The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-15
THE AMERICAS CUP,
What Defense Has Cost-The Way
the Amount Has Grown Since the
Days of the Puritan.

Inc Defender 1S5. 600
Inc Gambia $50, 900
The Constitution -.............. 800, 600
The Reliance $50, 600
In counting up the cost of defending
the Americas Cup in these days of
ninety-footers, big crews and big tend
ers, the sum reaches almost startling
figures. says The New York Herald's
yachting expert. Not SO in the years
previous to the challenge of the Valky-
RE II, as the boats of that period were
inexpensive in comparison with the cup
yachts OF the present, while the a
of crews n the New York yacht clubs
outlay in arranging for the matches
and sailing the races did not amount to
a large sum.
With the coming of the Shamrock I.
and the appearance of Sir Thomas Lip
ton as TO challenger the figures inciden-
tai to the further protection of the Die
trophy increased a~larmingly, and they
have still been soaring until the match
now on hand. A glimpse of the estima-
ted cost of defending the cup from the
days of the Puritan and Genesta may
be interesting at this juncture.
When Sir Richard Sutton, in 1885. n
the Genesta here in the attempt to win
the cup, Boston yachtmen were promi-
nent in its defense. The sloop Puritan,
built by members of the Eatern Yacht
club, of which J. Malcolmn Forbes was
the leading spirit, met and defeated the
Genesta. The cost of building and run
ming the Puritan was not more than
$50, 900. Two races were sailed, one over
the New York Yacht club purse and
the other over a course twenty miles to
leeWard off Sandy Hook lightship and
return. The New York Yacht clubs
p were about $1,000.
ONLY TWO RACES.
Lieutenant Hem, r. n, was the next
challenger, with his cutter Galatea, and
the MayfioWer, owned by General c. J.
Paine, was the successful defender. 1t
required only two races to settle this in
ternational controversy. The Mayhow-
er cost to build and run that year QSS6)
not more than $4,000. The clubs eX-
penSeS were less than 1000.
With the construction of the Volun-
teer, in 1887, to meet the Thistle the eX-
penses incident to bringing the Defend
ing boat to the line in proper condition
reached $50, 900. The clubs bills also in
creased and nay have to So
900.
From that time OF it required a great
deal more money to build suitable boats
for the defense of the cup, and the eX-
penSe of manning and running them in
creased proportionately.
For instance, the challengers cited
from Puritan's year to that of the Vol
unteer cost owners and club, as estimat-
ed, about $4,000, an average of much
less than $50, 900 a match.
The syndicate that built the Vigilant,
in 1898, a the footing Of a bill that
was so much larger than the cost of
either defender noted it was marked.
The construction of the Vigilant began
the era of expensive boats to defend the
! cup. Mr.. C. Oliver Iselin paid on behalf
Of the Vigilant syndicate, after she had
disposed Of the p~retensions of the Val
kyrie II, a trifie over 1925, 600. When
the Vigilant was sold to Messrs. George
J. and Howard Gould h brought s25,-
900. That left the cost of the boa 500, :
600, and the sun was divided among
the New York Yacht club members who
ordered her.
In the year of the Vigilant the $780,
900 which the bronze boat cost does not
represent the amount the challenge of
the Valkyrie II. caused to be expended
by members Of the club. AS a trial can
didate General Paine built the Jubilee,
the Rogers-Morgan syndicate the Colo
mia and the Adams-Palmer syndicate
the Pilgrim. These footed up nearly
$3.50, 900.
In meeting the Valkyrie IL, in 1895,
the Defender cost w. K. Vanderbilt.
who built her for the club, something
like $185,O00. The Vigilant, then owned
solely by George j. Gould, was the trial
l hnat fnr tho DoforIar op1 tho ovnoncac
incident to bringing her back from Eu-
ropean waters for the purpose and re-
fitting here approached $40, 600. The
Defender brought $4,000 when she was
sold to be broken up for junk.
In speaking with Mr.. Vanderbiltis
secretary regarding the cost of the De-
fender during the zee following her
construction, he said: Yes, she cost
a great deal of money. Much as a fri
gate"
With the coming of the first Sham
rock everything went booming toward
high water mark in the amount of the
cost of further defending the cup. J
Pierpont Morgan built the Columbia tc
meet Sir Thomas Lipton's boat. Ir
building, in manning and in her run,
ming expenses she footed up something
like $260,000. In addition, Mr.. Morgan
also met the cost of reftting and run.
ming the Defender as a trial boat fol
the Columbia, and that added $50, 900 t.
the sum.
That year the. clubs expenses were
greatly added to. AS both the challen'
ger and the defender were fitted witt
steel booms, and as a tn
compasses on board could not be de
pended upon, a guide boat had TO b.
added to the ace equipment, and Will
it a general utility boat. The club!
expenses amounted to 5000 or more.
The second challenge of Sir Thomas
in 1901, caused the construction of tn
Constitution and the refitting of tn
Columbia as a trial o The Constitu
ton cost to build and run nearly $500,
900. Crews Increased In number Will
the all around bigger ships and sal
spread, and then the cost Of charterin
and maintaining tenders added materi