Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-09-17
Acceptance Of Lipton's
Challenge a Certainty.
There Will Be No Clubbing as
TO Rules Of the Races.
Challenger May Name Size Of Boats
For the Contest.

would challenge again for the Amcri
cas-; cup, the races to be sailed in 1908.
rh" Royal Irish Yacht Club, has cabled
notice of IL challenge To the New York
Yacht Club. and the formal challenge
is now on its way across the Atlantic.
Since the Immediate rumorS of q
challenge became rife. all sorts of ar
gumcntS have arisen as to how the
challenge would be treated by the New
York Yacht Club, and under what rules
the races would be sailed; whether it
would he the new rating rule or the
old rule. which would let in the Re-
lance upon waterlinc measurement 1t
has been stated that in the fOIthcOm-
ing challenge conditions will be named
other than those required by the decd
of gift. and that this will cause the
New York Yacht Club to ball at ac-
Ccpting it at once. 1t is hardly likely
that any arbitrary conditions will be
named by Sir Thomas; but under the
mutual agreement clause. a most inn
portant one, both parties may agree
upon arrangements. and it is only rea-
sonablc for the challenger to suggest
beforehand what he would like TO agree
to.
AS t. the challenge itself. the New
York Yacht club must either race or
forfeit, for the deed of gift provides
that ANY organized yacht club of IL
foreign country, Incorporated. patented,
or licensed by the Legislature. admir-
atty, or other executive department,
having for its annual regatta an ocean
water course on the sea. or on an arm
of the sea, shall always be entitled to
the right of sailing a match for this
cup"
1t is also provided that the compet-
ing yachts shall be not less than 65
feet nor more than 80 feet Waterline, if
Of one mast; and not less than so feet
nor more than lis feet Waterline, If of
more than one mast. This rule must be
adhered to whether the races are sailed
under the rating rule or not. and 1T will
not interfere with the rating rule. There
has been a general feeling that the
competing yachts this time will be made
shorter. Eighty feet has been named as
a watcrline length, and it has been
pointed out that q boat built to the
| limit of waterlinc length would rate
only about 81 under the new rule. There
docs not appear to be any reason Tor
selecting 50 feet rather than 40 feet or
e. feet if smaller yachts arc wanted.
1t NAV also be said that q yacht meas
uring 90 feet on the waterlire might
rate considerably over 100 feet. or
might rate only % feet. although boat
| Of either type would not be likely to ne
built.
The question of necessity for sailing
under the rules of the challenging club
| is secondary to tho mutual agreement
| clause, which states: The club Chal-
| longing for the cup and tn" club hold
| ing the same may. by mutual consent,
| make arrangements satisfactorily both
as to dates, courses. number of trials,
| rules and sailing regulations. and any
and all other conditions of the match.
| in which case aiso the ten months
notice may be waived" In case both
parties agree upon conditions, tho FOL
| lowing clause does not apply, but it
they cannot agree then it does apply.
| and fixes the club rules:
| In case the parties cannot mutually
agree upon the terms of Il match. then
three races shall be sailed, and the win
Ecr Of two such races shall be entitled
| to the cup. All such races shall be or
| ocean courses. free from hcadlands. as
follows. The first race. 20 nautical miles
| to windward and return; the second
race an culIilatcral triangular race of
| 80 nautical miles. the first side Of which
shall be Il beat to windward: the third
race. il necessary. 20 nautical miles To
windWard and return; and one week
day shall intervene between the cOnclu-
sion Of one race and the starting of the
next race. These ocean courses shall he
! practicable in al parts for vessels of
- feet craft Of water. and shall be Sc
lccted by the club holding the cup: and
these races shall he sailed subject to
its rules and sailing regulations so far
as the same do not conflict, with the
provisions Of this deed of gift. but with
out any time allowance whatever. The
challenged club shall not he required
to name its representative vessel until
| at time agreed upon for the start. but
the vessel when named must compete
in all the races. and each of such races
must be completed within seven hours.
The last sentence in the foregoing
clause is interesting as applying to ru-
mors that Sir Thomas would request
that he bring over two boats and race
the fastest. According to the deed OF
the gift he can bring over dozen
boats if he wants to and ask no queS-
tions. provided that all of them con-
formed to the conditions otherwise.
1t is not likely. however, that there
will he any quibbling over the terms
Of the match. as Sir Thomas held
conference with the members of the
New York Yacht Club last winter be-
fore he announced that he would prob
ably challenge for next year. and he is
rot the kind of a man who goes ahead
without feeling reasonably sure of
where he will wind up.
There is general belief that Fife
ard Mylne will design the challengers
for Sir Thomas. and it is possible that
Payne of Southampton may also de-
sign and build one. 1t is known that
plans have been submitted by all three.
Several American yacht designers are
said to be ready with plans and several
american yachtsmen have been con-
sidered as possible owners Of defend
crs. The length Of the boat named in