New-York tribune., 1899-03-26
YACHTING.
THE SHAMROCK PROBABLY LIGHT AND
SPEEDY.
THIS INDICATED BY THE PROPOSAL TO TOW HER
To AMER1cA-OTIIER STRAWs.

THIS INDICATED BY THE PROPOSAL TO TOW HER
TO AMERrcA-oTHER sTRAws.
Besides showing that the rules which govern
the Americas Cup contests are but little known
among yachtsmen on the other side, the statement
By cable that the Shamrock would be towed 10
America was interesting because it might reason
ably be understood 10 indicate that the towing OF
the challenger to this country had been seriously
considered by some Of those who interested in
the boat The words Of the rule that compel the
craft to come here under sail" may have been
forgotten as they We're for the moment by good
many yachsmen mere when the dispatch first ar
rived. 1t goes TO indicate that the Shamrock is
being built lightly that methods are being con
sidercd whereby the dangerously constructed hull
may be moved TO this country in some safer way
than under the pressure Of its own sail. and
whereby a refuge for her may be supplied in
the sea should deal hardly with her light
upper works which enormously ballasted.
This IS wholly in line with what The Tribune has
said before that the probabilities and the facts
that have been published suggest that Flies new
racer will be far lighter I'm general construction
than the Morgan boat that is to defend There
certainly never was suggestion that the Valkyrie
III should be towed across because from the first
known that she WAS thoroughly capable
craft and under her easy kctch rig could jog
along from country to country safely as she
could tie up I'm the Clyde. But Watsons fault in
making her able strong and heavy will most
certainly not be repeated by Fife The weather
records show that the heavy winds in which alone
the last Vakyre could be expected 10 win race
may not be reasonably looked for here more often
than twice a month. In other words she had
about one chance in fifteen OF winning race and
the English are now once again facing the old dlf-
1cuty, that their boat must be strong enough TO
sail herself across the ocean. and may then be
met by any kind Of "A "tin-bath affair" that is
Defender. q he
perils Of similar passage
ENGLISH BOAT TO BE LIGHT
For this years racing there IL strong reason to
suppose that the 'tn-bath affair will be the Eng
lish boat and that she will be built lightly that
she will not be allowed to cross the ocean alone
1t has several times been printed in England and
evidently with authority. that the workmen at the
Thornycrofts' had had trouble I'm putting on the
manganese bronze plates II this much could be
known. could be known and It IS proba BILE
that this information was given ont simply
blind TO lead outsiders to imagine that the hull
was receiving heavy and tough metals for It's
plating: but It has also been stated and not with
the same appearance Of authority. that the sham
rock is plated and largely built Of aluminium I'm
which case her ability TO cross the ocean safely
may be Just as much open 20 doubt as II In the
case of the Defender and even more so
The Tribune Is the only paper that has gone into
that he sometimes turns out racing craft always
winners, that are mere bandboxes and 10 show
box can win he will send another for this contest
The long delay in finding a builder for the sham
! rock another point that assists. Al first SIR
Thomas himself announced in no uncertain terms
that Harland & Wolff. OF Belfast. would build the
Shamrock. Subsequently II known that the
contract offered TO the Yarrows BY them IL
declined and Mr.. YarroW. the head of the
| firm. gave his reasons for declining the work
WANTED TO AVOID DISASTER
Why did these firms decline? Both evidently saw
the specinca tions OF the designer before they de-
cned. and there is one thing an oId-country
ship firm Will run from II Is the chance Of disaster
being attributed to its work A. least six OF such
/ firms might be mentioned orhand which could
not be Induced TO turn out boat that IN their
| opinion not fully seawoTthy. Bur with the
ThOrnycrOfts the case T. different because they are
| In the habit Of building torpedo boats and other
hgh-spe'd craft with which. with all high spr ed
/ craft. considerable risks have be- taken p, mi
/ they are not builders for the travelling -pa seDug.r
/ public. and thus may more securely shelier them
selves behind the Instructions OF the designer
While the challenger may proceed most Of the
| time under her own canvas while crossing io
| America. there is nothing In the rules 10 ex-
| cude her from ordinary ships choice Of takinc
q tow when IN danger or I'm headwinds Nothing .il
| be more interesting 10 yacntsmen than TO nofc
| whether II Il announced that the steam Yacht
| Hteusa Will come with her. II she does IL Will
| mean that Fife has produced n hgh-spc racer or
| the bandbOX kind. which alone can hope to win
and which IL Of ouch Hight construction that sh.
cannot safely be trusted to make the passage alone