New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-13
Yacht Owners Decide That
Restrictions as to the
Defending Craft Are
Not in Accord
with Deed.
RUMOR OF NEW CHALLENGE
Full Text Of the Document Sent by
the Royal Ulster Yacht Club
on Behalf of Sir Thomas
Made Public for the
First Time.

First Time.
Sir Thomas Lipton's fifth challenge
for the Americas Cup-the blue ribbon
trophy Of the seas-was declined by a
unanimous vote of the forty yacht own
ers present at a special meeting of tho
New York Yacht Club last night. One
little clause at the end of the challenge
was the cause of it, in which Sir
Thomas specified that the cup must be
defended by yacht with a length on
the load water line not TO exceed sew
enty-five feet.
The challenge was almost Identical
with the one sent oy Sir Thomas In
1907, which was declined by the club.
and this aroused much comment. IN
that document he limited the length of
the boat, by stipulating that it should
not be over 6S rating measurement. by
the existing New York Yacht Club
rules" That challenge was declined for
the same reason, with the additional
one that Sir Thomas desired TO race
under the universal rule.
The meeting was held behind closed
doors and little could be learned be
yond the fact that the challenge had
been refused. George A. Cormack the
secretary. gave out the following signed
statement:
The New York Yacht Club has de-
clined this challenge because it i'm
poses as a condition that the defending
vessel shall not exceed seyenty-five
feet in length on the water line, and
thereby deprives the defending club OF
the right given II by the deed OF gift
TO select a vessel Of such size as X
pleases provided she be not less than
sixty-five nor more than ninety feet
on the water line.
The club has cabled its reply to the
Royal Ulster Yacht Club.
LAS II would be improper to make this
reply public before IL IS received by the
ROYAL Ulster Yacht Club, It cannot be
given 10 the press until lO-Inorro"
evening 6. A. CORMACK,
Secretary New York Yacht Club"
The full text Of the challenge also
was made public for the first time. II
follows:
Royal Ulster Yacht Club
Bangor, County Down. Ireland
26th February, 1913.
To Secretary. New York Yacht Club,
New York.
Dear Sir: ! am requested by Sir
Thomas j. Upton. Bart. *. c. V. o., to
forward YOU this challenge for the
America Cup, subject TO the same
regulations as governed the last con-
test and which proved TO be 80 salts
factory. namely: the best three out OF
five races over the same courses, with
like starts and other details.
The first race To De sailed on Thurs
day. the 10th day of September 1914.
The second race to be sailed on Sat
urday. the 18th day OF September. 1914.
The third race To be sailed on Tues
day. the 18th day of September, 1914.
Further races. If any. TO be sailed on
each following Thursday, Saturday and
Tuesday until finished
|, therefore, on behalf Of the Royal
I
Sir Thomas J. Upton. a member oi
the club. challenge to sail series OF
matches with the yacht Shamrock ~
against any one yacht or vessel con-
structed in the United States of Amer
lea for the Americas Cup.
The following are the particulars oi
the challenging vessel:
Owner-Sir Thomas J. Upton, Bart.
X. Z. V. O.
Name of yacht-Shamrock ".
Length on load water line-i5 feet.
Rig-Cutter.
The Custom House measurement will
follow az soon as the Nessei can Do
measured for registration.
In forwarding this challenge ] am
desired by the committee to say that
Il is sent on condition that the CUP will
he defended by yacht with Ien9t,
on load water line not exceeding 10
i shall be much obliged n you viii
''''9 F.. p. PATTERSON.
Honorary Secretary, Royal Ulster
Yacht Club.
Later il was rumored that the New
York Yacht Club is anticipating the
receipt. at an early date. OF an unrc-
stricted challenge for the Americas
cun from an English gentleman other
than Sir Thomas Upton.
When Commodore Dallas b. Prau
called the meeting TO order. shortly
after o'clock some two hundred
vaohtsmen. representing both tho
Young and the old racing members OF
the club. filed the great model room on
the second floor Among those present
were Lloyd Phoenix, Wilson Marshall.
Harold :. Vanderbilt, former Commo-
dore Cornelius Vanderbilt. James b.
Ford, Grenville Kane. F.. Walter Clark,
Fleet captain Franklin A. Plummer, H.
T. Sloane John j. ORourke, Il. a.
Bishop and George u. Roosevelt.
After the reading Of the challenge