The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-09-28
.LIPTOA'S VIEKi 0f It
Irish Iscatsmaa Calls Fc.mcs
Racers Freaks.
WILL CHALLENGE AGAlh
Would Not Have Challenged Had Ne
Known Of a Rejeetion-Wiu Send
Over Ninety-Foot Boat to Compete
For Americas Cup.

London. Sept 25.-Sir Thomas Lip
ton Is bitterly disappointed at tho fail.
ure II the New York Yacht club to
accept his challenge for another series
OF races fer the Americas cup. and is
anNionsly awaiting Official information
on the subject through the ROYAL Irish
Yacht club. which he hopes Will give
in detail the reasons Tor the American
clubs action. In an interview. SIR
Thomas said he could not understand
Why his challenge had not been &c
ccpted. as he had been led 10 believe
that II he challenged under the UNI
versal rule which prevails for races
in the United States. there was every
possibility of his challenge being fav-
orabiy received. lie added however.
that he had not given up hope of send
ing yacht TO Sandy Hook in 1905.
and already had telcgaphcd To VIII
lam Fife. the designer. TO come TO
London for a consultation There was
bu- one thing which Sir Thomas was
emphatic about and that was that he
would not challenge under the cif
rule. One reason for this Is that there
Is no designer Of note in Great Brit.
ain which includes both Fife and
Milne who viii design a boat similar
% the previous ShamrOcks They saw
that Co DO SO would reccssitate the
pcOdrction OF even greater freak
than those which have already gone
CO.. defeat Besides. the danger Of sail
Ing such a boat across the Atlantic
must DC taken into account. and Sir
Thomas Is not prepared to again risk
the lives of men in such a venture.
Sir Thomas. however. said that he
was prepared TO challenge with a 90.
foot boat under the New York Yacht
club rules.
In sending the challenge" said Sir
Thomas. Il coniormed with the deed
Of giit Of the Americas cup. which
SAYS that sloops must be over % fee.
on the water line and under 90 feet. I
adhered In this respect to size mas
much as the boat challenged with
would have been about rs feet on the
water line. This also conforms with
Tho New York Yacht clubs rules ior
the class j. boats.
Il am prepared now that they have
declined 20 accept my challenge. for
this class Of boat. TO enter a 9O-foot
boat under the New York Yacht club
rules
Freaks such as the three sham.
rocks which I have been racing with
for eight or nine years were built un.
der a measurement rule which now
docs not exist in any part Of the world.
and 20 prevent such freaks from be
ing raced in America the universal
rule was adopted. So naturally I
concluded that by challenging under
the universal rule | was meeting all
the wishes OF those interested in
sport After a race. win or lose.
boat built under such a rule is OF some
use. the winning boat being an exam
pie 20 naval and marine architects
whereas in the other case the boat is
only NJ for the rubbish heap and the
education Of desisenrs.
Il certainly would not have sent a
challenge had thought for a moment
that 10 would not have been accepted
and ! hope that any difficulty IN the
way OF race for 1905 will be over
come as would love once more 70
find myself OF Sandy Hook nghtinc
over again the old battle for yachtine
SUPREMACY"