New-York tribune., 1901-07-16
And certainly no new track on Long Island to
be controlled by Tammany politicians Is needed.
THE CHANCE OF SHAMROCK II.

Since the Newport racing of the three
90-footers was ended last Friday, the outlook
for Shamrock III and the question of superiority
among the three vessels built for the Cup
defence have been widely discussed. II the
new Constitution had proved markedly superior
to The Columbia, the defender of 1899, the
answer to the general questioning would have
been easy. but 1t seems that the words Of the
designer of the Constitution were true when he
said earlier in the season that the limit for
speed in this class had been about reached.
For all round performance. combining good
speed In light and moderately fresh breezes, the
Columbia perhaps reached the limit. She was
especially valuable because she covered a wide
range Of the weather which usually is found off
Sandy Hook in the summer season. In heavy
weather the Defender could probably beat her,
and in the lightest of airs the Constitution evil
IDENTIFY can. The Constitution therefore remains
to an uncertain extent unknown quantity.
Nobody can speak with assurance as to her
capabilities when she gets her sails cut to do
better work by the wind but may quote
Captain Charles Barr and his mate, Miller.
They are on the Columbia, and may be regarded
as unlikely to against their own boat, but
they are of opinion that the Constitution will
beat the Columbia when she gets put in trim to
do her best work.
1t is perhaps in the interest of sport that the
Constitution has not shown her best form at an
early day. There Is no doubt that the first per-
formances of the challenger, Shamrock III, were
disappointing TO Sir Thomas Upton. People
said that If the new English boat could not
beat the first Shamrock there would be no use
In sending her to this country, and Sir Thomas
himself admitted as much. At the present time,
however there seems to be no sufficient reason
for our English friends to be so downhearted as
ton they have reckoned that Shamrock III
would have to be at least twenty minutes faster
than the first Shamrock In order to have q
chance of winning. But that view based
on the assumption that the Columbia was ten
minutes faster than the first Shamrock. and
that the Constitution would be at least ten
minutes faster than the Columbia. Both of
these hypothesis may be correct, but the Con
stitution has been defeated by the Columbia in
n majority of races, and under present con-
ditions is by no means sure to beat her except
In a wind light that the possibility of finish
ing within a six hour limit is doubtful. The
bad beating that she recently gave the Column
bia at Newport was in an air so light that she
only finished the thirty miles within twenty
two minutes of the six hours. The Americas
Cup tune limit is five and half hours, so that
In that race the Constitution would have been
unable 10 finish I'm time.
While the opinion of competent experts that
the Constitution will improve is likely TO be
verified, II has TO be admitted that Mr.. HERES
hoffs new boat has not yet displaced the Colum-
bia fer general defence in n variety of weathers.
If this years challenger IS found 10 sail no bet
ter than the first Shamrock she will at least
equal boat that sailed even terms with
the Columbia In a number OF uncompleted races.
and in that view her chances are not TO be
despised but the later advlces about Mr. Wat
sons design are that she has been beating the
first Shamrock by five minutes in short wind
ward courses. We have never considered that
the best sport was obtained when one competi-
tor was too widely regarded as sure winner
before the contest. and II might have been a
bad thing for the yachting year IL Shamrock III
had turned out TO be manifest failure Sir
Thomas Upton deserves all reasonable encour-
agement, and the results OF the Newport racing
ought 10 revive his hopes. at least until the
Constitution gets her sails TO set well.