The Washington herald., 1913-03-23
Americas Cup Owns
Interesting History
Chronology of Famous Trophy Race, Contested
for Dozen Times, Is Live Topic
Among Yachtsmen

Thistle came in 1857 The dimension!
| of the challenger had been given a.
eighty-fve feet on the water-line, ano
when measured the length was found tc
be Sc. IS feet. a difference of 1.4S feet. The
defending club objected to this. The mat
tier was referred to Mr.. Schuyler. who de-
/ cided that the variation was not sufficient
TO disaualify the challenger. in spite oi
this difference in length the Volunteer
had 10 allow the Thistle six seconds in
forty miles, and Volunteer won.
The rule of the New York Yacht Club
was changed again in 1891 TO square roo,
of sail area plus length divided by two
| and that rule has governed the measure.
ment for rule allowance in all races since
that time. The present rule was adopted
| in 1903.
In 1897 the cup again was returned
to Mr. Schuyler and another deed
framed. That is the one now govern
ing the races. 1t places the size OF
yachts If of one mast 81 to 80 feet, and
if more than one mast, so to rs feet
Ten months instead of six months no.
tice is required and with the notice the
challenger must give length of beam
draught, and those dimensions must
not be exceeded.
Royal Squadron Challenge.
In 1889 the Royal Yacht Squadron
challenged on behalf of Lord Dunra-
ven, naming a vessel 20 feet on the
water line. The challenge was accept
ed and committee appointed to ar
range the details. Lord Dunraven
asked for five races. The Royal Yacht
Squadron declined to indorse the new
deed Of gift, which it is claimed was i'll
legal and not in the interest of good
sport, and the race fell through
In 1892 Lord Dunraven had another
challenge sent. naming vessel IS feet
on the water line, and stipulating that
any excess over that length should
count as double in figuring time allow
ance and such excess not to exceed 2
per cent. The defender. too. was to be
subject TO the same restrictions and
penalties. The club accepted the chal-
lenge and Valkyrie II came, only to be
beaten by Vigilant. Vigilant allowed
l minute 4S seconds in thirty miles. In
these races the club agreed to one gun
starts.
Two years later Lord Dunraven sent
Valkryie III, and SO feet was given as
length of the challenger. The Defend
er was smaller than the challenger and
received an allowance of 29 seconds in
thirty miles. Defender won and there
followed the squabble about shifting
ballast.
The Royal Ulster Yacht Club chal-
lenged for Sir Thomas Upton in 1895
and committee was sent over to ar
range the details of the races. The
challenge was accepted and Shamrock
i, 9S.5 feet, named. Columbia was built
to defend. She allowed six seconds and
won.
Upton Aal<s for Chance.
Challenges of Sir Thomas for races
with Shamrock II. and III. were arranged
under practically the same conditions as
those governing his first yacht.
In 1902 Sir Thomas asked the New York
Yacht Club if the changes in the rules
of measurement to be adopted would ap-
ply to the next cup race yachts. He was
told that the changes would not apply,
because the challenger would not have
the right to sail with a vessel of any type
without the application of any rule of
measurement for time allowance.
Sir Thomas challenged under the new
rules in 1907. naming a vessel of Glass ].
sixty-eight feet rating, and asked that
the defending vessel be of the same size.
This was declined. In replying to this
challenge the club said, among other
things:
while the defending club cannot re-
quire that the challenger vessel be of
any given size So long as she is within
the limits permitted by the deed Of gift,
it should not consent to any limitations
upon power or size of defending vessel
other than such as are imposed by the
deed.
The New York Yacht Club is prepared
to accept a challenge in accordance with
the terms of the deed of gift and to enter
again into mutual agreement with any
similar to those which have
governed matches for this cup for many
years past" 1t was on this rock that
the Royal Ulster. came to grief this time.