New-York tribune., 1906-12-30
ANXIOUS TO LIFT CUP
Sir Thomas Upton Lauds Ehmino-
tion of Frcak yachts.

That Sir Thomas J. IApton 10 thoroughly In
earnest in his efforts to lift the Americas 8
Cup and that he fully intends to challenge for
that time honored trophy In 1907. for a race the
following year. is evident from the trend OF his
remarks in an article which he has written for
the first number Of Yachting" just issued.
After speaking of the consideration and cour-
tesy which, he says. has ever characterized the
actions of those who were called upon to defend
the Cup and the hearty encouragement. born OF
generous regard for true sport, given him by
the general public, he goes on to say:
No more striking indication of the spirit OF
true sportsmanship actuating those who guide
the sport in this country could have been given
than the action Of the Atlantic Seaboard yachL-
ing organizations in adopting such q rule OF
rating as would eliminate the freak racing ma
chine of past years. 1t is what has been needed
both here and abroad-a good. wholesome boat,
boat that cannot only go fast. but can give
good account of herself in heavy weather, boat
that can cross the ocean with no fears that II
will succumb to wind and waves on the way
over. confess that in bringing my three Sham
rocks to this side I did so not without mis-
g1vings. not soleIy inspired by the fear OF the
loss Of the yachts themselves as of the lives OF
the devoted men who crossed IN them
built under the old rules? True, there Is the
event in itself, and an exciting race. but little
else There is nothing learned; the eduoauonai
side of the sport Is neglected absolutely. De-
sisners grasp little or nothing that Is new IN
contemplating the models Of these racing ma
chineS, but IN the yachts pullt for. the Amer
ica's Cup contest, under the uniform rule there
would be much learned A record break
ing boat is possible under the uniform rule. the
races of the Queen and the Effort testify. L am
satisfied that the trend Of American yachting Will
be toward the production of this sort of boat,
It Is a plain CALL 1t is certainly grievous con-
dition, when a challenger must sail his boat
across the Atlantic to race for the Cup harassed,
as said before. by fears that perhaps the boat
may not survive the passage.
| have desire to ernbarrass American
yachtsmen by O. challenge at time like this.
when the practical test Of the rule has little
more than begun. But certain that this
practical test, carried out In full will leave no
doubt in the mind of any yachtsman that the
wholesome boat is the boat the safe boat,
the most sportsmanike and the most satisfac-
tory boat all around And if events shape
themselves that in 1908 international race
for the Americas Cup between two yachts built
on these principles Is practicable, why no one
need be surprised to find that one Of them bears
the name Shamrock " on her stern. . .
J. violate no confidence in saying that q great
many of the members of the club which holds
the Americas Cup-of which club I am proud
to belong-have expressed the utmost faith in
the existing measurement rule, and the greatest
desire 10 see all yachtSnlen. ell designers, bend
ing their energies toward the production Of
yachts that are much at home and as safe
Tor those sailing them in stiff blow off Sandy
Hook as in a zephyr on Long Island Sound
AS the satisfaction of winning the CUP would
be doubly gratifying to me were the winning
craft an all around, wholesome craft, So I have
no doubt would the defenders feel similar graft
hcation IN succeeding in keeping the trophy here
with a racer no less seaworthy.
My various visits to the United States have
been filled with naught but the pIeasantest ex-
per1ences, none more so than those associated
with American yachtsmen whom I have found
without single exception to be gentlemen
actuated by high. sportsmanlike ideals, in which
the spirit Of fair play Is by no means lacking
and good fellows as well.