The Portland daily press., 1899-08-11

Shamrock Psrhsp. the Last Challenges
90 Come over.


(Ihe Yaohtsman OF Lordon.
Whatever may bs the result Of the
forthcoming Amerioai Cup rnces. II seems
likely that Sir Thomas Lipton's chal-
lengs will prove the last OF tine matches
as they have hitherto been arranged.
When Il becomes necessary TO build such
an enormously expensive vessel as the
Shamrock for this one series OF matches
only, II Is but reasonable 10 suppose that
very few men-certainly no devosee Of
yacht racing-wiIl be found willing TO
undertake the IA k. Lord Dunraven's
first challenge. It will be remembered,
caused the building OF tho Britannia,
q yacht which Is as stanoh after six yesrs
as the day she was launched. Vail ysie
IL would still be In equally good condi-
tion II she had not been sunk by Satan
i;a. After the CUP races are over sham
rock will be useless for racing In our
waters. even supposing that she remains
ssaworthy for another season or two.
Even In her ''test match" with Britain
MIA the older boat saved her Y. X. A..
time allowance. What chance thcn would
she have against Bona. Ailsa. britannia.
and Meteorf Absolutely none.
While every one Is willing to give due
credit to Sir Thomas Upton tor the
thorough manner in which he has pur-
sued his objsct, It Ii patent to all that
the cup races have now reached q stage
at which they are quite valueless to yacht
racing in general, in both countries.
Large craft are always naturally more
scarce than small vessels, and our Yacht
Racing Association has recognised tn is
by discouraging cutters Of unwieldy size,
knowing that mcrs vessels Of the Bona
class are likely TO be built for racing.
In America class OF the sixty five or
eighty foot sizo might very easily be re-
produced IL such craft were available for
the defense Of the cup. As Ihs Forest
and Stream saws, IL would have been
better Ia every way had 1t been possitls.
Tor the oney sunk in Shamrock TO have
been laid out in building small feet OF
sixty-hve footers by various designers,
the best to be chosen to meet a defender
OF similar size. Not only would this
recruit our own class, but It would have
started much-needed class In America
at time when yacht racing has become
rather stagnant there. Nobody can say
whether Shamrock represents the best
boat that England can produce. some
may think that MIR. Watson or Mr.. Payne
could have designed better boat. That
question could not arise II each designer
were pitted against the others.
Again. Columbia is no doubt the very
Lest hoat that Nat Herreshoff could de-
sign last winter, but In these contests II
is Nat Herreshoif. toujours Nat Htrreshoff.
Has America no other designer OF equal
or greater skills That Is a hard question
to answer, fer SO long as such huge
machines al Columbia and Shamrock
have to be built for cup racing, and all
the eggs must therefore be carried In one
basket, 1t would be mhdress for Herre-
shoff to be passed over In favor of some
less known designer. But the construc-
tion Of six or eight 65-footers for the trial
races might easily bring TO light some
genius that America does not dream Of
possessing.
On every ground, therefore, 1t Is to be
hoped that the New York Yacht club may
take this matter into consideration in
the event Of further cup racing. The in
terest In the races could not be injured In
the least, for even those who regard mere
size with admiration would feel more en-
thusiastic IL they knew that the competi-
tors were non plus ultra Of each nation.