Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-05-27
INTERNATIONAL
YACHT RACE IS
ASSURED FACT

LONDON.-The Royal Ulster Yacht
Club cabled to the New York Yacht
Club on May saying that the chal-
lenge sent by Sir Thomas Upton for
o series Of races for the Americas
cup was intended to convey that the
contest should be governed In all re-
spects by the same conditions as pre-
vailed in the last races. II the New
York Yacht Club. however. preferred,
Sir Thomas Upton had no objection
to race under its present rules of
measurement time allowance, and
racing rules.
The reply from the New York
Yacht Club was received stating that.
the matter would be considered at an
early date.
The Americas cup committee has
kept its secret we'll, and the Wild
guesses Of yachtsmen regarding the
real meaning of the Upton challenge
have been wide of the mark. II IL
now up to the committee to either &C
cept or reject the challenge, and
there is no good reason, in the minds
of most yachtsmen, for declining to
race
AS the matter now stands the cbal-
lenge Is absolutely without conditions.
Upton proposes to race with Q sew
euty- five-footer against any boat
America may purchase. He prefers
all the conditions which governed the
last race, but IL the New York Yacht
Club wants to race under the present
rules of racing, measurement and
time allowance, as suggested, he is
willing. Most yachtsmen say that It
would be far better for the sport to
use the present rules. even though
they would bar out Reliance as COM
petitor. as she would DC hopeIessly
handicapped by reason Of her dis
placement, which would be heavily pc
nalized.
A prominent member Of the New
York Yacht Club said that 1t was
more than likely that the Club would
accept the challenge. and would name
the present rules of the club for the
match. There was, he said. a strong
feeling that, having got away from
The old rules which produced nothing
but racing machines. 1t would be folly
to 90 back to them, II Il could be-
avoided. Under the present rules, the
fastest, safest, and most comfort able
boats could be built. and after they had
raced for the cup they would be use
full for cruising purposes. A boat built
under the rules, Of seyenty-fiye feet
load water line, could be built for t55..
coo, but, to make the highest type Of
yacht of that length, bronze would
have to be used in her construction,
ond the cost would be 100000. as
compared with three times that
amount for a ninety-footer.
Further than this, 1t would take
many less men to handle her, for even
in the worst kind of conditions It took
twenty men to handle the seventy
footers, and the same number would
he sufficient In boat five feet long
er, so the cost of running Z boat
would be proportionately less az the
cost of construction. At the most the
draft would be 13 feet 8 inches, so
she could be used In all harbors. He
believed that If the challenge was &C
cepted under the new rules, three or
four boats would be built In the sew
enty-fivefoot class to meet Shamrock
w, and that two would be by syndi
Gates and one CT two by individuals,
for there are several yachtsmen who
would be willing to pay for boat of
that size which would be good for
something after the races were over,
whether or not it defended the cup.