THE AMERICA'S CUP
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
SIR,-Although I missed in my prediction of victory for Mr. T. 0. M. Sopwith's 'Endeavour,' I still maintain that the ' Endeavour ' is the better boat of the two. Slower seamanship undoubtedly was the sole cause of ' Rainbow's ' triumph. And, too, I firmly believe that Mr. Sopwith showed the best of sportsmanship when he did not run into the ' Rainbow ' the day he, Mr. Sopwith, protested the race. If he had continued ahead at that turn, the ' Endeavour ' would have cut the 'Rainbow' in two, imperilling more than sixty lives. I guess Mr. Vanderbilt reckoned wisely when he figured that Mr. Sopwith would not intentionally run into his boat. Change the crews on the two yachts and the ' Endeavour ' would defeat ' Rainbow ' nine times out of ten. I really believe that is the consensus of opinion of the sporting world.
Not to be too ironical, I think if Mr. Sopwith, on the day of the first protest, had stopped his boat and rowed ashore and filed his claims personally, he might have had a fighting chance, at least. Suffice it to say, gentlemen of England, the fastest boat of her class ever constructed was defeated in Newport harbour by a well-seasoned crew, NOT by a superior yacht.-Cordially yours,
143 East 48th Street, New York. GEORGE FALLON.
Previous page
