THE AMERICA’S CUP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 212, 7 August 1937, Page 8

THE AMERICA’S CUP.

Mr T. 0. Sopwitii’s effort to succeed where the late Sir Thomas Lipton failed has again met with no success. His Endeavour II has been signally defeated in its four contests with the American yacht Ranger, and the America’s Cup remains in custody of the New YArk Yacht Club, where it has reposed since it was won by the schooner of that name in the race around the Isle of Wight in 1851. Three years ago, with his first Endeavour, Mr Sopwith made a great effort to take the trophy, of almost negligible intrinsic value, back to England. Ho won the first and second races, lost the third, and then the fourth through Mr Vanderbilt’s breach of the rules, an unhappy incident which had an unhappier sequel when Mr Sopwith, persuaded to lodge a protest, saw it dismissed because of a mere technicality. The fifth and sixth races were won by the defending yacht Rainbow and made victory certain for the United States. A leading American authority on yachting declared that it was skill against a better yacht which determined the result of the races, and skill won. The Endeavour had proved itself faster than the Rainbow, but this yacht was manned by professional sailors, whereas Mr Sopwith’s crew was almost entirely composed of amateurs. Prior to leaving Engand he had engaged the services of professional seamen, but a dispute regarding their rates of pay had led to their dismissal. But for this unfortunate occurrence it is most likely that the America’s Cup would have again crossed the Atlantic Ocean. On this occasion, too, Mr Vanderbilt with his Scandinavian crew has outgeneralled Mr Sopwith, whose boat has only once shown that it is fast enough to keep pace with the Ranger. The races have been marked by the best sportsmanship, but the history of other contests for the trophy shows that they have not always been happy. Particularly was this so between 1876 and 1895, and for some time it appeared that challenges would never again be made for the cup. Then came Sir Thomas Lipton with his Shamrocks and gallant but unsuccessful efforts to win where others had signally failed. In 1920 he almost succeeded when with two wins to his credit he was robbed of the vital third by a fluking breeze which favoured the defender Resolute. In 1930 the fifth and last Shamrock was soundly beaten by the Enterprise. Now Mr Sopwith has taken up the challenge with no better luck. He will, however, be congratulated on his enterprise and the hope expressed that he will not be dismayed by this year’s ill fortune.