Top U.S. Yacht Clubs Compete Today

Eleven of the top yacht clubs in the United States will begin competition today in the biennial Yacht Club Challenge Cup to determine which is the best in the country.

The format called for 12 clubs to compete, but St. Francis Yacht Club of San Francisco pulled out at the last moment because of conflicting regattas in the Bay Area.

The eight-man crews will sail New York-36 sloops loaned by the owners, and the winner in a best-five-of-six series will receive the Baldwin M. Baldwin Trophy.

The competing clubs:

Eastern Yacht Club, Marblehead, Mass. (defending champion); San Diego Yacht Club; Larchmont (N.Y.) Yacht Club; Seawanhaka Yacht Club, Oyster Bay, N.Y.; Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans; Chicago Yacht Club; American Yacht Club, Rye, N.Y.; St. Petersburg (Fla.) Yacht Club; Lake Geneva (Wis.) Yacht Club; Houston Yacht Club, and the host Newport Harbor Yacht Club.

Two races will be sailed each day--today, Friday and Saturday over an Olympic course off the Newport Pier. Races will start at noon each day.