New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-15
americas Cup
Has Been p rize
OF II Contests
Trophy Was Won on Isle Of
Wight Course in 1851 by
the u. S. Entry and Has
Remained Here Since
First Race Here in 1870
Emblem Was Defended by
the Entire Fleet Of Yacht
Club; Rules Now Changed

The international struggle which
Ass;ns to-day between the New York
Yacht Clubs Resolute and the Royal
Ulster Yacht Clubs Shamrock Nv is
the thirteenth to be sailed for the
famous trophy which was won by the
schooner America and brought to this
country in 1851.
America captured the trophy in a
race around the Isle Of Wight, and it
VAS then merely prize offered by the
Royal Yacht Squadron Tor that par
tcular contest. The cup became the
personal props>ty of Commodore John
I. Stevens, of the New York Yacht
Club, aad it was not until six years
later that he transferred it to the
local organization and designated it
: perpetual international challenge
trophy
The first race for the cup as an In
ternational trophy was held on August
s 1870 in the Lower Bay. The chal-
Ienser was James Asbury's Cambria,
Of the Royal Yacht Squadron of Eng
land. The trophy was defended by
practically the entire feet of the New
York Yacht Club. This is the only time
the cup was ever raced for under such
conditions. The Cambria finished tenth.
In 1871 Mr.. Asbury challenged again
with the schooner yacht Livonia. and
this time the New York Yacht Club
agreed to defend with only one boat.
The cup was defended on this occasion
by the schooner yacht Columbia, and
Of the five races sailed the Livonia took
only one. Only twice since that distant
day has challenger crossed the. finish
line ahead of the defender. Valkyrie
III. on September 10. 1895. finished
one minute and sixteen seconds. ahead
Of the yacht Defender after she had
fauled the latter. On October 4, 1901,
the second Shamrock crossed the line
two seconds ahead of the defending
Columbia, but lost the race through q
time allowance OF forty-two seconds
Sir Thomas Lipton's first quest for
the cup was in 1899, when he chal-
lenged with the original Shamrock.
She was defeated in three straight races
by the Columbia, with the late CAPTAIN
Charley Barr at the wheel. This at
tempt was the closest the Irish baronet
ever came to lifting the cup. Two years
later, Sir Thomas came back with the
second Shamrock and was again turned
back in defeat by the same Columbia
that had beaten his first challenger.
Shamrock III tried her luck in 1909
and was defeated in straight races nv
the New York Yacht Clubs Reliance.
Sir Thomas did not get the cup lifting
fever again until 1914. when. he chal.
lenged with the 75-foot Shamrock ".
The present cup hunter was off Ber-
muda on her way to this country when
the war broke out. She finally made
the port of New York in safety after
lodging German raiders, and when ali
hope Of an early ending of the war was
given up she was hauled out and
housed in Brooklyn .shipyard.
i, Wanted to Race in 1919
Sir Thomas urged that the delayed
yacht races be held in the summer Of
1918. but the officials of the New York
Yacht Club felt that it would be better
to wait another year.
Last winter the challenger was taken
to the Robert Jacob shipyard at City
island, where the cup candidate Vani-
tie was laid up. While there the Sham
rock narrowly escaped being destroyed
by fire which obliterated q greater
part Of the plant. She was fitted out
and launched this spring and had her
early sail stretching on Long Island
Sound.
When Sir Thomas's V3-meter trial
boat reached this country after q
stormy trip across the Atlantic both
ooats went to Sandy Hook and the little
actual racing they have had was over
the ocean course that will be used
to-day.