The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-10
BY MRS. c. O. ROBINSON
Times Hobby Editor

BY MRS. {. O. ROBINSON
Times Hobby Editor
TOR those who man the boats,
l. yacht racing is the most ex-
citing Of all sports, but I'M
fortunately only a favored few can
indulge in it as an active hobby.
As spectators, however, every one
may enjoy it. The spreading
clouds of sail on lofty spars against
a background of sky and water
make an exceedingly beautiful
panorama of action, thrilling and
picturesque.
When a race represents a tradi-
tional contest between English
and American yachtsmen, it be-
comes of intense interest to the
entire nation as well as the world
of sportsmen. such a race will
begin on Saturday of this week.
weather permitting. when two tall
maSted Glass J sloops spread their
sails over a thirty course off
Newport, r. l., in the first heat
of the sixteenth contest for the
Americas Cup. The yacht win
ming four of seven races will be
the victor.
This is the most expensive
single sporting event in the world
as the cost of the yachts and
their upkeep runs into millions of
dollars.
1t also is the greatest of ali
yachting events and is the cul-
mination of a summer of exciting
elimination races, involving some
Of the fastest and largest yachts
afioat, to prove the ones worthy
Of being the British challenger
and the American defender.
The Endeavour, owned by Thorn
as Octave Murdoch Sopwith, a
British airplane manufacturer, is
the challenger this year and the
defender is Rainbow, built for
New York Yacht Club syndicate
headed by Harold S. Vanderbilt,
who in 1880, commanded the last
defender, Enterprise.
The Americas Cup is only the
ornate silver ever, here shown.
which originally cost but 100
guineas. but it is the oldest and
most famous trophy in the world.
Although it has no great intrinsic
value, it stands for international
craftsmanship and sailing SUI
premacy, and never has left the
New York Yacht Club since it was
won eighty-three years ago in a
race of Cowes, England, by the
schooner America which was
owned by a group of New York
Yacht Club members.
IN 1851, the America was taken
across the Atlantic to chal-
lenge the best British yacht but
as she could find no single OPP
ponent, was entered on Aug. %,
1851. in the Royal Yacht Squad
ron race around the Isle of Wight.
Much to the CONSERVATION of the
squadron members and Queen
Victoria, who was watching the
regatta. the America won by great
odds over the fast British entries
and brought the Royal Squadron
cup to America. The Currier and
Ives print. here shown. was made
Of the victorious America in 1851,
and is today one of the rarest and
most valuable Of those old htho-
graphs.
In 1887 the owners of the Amer
lea presented the cup. now desig-
mated as the Americas cup, to the
New York Yacht Club to be held
as an international trophy. In
GLIDING the five attempts by the
plucky Irish baronet. the late Sir
Thomas Upton. the British have
made fourteen unsuccessful efforts
to recover the trophy. The first
challenge was offered in 1868
when their yacht Cambria was re-
quired to race against the entire
New York Yacht Club fleet.
They tried again in 1870 and
the Canadians took up the cnal-
lenge in 1875 and 1881. In 1885
the British re-entered the contest
with the Genesta, which was de-
feated by the Puritan. designed by
Edward Burgess father of w.
Starting Burgess who designed the
present defender. Rainbow. and
the last defender. Enterprise.
The elder Burgess designed the
next two winners, the Mayflower
in 1886. and the Volunteer in 1887.
In 1898 the Earl Of Dunraven's
Valkyrie II was defeated by the
Vigilant, the first of the great line
OF HerreShoff sloopS.
Lord Dunraven returned with
Valkyrie III in 1895, but went
home in pique. causing the
Royal Yacht Squadron 10 cease
conteSting. In 1899, the Royal
Ulster Yacht Squadron challenger
was Shamrock I. owned by Sir
Thomas Upton. Incidentally
Shamrock was wrecked only last
nHMRmn