New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-14
reluctance with which we decline your

challenge
The question whether the New York
Yacht club should accept challenge for
the Americas Cup which imposes upon
the yacht selected 10 defend the cup linn
ltatiOns or restrictions in respect TO size.
power or type other than such as are i'm
piled in the limits of dimensions expressed
in the deed of gift is no longer an open
one. and we mad supposed that Sir
Thomas j. Upton fully understood that
such challenge could not be accepted
by IL.
The present challenge does not differ in
principle from that which he caused TO be
forwarded 10 us by the Royal Irish Yacht
club in 1907. which. I'm substance. called
for race between two vessels neither
of which should exceed under the then
existing rules Of measurement of the New
York Yacht club. Class j, the limit OF
which was sXty-eight feet. racing length.
which would have called for a vessel Of
approximately the same waterline length
"a that mentioned in the present cnal-
Ienge.
As this imposed limitations and restric-
lions upon the size. power and type 81
the defending vessel other than thos"
provided for in the deed Of gift. the chal-
lenge was declined by the New YORK
Yacht Club. and it's reasons for the &C
ton were set forth I'm certain resolutions
which were transmitted TO the Royal
Irish Yacht Club.
Extracts from these are above quoted.
but in order that you may be more fol
Informed concerning the position Of tn
New York Yacht Club I'm the matter. I
am forwarding q complete copy OF these
resolutions of 1851.
Again expressing our regret that We
should be compelled To decline any cha-
lenge from the Royal Ulster Yacht Cluh,
I have the honor 20 be
G. A. CORMACk,
Secretary. New York Yacht CLUB.
Mr.. Cormack also made a statement
concerning the deed Of gift and the posi-
ton of the New York Yacht Club He
said:
The subject Of challenges for races tor
the Americas cup and the terms and
conditions upon which such races shall
be sailed has been 80 much confused by
discussions Of rules of measurement. types
Of vessels, etc, that plain statement OF
what is. after all. rather a simple mat
ter may lead TO better understand
of it,
For nearly thirty years races for this
cup have been held only between vessels
specially built 10 compete for IT, and IN
attempt was ever made by any challenger
TO impose any conditions respecting the
size. power or type Of the defending yes
sci until after the matches between the
Reliance and the shamrock III.
The deed Of gift provides no limitation
except that single masted vessels sailing
for the cup must not be less than sixty
five feet nor more than ninety feet in
length upon the waterline. Each con
testing party Is left absolutely free to
select. within these limits, vessel ~
such size. power or type as II may pre-
scribe
1.-THE successive Shamrocks owned by
Sir Thomas J. Upton have raced for the
cup on three occasions-the Shamrock
against the columbia. in 1890. the Sham
rock II against the columbia In 1901 and
the Shamrock III against the Reliance.
In 1903
"R.les Of measurement a. applied 70
yachts have for their principal object the
oqualizing OF differences in size and
power between vessels for racing purposes
by tie application Of tables % time sl-
lowance. They provide a system ot han
dicappius under which an equality IS
sought 10 10 produced for racing pur-
poses between vessels OF different speeds
hv fixing. through general rules. the time
I'm I'D nutes and seconds which in race
Of any given length the speedier vessel
should allow to the slower one
During the period Of the Shamrock
races and for many years previous
thereto the New York Yacht club had In
force tables Of time allowance based upon
rule of measurement the principal fac
tor ~ which was the length % the vessel
on the waterline. This system rested
upon the theory. which was correct
enough. that as general proposition the
speed OF vessels Of similar types would
b. m proportion 10 their waterlin.
length In order % discourage the carry
ing Of excessive sail the rule imposed a.
second factor a tax upon excessive ssl
area.
Upon tie whole II was probably as
fair rule as could be devised upon
which 20 base time allowance between
vessels OF unrestricted types
Ever since the Americas Cup has heen
comuet.d Tor by vessels specially designed
FOR the purpose this rule % time allow
ance has by mutual agreement OF N.
two clubs. been applied IN order 10 equal
ize any difference IN their size
u was pointed ont by Nj Cormacs
that between the Shamrock II race with
the columbia and the shamrock III raca
with the Reliance proposition was msds
20 change the rules a. applying 10 ths
Americas cup and after a study or CON
ditions commodore Lewis Cass Ledysrd
I'm lqo3 wrote 10 Sir Thomas Upton IN
substance that even II the New YORK
Yacht CLUB desired 10 make any change
II was without the power under the deed
81 gift