Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-07-15
History o.
Co, :::sts For
<imerica's Cup
BY As : ated Press.

New ork, July 15.-It may be in
teresting at this time, both to yatchs
men and to a great many who are not
acquainted with this form Of sport,
to read few facts In connection
with this historic yachting trophy.
To begin with, the Americas cup,
at first. was not an international tro-
ply. In fact it had no Significance
other than being a prize offered by
the Royal Yacht Squadron for a race
around the Isle Of Wight, England,
which was open to all nations. In
August. 1851, the schooner yacht
America, owned by Commodore John
L. Stevenss and four other members
Of the New York Yacht club, won
this race and the cup became their
property. Six years later Commodore
Stevens and his associates conveyed
the prize to the New York Yacht
club, In trust, as perpetual inter-
national trophy, which has since been
known as the Americas cup, taking
which won it in British waters.
The first race for the Americas
cup, as an International prize, was
held on Aug. s, 1870. over the regu-
lar course Of the New Yorn Yacht
Club in New York's lower bay. .The
challenging boat was Cambria, own
ed by James Ashbury, Of the Royal
Yacht Squadron, England, and the
cup was defended by practically the
lar course Of the New York Yacht
Club. That, however. was the only
race in which the challenger ever had
to sail In which fleet, and the only
contest in which the issue was de-
cided by single race. Cambria, by
the way. finished tenth in that
event, while the old America finished
fourth, the race being won by Magic,
yacht Idler finishing second.
In all there have been twelve con-
tests for the cup, in the second Of
which Mr.. Ashbury challer>>cd with
the schooner Livonia and the New
York Yacht Club agreed to defend the
trophy with only one boat in the
race. The 1871 contest was the best
four out Of seven races. Livonia
won siOgle race owing to the steer
Ing gear of the defender Columbia
breaking down. Only twice since
that day, Oct. 10, 1871, has a chal-
longing yacht crossed the finish line
ahead Of the defending boat. On
Sept. 10, 1895. valkyrie III, after
following the defender, finished i
minute and 16 seconds ahead of the
American boat, and on Oct. 4. 1901,
Shamrock Ii finished two seconds
ahead Of Columbia, but lost to the
defender by virtue of conceding AZ
seconds time allowance.
In the races OF 1876, 1881, 1856.
1886 and 1887, the contests were de-
cided on the basis Of the best two out
Of three races. From 1898 to the
last race in 1908 the agreement was
for the best three out Of five races.
The fastest time ever made In
race for the Americas cup is cred
tied to the old schooner Columbia On
Oct. 1S, 1871, the day before she was
defeated by Livonia, she sailed twen-
ty miles leeward and windward, for
ty miles in all, in hours, minute
and 33 seconds. 1t must not be in
ferred, however, that the Columbia
was the fastest yacht that ever
sailed for the cup. There is no meth
cd Of determining the relative speed
of two or more boats other than by
the results of a race in which they
sail together. When Columbia made
the fast time referred to undoubted-
ly the conditions of wind, weather
and sea were most favorable.
The fastest time ever made on a
fifteen mile course straight away and
return, thirty miles in all, is credited
to the defender Vigilant. In a race
on Oct. Is. 1898, she covered the
course in hours, "a minutes and 29
seconds.
The fastest time In triangular
race for the cup was made by Colum-
bia on Oct. 8, 1891, the time for the
distance, thirty miles, being 3:3O:18.