The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-10
ATLANTIC RACE
WILL BOOM SPORT
Will Free Yacht Racing Of Syn
dictate" Features of Past
Few Years.

The forthcoming yacht race across the Atlantic
ocean is more important event than would
appear upon the surface. OF late years the
sport has fallen into public contempt, so far
as concerns this country at least and no Won
der. The contests for the Americas cup under
the auspices of the New York Yacht club, have
degenerated into unmeaning functions from
which all excepting a favored few We're exclud-
ed and In which no rational and right-minded
American citizen could take the slightest inter-
est, much less feeling Of pride.
The country has long realized the unwelcome
fact that, altho the cup was originally won by
under rules which admitted of wholesale
competition, its present custodians have held it
by virtue of rules which forbid the possibility
of competition in any proper sense of the term.
Our yacht a going vessel says Rich
ard Weightnlan a well-known yachting expert
Of the east. In order to participate in the
race, held in British waters, it had to
the ocean under its own sails, and after reach
ing the course, it matched with craft of
the same kind-honest sailing craft. So the cup
was won and brought to the United States.
But the New York Yacht club. which holds the
trophy and prescribes the conditions upon
which foreign yachts may strive to win it back,
has SO managed things that boat capable of
crossing the Atlantic cannot hope to compete
with the defender this side.
Smooth Water Sailing.
The course has been fixed in smooth waters
and the races set at a time of languid breezes,
and the clubs builder has been encouraged to
vast spreads of canvas, incapable OF going to
sea or Of demonstrating any useful principle Of
naval architecture useful navigation.
1t Is notorious Of course that the orlglnators
| of the prize had no such conditions in view.
They plainly intended contest between sea-
going yachts. When the America crossed the
| the fairest kind Of fair play. 1t had for its
| antagonists only vessels Of its own class. and 1t
| covered course at sea, In open water and
| subject to all legitimate vicissitudes. ~
! Dr;{Sc -l4 have arfnr o1 nr1r
waters of late years found themselves the vic
Tins of studious discrimination which robbed
| them Of every imaginable chance of victory.
They were obliged to bring going vessels
| but they raced against skmming dishes
fragile fabrications which couldn't go out upor
| the ocean at all and which were at their best
in puffs and catspaws which wouldn't fill the
| sails of the challenger.
Perversion of Intent.
The cup was originally offered in England tt
encourage wholesome aquatic sport, to stimu
late marine architecture and to promote goot
under conditions which forbid honest yacht rae
ing, offer no rewards to ship-building skill AM
make objects Of resentment and suspicion II
all yachting circles. Thus the once honore
Americas trophy has fallen into contemp
among sportsmen. It no longer possesses valu
or significance. 1t is not spur to competition
but rather a thing to be avoided and despised:
About q fortnight hence, howeyer-on the 16t
inst to be explicit-there is to be an ocean rae
from Sandy Hook to the Lizard light at tn
mouth Of the English channel, for prize whic
will mean something. The cup of gold Is
splendid thing in itself, and for this the spor
ing world is indebted to the German emperor
but such race, under the conditions that hav
been prescribed, opens new chapter in yach
ing, and closes an old and most distasteful ep
sode Of futility and sharp practice.
Clear-Cut Rules.
This contest is not strangled by cloud {
rules and regulations. 1t admits Of no jocke!
l ing and disreputable expedent The stipulation
: are simple and entirely legitimate. The COZ
testants must register over eighty tons-a rel
. sonable safety limit; they must carry their ow
crews, stores and paraphernalia; there will
no tenders or other artificial adjuncts; eat
|, yacht must be sufficient to itself and win upt
f its own intrinsic merits.
!, There are no restrictions to rig, moreove
: The competitors are free to make for the go
+ in any fashion their respective tastes and pre-
T erences may dictate. In other words, it is
. square, honest. free for all ocean race. whft
will develop the best qualities of seamanshi