New-York tribune., 1922-10-02
Henry Ford the Only New
American Craft, While
Canada Has Three Boats
Built for the Classic
Bluenose Has Opposition
Canada and MallaslSa Both
Are Likely Contenders in
the Elimination Trials
BY Frederick 3. Edwards

sided.
The American elimination races,
which will be held at Gloucester dur
ing the second week of October, will
see only one new entrant, the Henry
Ford. On the other hand, the Cana
dian eliminations will present three
speedy boats, each of which was built
since the fishermen's race was insti-
tuted and designed with at least one
eye on the race.
Gloucester generally comedies that
the Henry Ford will almost certainly
be the American representative in this
years series. Gloucester admits that
the Mayfower could have beaten the
Ford, and that the Puritan, which was
lost off Sable Island early this summer,
also could have turned the trick. Cap'n
Ben Pine AYERS stoutly that the Puri-
tan could have shown the Mayfower a
full view of her stern, but Cap'n Pine
must not be taken too seriously. He
owned large slice of the Puritan and
he loved her.
"The loss Of that boat took years off
my life" Cap'n Pine said recently.
New York Craft Entered
In place Of the Puritan the Elizabeth
Howard, of New York registry and
Gloucester ownership, will be entered.
The Elizabeth Howard is being raced
more for the sentiment Of the thing
than for any practical reason. To be-
gin with, she IS knockabout, and no
boat without bowsprit can be expect
ed to have the foot of ship rugged
as is the Henry Ford. The P. Manta
and perhaps a couple more of the
older type of Gloucesterman will be
sailing the course with the Henry
Ford and the Elizabeth Howard, but
none of these is conceded by the
Gloucester wiseacres even an outside
chance to beat the Ford.
The Henry Ford, according to
Gloucester, would give the Bluenose
pretty race for the cup, and the prize
money. The two boats are built on
similar lines and have almost iden-
tical sailing characteristics. Both are
broad in the snose and on an even
keel push the:water aside rather than
cut it. 1t is one Of Captain Angus Wal
ters's great griefs that his Bluenose
throws up so heavy wave when the
wind is light On the other hand, put
either the Ford OR the Bluenose with
one rail under, and it. IS capable of
walking away from alncs. acy cpposi-
tion. If the Ford wins Che American
trials and the Bluenose is again the
Canadian choice, the resultant race
should be classic.
Bluenose Has Two Rivals
1t lis by no means as certain as it
is assumed to be here that the Blue
nose will be the Canadian representa-
tive. Nova Scotia has turned out two
others besides the Bluenose since the
race was organized, the Canada, which
fopped dismally last year, and the Ma
haska. The Canada, which looks more
like yacht than either the Mayfower
or the Bluenose, was built at Shell
burne, N. S. Her failure to make a
better race of it last fall was bitter
disapp ointment to her sponsors, but it
is generally conceded that the fault
was not so much with the boat herself
ballasted. Presumably she will 90 to
the races this year with new suit of
sails and different trim, and in this
event she may prove to be surprise
TO the Lunenburg contingent.
There remains the Mahaska, the mys-
terry ship Of the Canadian fleet. This
schooner was built by Smith & Rhu-
land at Lunenburg, and has done her
turn on the Banks with the rest, SO
presumably will bc eligible for the
Canadian eliminations, according to the
Halifax trustees best judgment. The
most significant thing about the
Mahaska is that it is virtually impos-
sible for an outsider to gain any in
formation whatever about her sailing
qualities. Halifax experts concede
that she is speedy ship, but when an
attempt is made to pin them down to
detail they talk blandly >about the
weather or the evil ways of the Ameri.
on the unsophisticated Nova Scotians
by persuadng them against their will
to accept the Mayhower's entry. This
may mean that the Mahaska is really
an unknown quantity in Nova Scotia;
on the other hand, 1t may mean that
the Mahaska is the real dope for the
big race.
Bluenose Backers Worried
The Bluenose camp is uneasy about
something, beyond any question. Be-
fore the Mayflower controversy pushed
its way forward there was a fierce
agitation in Nova Scotia on the subject
of whether or not the Bluenose should
be required to defend her hard-won
honors in this years elimination races.
The supporters of the Bluenose con-
tended that having won last year she
was entitled to be excused from this
falls eliminations and should be re-
quired to race for the privilege of de-
Tending her trophy only if another
Nova Scotian turned up which ap-
peared to have won right to special
consideration. This argument was
quashed, and last years winner will
have to fight it out again in the elimi-
nations; but the fact that the argu-
ment was made appears to indicate
that the 1921 winner is not any too
anxious again to buck the fastest in
the feet in free-for-all contest.
On this side the border, however,
sailing men are chiefly concerned with
the sorry circumstance that while the
Canadians will send three new type
vessels to the trial races--the Blue
nose, the Canada and the Mahaska-