The America’s Cup

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20260, 31 July 1937, Page 22 (Supplement)

The America’s Cup

THE FIRST RACE TO-DAY.

i ENDEAVOUR TO MEET RANGER. The two new J olaee yaohte Endeavour 11. and Ranger, embodying the very latest Ideas of the best brains of Great Britain and the United Btates of Amerioa will meet off Newport, Rhode Island, to-day, In the first race of the 17th contest for the America’s Oup. Endeavour 11., owned by Mr T. O. M. Sopwith will represent Brit aln and will fly the colours of the Royal Yacht Squadron. The Ranger, owned by Mr H. Vanderbilt, will defend the cup on behalf of the New York Yaoht Club. This year’s race will mark the first occasion in the history of the contests in which Britain has had the opportunity of holding trials in American waters between two British boats, Endeavour I. and Endeavour 11., prior to the actual contest. Rules for the Race. The conditions governing the contest provide that the match will be decided by the winning of four out of seven races. Racing will continue each week-day until one of the yachts has won four races—except that after j each race the committee will ask each j contestant whether he is willing to j start next day. Should either reply In the negative, one day will Intervene ' before the starting of the next race. j A Sunday does not count. All races will start and finish at a ’ buoy anchored nine miles south-east from Brenton’s Reef light-vessel off Newport, Rhode Island. The races will be started at 10.40 a.m. Courses of Races. If a serious accident should occur to either yacht prior to the preparatory signal being made for any race, she will be given time (not exceeding four weeks) to make repairs before being required to start. If either yacht should be disabled after the start, the other vessel must continue In the race. The races will alternate over a windward and leeward course of 15 miles each way and a triangular course of approximately 10 miles to each leg. The warning signal—lo minutes before the start—will be given at 10.30 a.m. each day. The time limit for each race Is 5$ hours. An America’s Cup yacht sails somewhere between 15 and 25 hours and between 200 and 300 miles in actual competition for the cup. Before she races for the trophy, however, she is sailed something like 400 hours, equal to about 3000 miles In practical spins and In tuning-up trial races. Dimensions of the Yaohts. The principal dimensions of the two craft are as follows; Endeavour 11. Length overall 132 ft.; waterline, 87ft.; beam, 21ft. 6in.; draught, loft.; sail area, 7550 sq. ft.; displacement, 164 tons. Ranger. Length overall, 135 ft.; waterline, 87ft.; beam, 21ft. Bin.; draught, 15ft.; sail area, 7550 sq ft.; displacement, 166 tons.

Mr Sopwith will sail the Endeavour 11. in all the races and, will have with him Sir Ralph Gore as a relief helmsman; Mr. F. Murdoch, who sailed with him in the Endeavour; Flight-Lieuten-ant Scarlett, who will be navigator; Mrs. Sopwith (timekeeper), and Mr. C. E. Nicholson, designer and builder of Endeavour 11. Her professional sailing master will be Captain N. Heard. Mr. Vanderbilt, who sailed the Rainbow to victory in the 1934 contest for the cup, will have charge of the Ranger and will have with him the following as members of the afterguard: Messrs. Olin, J. and R. Stephens, W. Starling Burgess (designer of Ranger), A. Knapp (relief helmsman) and Professor Z. Bliss (navigator).

The Last Contest. In the 1934 contest between the Endeavour (challenger) and the Rainbow (defender), the Endeavour won the first and second races. The Rainbow won the third. The fourth was also won by the Rainbow, but Mr. Sopwith protested, claiming that he had been fouled before the start. The committee disallowed his protest because it had not been made promptly. The Rainbow then won the fifth and sixth races. Both yachts were fiving protest flags when they crossed the starting line in the final race, but both protests were withdrawn. The Rainbow was also first home in this ntee and declared winner of the cup. having won five out of the seven races.