The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-21
YACHT DESIGNER FIFE HERE
MS COMING REEVES TALK or
cur CHALLENGE.
visiting This Country Ostenstbig to Put
Canada cup Candidate In Trim. the
Noted scotch Builder Will study the
New RuIe-GsOd Prospect for a Race.

Yesterday. Mr.. Fife is best known In
,his country because he designed the 40
footer Minerva, a yacht that held her own
until some sixteen yachts had been built
in this country to beat her, and because
he designed the Shamrock 1. and III. He
Is coming here beca 40 a yacht has been
built from his designs to try and capture
the Canada cup now held by the Rochester
Yacht Club. The new Fife boat is named
Crusade. In her trial races she will nave
10 meet the Adele, built from designs by
Arthur Payne. and the Aileen H., built from
designs by Alfred Mylne. Mr.. Fife has
come here to help get the Crusade in racing
shape. He was here during the last races
for the Canada cup and became interested
in Yachting on the Lakes.
This year the Canada cup races are OF
moro than ordinary importance. The three
challengers and the defending yacht, the
Senaca, built 10y Herreshoff, are designed to
conform to the American rule Of measure
ment and it will be the first meeting OF
British and American designers under this
rule. Tho next race for the Americas
CUP, which it is said will be sailed next
year, will produce yachts designed under
this rule, and Mr.. Flies visit here is for a
tWVltll pun DtNt. ~ VIII \ tNJ liflSt
IN his own yacht and he will study the work.
ings of the new rule and get the ideas of
the different American designers and par
ticularly Of H~erreshof.
When Sir Thomas Upton was here last
fall he conferred with the leading members
Of the New York Yacht Club. He told
them that he was anxious to try again to
capture the Americas Cup, and that il he
failed on his fourth effort he would retire
and let some other yachtsman carry on
the fight. He told the New York Yacht
Club members that as he understood the
history Of the America Cup it had been
offered 10 improve yacht designing and
building, but that under the old rule only
freaks had been developed. He admitted
that il was useless for a challenger to try
10 win under the old rule because the chal-
lengcr was handicapped by having TO GROSS
the ocean, and that on the other side there
were no designers or builders who would
turn out a freak Of the kind necessary TO
have a chance to win the cup because the
danger Of sending IL across the Atlantic
was too great and the yacht and all her
crew might be lost.
Sir Thomas told the members that he
had sent over three yachts and that one
when she arrived was leaking so badly
that il had been feared hat she would
founder on the voyage. She was lightly
bulk and extreme in ideas, because it was
necessary to turn out such a craft in order
TO have a chance to win. He pointed out
that under the old rule the challenger was
featcn before she left the other side. be-
cause on this side il was only necessary
10 build a craft that would hold together
- - .usN NIa ~, anI ahA ia MOI
have to he built strongly enough to cross
the ocean.
sir Thomas told the members that as he
understood the changes that had been made
inthe rules they too had realized that freaks
should he barred In the regular classes for
Yacht racing and that those yachtsmen
who wished to build wholesome types of
yachts should be encouraged and for that
purpose certain rules had been framed and
passed by the club and by all other clubs
racing on the Atlantic coast under which
a good boat would be built. He then old
tho members that il he were told that a
challenge under the new rules would be
accepted he would make his plans TO send
such a challenge. lie did not ask for any
letter from the club, but would be willing TO
take the word of those present.
There was one member OF the club at this
luncheon who announced that he did not
agree with Sir Thomas and thai in his
opinion the Americas cup. stood for speed
on n given water line length and should
not he governed 10y any other rules than the
deed 81 gift. He also said that he would
ire his influence with the club to maintain
this view but other members present took
the side of Sir Thomas Upton and 1t was
practically understood that Sir Thomas
should moi issue a challenge for "A race tn be
sailed iii, wear. but wait and race In 1905.
The club argued that the rule was an ex-
pertinent. IL might prove "A failure ana II
was also said that some action was TO be
taken to govern construction and that n
committee on scantlings was to be APP
pointed.
Sir Thomas's friends wanted him to
challenge az once. They said that waiting
a wear would give the American designers
a years experience which would count for
much, and they certainly have an advan-
tage, as under the new rule the Queen. the
Effort. I%rolita. lstalena. Aurora, Winsome
and several smaller boats have been buiit,
and these yachts nave shown on what lines
the best speed can he obtained. They have
SHOWN, too, that those who found fault with
the rule because IL would not produce speedy
yachts are at fault.
Sir Thomas went away saying that he
would at once get to work. He consulted
with Fife and Mylne, and these two de-
slRners have been working all the winter
STUDYING the rule. The American rule does
not differ much from the British rule. Both
are framed 10 tax the freaks. They put a
premium on displacement and limit draught,
over all length and sail area, and conse-
uuently a yacht to fit the rule properly
must be a fair one and have no ~extravagant
ideas.
Sir Thomas Upton said, too, that it was a
long task preparing for a challenge. He
would not challenge first and make his
plans afterward, but get his model, arrange
Tor the assemblying Of the material to be used
in the construction Of the yacht and then
when the challenge was accepted he would
be- ready to go right ahead. In tins way
he 70 "A certain extent overcame the ten
months notice that he had TO give TO the
challenged club, but he lost again through
having TO cross the ocean. IL took two
weeks to get ready for the voyage. two to
tt out again after arriving here and three
weeks To GROSS the ocean.
This season Fife has turned out a cutter.
the White Heather, which experts on the
other side declare TO In the best and fastest
ever built. The White Heather has done
some remarkable sailing and has won every
race in which she has started. beating. the
new Brynhild and the Nyria, the crack Of
last season. The SUCCESS of this yacht has
gwen British yachtsmen the idea that they
can be- successful in another attempt to
win the cup, and IL is probable that a chal-
ENG will come some time this fall. While
on this side ID il probable too that MI. Fife