New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-27
SIR 7,HOMASS CONFIDENCE
AN EXPERT EXPLAINS SOME OF THE
POINTS ON WHICH THE sHAMRoCKs
OWNER BASES HIS HOPES.

have done much to confirm the opinions of New
York yachtsmen that the Shamrock possesses some
peculiar underwater structure that is an innova-
ton for yacht OF this size. Dir Thomas Is
thought TO have shown than ordinary
hope for success and 70 have suggested krowi
edge that gave him feeling OF practical certainty
as 70 the Anal issue. Beside. saying that n he
were a betting he would like 10 have some OF
the New-York TO ! money. Sir Thomas explains
the impossibility Of Judging the Shamrock under
her cruising rig, and ends an interview by saying
in the most confident way: Tho truth lie that the
American yachtsmen know absolutely nothing
about the boat"
This in effect asserts that all that be learned
from photographs OF the yacht and from viewing
the hull as the boat ste In the water amounts
practically nothing. compared with the struct-
ural merits that concealed by the water she
floats in.
Several facts now be adduced TO show that
Sir Thomas Upton has reason for his confidence
There are things that go to prove that the Sham
rock is much natter In her underbody and shallower
in this region than the Columbia. These facts
prove that the Shamrock IL probably al least three
feet sharower than the Columbia and perhaps
more and It has been repeatedly shown in The
Tribune both before and after the construction Of
the Columbia and the Shamrock that Fife was al
most certain 20 build boat OF this kind II was
also shown that TO boat could hope 10 win II she
were exceeded in this advance toward the most
modern and fastest yacht construction. II was
subsequently shown in The Tribune that the Column
bia did not exhibit that reduction Of underbody
and hat.ering Of foor which success probably re-
ouired. 1t said then. as Il is now. that IN her
model the Columbia IL not up 10 date boat. and
does not possess the speed qualities in her design
that are shown In the Cartoon and numerous other
fiat bottomed swimmers that are beyond question
the fastest craft OF their racing length.
SHAMROCK sHALLOwER THAN COLUMBIA.
That which has been repeatedly shown IN The
Tribune 70 be possible has come 10 pass. The
Shamrock is three feet or more shalower than the
Columbia the depth OF An. OF course. not being here
referred 10. AS to the depth OF the Columbias
hull proper, exclusive OF fin, number OF expert
opinions have been obtained from among those who
he We seen both the Columbia and the Defender OUT
OF water
A J. Mcvey the Yachting expert OF The Bos-
ton Herald" said in private conversation There
If little drereuce between the shailowness OF the
Columbia and the Defender. II is always difncul
70 gauge these things by the eye on such large
boats There has been much said about the cut
ting away Of the Columba's underbody. Candidiy
I have failed 20 see II. There may be some dif-
ference but knowing the Defenders hull az well
as do think you may safely say that the dll-
ference Is small"
W E Robinson the yachting expert Of The
Boston Globe" when asked about the same point
said II am satisfied from the performance OF the
boats and otherwise tna' theIe Hu7'
some hattening Of the Columba's floor as COM
narea with that OF the Defender but am not pre-
pared 10 say how much.
From these and other comments II WOULD seem
that in the region referred to the Columbia presents
only small improvement If any over the De
fender of 1885.
A. southampton the Shamrock grounded IN
,u,antv-three feet OF water Her depth OF hold az
shoun IN the English register. is slightly more
than ten feet; that Is 20 say from her dech DehhS
down through the hull TO the part where Ihe IN
keel begins She has between five and SIX feet OF
~reebosrd or IN other words side out or water
This Is TO be deducted from the ten feet depth OF
hold which leaves between four and five feet for
the draugbt OF the Shamrock's uaderbody. exeu-
sive OF fin
The Columola's depth OF hold Is about thirteen
feet and her freeboard IL probably between -FOUR
and five feet. leaving between eight ana nine leeD
as the depth OF her undertook from which it ap-
rAars that the Columbia will have 20 force through
the water an excess depth of underbody somewhere
between three and FIVE feet compared with the
Shamrock's.
MAY BE FATAL HANDICAP.
Even allowing tor considerable error in these
rough measurements. II appears that there cannot
be less than three feet difference In this most I'm
po-tant Of all regions Judging by proportonate
differences IN tho smaller classes OF yachts. which
are much better known than the ninety-foote a
handicap Of this kind would almost certainly be
fatal and the reasons for Sir Thomas Liptons
confidence and air OF certainty can I've better IN
derstood when these facts are considered
The extreme precautions taken 10 get the sham
rock safely across the ocean have announced the
fact 70 every one that Fife was afraid OF the sea-
worthiness Of his own production. Some OF the
best yachtsnen now saving that TINS DOUBT
a-ose from the insecurity OF the fin Hitherto the
only method followed for supplying strength 20 the
An sufficient 70 carry the enormous lead ballast
z1-%n If he N
The steel frames were curved down round the
,,lees and again curved down into the fin. al the
bottom OF which the ends Of the frames were
bottled 10 a massive cast brass or bronze plate
called the keel plate To this keel plate the lead
was bolted by long bronze screws OF bars secured
by a nut and washer az top and bottom.
7-h,s admirable method has been followed IN the
case O. the Defender and the Columbia. and great
s.-cngth was thus secured for the carrying OF the
enormous weights under water. But one defect OF
system was hat It made the IN tao "de 2
IN the Defender is twenty inches wide To the
edges of this the ends Of the frames are ooted
win the quarter-inch bronze plating laid on over
ali go that the thickness Of the Defenders nm Is
There was evidently lot Of gain to be made
/ here To bronze plate -FOUR lnches WIZ,
.bro,uh The water certainly easier than 70 shove
throush a width OF about twenty-five inches. The
ability 70 do this would mean =, vi tbs S b bTonaa
plate that was carrying ninety tons OF lead on its
! lower edge.
FIFE'S ENGINEERING DltfICJL4f
! This "a the engineering difficulty which F1fe -
1 believed by some 70 have overcome Tor the hrst
,,n,e In the case OF a ninetyfoot racing cutter As
/ ,ho Shamrock IS now known through figures con-
/ earning her she must have her lead mine. which
! IA satd In England TO weigh one hundred tons
/ placed AT a distance Of seventeen or eighteen feet
baiou, the bottom OF her huh proper Consequently
The trains 70 be borne by the hull when the yacht
! - well laid over In seaway must be almost De
/ yond the power OF the imagination 70 cope WIN,
| rSor reason Fife has been Obliged 70 give
.bn vacht an excessive freebOard; not for the pur-
/ nosa Of raising the yacht above the reach or the
! Pvas but 10 gain further strength OF hull In
| r.her words ns she had no underwater depth TO
J snaok ~ she had TO be buflt higher than was
1 nrdnr that there might be helght