642 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Juke 23, 1894. 



Vigilant Abroad. 



"Thalassa ," who is as well known to yachtsmen on both sides of 

 the Atlantic as "Devoted Yachtsman" once was about New York, 

 contributes the following to the Yachting World, of June 1; m which 

 paper/by the way, is a portrait of the gentleman, with a picture of 

 his new yacht, Pente. designed by him. *..„,., , . , 



-Vigilant comes! Then be vigilant, ob, ye English yachtsmen who 

 are fortunate in owning 150 or 160-raters! . 



'•First and foremost, have your boats carefully measured tor rating 

 length and the marks affixed so that they 'represent (or exceed) the 

 extreme length for immersion when the yacht is lying m smooth 

 water in her usual racing trim, including racing crew on board, at and 

 about mid-over-aU length.' Be careful to have the number of persons 

 on board noted and recorded when the yacht is measured by the 

 official measurer. Let this be a covering number to m chide guests 

 when racing; never exceed this number, and when Vigilant arrives be 

 careful to have her measured in a similar manner and strictly m ac- 

 cordance with the rule just quoted. Remember that \ieilantbeat 

 Valkyrie principally, if not solely, because she was driven by greater 

 horse power— by a larger sail area. , 



'•If she be measured properly in racing trim it is evident, that no 

 extra hands can be carried when racing under our-rules unless these 

 extra hands be on board when the length is taken. It is a well known 

 fact that the extra hands she carried m the Cup races gave her ad 

 ditional length and stability, which her rival, being of smaller beam, 

 could not effectively obtain in a similar manner. 



"She carried no less than 1 ,550 square feet more canvas than Valkyrie, 

 and to a great extent did so by means of ballast, which was not on 

 board at measurement. The racing here should be conducted strictly 

 in accordance with Y. R. a. rules, and the spirit of Rule 15 is antagon- 

 istic to any form of shifting ballast other than that of a centerboard 

 and the ordinary crew of a racing yacht. In the smaller classes, 10- 

 rating and under, this principle has been applied, limits in the total 

 number of persons on board during a race being laid down for these 

 classes by Rule 14, and the measurement for length taken accordingly. 

 The words 'racing trim 1 in Rule 3 can therefore only be translated to 

 mean, with all persons on board; and this matter, although it may 

 seem insignificant to some people, will probably have a great bearing 

 on the success or otherwise of the Vigilant In these, or indeed in any 

 other, waters. v „ , , 



"The yacht is so good that we cannot afford to give away any points 

 in the game, and, although there is nothing in our rules to prevent her 

 putting a very large number of people on board, we can and should 

 insist upon that number being there when she is measured, and we 

 can and should insist upon that number never being exceeded in any 

 of our races or matches. 



"Mr. Henry Allan, owner of the Wenonah, wrote to the Field last 

 week concerning the inconvenience and the difficulty of attaching the 

 marks for rating length; but the arrival of a foreign yacht for racing 

 in our water? at once shows the importance of having such marks on 

 the hulls of all the competitors— marks which can be examined by any 

 one in a dingy, either before or after a race In the absence of such 

 marks the. racing trim might be altered very considerably and even 

 the rating length of a yacht be. increased without the owner being 

 aware of it or intending to do anything wrong. 



"The marks are a great help to those who wish neither to receive 

 nor to give any advantage; and the small amount of trouble connected 

 with them is a mere cat's-paw when compared with toe tempest of 

 worries that continually blows on a racing owner." 



! i There is nothing ;u this that any one can object to; the rules are 

 perfectly clear and fair to all; in fact, such an obvious evasion as that 

 of Vigilant's ballast crew of last year is not possible under them, in 

 which respect they are better than the rules of the New York Y. C. 

 In spite of the conservatism and selfishness of some clubs on both 

 sides, which not unnaturally look to self-interest first and to the ab 

 stract principles of fair sport afterward, one of the eucouraging signs 

 of late years is the marked tendency toward fairer and more liberal 

 rules and conditions, both between the clubs of one nation and between 

 any two nations. While there may be some exceptions, we have little 

 doubt that Vigilant will receive perfectly fair treatment in her races in 

 British waters. 



The following report of Vigilant's arrival was cabled from Gourock 

 on June 16: 



The American yacht Vigilant arrived at Gourock at 3 o'clock this 

 afternoon, having made the passage from New York in 15 days and 9 

 hours. All on board are well, and the yacht is in splendid condition. 



A representative of the United Press on board the tug Champion 

 met the Vigilant off Cumbray Head, IS miles from Greenock, at 1:45 

 o'clock this afternoon. The American yacht presented a beautiful 

 sight as she sailed majestically up the Firth of Clyde, with all sails 

 set. The Stars and Stripes flying from her jigger stood as straight as 

 a steeple. The breeze was from the southwest, about 12 miles an 

 hour. 



The Champion ran close to the Vigilant, and the reporter boarded 

 her. He was heartily greeted by Capt. Jaffrey and the other officers 

 of the yacht. Trie rails and life lines of the Vigilant had been removed 

 last night, and her decks were perfectly clear. The paint on her hull 

 was hardly scratched , Capt. Jaffrey conducted the reporter to the 

 cabin, where a large floral horseshoe in an excellent state of ureserva- 

 tion was hanging from a stBnchion. 



Everybody on board was well, and there had been no sickness during 

 the voyage. On the second day out the jigger was altered from the 

 muttonleg sail to the gaff, finding that it worked better. Though 

 there was a good deal of fog, the sun always shone at noon, so that 

 they were able to gei sights every day. The sails were hardly touched 

 all the way over and the decks were nearly always dry. Capt. Jaffrey 

 wore slippers the entire voyage. 



The Vigilant covered 2,930 miles to Tory Island in 14 days and 8 

 hours. The course taken was only 25 miles miles longer than the 

 regular course for steamers. The following are some extracts from 

 her log: 



Friday, June 1— At 9 o'clock in the evening passed South Shoal 

 Lighthouse. 



Saturday, June 2— Saw Anchor liner take a pilot. 

 Sunday, June 3— Foggy until noon. 



Monday, June 4— Signalled steamer west bound at 6:30 o'clock in the 

 morning. 



Tuesday, June 5.— Signalled a steamer at 4 o'clock in the morning; 

 imrned lights. 



Wednesday, June 0— Signalled steamer at 2 o'clock in the morning; 

 burned lights; she did not answer, although she was close aboard. 

 At 4 o'clock in the afternoon passed an iceberg 200ft. higli only 50yds. 

 away; a lovely night. 



Thursday, June 7— Calm; heavy sea; took in mainsail, owing to the 

 rolling of the boat, from 8 to 12 o'clock at night. 



Friday, June 8— Carried away topmast at noon; saved sail; made 

 another topmast from spinaker boom and had it up in five hours. 

 Spoke tank steamer Standard, bound west; ran close, and conversed; 

 Standard cheered Vigilant. 



Saturday, June 9— Fair sailing. 



Sunday, June 10— Fair sailing. 



Monday, June 11— Rainy and foggy. 



Tuesday, June 12— Fair sailing. 



Wednesday, June 13— Fog; occasionally clear. 



Thursday, June 14— Foggy most of the time. 



Friday, June 15— Sighted Malin Head at- 11:30 o'clock in the morn- 

 ing, and at noon saw Tory Island due east. At 2 o'clock passed Tory 

 Island, and reported 14 days 8 hours; fine passage. Tory Island sig- 

 nalled "Thanks." Shaped course east by south for Innistrahull. 



The time actually made by the Vigilant from Sandy Hook Lightship 

 to Tory Island was 1* days 7 hours and GO minutes. The daily runs, 

 from noon, were as follows: 



First ten hours 88 miles, second 225, third 126, fourth 183, fifth 241 

 sixth 211, seventh 243, eighth 225, ninth 211, tenth 127, eleventh 256' 

 twelfth 188, thirteenth 198, fourteenth 143, fifteenth 246, two hours to 

 Tory Island 13. 



Tue yacht Mohican, with a party of Americans, met the Vigilant in 

 the lower Clyde and cheered her, They afterward sailed in company 

 with her to Gourock. 



Vigilant was towed to Henderson's .yard on Monday, where she will 

 be fitted out as speedily as possible. Atalanta did not reach Cowes 

 until Friday, so Capt. Haff arrived at Glasgow only after Vigilant was 

 in. The steamer Ethiopia, carrying the racing spars and extra crew 

 was also delayed by collision with an iceberg, the soars of Vigilant 

 heing used to reinforce the bulkhead after the hows were stove In. 

 The spars were uninjured, but were not ready ashore, as it was ex- 

 pected they would be. 



The regular events open to Vigilant's class after July 1 are as fol- 

 lows: July 3, Royal Largs; 4, Royal Western; 5-6, Mudhook; 7-9 

 Royal Clyde; 10, Clyde Corinthian; 11-12, Royal Northern. From the 

 Clyde the fleet goes to Ireland, the Royal Ulster Y. C. regatta being 

 sailed on Belfast Lough on July 16-17, followed by the° Royal St 

 George, at Kingstown, on July 18-19-21; the Royal Muuster on July 

 24, and the Royal Cork, at Queenstown, on July 26. Then tie fleet 

 continues to Cowes, where the "Cowes week" begins on Aug 7 with 

 tour days 1 racing by the Royal Yacht Squadron. On Aug. 11 comes 

 the Royal Portsmouth Corinthian, on Ang. 14 the Royal Victoria at 

 Ryde, and on Aug. 20 the Royal Albert, at Southsea. 



From the latter port the fleet sails on Aug. 23 for the station of the 

 Royal Dorset Y. C, at Weymouth, this club giving a prize for the 

 race, about 55 miles, and on Aug. 25 the same, club will sail a race for 

 the Queen's Cup given this year, which race has very generously been 

 thrown opeu to Vigilant. Following the coast to the west, the Torbav 

 Royal V. C. sails its regatta at Torquay on Aug. 27, then comes the 

 Royal Torbay, and next the Dartmouth Royal on Aug. 30 and the 

 Royal Dart on Aug, 31, On Sept. 1 comes the Start Bay y. C also at 



Dartmouth, then on Sept. 4 the Royal Western, at Plymouth, on Sept 

 5 the Port of Plymouth, Sept. 6 the Royal Plymouth Corinthian, and 

 on Sept, 7 the Royal Southwestern, also at Plymouth This ends the 

 racing season save for special matches, such as the Cape May cup. 

 There" will be. some additions or omissions from this list, but it is sub- 

 stantially correct, and shows the run of the racing. We believe tbat 

 Vigilant is eligible to all of the events, or at least she may become so 

 by one of her owners joining a British club. Britannia, Valkyrie and 

 Satanita will take part in all of this racing, with the older Doats, 

 Meteor and Iverna. 



Valkyrie's Passage. 



The Glasgow correspondent of the Bo9ton Herald gives the follow- 

 ing particulars of Valkyrie's voyage: 



The rather lengthy passage of the Valkyrie across the Atlantic was 

 beginning to excite some little misgiving in the minds of some of her 

 admirers, therefore some relief was occasioned when she was spoken 

 outside of the Irish coast early in the week. She arrived at Gourock 

 Bay at 6:30 A. M. Thursday, the 31st, and proceeded at once to Green- 

 ock for customs clearance, and again returned to this bay. She pro- 

 ceeded yesterday morning up the river to Henderson's, at Meadow- 

 side, for a general tuning-up. . 



Capts. Cranfield and McGavin were well pleased with the boat s 

 behavior under the adverse weather conditions they had to contend 

 with, and seemed to think that the Valkyrie in the matter of passage- 

 making had inherited a double dose of original sin, or rather bad luck. 

 Only on six days had they anything like leading winds, and then they 

 put on fairly good records, making an average of 232 miles over that- 

 period. The rest of the days were either paltry calm or ahead in the 

 matter of weather, which accounted for the Valkyrie's long delay. 



A twenty-eight-day record Capt. Cranfield admitted was a long one, 

 and did not compare favorably with the Lasca's, hut, taking wind and 

 weather conditions into consideration, he thought the Valkyrie's run 

 compared well with that of the American schooner. Her biggest run 

 was 247, while the Lasca's was 255 miles, and this was explainable by 

 the fact that off the wiDd a schooner of a similar size to a cutter is 

 expected to do more leeward work, Taking the Lasca's average f or 

 nine days, when she had the wind aft, she exceeded 200 miles some- 

 what, but considerably less than an average of 232 miles. 



Of course it is difficult to compare different voyages under different 

 weather conditions, and those who weigh up ocean passages must 

 await international ocean races, a game that perhaps will never be 

 worth the candle. 



The following is the log of the Valkyrie, as supplied by Capt. Cran- 

 field: Miles. 

 May 3. Left Sandy Hook at noon ; very light winds at start. 



May 4 Moderate winds 85 



May 5. Light northeasterly winds: southwest swell, with a little 



fog 60 



May 6. Fog and southwest swell HO 



May 7. High southwest swell and easterly winds 236 



May 8. South winds and squally, and high southwesterly seas 232 



May 9. Fresh breeze: high southwest seas; squally 247 



May 10. Fresh winds, high seas and squally 234 



May 11. Strong gale, with squalls; rain and high seas 220 



May 12. Strong gales and high seas which swept the decks fore and 



aft 223 



May 13. Strong wind, rain and heavy squalls. The yacht was hove 



to this day 112 



May 14. Moderate winds and cloudy weather 113 



May 15, Moderate breeze, with southwest swell. . , 121 



May 16. Light winds, cloudy and high swell 46 



May 17. Moderate breeze, cloudy weather and high easterly swell. .107 



May 18. Strong winds and northeasterly swell 184 



May 19. Moderate winds, with northeasterly swell 102 



May 20. Light breeze, sky overcast and easterly swell 103 



May 21. Squally weather" and high seas 101 



May 22. Light breeze, with northeast swell 80 



May 23. Fresh breeze; squally; with easterly swell 148 



May 24. Squally and high easterly swell 192 



May 25. Light winds, fair weather 121 



May 26. Heavy squalls 67 



May 27. Moderate weather 88 



May 28. Light breeze greater part of the day— evening, blew a gale 



from the north ,. 62 



May 29. Light winds and heavy rain 53 



May 30. Light winds, cloudy and hazy; sighted Pladda at 2:30 P.M. 66 

 May 31. Anchored in Gourock Bay 6:30 AM — 



As to future movements, Cranfield i9 reticent. He does not deny 

 that the boat will he clothed to a greater extent and will be stripped 

 of her copper, fined down and put into the best fettle that Mr. G. L. 

 Watson and the Messrs. Henderson can devise, with the view of being 

 tuned up to perfection and ready to meet the Vigilant, and all comers 

 in the Clyde carnival. 



[Valkyrie crossed with no copper on, the bottom being painted in 

 New York,] 



Owner or Measurer. 



Thb usual attitude of the racing owner toward the club and the 

 measurer is neither fair nor logical, and most of the complaints made 

 by him display a selfish view- of his side alone. At best the task of 

 the club in formulating rules is a difficult one, and the work of the 

 measurer in applying the rules is still more difficult, and in practice 

 the difficulty is vastly increased by the efforts of the owner, backed 

 by the designer, to get a little more than any one else ont of the rule. 

 The efforts of the club and the measurer are for the benefit of the 

 owners as a body, while the constant end of each owner as an individ- 

 ual is to circumvent both rule and measurer. While many of Ihe dif- 

 ficulties of measurement are unavoidable, there are still many others 

 which are due solely to the desire of the owner to obtain more than 

 he is entitled to, or at least to get the last tittle of his rights regardless 

 of other considerations. 



The following letter from the owner of the new Dacotah, appeared 

 in the Field of May 26, and no doubt voices the opinion of many 

 owners, but to us it appears unreasonable and illogical: 



"Allow me to call your attention to the fact that the Y R. A. ar- 

 rangement for waterliue marks is not only perfectly useless and ab- 

 surd but very troublesome to yacht owners. In a modern racer the 

 mark under the counter is invisible when the yacht is afloat. You 

 might see it by swimming under the counter, but not by any other 

 means. And in order to fix this useless thing you have to put your 

 boal ashore, as it cannot be done when she is afloat. Then you prob- 

 ably find that it has to be altered, and the boat has to be hauled up 

 again on the slip. It would be far better to give up marks altogether. 

 The measurer could find the waterline under the counter just as well 

 as the owner, who now has to do it." Henby Allah. 



No. 25 Bothwkll Street, Glasgow. 



In all modern methods of measurement it is absolutely necessary to 

 determine and measure the waterline with considerable'accuracy, and 

 in doing this it is also very desirable to mark the points of measure- 

 ment 'or future verification, On this point the clubs are agreed, and 

 no thinking yachtsman will dissent from it. Under the most favorable 

 circumstances, it is a matter of some difficulty to make this measure- 

 ment; and further, as such work is never done without the consent of 

 the owner, the measurer is often put to a serious inconvenience and 

 loss of time before he is given the opportunity to board the yacht for 

 measurement. . The most responsible part of the work is unquestion- 

 ably the location of the two points of measurement, and the British 

 rule, as it seems to us, very properly pute the responsibility on the 

 owner, leaving it to the measurer only to ascertain the distance be- 

 tween the points as marked. Of the two, the owner is not only better 

 able to do this than the measurer, knowing the proper trim in which 

 he desires his boat, and having the opportunity for affixing the marks 

 when docked; but it is altogether fairer that he should assume the re- 

 sponsibility, rather than that the measurer should first be compelled 

 to take his measurement, after which the owner may question it. 



The special difficulty which Mr. Allan mentions does certainly exist, 

 but the reason for its existence is the desire on his part to gain an 

 extra advantage through an extreme and peculiar form which it is al- 

 most impossible to measure accurately, air. Allan's right to this form 

 is unquestioned, but as the form is deliberately intended to increase 

 the difficulty of measurement by causing the waterline to lengthen as 

 rapidly as possible, we fail to see why he should throw ail the respon- 

 sibility for this difficulty on the measurer, If any one is to taste the 

 chilly waters of the Clyde by swimming under the counter, as he says 

 is necessary, the measurer certainly should not be called on to do so 

 but rather the owner or designer of the lin-de siecle freak. 



Mr. Allan's letter would have much more weight if it carried any 

 practical and sensible suggestion for the improvement of the rule, but 

 it does not; he merely suggests that the club should assume all 

 trouble and responsibility, relieving him entirely. 



It is evident that under all existing rules the waterline must be 

 measured, and until some better method is proposed the present one 

 cannot be abandoned entirely. A writer in the following number of 

 the Field makes the sapient suggestion that in addition to the marks 

 at the ends of the load line two "Plimpsoll marks" should be placed 

 one on each side amidships. This would in itself be a very difficult 

 matter, as compared with merely marking each end, and would be 

 absolutely useless as a verification of the other measurement. We 

 would suggest as a practicable remedy the placing of the marks by 

 the owner in such positions as would make them fairly and unequiv- 

 ocally clear of the water when in measuring trim, in accordance with 

 the spirit of the rule, in which positions they would certainly be vis- 

 ible to the measurer. 



The Royal Victoria Cup. 



The intention of Mr. Carroll to build a racing single-sticker and to 

 challenge for the Royal Victoria Cup was first announced at a time 

 when the chances for a challenge for the America's Cup were most 

 remote; and yet this project met with decided opposition, not only 

 within the New York Y. 0., as was to be expected, but among other 

 American yachtsmen, who were opposed to other than the defensive 

 position in international racing. It is no wonder that the campaign 

 planned by Messrs. Gould for their new purchase, Vigilant, should 

 awaken a still more general opposition when it became known that a 

 second challenge for the R, V. Y. C. cup was the main feature of the 

 expedition. This feeling was based on two strong points, the fear that 

 the continuance of racing for the n^wer trophy while the America's 

 Cup rested without a challenge would impair the prestige of the latter, 

 if it did not go so far as to displace it for an indefinite time in favor of 

 its recognized rival ; and also the chance that Vigilant, the declared 

 champion of the America's Cup races, might be defeated in an im- 

 portant international contest in British waters, thus dimming her 

 achievements of last year. From the standpoint of many American 

 yachtsmen the proposed contest was in every way to the advantage 

 of the other side, as we pointed out last week, and the reasons given 

 are certainly such as should have had weight with the Royal Victoria 

 Y. O. 



The Boston Herald, of June 10, discusses the matter as follows, pre- 

 senting an extreme American view: 



"It is to be hoped that the report that the Vigilant cannot race for 

 the Victoria cup is true. The club by such action will be doing a great 

 favor to American yachtsmen, and its decision will be sure to react 

 upon itself. The Messrs. Gould were evidently willing to race for the 

 cup; in fact, they had the sanction of the New York Y. C. to challenge 

 for it. Had the Victoria Y. C. allowed a match to be made its cup 

 would have grown in importance, and would have been second only to 

 the America's Cup. The talk made so often by English yachtsmen 

 that there is no need of a time notice is very inconsistent with their 

 acts to-day, for now they are insisting on the time notice of eight 

 months. 



"The Victoria Cup has now no place, even as against the Cape May 

 cup, for the good reason that only the Navahoe tried for it, and that 

 race should be sufficient for a number of years. Americans in racing 

 for this cup lower the reputation of their own. So far as international 

 honors go, the bringing back of the Cape May cup should be all suffi- 

 cient. 



"There is no doubt whatever but that a determined opposition will 

 hereafter be made by the leading members of the New York Y, C. 

 against allowing any member to again challenge for the Victoria cup. 

 The New York Y. C. holds to-day the greatest yachting trophy in the 

 world, and all other cups should be made to play second fiddle to it, 

 It is honor enough for any club to hold successfully so long the 

 America's Cup. 



"On the whole, it is a very good thing that the ohances are against 

 the Vigilant sailing for the Victoria cup. No doubt the members of 

 the club, when they find out that their action in not allowing the Vigi- 

 lant to race for their cup meets with much favor on this side may 

 regret what they have done. If the Gould brothers are wise, they will 

 give the Victoria cup a wide berth this season." 



. The Boston, Globe has strongly opposed the proposed challenge for 

 some time, as the following extracts will show: 



"There are several obvious reasons, though probably they are more 

 apparent to American than to British eyes, why a challenge for this 

 cup would not be advisable, and therefore why such a challenge is not 

 likely to be made. 



"In the first place, as was explained at some length in these columns: 

 at the time when negotiations for the last race for the America's Cup 

 were in progress, the Royal Victoria cup was offered almost avowedly 

 as an offset to the America's Cup while the discussion over the fairness 

 or the unfairness of the terms of the "new deed of gift" was at its, 

 height. Any American challenge for it would therefore raise it in im- 

 portance as an international trophy and under some circumstances 

 would make it of almost equal importance to the America's Cup itself. 

 The challenge of the Navahoe was regretted by many American 

 yachtsmen, but since the New York Y. C. sanctioned it they were 

 compelled to be satisfied with the thought that since the Navahoe' 

 had no American record she could in no sense be considered an 

 American champion. Her defeat also put aside the question as to> 

 which cup the British yachtsmen would consider the most important 

 should the Royal Victoria as well as the America be in possession of 

 the New York Y. C. and for which one they would first challenge. 



"Navahoe's challenge did not, therefore, materially change the 1 

 standing of things, but a challenge from Vigilant would put an entirely- 

 different face on the matter. 



"Vigilant is the American champion, and has won the title by a suc- 

 cessful defense of the America's Cup, a trophy emblematic of the yacht- 

 ing supremacy of the world, and whose position has only been more- 

 and more firmly established by repeated contests. A challenge from 1 

 the American champion for a cup which was offered as an offset to, 

 the very cup through which she attained her championship, would at 

 once place the cup for which she challenges on a championship basis,, 

 which it does not now occupy, which it ought not to occupy while the 

 America's Cup is in existence, and which the opponents of the 'new 

 deed of gift' would no doubt be glad to see it occupy. 



"In short, a challenge and race for the Royal Victoria cup by the' 

 defender of the America's Cup would practically place the two on a 

 par with each other, and would deprive the latter of its well deserved 

 title of 'the blue ribbon of the sea.' Vigilant's defeat would make this 

 undesirable position stronger, while victory would place two "world's 

 championship' cups in possession of the New York V. G, and give 

 British yachtsmen a chance to try for what by most American yacnts- 

 men would be deemed the least important one. 



"Vigilant will have many chances of proving her speed in British 

 waters for cups which do not in any way approach the America 's Cup 

 in importance. Records which she may make in this way will show 

 her merits or demerits as clearly as if a champiouship cup were in 

 dispute, while at the same time there is no interference with the posi- 

 tion of the America's Cup. 



"And that is why it is delieved to be extremely doubtful if a chal- 

 lenge issues for the Royal Victoria cup, or it a challenge would be> 

 approved by the New York Y. C. if made. 



"It is also possible that the action of the New York Y. 0. in sanc- 

 tioning a challenge was not quite so carefully considered as it should 

 be, for it is certainly open to criticism on other grounds than those 

 which have already been set forth against a challenge. 



"The club's sanction was given on the condition that a waiver of the 

 eight months' notice required could be obtained from the Royal Vic- 

 toria Y. C , the obvious idea being to sanction a race during the 

 coming season only. It does not seem quite fair or logical, however, 

 on the part of the New York Y. O. to ask for a waiver of notice from 

 another club which they would hardly grant themselves under the 

 same circumstances. In this case the comparative powers of the 

 challenger and of the defender, which would probably be Britannia, 

 are fairly well known through Valkyrie, and the result can be foretold 

 with reasonable accuracy. 



"Transfer the situation to the America's Cup aud there can be but 

 little doubt as to what the action of the New York Y. C. would he - 

 were it asked to waive the the ten months' notice required by the deed i 

 of gift and accept a challenge from a boat whose chances of winning 

 over open ocean courses were decidedly of the best as compared with, 

 any defender which could be put against her. 



"In the last America's Gup contest the full ten months was insisted! 

 upon by the New York Y. O, Lord Dunraven was not offered earlier 

 races as any waiver of that position, but because the American de- 

 fender could be made ready earlier than was expected, and therefore, 

 there was no necessity of holding out for the full ten months, sine© 

 Valkyrie's owner wished to race as soon as possible. The position aa 

 to no waiver of notice was fully and quite properly maintained. 



"If, then, the position was so firmly maintained when the chances 

 of successful defense were at least even, can any one doubt what 

 would be the position taken when chances of successful defense were 

 very small? International cups are not offered to be given away, and 

 the New York Y. C. would lay itself open to severe criticism from 

 American yachtsmen should it throw away any chance of retaining a 

 trophy so highly prized as the Cup won by the America in 1851. Yet 

 at the same time it asks, through the Messrs. Gould, that the Royal 

 Victoria Y. C. do just the thing which it would not do itself under 

 similar circumstances. The position is not a logical one, and it is 

 hoped, by the decision of the Messrs. Gould not to challenge, the club 

 may not be forced to maintain it." 



From the conditions of the case there is no doubt that both of these 

 papers have spoken their opinion honestly and frankly, or that they 

 represent the opinions of many American yachtsmen who are laughing 

 at the way in which John Bull has again played into the hands of 

 Brother Jonathan and thrown away another opportunity to better 

 himself in international racing. 



Cape Cod T. C, 



The first race of a series of three, under the auspices of the Cap© 

 Cod Y. C, was sailed at East Dennis on June 9. The times were: 



Length. Corrected. 



Addie, R. C. Nickerson 25 00 1 06 41 



Eclipse, H. H. Sears 25 06 1 09 17 



Nobscussett, L. Hall 24 06 1 14 30 



NauBett, J. H. (>immings 20 06 1 19 22 



