The sun., 1919-10-07
Upton CHALLENGES
FOR AMERICAS CUP
Asks New York Yacht Club
for Revival of Contests for
Coveted Trophy.
MAY RACE OFF NEWPORT
Sir Thomas to Sail His Sham
rock IV.-Old Conditions
to Govern Races.
MAY RACE OFF NEWPORT

A race for the Americas Cup in New
York waters is probable during the sum-
mer Of 1920, 1t became known yester-
day through an announcement by the
New York Yacht Club that a challenge
had been received from the Royal Ulster
Yacht Club. Sir Thomas Upton Is the
challenger No reply has yet been sent
but the challenge will shortly be taken
I'D by the clubs cup committee, which
is made up of L. c. Ledyard, chairman;
E. D. Morgan, c. Oliver Iselin, w. B.
Duncan, c. Ledyard Blair. Dallas B.
Pratt and Grenville Kane.
It was reported last night that host
Of yachtsmen will request the committee
to have the races sailed off Newport
instead of over the old Sandy Hook
course
Sir Thomas sent a challenge last
December but 1t was refused because
the time was not considered propitious
In view of the fact that the war had
not officially been ended. Its receipt
caused some surprise for one had not
been looked for before the present year
at the earliest. The yachtsmen here
were not at all enthusiastic about a
race during the past summer as most
of them were busy with financial AM
other business matters connected with
after the war readjustment.
Both the challenge just received and
the one last December are renewals of
the one sent in 1914. The race was
declared off when the war broke out In
August. Although the challenging yacht
will be the Shamrock ", 1t is not yet
certain that the Resolute, the yacht
which was to have been Americas rep
resentative in 1914, will be the defender
when the races are sailed next summer
off Sandy Hook.
The Vanitie, which was vanquished
by the Kesolute in the trial races, is in
a dry dock near Stamford, Conn. She
was built by a syndicate headed by
Alexander S. Cochran, and its members
are likely, so 1t was said last night, to
insist that a new series Of trials be
held.
The Resolute syndicate is headed by
Robert W. Emmons I'd Of Boston. and
there is a possibility that the claim will
be advanced that the 1914 trials should
be regarded as final as between the two
craft. Many yachtsmen feel, however,
that the Vantie by no means had been
proven the slower boat IN anything like
real racing weather. 10
Should the Resolute race again II Is
expected that she will be handled by
Charles Francis Adams 3D. who has
the reputation of being one Of the ablest
OF amateur shippers. %
Col Duncan Neill was to have sailed
the Shamrock ". in 1914. but 1t is not
yet known here whether he will race
next summer or not. The Shamrock "
is laid up at Erie Basin She was de-
signed by Charles Nicholson and is not
a graceful craft to the eye. For the
first time the British have built chal-
lenger with a centreboard. The Sham
rock. ". is 1874 feet over ala con-
siderably bigger boat than the Resolute.
From the water line to the tip of the
club topsail measures 179 feet. 1t was
figured in 1914 that she would have to
allow the Resolute eight minutes and
four seconds over a thirty mile course.
The Shamrock w. has lines not unlike
a scow and this fact is especially ap-
parent In bow view of the craft.
Sir Thomas Upton has made three
unsuccessful attempts to win back the
Americas cup. All of the. races have
been sailed off Sandy Hook. but each
time the Shamyocks from-across the
sea have been defeated by the Amer
lean built and handled boats.
It is provided in the rules governing
contests for the Americas cup that the
challenger shall make the Atlantic pas
sage on her own bottom. While the
Shamrock ". was on her way across
and in danger from German naval craft.
the New York Yacht Club. which Is the
custodian of the cup, sent a wireless to
Sir Thomas off the Azores CIV
ing him permission for his steam yacht
Erin TO tow the racer to New York.
The old schooner yacht America,
which In 1851 originally won the cup
put up by Queen Victoria for an inter-
national race. Is still in existence in
Boston.
No Race Since 1903.
No Americas Cup race has been held
since 1903. when the Shamrock III. was
defeated in three straight starts by the
great Reliance, the Herreshoff boat en-
tered by the New York Yacht Club.
On July IS, 1914, the Shamrock ".
sailed for America, arriving at the
Azores, July 2S. and reaching these
shores August 10. By that time the
problem of selecting an American de-
fender had narrowed down to two
yachts, the Resolute and the Vanitie,
which were ready for the final trials
at Newport. the Defiance having earlier
withdrawn. The races were scheduled
to be held in September. and even with
the outbreak Of the war 1t was thought
at first that only short postponement
would be necessary. But although Sir
Thomas Upton contemplated a chal-
lenge each succeeding year, the con-
tinuation OF hostilties made its con-