The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-12
Sir Thomas Upton
Is Looked Upon
With Admiration

NEW YORK, March 11.-"Unless
something unforeseen happens you
will see Tommy Upton off Sandy Hook
in 1914 with his racing flag up" Such
were the words of Sir Thomas Upton
at dinner given in his honor by the
New York Press club last December
just before he returned to England,
andt true to his promise a challenge
for the Americas cup on his behalf
from the Royal Ulster Yacht club Is
now in the hands of the New York
Yacht club, The full text OF the chal-
lenge viii not be made public until
the special meeting of the club We'd
nesday, but yachtsmen here have the
word of Sir Thomas himself that 1t
is couched in such terms as to make
It's acceptance a mere matter of form.
In other words the Irish baronet has
decided TO give up his fight for what
many yachtsmen here consider a
square deal" and has challenged I'M
der the rules of the deed of gift
rules which impose q frightful handi-
cap and which put the challenging
nation in a position almost of shoot
ing at the moon.
One must admire the spirit of true
sportsmenship which inspired Sir
Thomas Upton to set aside all other
considerations in his true love for
yachting. II feel sure" he says, that
the American people, as well as the
) British, have no desire to see the cup
get mouldy for the want of another
race" And SO. in his gracious way,
he excuses his own better judgment
in going on what so many consider
wild goose chase for the sake of
the sport. He has been trying on
and Off for ten years to get the con-
sent Of the New York Yacht club to
so amend the deed of gift as to give
the challenging nation reasonably
fair chance of success. He even sent
challenge years years ago to bring
the question to n head. but ID was de-
clIned. Now he steps forward once
more to make another effort to graft
fy a lifelong am bition of lifting the
blue ribbon trophy of the seas--the
yachting derby, as IL has been called.
IL has been commended, and with
reason, that the Americas cup stands
for the highest development Of speed
in yachting construction. Repeating
what I have said before in this col
umn. this is as il should be bat not
at rhe cost, perhaps. of mems lives
In trying TO cross the ocean in some
flimsy shell Of freak construction or
al the expense of the true spirit of
Spnrtsmenship. Since the deed of gift
was written such giant strides have
been made in the building and design
ing of yachts that the time has come.
under the particular deed Of gift,
when stability and seaworthy qualities
have been sacrificed to extreme speed.
IL was plainly the purpose of those
who framed the deed TO encourage the
building of yachts (which could crosse
the ocean, and surely the spirit Of that
purpose Is now violated
This il no time. perhaps to emf
nhasize q theory when particular
condition does not have 10 be con-
fronted If the cable messages from
England are properly interpreted Sir
Thomas has waived all objections and
Kicked away, by disregarding il, the
stumbling block which has stood in
the way of race since Shamrock III
was beaten by the reliance. in 1908,
nine years ago last September. II does
seem. however as II those in whose
custody the cup rests could take some
steps to more nearly eauaiize condi-
tiens without even 81 technical vio-
Iat!on Of their trust Everything else
aside Sir Thomas VIII be heartily
Welcomed. He has proved himself
SO many times that he holds warm
place in the affections 81 his many
friends on this side Of the Atlantic. II
is also possible 10 wish him good luck
with his fourth-leaf shamrock, with
out in any way being hypocritieal with
a wish at heart that the American
built boat will again triumph i'm a
fair and truly sailed race