268 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April 18, 1889. 



VALKYRIE AND THE CUP. 



THE name of Lord Dunraven's new cutter suggests forcibly 

 the story or the Nibelung's Ring, about which Wagner has 

 woven his marvelous poetry and music, and the lesson of the 

 ring is one that yachtsmen will do well to study to-day. The 

 legend in brief relates the theft of the Rhinegold from the 

 nymphs that guard it, the working of the sold into a ring by 

 the thief, from whom it is in turn stolen, only to be the cause of 

 crime and misfortune to each who in succession wrongfully pos- 

 sesses it. Under the influence of the curse, the pure gold, applied 

 to improper ends, brings evil to all who strive to possess ft un- 

 lawfullv, wreaking a fearful vengeance, until restored to its 

 rightful owners. By the action of the New York Y.C. two years 

 since, odd firmed again in the unfair decision of last week, the 

 Cup has been diverted from its high office as "a challenge cup 

 for friendly competition between foreign countries," and already 

 the effect of this action is seen in the eagerness to keep the Cup 

 by any means, rather than to risk it in a fair race. 



When yachtsmen who are recognized as leaders openly declare 

 that the defense of the America's Cup is not a matter of sport, 

 but of business, and. in accordance with this view, advise a course 

 which they admit is unfair, it looks as though the avaricious 

 spirit of the last deed was bearing fruit of its owu kind, and 

 preparing the way for a national disgrace. .If present counsels 

 prevail, and the Cup be held by force rather than fair sailing, it 

 may be depended on to work a curse as certain and sure as that 

 of the ring. 



WHO MADE THE RULE? 



THE adherents of Volunteer are pointing to the first clause of 

 Rule I. of the New York Y. C. in support of their claim that 

 the regular racing classes of the club shall not be recognized iu 

 the America's Cup contests. The clause in question precedes the 

 list of classes, and reads: "For club races yachts shall be divided 

 into classes as follows, but this classification shall not apply to 

 l-aces for any challenge cups held by or belonging to the club." 

 There might be some weight in this if it were an old rule of the 

 club, made without regard to the present case; but the fact is, 

 that it was but recently passed, and is a part and parcel of the 

 general scheme to revise the deed of gift and limit all cup races 

 to a special class. Nothing of the kind was found in the rules 

 until the last two years. Its force, too, is impaired by the intro- 

 ductory article of the racing rules, which says: "The following 

 racing rules shall govern all the races of the club, and any race 

 sailed under its auspices, union otherwise spicified between the 

 parties making the ■race."' In view of the clear and explicit word- 

 ing of this clause, and the fact that it applies to ail the rules 

 which follow it, the first quoted clause of Rule I, is evidently an 

 afterthought, and it would be a very nice point, to prove that it 

 is not invalidated by the preceding section. 



1 870 1 SS9. 



rpHE proper study of mankind is man, and. those who would 

 JL study the man of to-day cannot do so more thoroughly than 

 by looking back at the actions of his predecessor of a generation 

 ago; limes change and men may change with them, but human 

 nature is pretty much the same to-day as yesterday where self- 

 interest is concerned. We are moved to these remarks by a look 

 into some old papers of 1870, in which the doings of the New York 

 Y. C. at the time of the first challenge for the Cup are set forth in 

 bold tvpe, and where is found a striking parallel between the 

 situation at that time and that which prevails to-dav. Then as 

 now yachtsmen were divided over a question of fair play on the 

 one hand and the certain retention of the Cup on the other; then, 

 as now, the New York Y. C, through its officers and as a body, 

 was trying to do a mean and unsportsmanlike action, knowing 'it 

 to be so, and was looking every where for something to help it out. 

 Then, as now, men were impelled solely by a strong sense of duty, 

 aa trustees of the Cup, and attempts to discuss the matter openiy 

 were stopped by the Gilbertian chorus: 



"For duty, duty must be done, 



The fact is plain to every one; 



And painful though the task may be, 



To shirk it would be fiddle-dee-dee." 

 Then too tbe temporary holders of the Cup labored under the 

 delusion that they had a mortgage on it, that it was given solely 

 for the glorification of the New York Y, C, and thev were dis- 

 posed to make a favor of what they were compelled to grant as a 

 right. Then as now, there were some who were opposed to the 

 popular will, but, like to-day, only too few who had the backbone 

 to stand up and say so in the face of general opposition. True 

 that comprehensive and ingenious fiction of the "surviving 

 donor" had not been invented in those dark ages, but there were 

 sea-lawyers then as well as now, and they did not all sail on the 

 Cambria either. 



It would be hard to find an intelligent yachtsmen in this en- 

 lightened clay who would seriously contend that Valkyrie should 

 he compelled to sail one race over the club course against the en- 

 tire fleet, but such was the question over which opinion was 

 divided in 1870, when it was proposed to race Cambria, the one 

 challenger, against as many yachts as desired to enter, and she 

 was actually compelled to sail against a fleet of t welve. 



Sonic of the opinions then expressed would almost fit the case 

 to-day. "Devoted Yachtsman," presumably the late Mr. Edgar E. 

 Holly, wrote as follows: "The America's Cup, as it is called, is the 

 property of the New York Y. C, they are the custodians of it. It 

 is under the protection of the squadron [fastest yacht], and the 

 club should not be deprived of the possession of it except on the 

 defeat of the entire squarlnm [peerless Volunteer] by the foreign 

 yacht contending for it; then, and not until then, should the New 

 York Y. C. lose their title to the ownership of the trophy. I do 

 not think that the New York Yacht Club has the right to hazard 

 the loss Of that Cup on t he performance of any tingle [70ft.] yacht." 

 By replacing the words in italics by those after them in brackets, 

 the argument becomes identical with that advanced to-day. 



In April, 1870, the eloquent Col. Stuart M. Taylor waved the 

 starry banner in "friendly rivalry" over the red ensign of Britain, 

 and expressed himself us follows: "There are many who agree 

 with 'Devoted Yachtsman' in his very sensihle views over the 

 Queen's Cup, and the very heavy vote, 18 to 1, against selecting 

 any single schooner [70ft. yacht] to contend with the British cham- 

 pion wnen she makes her appearance in our waters to do battle 

 for the America's prize, recorded at the recent meeting of the 

 New York Club, speaks eloquently of the sentiment of the mem- 

 bers (the boat owners only voting), concerning our possession of 

 that valued trophy- It is looked upon justly, as those who 

 donated it intended it should be, as the property of the club, to 

 be defended against all comers by the entire fleet of schooners 

 [fastest yacht iu the world]. Its future possession is not to be 

 hazaided to the swiftness of any tingle [like-sized] American 

 champion, and Mr. Ashhury [Lord Dunraven] has no ripht to 

 assume that it should be otherwise. The club has now very 

 properly decidedly that the guardianship of our Cup shall be left, 

 to the merits of the entire, Jlcel oj schooners [queen of the American 

 fleet] on the day that Mr. Ashhury [Lord Dunraven] may be ready 

 to enter the Catnhria [Valkyrie] to compete for it. And how 

 much greater will be his rejoicing, and that of all England, if 

 from the little squodion [813ft. Volunteer] he can bear away single- 

 banded the laurels our own yachts snatched from fifteen British 

 vessels. Our terms are certainly not so very difficult, and as far 

 as precedent goes exceedingly fair," 



It is positively touching to sec the same tender solicitude for 

 the feelings of Mr. Ashbury that many are expressing to-day for 

 Lord Dunraven, who w ould not enjoy winning the Cup from 

 yachts of his class while Volunteer is in existence. Both of these 

 gentlemen knew at the time that what they termed a match was 

 simply a foregone conclusion, that by no possibility could Cam- 

 bria win over the New York course against twelve other vachts; 

 and in the same way every yachtsman knows to-dav that what is 

 proposed is not a match but a certain retention of the Cup. In 

 addition to such opinions from yachtsmen tbe law was called on 

 to add its sanction, as in the case of the last deed of gift, and Mr. 

 William Peet favored the club with a letter showing that it was 

 their bounden duty to make a match which every one realized 

 gave no more chance to the challenger than Valkyrie would have 

 against Volunteer to-day. 



it is interesting to know, however, that there was one man at 

 least in the New York Y. C. in 1870 who knew what was right and 

 was not afraid to say so. At the meeting of the club when it was 

 finally decided to sail the Whole fleet against tbe one English 

 yacht, when no disseuting voice was raised, the Commodore, Mr. 

 Henry G. Stebbins, of the schooner Phantom, forced the question 

 to a vote, and put himself on record as the one man in the club 

 who favored lair play. The names of the eighteen who voted 

 against him are buried in the musty records of the club, and it 

 is not worth while to dig them up, but brave Commodore Steb- 

 binB's name remains, while the ot hers are forgotten. The world 

 has grown better,, "she do move," and in this day of grace not 

 one but two men have dared to speak out for fair play in the New 

 YorkY r . C. Though iu a hopeless minority at the time. Commo- 

 dore Stebbins had to wait but one year before he found a full 

 vindication of his position in the consent of the club to sail but 

 one yacht in any race against a challenger for the Cup, and Messrs 



d'Oremieulx and Center may not have to wait even that long if 

 the many other members of the club who think with them in this 

 matter will only stiffen up their backbones a little and say out 

 real loud what they think. There were many who wanted to two 

 years since when the new deed was put before The club, but only 

 one, whose voice 13 now silent forever, dared to question the 

 arbitrary methods of the executive. 



The question of t he fleet against one was not a whit more unfair 

 t wenty years ago than that of Volunteer against Valkyrie is now; 

 and juat as to-day no one would think of defending the former, 

 by to-morrow men will wonder that they could ever have been so 

 unfair as to insist on a so-called match which they know can end in 

 but one way. There was a time, far back in t he past of yachting, 

 when OS necessity yachts of all sizes and rigs raced together. 

 The fleet was comparatively small in numbers, the vessels of all 

 sizes with so few of one size that it would have been impossible 

 to establish fixed classes, and all must race together or not at all. 

 A rough sort of co mpensation was found, however, in tbe fact 

 that the smaller craft were often superior in model and equip- 

 ment to the larger, and thus through quality were enabled to 

 make up the disadvantage due to size. Such a state of affairs has 

 long since ceased to exist, the yachts of any one class will compare 

 favorably with those of the others in quality, and the sole differ- 

 ence lies in size. Thus far, however, the most; successful attempts 

 to equalize this size by time allowance have proved very faulty, 

 and only of use when applied to yachts differing not more than 5 

 or 6ft. in length. This fact is recognized as clearly by the New 

 York Y. C. as by any yachting body in the world; and when the 

 club at t empts to take ad vantage of such an accident (which it 

 proposes to remedy before next season if possible) to retain pos- 

 session of an international trophy intrusted temporarily to its 

 care, the time has come for every fair-mined American, in or out 

 of the club, to protest against such rank injustice. The task is a 

 thankless one at the time, men must incur a good deel of ill will 

 and gain no material advantage iu return, and while there are 

 many in the New York Y. C. who have no better opinion of the last 

 deed of gift and the conduct of the present races than we have, 

 there are few who care to go into such a battle for a principle. 

 By way of reassuring these doubting ones Ave would remind them 

 that the whole clumsy fabric, built up since the Thistle races, to 

 keep the America's Cup, is based on a shaky foundat ion, which 

 could be overturned in a moment by process of law, if such a 

 course was desirable; and that iu a ny case it must collapse sooner 

 or later under that sense of fair play which we believe to be still 

 inherent in the American people. 



TWO WEEKS WASTED. 



TN marked contrast to the delay which has characterized the 

 J. action of the New York Y. C. over Lord Dunraven's challenge 

 is the very prompt manner in wliich the club shut off Mr. Sweet's 

 challenge nearly two years since. In the present case, with a 

 challenge, received at the end of March, there was not a moment 

 to lose, and yet three weeks have been wasted and tbe club has 

 not yet come out openly with a declaration of what it proposes to 

 do. In the cnBe of Mr. Sweet's challenge a whole year intervened 

 before a race could be sailed, and yet not a moment was lost in 

 hurrying through the illegal deed of gift wliich prevented him 

 from building. On Friday. Sept. 80, Mr. Sweet's challenge was 

 written, and on Monday, Oct. 3, a special meeting of the New 

 York Y. C. was held, nominally to arrange for a reception to Vice- 

 Corn. Bell and a dinner to Messrs. Paine and Burgess, but actu- 

 ally to alter entirely the conditions governing the America's Cup. 

 We have never been able to obtain a copy of the call for this 

 meeting, and cannot say whether or no the chief business for 

 which it was called— the alteration of the deed of gift— was men- 

 tioned iu it. in accordance with Rule lit. of the by-lays; but in 

 any case the legal limit of three days' notice (which docs not 

 usually include Sunday) was pushed very hard in order to call a 

 meeting between Saturday morning and Monday night. Be this 

 as it may, the fact remains that the whole business of changing 

 the deed of gift was smuggled into the three days bet-ween Friday 

 night, when Mr. Sweet's challenge was written, and the follow- 

 ing Monday night. 



In Lord Dunraven's case the challenge was received on Friday, 

 March 29, and a meeting could have been called on Tuesday, at 

 which all preliminaries might have been arranged, A simple in- 

 spection of the documents would show any intelligent man that 

 they were iu proper form, a formal challenge on behalf of the 

 Royal Yacht Squadron, represented by Lord Duuraven, and an 

 informal letter from that gentleman proposing a mutual agree- 

 ment of certain terms. There was not the slightest question of 

 accepting or declining the challenge, as the club had no option 

 but to accept it. If the whole matter had been thrown open to 

 discussion at one meeting the main points could have been quickly 

 decided and the details left to a committee as in previous cases; 

 but the management of the club did not care to risk such a course. 

 A week elapsed before a meeting was held, giving time to arrange 

 the necessary preliminaries, then the members were treated to 

 the reading of the challenge and accompanying documents, aud 

 also to a ready-made resolution appointing an unneeessarycommit.- 

 tee, after which they were sent borne. Another week was wasted, 

 nominally, in deciding whether the club would accept a challenge 

 which it' had no power to reject, and then the members came 

 together to be told what every one knew, that the challenge was 

 perfectly legal and the club had accepted it. As to the great 

 question, the size of the defender, all discussion was prevented by. 

 Com. Gerry's prompt ruling, andthematter was not suffered logo 

 before the club, but was turned over to a committee which could 

 be trusted. 



Had it been so disposed the New York Y. C. could have for- 

 mally accepted Lord Dunraven's challenge on April 3, deciding 

 at the same time to meet him in a fair match, in which case it is 

 safe to say that at least four new yachts would be well under way 

 to-day, with six months' time to complete and try them in. 



The reason for the delay is only too plain. In order to keep the 

 Cup beyond hazard Volunteer is to be put agai nst Valky rie.whether 

 or no such a course is in accordance with the wishes of the 

 majority of the club, and in order to prevent any contretemps 

 which might spoil this plan it was necessary to arrange matters 

 very carefully before submitting it to an open meeting of the 

 club. 



WHICH IS IT? 



THE practical selection of Volunteer by the New York Y. C. is 

 based on the assumption that she is the fastest yacht in the 

 world. There is no doubt that she is a very fast yacht, but at the 

 same time there is room for doubt as to whether she is really 

 faster for her size than any 70-footer that could be built to beat 

 her. True she has beaten all the 70ft. class much more than her 

 allowance, but this of itself no more proves that she is very fast 

 than it does that the allowance is much too small, wliich latter is 

 known to be true. Judged from her sailing with all classes it is 

 probable that Volunteer is, as claimed, the fastest yacht in 

 America; but now she stands alone, with nothing of her class to 

 try her speed by or to improve her. If as might easily be the 

 case, half a dozen new seventies were built at once by Burgess, 

 Smith, Gardner and some of the "dark horses," if is more tha.n 

 likely that out of the fleet of nine or ten boats, old and new, in- 

 cluding, Bedouin, Katrma, Shamrock and Tilania, a far better 

 yacht than Volunteer would bo found. The choice of Volunteer 

 means a cessation of all efforts toward improvement, an ignoble 

 contentment with what we have, and stagnation in yacht build- 

 ing and racing, ending with a contest whose result is known in 

 advance. The selection of the 70ft. class means work for design- 

 ers, builders, skippers and sailors, more racing, good sport, plenty 

 of money in yachting, and an honorable race in the end. The 

 gentlemen who kindly conduct the destinies of the New York Y. 

 C. have decided for the former; will American yachtsmen iudorse 

 their decision? 



RATHER HARD ON THE CHALLENGER. 



IF Lord Dunraven had built a yacht of ' Volunteer's length he 

 would have been at once outbuilt by the defenders of the Cup; 

 if he had built a larger yacht he would have been accused of dis- 

 honesty and an attempt to overreach; aud now that he has built 

 a yacht tor the only live class of Americau siuglestickors above 

 40ift., the men who propose to out-match him are calling him a 

 fool for trusting in the honor and fairness of the New York Y. C. 

 Verily, the lot of a challenger for the America's Cup is not a 

 happy one. 



NEW 70-FOOT YACHTS. 



MR. A. E. BATEMAN, owner of Meteor, steam yacht, and Mi-. 

 P. S. Pearsall, owner of Banshee, cutter, have offered to 

 build a 70ft. yacht in time for the trial races. Their offer was 

 made to the New York Y. O. at its last meeting. The Soawan- 

 baka C. Y. C. had also under way a plan to build a 70-footer im- 

 mediately. In view of the last action of the New York Y. C. 

 neither yacht is likely to be built, as there could be no hope of 

 beating Volunteer with the present time allowance. 



THE NEW YORK Y. C. AND THE CHALLENGE. 



THE meeting of the New York Y. C. on April 11 was but a 

 repetition of the farce of the previous Friday, the business 

 being transacted in the peculiar and arbitrary manner which 

 characterizes the present management of tbe club. At the pre- 

 vious meeting a committee, including Messrs. James D. Smith 

 (chairman), Rutherford Stuyvesant, William Krebs, Joseph R. 

 Busk, Ogden Goelet, J. Frederic Tams and Gouverneur Kortright, 

 was appointed under the following resolution: 



"Resolved. That -a special committee consisting of seven, with 

 the addition of the flag officers, ex officio, be appointed by the 

 (Commodore, to whom shall be referred the whole subject of the 

 communication just received from the Earl of Dunraven, to re- 

 port without delay whether the samo is in proper form and in ac- 

 cordance with the action heretofore taken by the club, and also 

 whether it is expedient for the club to accept the same or what 

 action shall be taken thereto." 



This committco presented a brief written report to the effect 

 that the challenge was in due form, which report was accepted 

 and a motion made and carried to accept the report and discharge 

 the committee with thanks. A motion was next made by Mr. J. 

 D. Smith to appoint a committee to have charge of all arrange- 

 ments for the races, and being carried the same committee was 

 reappointed, including the flag officers e.e officio, Mr. Ogden Goelet, 

 who withdrew, being replaced by Mr. Philip L. Schuyler. Mr. L. 

 F. d'Oremieulx then offered the following resolution: 



"Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that the selection 

 of a vessel to defend the America's Cup in the coming match with 

 the Earl of Dunraven's cutter Valkyrie be confined to Class 8 of 

 sloops, cutters and yawls, to wit: All over 61ft. and not over 70ft. 

 load water line length." 



Mr. Robert Center spoke very strongly for the resolution, urging 

 the club to make a fair race, but on motion of Treasurer F. W. J. 

 HurBt the commodore ruled that Mr. d'Oremieulx's resolution 

 was out of older, and all debate on tbe question was promptly 

 shut off. Thus for a second time within a week the members 

 has been called together to listen to a report or resolution already 

 cut and dried, on which a vol* lias been taken without a fair op- 

 portunity being given for discussion. The same methods were 

 employed two yeare since in revising the deed of gift, and many 

 members are repeating the remark then made, "What are we 

 here for? ' While opinion in the club iB s.till strong in favor of 

 putting Volunteer against Valkyrie, at the same time the advo- 

 cates of this scheme were not ready to risk a fair discussion and 

 vote on Mr. d'Oremieulx's resolution. On the following day a 

 meeting of the committee was held at which it was decided to sail 

 all races outside the Hook, and also to grant Lord Dunraven's re- 

 quest for five races instead of three, but all to be sailed under the 

 New York Y. C.'s measurement. The following circular was also 

 prepared: 



New York, Apr ill3,188t).— The America's Cup Committee request 

 those owners who are desirous that their yachts should represent 

 the New York Y. C. in the coming contest with the Valky- 

 rie for t he possession of the America's Cup and those whopropose 

 to build vessels with that intention, to so notify the committee at 

 once— the sole condition being that any vessel entered on the list 

 shall he subject to selection by the committee as the repre- 

 sentative of the New York Y. C, the committee reserving to 

 themselves the right of forming their own judgment as to fitness 

 for the purpose in view, irrespective of the result of races. 



For the purposes of this contest it has been deemed advisable 

 by the committee to con fine the selection to single-masted vessels, 

 and also to vessels that would be included in classes 1. 2 and 3, 

 New York Y. C. classification— namely, all over 61ft. long on the 

 load water line. 



Any yacht or other vessel, propelled by sails only, coming within 

 the foregoing requirements, will be considered eligible, whether 

 belonging to a member of the New York Y. C. or otherwise. 



For t lie purpose of forming a judgment the committee will 

 avail itself of the result of races during the summer and will 

 arrange for such further trial races as they may deem desirable, 

 due notice of which will be given. 



Entries and all other communications should be addressed to 

 the chairman of the committee, Mr. James D. Smith, 23 Broad 

 street, New York city. 



James D. Smith, Chairman. 

 Rutherford Stuyvesant, 

 J. R. Busk, 

 William Krebs, 

 J. Frederic Tams, 

 Philip Shuyler, 



Gouvebnt.ur Kortright, Secretary. 



Commodore Gerry, j 



Vice-Commodore Fish, v Ex-Officio. 



Rear-Commodore Rogers, 1 

 The plaiu English of the above is that after taking two weeks 

 to reach a decision the New York Y. C. declines to bind itself to 

 make a fair and equal match, but reserves the right to select the 

 largest yacht available. If any ambitious sportsman is fool 

 enough to hope that he can build a 70-footer that can save her 

 time off of Volunteer, under the present rules, he is at liberty to 

 try, and if he succeeds his boat may possibly be chosen. Beyond 

 this the club declines to do anything to encourage the building of 

 new yachts, in spite of the fact that at a word from it at least 

 four new keels would be laid inside of three weeks. Messrs. 

 Bateman and Pearsall arc ready to begin a 70-footer immediately, 

 the Seawanbaka C. Y. C. will start another, Boston wiU have a 

 boat iu the class and others are ready to built. Mr. Burgess has 

 a design partly completed, Mr. Borden has one ready, also Mr. D, 

 J. Lawlor, while Mr. Smith and Mr. Gardner have begun designs 

 of their own. Never before was there such a boom right at hand, 

 yet the great yachting body of the world, the rich, the powerful, 

 the spirited New York Yacht Club bars the way by its present 

 action. Its duty, as the club sees it, is not to promote designing, 

 building or international racing, but to keep the cup by the surest 

 methoo in its possession. The following message has been sent 

 by cable, and letters will be mailed this week: 



Secretary Royal Yacht Squadron: Please notify Dunraven chal- 

 lenge accepted. Details referred to committee. Oddie. 



OUR POSITION. 



THE question of 86 or 70ft. has by no means been decided by the 

 negative action of the New York Y. C, but promises to be- 

 come a very important issue before the first trial races are sailed. 

 In taking its present position in the matter the Forest and 

 Stream has sought to advocate only fair play and sportsmanlike 

 conduct, apart from any outside issues, and to be guided only by 

 the customs of sport among gentlemen. We have no desire to 

 aid Lord Dunraven to capture the America's Cup, nor to con- 

 tribute to the defeat of the New York Y. C; but we have at heart 

 the honor of American yacht ing and the reputation of American 

 yachtsmen as fair-minded, liberal and chivalrous sportsmen. As 

 we look at the question it should be discussed solely in the light 

 of what is considered fair among yachtsmen, and without regard 

 to such questions as the probable loss of the Cup; or of the con- 

 duct of British yachtsmen on various occasions. 



It is by no means certain that Valkyrie can outsail the present 

 70ft. fleet and the new yachts that might be built to beat her. but 

 even if it were we hold that such a consideration should not be 

 entertained in deciding what is fair or unfair in itself. 



The whole foundation of yacht racing rests on the assumption 

 that speed is not absolute but relative, that it varies in a certain 

 ratio with the size, and the efforts of yachtsmen for thirty years 

 have been directed to the discovery of a correct method of equal- 

 izing this difference by an allowance of time. Yachtsmen every- 

 where have recognized that size means speed, that the largest 

 yacht is of necessi ty faster, and that it is no discredit for a yacht- 

 in one class to be beaten by one in a class above her. If this were 

 not true there would be no racing, tbe largest yacht, unless of 

 very defective model, would always win, and no one would enter 

 against her. Recognizing this fact, there is not a yachting or- 

 ganization in the world which has not divided its fleet into 

 classes, with allowances for difference of size within those classes. 

 As a matter of necessity inter-class racing is found at times, but 

 the result is always unsatisfactory, as under all existing systems 

 of allowance the large boat must win. The Goelet Cup race each 

 year is open to all yachts, but no one ever expects a 70-footer to 

 win, or thinks the worse of her because she loses. 



If it could bo claimed that the present time allowance in any 

 way compensated for the difference in size between Volunteer, 

 86ft., and Valkyrie, 70ft., there would be less objection to such a 

 race; but that it does uot is fttllv conceded by those who insist 

 on the choice of Volunteer. The first tiial race proved that Puri- 

 tan, 80ft. long, could more than give her time to the 70ft. class, 

 and iu four years of continuous racing nothing has been shown 

 to the contrary in the many races which the 90 and 70ft. classes 

 have sailed side by side. The most emphatic statement of the 

 fact yet made was in t he report of the committee on a revision of 

 the rules of the New York Y. C, read at the meeting of March 2$, 

 one day before Valkyrie's challenge was received. In this same 

 report, the committee, made up of such able men as Gen. Paine, 

 Vice-Corn. Fish, Messrs. John Hyslop, A. Cary Smith and E. A. 

 Willard, laid special emphasis on the fact that the present system 

 of time allowance of the New York Y. C. is entirely inadequate to 



