Evening star., 1913-03-05

challenge is for competitions under tn.
old rules.
Sir Thomas Upton. who has just re-
! turned from America, when questioned
on the subject today said there was nc
doubt OF the acceptance of the chal-
lenge The New York Club he added
has been notified both by the Royal
Ulster Yacht Club and Sir Thomas Lip
| ton personally of the dispatch of the
| challenge.
Publicity Surprises Him.
Sir Thomas expressed consider
able surprise when asked this morn
| ing about the truth of the report
| that a challenge for the Americas cup
| had been sent to New York He had
| endeavored to keep the matter secret
| until the delivery of the challenge to
| the New York Yacht Club.
For reasons of courtesy Sir Thomas
regretted that he was compelled to
| withhold some of the details. He ad-
mitted, however. that his prejudice
against the old deed of gift rules had
been overcome. and that he had challeng-
ed for series of races under the old
conditions.
hope that with luck on his side he would
win the race adding that he wanted TO
do it without being the recipient OF any
favors.
Explains Change OF view.
When asked as to his previous state
ment that he would not challenge again
for the Americas cup except under the
universal rules prevailing for yacht rae
ing in America. Sir Thomas replied:
Well. it is ten years since the last
International race in America. 1 chai-
lenged six years ago under the universal
rules, but my challenge was not accepted.
thought that for the sake Of yachting.
both here and in America, it was time
we had another try for the cup. Hence,
my challenge under the conditions laid
down in the deed of gift.
Had any one come along in the inter
val 1 should have been pleased TO assist
all / could. but seeing that nobody OF
fered a race. 1 thought Great Britain
should have another try, and l hope to
experience better luck this time.
Awaits Delivery of Challenge.
Sir Thomas said that he could
not give the size Of his yacht until the
challenge had reached New York. The
deed of gift, however, he said. pro-
vides for a boat sixty-five to ninety
feet in length.
AS to the skipper Of his yacht, Sir
Thomas said
You know Capt. Edward Sycamore
has been sailing Shamrock Nv in inter
national and local races in Europe for
several years and l have another OF
my American captains at my call. Be
sides 1 have my usual crew of racing
men,.
Sir Thomas added that it was neces-
sary to put off the race until 1914 as
it would take him all that time to build
his yacht and get ready. He might.
he said. build two yachts. The present
Shamrock " is also a possibility. 1t
races in which it competed In Ger
many last season and twenty-three out
of thirty local races as trial boat
Whichever yacht goes to New York, 1t
will be named Shamrock w." as Sir
Thomas Upton is great believer in the
luck of the four-leaved shamrock.
Delighted at the Propect.
II am delighted al the prospects OF
meeting again my old racing friends OF
New York" said Sir Thomas today.
II have always maintained that | never
met better sportsmen and was never
treated better than in America. Every
thing was done there to give me an equal
show"
Sir Thomas Lipton's challenge VIII not
Interfere in any way with the races
he has promised TO participate in at San
Francisco in 1915.
BY a coinc..ent the present challenge
has been sent to America on board the
same steamer that took Sir Thomas last
challenge. which was accepted by the
New York Yacht Club.
Interest in New York.
NEW YORK, March 1.-The report o:
a fourth challenge from Sir Thomas Lip
ton for the Americas cup under cOndi-
tons which compel its acceptance was
received with much interest today at thG
New York Yacht Club. although officia
notification either by cable o. letter was
lacking With the receipt of the forIna
challenge IL will be acknowledged forth
with and the matter laid before the mex
meeting OF the club. which has already
/ been called for March u.
| nder the terms of the deed of gift
| challenge for the cup from any organized
| yacht club must be accepted, provided
I the conditions OF the deed are fulfilled
secretary Cormack OF the New Yorl
/ Yacht Club said today that after Sil
/ Thomas challenge is laid before the gen
| eral officers OF the club its contents vii
| probably he made public. He declined t,
| discuss the matter now and no plans cal
| he made for the defense of the cup unit
| the nature of the challenge Is known
| Reliance in Good Condition.
/ 1t 10 known, however, that the sloo,
/ Reliance which was the last defender
and has been on the ways at City Islant
for nine years and half. is In as goot
condition as when she was launched tel
years ago Whether the club will rel,
upon the Reliance or upon some new boa
is matter which rests with the mem
bers.
Trial races for the selection of a de
fender would probably be held in case
new boat is built, although there ar
many members of the club who belicv
1t would be difficult to improve upon III
II Reliance.
). There is a possibility. also, tha, th
challenge may call for a schooner a
great interest has been shown both il
| England and in this country I'm bi
schooner racing.
|; Whether the rig of the Reliance coul
be altered to meet such situation is
u matter of conjecture which her designer
y. c. Herreshoff. can best answer. MI
u Herreshoff is in Bermuda.
a race Is sailed in 1914 n will ba th