New-York tribune., 1907-09-26
REJECT CUP CHALLENGE
YACHT LINES TOO SMALL.
Conditions Suggested by Sir Thomas
Lipton Not acceptable.

1RDtOW ANot <IttC pbUOIC'
Sir Thomas Lptons challenge for contest
for the Americas Cup in 1908 declined last
night by the New York Yacht Club. Sir
Thomas asked for race Of sloops under the
6S-foot rating, and the members of the club
based their refusal to race the general propo-
sition that the Americas Cup represents
trophy for the speedest type Of yacht that can
be produced on a waterline length of ninety feet
or under. and that therefore any proposition to
limit the size of the boats must be refused
The members OF the New York Yacht Club at
the meeting called TO consider Sir ThomasS
fourth challenge for a cup race voted unani-
mously to reject the challenge. after Lewis Cass
Ledyard. former commodore Of the club. made
a speech, In which he described the deed OF gift
governing cup contests, drawn up by George
l. Schuyler in 1887. Mr.. Ledyard then presented
a resolution declaring that the club could no.
take tho position of limiting the waterine length
Of the boats under the deed Of gift.
Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, chairman of
the meeting. appointed cup committee to con
vene immediately after the meeting and prepare
a reply to the challenge
The cup committee made up of Commodore
Vanderbilt. !. p. Morgan Lewis Cass Ledyard
E d Morgan. r G. Bourne Henry Walters. J.
Rogers Maxwell and {. Oliver Iseiin, held a ses-
sion which continued long after midnight.
M Iedyard made the only speech al the gem
eral meeting which attended by nearly tW"
hundred members of the club
At All carly hour this morning the cup com-
mittee gave out the following reply to Richard
{. Mcmahon Smyth. honorary secretary of the
Royal Irish Yacht Club, which sent the challenge
for Sir Thomas.
At a meeting of the New York Yacht club
held this evening the challenge Of the Royal
Yacht forwarded
Sir Thomas J. Upton Bart. X. {. V. o, under
date OF September IS. 1907. for a match for the
Americas Cup. was laid before the club.
After a full discussion the following resolu-
tions were offered by Commodore Ledyard. sec
onded by Commodore j. p. Morgan and unani-
mously adopted:
Resolved Flrst-That the Americas Cup. held
by this club trustee under the deed of gift IS
a trophy which stands rc-eminently for speed
and for the utmost skill In designing construct
Ing. managing and handling the competing yes
sells. and should. therefore, be sailed for by the
fastest and most powerful vessels that can be
produced
Second-That no agreement for any match
for the Cup should contain any provision which
detracts from the merit of the trophy as repre-
senting these objects
Third-That no agreement should he. made
with any challenger which imposes any other
limitation or restriction upon the designer than
such is necessarily implied in the limits Of
waterne length expressed in the deed.
Especially should no agreement be made re-
quiring the cOntestipg vessels 10 be constructed
under any rule of measurement designed as is
the present rule OF the New YORK 1dCnt tlup,
to produce a vessel of a special or limited type
Fourth-That the Importance of the event
makes 1t desira bic that the contesting vessels
should bc substantially of the greatest power
and size permitted by the limitations Of the
deed of gift Such vessels also furnish the most
complete test of skill in designing. constructing.
managing and handling.
F,or these reasons matches for this cup
should ne held between vessels of compara-
lively insignificant power and size. While the
defending club cannot require that the chal-
longing vessel be of any given size. So long as
of gift, it should not consent to any limitation
upon the power size of the defending vessel
other than such as Is imposed by the deed.
Fifth-That the New York Yacht Club Is pre-
pared to accept a challenge in accordance with
the terms of the deed of gift. and to enter into
mutual agreements with any challenger. similar
- those which have governed matches for this
Cup for many years past.
ii is also prepared to meet any qualified chal-
lenger IN n series of races for this cup. TO be
sailed boat for boat, without time allowance
Sixth-The challenge Of the Royal Irish Yacnt
Club fails to conform to the provisions OF the
deed of gift under which alone this club can
accept any challenge. in that it gives no dimen-
sion of the challenging vessel. and i'll that II
imposes new and special conditions upon the
type size ami power OF the defending vessel
Moreover it is of such character that its
nc. ,ptance would. in the Judgment of the club
a complete abandonment of the objects
40. which the trust in respect to the Americas
Cup was constituted.
Seventh-That a committee be therefore ap-
;onted bv the commodore, of which he shall be
one with instructions TO decline on behail OF
the New York Yacht Club the challenge Of the
ROYAL irish Yacht Club. with an explanation OF
the reasons Of this club for its action
The undersigned were appointed by the com
modore the committee mentioned in the reso-
;utions and in accordance with the instructions
therein contained ii is with great regret that we
inform YOU that the New York Yacht Club de-
clines your challenge.
we adopt this mode of communicating the re-
suit by cable order that the action of the club
may reach YOU officially in advance Of any fnfor-
nation through any other channel.
This reply is signed by the members of the
sneciaI cup committee. The challenge sent to
the New York Yacht Club. which is signed by
Mr. Srnyth by the Royal Irish Yacht Club fol-
lows:
T am requested by Sir Thomas j. Lpton
Rart K G. V. O., to forward you this chai- ]
Ienre for the Americas Cup. subject to condi- !
tions to be mutually agreed upon, the winner OF
three out of five races TO be entitled to the Cup
The first race to be sailed on Thursday, August
Continued second
AErER ALL USHER'S THE SCOTCH