The sun., 1918-12-13
LPTON'S CHALLENGE
COMES AS SURPRISE
Yachtsmcn Here Had Not Ex-
pected SO Early a Call
From Overseas.
MAY NOT RACE IN 1919
Deed of Gift Calls for Ten
Months Notice--N. Y. Y.
c. May Adhere to 1t.
MAY NOT RACE IN 1919

Yachtsmen in this city yesterday re-
e.,ved the news OF n challenge for the
Americas Cup from Sir Thomas Upton
with surprise mingled with glee Re
Gently there had been talk OF q possible
renewal Of the 1914 challenge from the
Royal Ulster Yacht Club, but at the New
York Yacht Club the opinion wal that
there would be no challenge until next
winter.
The club looked for a challenge In 1919
NJ the earliest. Some of the members
approached on the subject did not seem
n all enthusiastic over the possibilities
OF a race next summer. They seemed
10 believe that the yachtsmen most init
rately concerned with the defence of the
cup would he too busy with financial and
other business matters related to the
AFTER war readjustment In this country
and would not like to give their time to
serious yachting efforts.
However, now that the challenge has
come, It will be accepted. That is a
foregone conclusion. But II In not GER
tain tina we shall see any Americas Cup
races next summer for the deed of gift
states that the challengers must give ten
months notice. II j. possible that II Sir
Thomas Upton seeks action text hummer
the n. Y. Y. c.. in recognition of the
fact that the latest challenge 10 only a
renewal of the one sent in 1914 and that
the old challenge really still Is In force,
viii waive strick adherence to the deed
OF GIFT.
May Resume Trials Here.
Within a few days Commodore George
p Baker very likely will name a special
committee to consider the Americas Cup
question and frame a reply TO the Royal
Ulster Yacht Club. The challenge is ex-
nected 10 give a tremendous impetus not
only TO yacht racing activity in this
country and abroad but TO sport In gen.
eral.
While Sir Thomas has decided that the
Shamrock ". will be his challenger. 1t
is not at all certain that the Resolute,
which was TO la defended the cup in
1914, Will be the American REPRESENTA-
tive when the races are sailed of Sandy
Hook next summer. The syndicate
which built the vanitie. under the lead
ership OF Alexander s. Cochran, very
likely will take her out of dry dock near
Stanford and Insist that a new series Of
trials be held.
Even after the Resolute had practi-
cally been selected in 1914 there was a
feeling among a big coterie OF yachts
men that the Vanitie by no meal had
been proved the slower BOAT in anything
~ ASoA toNAAA6 ~
syndicate. headed by Robert W Emmons
ID Of Boston, may insist that the 1914
trials stand.
II the Resoiute races. she will no doubt
% handled by Charles Francis Adams
Cd. reputed to be the ablest amateur
skipper in this country and perhaps in
the world. Col. Duncan Neill. who was
TO have sailed TIE Shamrock ". in 1914.
went into active service Immediately af-
~ar skn naNa.ffa RtAV, 80 sAA q = n-A rn1xr
not be available again.
Challenger a Freak.
The Shamrock ", which Is laid UP
At the Erie Basin, was designed by
Charles Nicholson, and is the only chal-
lenger yet built with a centreboard. She
is not a pretty boat to look at. From
the tip Of her bowsprit to the end of her
boom she measures 1874 feet-a far big
ger boat than the Resolute. From the
water line TO the tip of the club topsail
is 179 feet. In 1914 II was figured that
the challenger would have to allow the
Resolute s minutes and 1 seconds over a
thirty mile course
The challenger has a scow form, which
. very noticeable from the bow view OF
the hull.
Sir Thomas Upton has attempted to
lift the Americas Cup thrice. Three
Shamrocks have come across seas and
fought for supremacy. but unsuccess-
fully, with American built craft over
The triangular n windward and lee
ward courses of Sandy Hook.
Under the rules governing contests
for the Americas Cup is the provision
hat the challenger shal sail on her own
bottom across the sea. While the Sham
rock ". WAS on her way II in danger
OF being destroyed by submarines the
New York Yacht Club, custodian Of the
Americas Cup. sent a wireless despatch
20 Sir Thomas Upton of the Azores
Islands giving him permission TO have
his steam yacht, the famous Erin. tow
the Shamrock to New York.
The Americas Cup was put UP by
queen Victoria In 1851 for an internal
uenal yacht race. II was won by the
schooner yacht America. which at last
accounts WAS lying in Boston.