The Yacht America

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This famous yacht has tried her powers with a new yacht from Sweden, named the Swerige, which was built at Stockholm expressly to run with har. The model of this new yacht is very fine, and many of the English papers asserted that there was no doubt of her beating the America; but Columbia's handiwork beat that of Switzerland by full 20 minutes. Lord Blaquiere, the owner of the America, has published a challenge in the London Times for ;l,O00, to run the America against the yachts oi all other nations— America excepted. He wishes to sail with a nine knot breeze, and over such a course as will test the sailing powers of her opponents under all points. He says that he has allowed the America to be measured, and drawings to be taken of her dimensions, form, c, so that all might have an opportunity to improve upon her model. He certainly expected that challenges would have poured in upon him, but there was not one who dared to face the Yankee craft. He accounts for this upon the principle that " discretion is the better part of valor." Hesays,':hefelt desirousthat the ef-lect of the many imitations made of her should be ascertained in some decisive manner to test the American and English modes of building craft lor fast sailing and other essential qualities." He wishes, it seems, that England should learn something from America ; he is a spirited and candid nobleman, and is mortified, somewhat, at the want of spirit or skill or enterprise in his countrjmen. His challenge has been accepted by two yachts for 500. One is the Volante, the other an iron yacht named the Disowned. The Niagara Mail should copy the challenge of Lord Blaquiere from the " Times."

Scientific American Magazine Vol 8 Issue 8This article was published with the title “The Yacht America” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 8 No. 8 (), p. 61
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican11061852-61c

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