South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-27
Yacht Race for America Cup
To Cost Too Millions; Expense
Has Been Steadily Mounting Factor

be world series I'm base ball, tnterna-
tional polo matches tennis contests
for the Davis Cup and other forms
of sports but few Of these events
create more interest than IS conferred
in a race for TIE blue ribbon Of
tho seas" What creates the en-
thusiasm on the part OF millions Of
people who do not know a boom
from "A gan is now one OF the won
ders OF the sporting world. Still II
Is the case and must therefore be
accepted without comment
The only solution 10 the mystery
lies In the fact that the lay mind
Is sstonished BY the tremendous
sums that have been spent in races
for the Americas cup. That men
are willing TO spend "A million dol
lars 10 defend a battered piece Of
silver that originally was worth only
100 Euineas appeals TO the popular
fancy. To make the situation even
more unique. the money is gone for
ever. Not one penny comes back
in the way OF gate receipts" Again.
once the series is ended. the yachts
that raced are only worth what they
will bring In junk. Nothing Is more
useless than an Americas cup boat
when the series is ended.
Cost Mounts TO Millions.
When Commodore Stevens and his
associates originally gave the 100
guineas cup" 10 the New York Yacht
club TO be a perpetual trophy for in
ternaticnal racing. they never dream
ed that a race for the bit OF silver
would cost "A fortune. The ever in
creasing cost Is just the result of
circumstances. That a cup race was
too much for one man TO finance
first became apparent after Canada
had tried unsuccessfully to capture
the cup with the sloop ATLANTA.
II was in the fall OF 1891. after
that unsuccessful attempt, that the
officials OF the New York Yacht club
first began TO take account of the
cost Of defending the trophy. 1t
was the first time that a yacht had
been built for the especial purpose
OF defending the cup. although the
new craft POcahOntaS, proved 10 be
failure and was not used for the
purpose. The boat was built by the
flag officers of the club, and the
cost of construction, added 20 the
cost OF running her during the trial
period and with the incidental ex-
pense TO the club OF managing the
contest. made a total OF $4,000.
This, in the eyes OF the racing of
hcials was rather a large sum 20
pay for the purpose, and they con-
cluded that something would have
TO be done 10 reduce the cost of
the cup races Something was done.
in the way OF amending the deed OF
gift in such a manner, as 10 prevent
small Canadian boats from chal-
ienginR thereafter.
At present, the cost OF defending
the cup in one contest is consider
able more than 20 times the $40. 900
OF q generation ago and more than
90 times the cost Of earlier races
When James Ashbury came over in
1870 with his schooner Cambria, he
merely varied his summer program
OF cruising and incurred a compare
lively small outlay for some extra
fittings and a slightly enlarged crew.
II he had not come 10 America To
race for the cup. Mr.. Ashbury
probably would have taken a cruise
in European waters OF about the
same duration.
Mr.. Ashbury built the schooner
Livonia. with which he challenged in
1872. Possibly he might not have
| built q new boat that year. If he
/ had not contemplated challenging.
| built one within n year or two IN
any event. as It was generally known
| that he wanted something a little
\ better than Cambria.
Mai. Clifford in whose behalf the
Royal Canadian Yacht club issued a
| challenge In 1875, was the first TO
/ build boat especially to race for the
| cup. She was the schooner Countess
/ OF ufferin. She cost probably not
/ less than S26. 900 and not more than
/ S35, 900 10 build and race. II was
/ the beginning OF the building of
/ specially designed craft for Amer
/ teas cup races.
Both the Genesta and the Galatea
/ were built especially 10 race for the
| cup. The former came in 1885 and
| in that year the heavy expense OF
! defense began. although the begin
ming was a matter OF small import
! anCe compared with the expense Of
| today. The cost OF the building OF
/ Puritan in 1895, added 10 the cost
OF her management for the season
| figured up to about s36.eoc. IL cost
| almost as much for the building
and operating OF Priscilla. Puritan s
| unsuccessful rival.
! Costs Steadily Mount
| Nayhower cost about $4,000 20
| race in 1856. The clubs expense
/ and the management OF the race
/ was about 50 900 more There was
\ a second boat built in 1856 by a
\ syndicate Of mem bers or the Atlantic
I Yacht club AT the probable cost OF
/ not less than $50. 600. This boat was
\ called the Atlantic and subsequently,
I was sold 20 a yachtsman for a con
/ siderable portion Of her cost. Still
I IL was found money" for her orig
I inal owners.
Thistle the Scotch challenger AND
\ the American defender. Volunteer.
/ set back" their respective owners
/ abOut $50. 600 each. when they raced
I in 1857. The New York Yacht club
\ had an expense Of nearly $4,000 in
\ the management OF that series OF
\ races
/ Tho real heavy expense OF defend
\ ing the cup began in 1898. the year
/ Lord Durraven issued his first chal-
\ lenEe. In that year. four candidates
/ for the honor OF defending the
I trophy were built Vigilant finally
/ was chosen. II was stated after the
\ series that Nig.lant cost something
! like $50 600 70 build and race This
l sum was reduced to possibly $780,
/ 600 through tho sale OF the Yacht
| after the races. 10 George and How
/ ard Gould ColOnia. Jubilee and Pill
\ grim. the other three American
=