The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-20
SHAMROCK SILL IN DOCK.
The Challenger BeinE Prepared for
the Approaching Rncrs.

NEW YORK. Sept 2o.-The- Shamrock
is stil being prepared for her coming rae
ing in one of the drydocks N the Erie
Basin The men were at work yesterday
covering the port side Of the rudder with
sheets Of copper. and it was thought that
this part Of the work would be Finished
last night or this morning. The boat will
remain in the drydock till next Tuesday.
This is a change Of plan from that previ-
ousiy scheduled. When the Columbia
came OF the drydoCk on Tuesday evening
Il was learned that she would return for
a further docking next Monday. and there
was some talk about the Shamrock not
being able TO get a further docking before
the races in case she came out Of the Erie
Basin this morning. according to the first
plan. Now II has been arranged that the
challenger shall retain her present posi-
ton IN the dock TIL Tuesday morning
The dock had been engaged months
ahead. and was to receive the New York.
of the American Line. for some repairs
tomorrow.
Sir Thomas was informed that If the
Shamrock left the dock today there would
be no further chance of her getting back
again, as the New York would hold pos
session for the following thirty days, and
that the only thing for him to do was
TO remain where he was. He therefore
decided to let the challenger remain where
she lay.
Owing to the huge winds that have been
prevailing it has been found necessary TO
supplement the snoring up Of the Irish
racer. as some of tire side timbers were
buckling from the strain The original
plan was that after being locked the
oh in no "a "a
Hook and tested in the ocean before she
entered her first race. but the death Of
President Mckinley caused such change
of the dates and arrangements that this
further sailing. except on next Wednes-
day, has become impossible
The Columbia, in the meantime, Is at
Glen Cove where she was JOWed ytSter-
day morning from the Morse Iron WORKS,
al South Brooklyn. and she Is thus able
to have four days Of final tuning up be
fore entering her nrst race
There has ben much dispute as 70 me
special kind of weather in which the
Shamrock Will have her best chance OF
winning The officers Of the Columbia are
confident OF winning in heavy WINDS, ana
in their opinion the excess OF canvas area
i'm the Shamrock may make II a much
nearer thing for her when the breeZes are
moderate. This is not the view generally
held on board the green boat. and one OF
those most closely Interested IN Sir nom
as LiptCus success said yesterday
Il think that our pest chance with the
Columbia viii be when we get WIND
enough 20 OutpOwer her. Everyone has
admitted that our boat IS much SUuer
than the American craft The Columbia
crew think they have an advantage IN be
iu-s able TO house their tOpmaSt, but We
can carry a smalltOpsaiI to windward, and
want IL IN any breeze up 70 thirty miles
am hour, and perhaps good deal high
CT. though We have not tested X, ab0Ee
thirty. But let US suppose that the Co
Iumbia starts with her topmsst housed.
Then she probably Will be unable 10 send
il up till she rounds the fifteen mile wind
ward mark. These telescOping tOpmasts
iii So closely that the smallest curve OF
the lower mast jams the inside stick and
prevents il being hulSted out
In WindWard work. while coming 20
the outer mark in say a thIrty-fve mile
wind, she would certainly EG- e a heavy
strain on the lower mast. and the only
way she could get her topmasc aloft
would be 70 come up all sinking In the
wind. And what would the Shamrock be
doing in the meantime The idea of a
teleSCOplng tOpmast IS a very pretty one,
and has been in the minds OF yaChtsmen
ever since yachts were sailed, but we
gave IL a fun trial with the nrEt mast
and abandoned it when we found lis real
faults I'D actual practice. Win our STICKS
there is a continuous saving Of weight
alOIt in any ordinary sailing. while in
the Columbia there is q douSiius OF the
steels as far as the tOpmasJ SITS inside
the masthead. which has boon said %
be about seven feet.
u mas been considered that all the
racing for the Americas Cup there never
has been time when theh English boat
had occasion to house her topmast. and
Mr.. Watson fully considered that fact
when he ordered the upper stick 10 be
made as A continuation Of the lower one.
ana all in one piece There have been
tfty-rWO races sailed for the Cup and of
au the English Chauengers the present
Shamrock Is the stIftest craft for carry
ing canvas. so that the records suggest
that there may be- perhaps about one
chance In hundred OF our being com
PEELED 20 wish that we were abe 10 house
our tOpmasr. All the rest Of our time
We VIII DE using IL, and I don't see how
the advantage Of the Columbia on this
I point can properly be regarded as worth
mentioning
THE Columbia's sails were not taken
of the spars when she was in dryd0ck
at the Morse Iron Works. and iu ner
four days Of preliminary sailing In the
Sound near Glen Cove she viii be sailed
under the new maiESdu which has been
prepared by the Herresh0fs The wis
dom OF her changing her old and we'll
tried mdiuSlil for a new one lust before
| the final races has been COusidera bly,
! doubted II may be pointed out that as
! the Columbia old mailsaiI got worse to
{ look at as the season progressed the
speed Of the boat increased until she was
/ able 20 beat the Constitution in the same
light airs in which at first the Coustitu-
l tiion was always able TO defeat her"
I SI-25 To baltimore and Return via
ID. ~ o.
/ Saturday and Sunday, September q and p.