Sopwith's Endeavor

For more than a year there have been transatlantic whispers of a new challenge for the America's Cup, the international trophy held by U. S. yachtsmen since 1851 despite all that the late Sir Thomas Lipton could do about it. Last week the whispers gathered into a sharp, clear challenge from the Royal Yacht Squadron. The source was remarkable inasmuch as the Royal Yacht Squadron, world's swankest yachting organization, had had no dealings with the U. S. since 1895 when the Earl of Dunraven sailed home in a rage, charging sharp practice by the America's Cup defenders. But the real challenger represented by the Squadron last week was Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith.

Like Hubert Scott-Paine, unsuccessful challenger for the Harmsworth Trophy for speedboats (TIME, Sept. 11), '"Tom" Sopwith is a famed British aircraft builder. He learned to fly in 1909, entered a contest next year for the longest flight by a British aviator from England into Europe. By flying 150 mi. into France he won a -L-4,000 prize. In 1912 he formed Sopwith Aviation Co. Ltd. which produced the Camels, Pups and Dolphins flown by Allied pilots in the War. After the War he took as partner his longtime test-pilot Harry Hawker, who in 1919 attempted the first transatlantic flight and was picked out of the sea off Newfoundland. Their company, now named H. G. Hawker Engineering Co. Ltd., produces nearly half the planes currently flown by the Royal Air Force. His rich business enabled Builder Sopwith to live in a mansion near Park Lane. After the death of his first wife, a daughter of 8th Baron Ruthven, in 1930 he sold the house to the Crown. (It is now occupied by Princess Mary and her husband, the 6th Earl of Harewood.) Last year he married Phyllis Brodie Gordon, a bright blonde with pretty teeth.

Through the years when he was busily building his fortune and reputation, "Tom" Sopwith kept his hand in at yachting. Five years ago, aged 40, he popped up as owner of Mouette which he sailed himself with astonishing skill. Two years ago he bought Shamrock V, Lipton's last challenge sloop, won season's honors with her against the King's cutter Britannia, 24 Hags to 13.

There was one English boat which "Tom" Sopwith could not come anywhere near beating. She was Velsheda, built for Chain-store Tycoon W. L. Stephenson by Charles E. Nicholson who designed the Shamrocks. Velsheda was rigged according to the new international rules which provide that racing craft may have light duralumin masts but must have full cabin accommodations for owners and crew, and must have gear-handling equipment on deck (not below deck as on Harold Stirling Vanderbilt's sleek Cup-winner Enterprise). Mr. Sopwith commissioned Designer Nicholson to build him a yacht even faster than Velsheda. He will call her Endeavor and, contrary to British custom, in Cup challenges, he may take the helm himself.

The New York Yacht Club, which holds the homely $500 flagon won by America 82 years ago, received news of the Sopwith challenge with its usual studied calm. Officials would say nothing until the formal challenge should arrive by mail. Then the procedure would be appointment of a cup committee, the issuance of invitations to individual members or syndicates of members to build defense candidates. Of the three yachts engaged in the defense against Shamrock V in 1930 only Weetamoe is in commission. She was bought by Banker Frederick Henry Prince of Boston and refitted according to the new rules. But she is not considered a possibility for anything more than trial runs against other contenders yet to be built. It was common talk that Harold Vanderbilt, honeymooning last week on the Mediterranean, had long ago put his Designer William Starling Burgess to work on plans for a new racer to succeed Enterprise.

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