Challenge

In the 19th Century yacht racing for the America's Cup was a series of acrimonious squabbles, ranging from simple exhibitions of bad manners to an international scandal. When benign Sir Thomas Lipton began challenging for the Cup in 1899, a marked change occurred in the atmosphere of these contests. For a generation, America's Cup racing was full of amiable good-fellowship and when Sir Thomas failed to win the "Old Mug'' for the fifth time in 1930, he sailed home with a gold consolation trophy, presented to him by an adoring U. S. public.

Last year, when a parvenu British airplane tycoon named Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith challenged and failed to win the Cup with his Endeavour, it became apparent that America's Cup racing was again back to its historic norm. The series was distinguished by a belated protest on the part of Skipper Sopwith, a curt refusal to hear his protest by the Race Committee and the departure of the defeated Briton in a black cloud of ill-will.

Last week, news of an impending challenge which had been rumored all summer was finally confirmed by the New York Yacht Club. Like Skipper Sopwith, who was supposed to be getting ready to challenge again, the new challenger is an airplane tycoon. Like Skipper Sopwith, he took up yachting recently, bought Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock V as a practice boat. His name was Charles Richard Fairey. His challenge, according to his statements to the British Press, includes a recommendation that the next America's Cup races be sailed in smaller, cheaper boats.

Before the New York Yacht Club had actually received, much less accepted, the Fairey challenge, the note of America's Cup racing was sounded by Harold Stirling Vanderbilt, who sailed the defender Rainbow last year and last summer bought her from the syndicate that helped him build her. Asked about the change in size, he said he disapproved.

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