The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1903-08-12
YACHT RACING EXPENSE
What II Costs to Defend the
Americas Cup.
THOUSANDS IN THE AGGREGATE.

when the International Races Are
sailed the Reliance VIII Represent
About $3.50, O0O-COnstitutiOn and
Columbia, the Trial Yachts, stand
For S12O.OOO-DeTense of the Cur
May Cost 100000.
Occasional inquiries are made by
thoughtful citizens regarding the cost
of challenging and defending the
Americas cup. but the answers receiv-
ed are always unsatisfactory, says the
New York Herald. The conclusion Is
that the expense must be enormous.
but as it is impossible to obtain any
thing like accurate figures the subject
is generally dropped.
ON the eve Of the international match
OF this year ii iasy We interesting to
refer to his 3mporiHIit point and at
the same tiIla 10 p;HGa the public In
possession OF & few facts that will give
them a good Vzs;a Of the amounts OF
money t2gat are expended in trying to
capture the old yachting trophy and
in the efforts made by the New York
Yacht club to defend it.
The planning and building of a cup
challenger or defender involve much
time and labor and necessarily the out
fay of large sums of money. The de-
signer and his corps Of assistants are
the first that must be met. Mr.. Fife,
for the challenging parties. and Cap
tain Nat Herreshoff, for the defend
ants. for instance, are men who place
a high value upon their services, and,
as the owners of the yachts are liberal
to a marked degree, opening negotla-
kions with view to the building OF
cup yacht means a fee that in some
other profession would be looked upon
as staggering in its proportions.
With the designer at work the build
ers In time are consulted, and with ar
rangements satisfactory in this wise
materials must be considered, then the
Triggers kept in mind, as well as the
sail makers. while finally the skip
pers and crew are secured. Money is
required by all these, and much of it.
Even after vessel is completed and
placed in commission alterations and
repairs are required frequently at
times. while docking the craft for
cleaning and smoothing purposes
means large additional sums.
The rather startling statement was
made by Sir Thomas Upton four years
ago that the mere cost of the Sham
rock |. was between 100000 and $780,
an of hPi
vessel across the ocean and that of her
officers and crew were extra. That
seems a big lot TO pay for the vessel,
but Sir Thomas should be the best
authority on the subject of the cost of
the yacht
If lie expended sum approaching
half a million dollars four years ago
for his challenging yacht the money
the present trip is costing him must be
far in excess of the figures named. The
Upton fleet now here is proof of that.
1t is easy to believe that the Shamrock
Ill cost quite as much to build as 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 in a bigger
amount than the single crew of four
years ago and the additional assistance
he obtained in the United States.
So. if $550000 or more represented
the challenger's outlay the first attempt
he made upon the Americas cup, it
can safely be estimated that something
10 the neighborhood of 100000 will be
required to foot the bills at home and
here incidental to 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
gachts are called to sail the first race
for the cup the Reliance. selected to