The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-20
LAUNCH Of SHAMROCK /.
ALL is NOW IN READINESS FOR
THE RACERS FIRST PLUNGE
IN SALT WATER
NEW CRAFT IS NOT A FREAK
Designer Watson Has Made No
Startling Changes From the
Standard Lines of Big
Racing Cutter.

GLASGOW April 19.-All is now ready
for the launching of the Shamrock IL,
although this evening men were working
at the yards of the Dennys under Mr..
Watsons vigorous eye, giving the final
touches to the craft
Sir Thomas Upton, when asked what
he thought of his new boat, replied: 81
can only tell you what Mr. John Hen
derson, who built the Meteor, Thistle and
Valkyrie, remarked today after close in
speetion. She is the finest yacht ever
built OH this side of the Atlantic
II can see nothing in the way Of re-
s;stance She is a marvel. This opinion
is shared by other experts who have
seen the Shamrock H."
The notable people who viii attend the
launching ceremonies will arrive here
tomorrow. Among those expected to be
present is Mr.. Fife No man who looks
on will watch with more critical eye
the new craft than the designer or
Shamrock l. and almost within a week.
for Sir Thomas Upton hopes that the
yacht may sail for the Solent Thursday
the keen contest of designers will be-
gin between Mr. Fife and Mr. Watson.
1t is ascertained by a reporter OF the
Associated Press that Shamrock II. has
been improved to a greater extent than
Mr.. Watson might have wished. SO
much mystery has been made of the
building of the new cup challenger that
there is an expectation Of something
phenomenal and absolutely unique in the
way of yachting architecture to be dis
closed when she is knocked away tomOr-
row. This expectation is doomed to dis
appointment
Early in the work Of designing Sham
rock H. Mr. Watson decided to risk
nothing in the production of freak boat
and to the unskilled eye the Shamrock
H. looks exactly like the latest of the
big racing cutters. The tank expert
ments of which so much has been writ
ten certainly gave some valuable re-
suits, but these results tended merely in
the direction of confirming the yacht de
signers in the general line upon which
they had been progressing. The altera-
tons suggested by the towing experi-
mentS were in shape and not in type and
this has led even some members of the
crew who saw the yacht yesterday to
commit themselves to the opinion tha.
there is nothing new in the shape OF
Shamrock IL This. however, is barely
half the truth, for although the huh
presents no abnormal characteristics it
embodies a number of new features,
which may have an important bearing on
the result Of the coming race and on the
development of yacht designing.
The first and most important point dis
closed in the experimenting was the anx-
iety generally displayed to fine down the
forward lines of the Tnderbody to en-
able those parts to cut easily through
the water was entirely misplaced. 1t
was found that moderate fUllness for
ward was an advantage rather than a
drawback, and that the first thing de-
Sirable was a clean. sweet run aft. To
attain this the bulk of the Shamrock has
hoo cd r6 XNit
under water and full deck lines in the
forward overhang The bow, instead of be-
ing fattened on the side, is carried round
in a perfect spoon. The mast is stepped
forward Of the usual place, and the beam
is carried we'll into the overhang. The
freeboard is cut down to about two
thirds of the size the Shamrock |. show
ed above the water These are the most
striking characteristics. The underwater
body is simply an adaptation of the same
ideas to suit the different conditions.
The turn of the bilge favors the Column
bia rather than the Shamrock l., and
the fin is shorter and shallower than that
of the last challenger. Over all the new
boat is longer than both the challenger
and defender of 1899, being 133 feet. Her
water line length is right up to within
few inches of the allowable limit of
ninety feet. In beam she is practically
the same as the last cup racer, bet her
draught has been cut down with free
hand and is something less than nineteen
feet. Her sail area is more by 100000
square feet than the Columbia, and more
than shown on the first Shamrock. The
step forward of the mast has avoided the
chief fault found with the last chal-
lenger. the immense size of the FORE
triangle. In this measurement the new
challenger comes out less than either CT
the other boats her exact measurement
being seventy-one feet from mast to
bowsprit end.
Generally the yacht is fairly lined and
sweetly turned and looks quite fit to sail
for the cup.
The lord provost of Glasgow, who will
make the principal speech at the launch
ing ceremony, said today to represent
etiye of the Associated Press: There