Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-08-31
FORE
and
AFT
By MALCOLM LAMBoRNE

Four fast 12-meter sloops-
the product of three noted
American designers and of
countless experts in building.
rigging and tuning-tomorrow
move into the final climactic
trials to pick the United States
defender of Americas Cup of
Newport, R. I.
Perhaps by the end Of the
week, the cup selection COM
mittee will have seen enough
and have decided in their own
minds whether Vim, Columbia,
Weatherly or fastener is the
boat to take on the British
challenger, Sceptre.
However, if the match races
continue as close as earlier
trials and the New York Yacht
Club cruise, then the elimina-
tons may run even longer. The
committee has until September
Is to announce its choice for
the Observation-Disclosures
races for the cup starting Sep
TENDER 20.
\ \ X 4
There is some sentiment for
eliminating two of the boats as
early in the final trials as pos
sible. Then the remaining two
could fight it out. But again,
the shippers and crews may
produce further surprises. The
big news, for instance, in the
recently completed observation
trials was the way the Mercer
syndicate'S Wetherly started to
perform under Skipper Arthur
Knapp. He won six and lost
two, after the experts had been
saying the Rhodes designed
Sloop just didn't have it.
When you count up all the
races between the four since
early July, John Matthews 18-
year-old Vim has had the best
record: Is wins, 10 losses. Then
comes the pride of the New
York YC, the Sears syndicate
Columbia which has everything
in its favor, including Briggs
Cunningham at the wheel, Rod
Stephens up forward and all
sorts of additional brains and
talent; her score: 81 wins, IA
losses. Weatherly has IS wins
and 20 losses. Chandler Hovey's
fastener from Boston has won
only 9 and lost "a.
They are interesting figures,
but the committee leans heavily
on the upcoming finals to tell
the story. At this point it looks
like either Vim or Columbia. CO.
lumbia is this writer's selection,
provided her crew can hit the
starting line right on the gun.
That has been her weak point
up to now.
AS for the eventual winner,
look for the cup to remain in
this country as it has done
since 1851.
Would you like to see the cup
races from the promenade deck
of the SIS Arosa Star? An out
side deluxe stateroom with
shower and twin beds will cost
two persons $500 plus the 10
per cent Federal tax, for the
week.
1t looks like about 10 start
erS in the unlimited hydro race
for the Presidents Cup starting
here September 20. Doug Lam
borne reported this at a regatta
luncheon last Monday following
attendance on behalf of the
regatta association at the Silver
Cup regatta in Detroit last
Saturday.
They should be Bill Wag-
gonner'sr high point leader
Maverick, Bill Stead driving;
Ole Bardahl's Miss Bardahl.
Mira Slovak; George Simons'
Miss U. S. l, Fred Alter: the
Buffalo Syndicate's Wildroot
Charlie, Bob Schroeder: Joseph
Schoenith's Gale VI, Lee
Schoeniths Gale v, Bill Cam
trell; Chuck Thompson's Miss
Detroit, T h pson: Jim
ThompSon's Miss Supertest II,
Bob Hayward; Jack Schafer's
Such Crust III. and possibly
Mike Welch's Hawaii Kai, 1857
regatta winner here.
Lee Schoenith had his Stau-
acknowledged jet boat out on
the Detroit River for a trial
spin and he made around 100
miles an hour. There are still