread. By the time the yachts are
called ito sail the first race for the cup
the Reliance, selected TO defend 1t, will
have cost one way and another $435, 900
or more That is a staggering amount to
contemplate, but when everything Is cleared
up at the end of the season 1t may be
$4,000.
In addition to this sum, there must DE
considered that the placing in commission
of the Constitution her running expenses
reached from $4,000 10 $4,000, while the
Columbia has cost Mr.. j. Pierpont Morgan
S45 GOO or possibly S55, 00e. These figures will,
therefore, show that the defense OF the
cup this year will approach the the VERY very re-
spectacle amount OF $595,OOO or S6Oo,ooO.
No one concerned will find fault if at the
end matters are all right and. indeed there
will be grumbling if they are not quite
satisfactory.
The building and rigging of the Reliance
cost q fortune. The yachts construction
required the best of workmen, while all the
standing and running rigging was express
tention of large body of sailmakers for
months The Reliance has possibly 100 diff
ferent sails, and $4,000 or so will represent
the cost of a suit. In this particular the
Constitution and the Columbia have not
been so expensive
The tenders Park City and Satellite are
said to have been purchased by Mr.. e. D.
Morgan and Mr.. August Belmont respective
ly, but they are valuable assets, and need
not De seriously considered In this financial
summary. The tender Sunbeam is char
tered. and there can be no return from her,
but Sir Thomas'S tender CruiZer Will be
valuable after the match.
With a crew of about fifty-fve on the Re-
lance and a crew on the tender Sunbeam
there are many men to be looked after
daily. The yachts sailors are paid big
wages-$35 month or mOre-and there is
scale of prize money arranged by Mr.
Iseln so liberal that Reliance man, if he
is saving will end the season with tidy
amount to his credit.
Racing crews cost prodlglously to feed
as they are men in the best or health, while
their work naturally gives them excellent
appetites. There are quite as many stew
ards and cooks on the Sunbeam looking
after the welfare of Mr.. Iselin and his as
Reliance aud their own snip as are found In
a good sized city hotel.
All changes in the yachts fittings, all al
teratiOnS or repairs TO rigging and sparS
are paid for extra, while the docking bills
are very large.
The Si5O,O00 or more that the Reliance will
cost must not be included in any way with
the n. Y. Y. C.s expenditures in arranging
for the races. The nine men who own the
defender will bear the burden or that YES
sells expenses, but the syndicate does not
meet the personal Dllls or MI. lseln, the
managing owner
Ii may cost the club $4,000 or more to see
that the match is properly sailed and the
challenging vessel receives all that is due
her. while the amount incidentally ex-
pended by the public that 1t may witness
the races need not now be thought of.
1T is said that when Mr.. George l.. Yat-
son was approached by the syndicate that
built the Thistle about designing a cup
] challenger he not only consented, but in
sisted on designing the boat experimenting
her construction and seeing her through her
trials and the cup races all for nothing
all for the pure love of the pastime so
dear to him.
And it may interest those who have been
specializing upon the amounts which the
defense of the cup entails upon American
yachtsman, and possibly upon the burden
which Sir Thomas Upton is carrying that
the Thistle was produced complete for
about $4,000.
Since the Thistle days many things in
Yachting have been changed, but none of
the changes have been more marked than
that of the cost of producing racing yacht
suitable for challenging or defending the
Americas cup