Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31


in America 10 carry fore topmast
THE reputs ton earned on that first little run
IN was so great that for three weeks Com
xnodore Stevens was unable to find any yacht
willing to meet the America in match He
made an offer to race any schooner in Europe
but received no response. Then he offered to
meet any schooner or cutter and still silence
greeted the challenge. Then he posted notice
in the club house of the Royal Yacht Squadron
that he would any British vessel of any
type or classification for even money wager
of anything from $500 to $4,000. After three
weeks this offer withdrawn, having met
with no response. Finally however, Robert
Stephenson Offered to meet the America in a
4O-mie race with his schooner Titania for $780,
This race was 20 miles to windward and return
and was Won by the America with a margin of
50 minutes, although she lost her fore gaff
and had to stop for repairs
The owners and crew of the America were
bitterly disappointed by their failure to get
matches The British public and press also
denounced tie unSportSmanlike attitude of the
English yachtsmen in fearing to meet this
Sphantom" from across the seas The Britons
justified themselves however, by declaring that
the America a mere she'll and an imprac-
tical boat in spite of the fact that she sailed
5000 miles across the sea to meet them and
won her first race decisively while fully loaded
with stores and supplies.
However, the week before the race with the
Tftania was held the America was entered in
the regular regatta of the Royal Yacht Squad
ron. This race was around the Isle of Wight
without time allowance and from an anchor
start All boats eligible and the trophy
WAS the then insignificant Hundred Guineas
Cup.
The Americas owners decided to try for the
cup in spite of the fact that the race was so
decidedly one-sided, the course for more than
half its distance depending entirely on a
knowledge of the peculiar tides, currents and
land winds.
This race was sailed on August 81 1851 ard
marks the real beginning of the history of the
Americas Cup Nine schooners and nine cut
ters started, four of them being larger boats
than the America. The cutters started to-
gether first, followed by the schooners in line
q quarter of mile astern. The starting gun
was fired at 10 O'Clock in the morning and sail
was hoiSted. America was slow in getting
away, but the delay made no difference for by
the time the Nab point was reached, IL miles
away, America was fifth
Turning the point America was forced to
SAID close to the wind, the breeze coming almost
dead ahead Of the course. This was exactly the
Kind of weather in which the Yankee craft was
at its BEST and by the time st. GATHERINGS was
reached was out of sight of every other boat in
the race. Here the tides caught her and she
made little Roadway, two of the Britons coming
close behind. But the tide was soon con-
euered and fast run was made back to Cowes,
America winning by two full miles. Only four
ether boats crossed the line that night
The British protested the race a trivial
eechnicality, but the victory Of the America
was upheld ami the Hundred Guinea Cup went
b the syndicate.
This was the only return the syndicate re-
Oeived on its investment, the hope of making