The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-20
NUMBER 1877.
THE SHAMROCK LAUNCHED
Lipton's Cup Challenger Leaves the
Ways at DUmbart0n,

Sir Thomas Lipton's challenger for the
Americas Cup, was successfully
launched from the yards Of Denny
Brothers, at Dumbarton, at 12:4j p m-
today.
Simultaneous with tie splash made
by Sir Thomas new boat, the March
ioness of Duferin cast a bottle of
champagne on her deck and the for
Taality Of christening her was gone
through
I christen thee Shamrock IL said
Lady Dufferin.
Silence had prevailed for minutes
previously. Only the creaking of the
cEaIIenger's supports on the slide could
be heard But the lady's words were
ike magic. They were followed by an
outburst of cheers such as old Glasgow
had not heard in years.
Nearly every distinguished parsonage
to whom an invitation had been issued
was on hand, and among them were:
The Marquis of Dufferin and Ava, the
Marquis Of BreadaIbane, Viscount
CharlemOnt, Lord Frederick Black
wood, Lord and Lady Blythswood. Sir
Horace Tozer. Sir James Musgrave,
Lord Plunkett, Lord Provost Chisholm,
Lord Advocate. the Hon Charles Rus
sell, the Lord Mayor of Belfast Sir
James and Lady Thompson, Sir David
and Lady Richmond, and the Right
Hon w. J. Pirrie and Mrs. Pirrie,
Sir Thomas was visibIy affected by
the reception accorded his new craft,
with which he expects TO Eft" the Cup.
He was communicative concerning the
boat, and said:
Shamrock II is all right and she
carries with her my confidence that
she viii win the Cup. I believe she is
the fastest yacht ever built and, to
prove my claim. I intend sailing her
against the best yachts of Europe be-
fore she is started for America
Il am sure she viii be going under
her own canvas by the first week in
May and. let me say that her enor-
NOUS spread viii surprise everybody.
Her wings will be tremendous in ex-
tent"
To King E<ward, II is said, viii fail the
honor Of being the first outsider to han
die the tiIler Of the Shamrock The
King will go aboard incognito soon af-
ter the canvas is stretched and give the
challenger smashing run in the Isle
Of Wight waters
The boat was OF a pontoon, but there
was an open view of her. The press
men. led by Sir Thomas, were photo
grapked at II o'clock The platform
was gaily decorated the Stars and
Stripes being prominent The ooat took
the water nicely without a hitch amid
cheers from the spectators and the dis
charge of fireworks
Shamrock II Is great departure
from previous British designs and will
show a resemblance to Columbia in the
water. She is an extreme specimen Of
the bulb-fin type, with very long over
hangs. Her counter is cut away and
runs to a fine point at the taffraiI. The
bow is fuller than anything yet seen,
the beams going forward and up TO the
greatest width opposite the mast. The
bilges are strikingly rounded. giving q
fat focr- Not much can be seen but a
gentle lift from amidships TO the bow.
The fin keel is in the form Of a well
with 90 tons Of lead run in the bulk Of
it and tending forward in a cigar shape
The main boom and mainmast are Of
the finest steel and there is telescope
pine topmast- The bOwsprit Is pretty
far outboard, giving an extensive fore
triangle. and the mast viii be stepped
pretty well forward The main
san viii be unusually large. The
buli-frames are TO be Of the
finest metal steel with a plating Of
manganese bronze. The deck is Of light
The sails. which are cotton, were sup
piled by Ratsey. OF Cowes- The whole
effect is a sense Of power, and that the
boat can be easily driven in light air,
while she is likely to be a good weather
vessel in a strong wind and sea She
appears TO be narrower and longer than
vaIkyrie and as straight on the rails
as the Sybarite-
There was luncheon after the
launch which was attended by a nu-
nerous party Lord Provost Chisholm
Of Glasgow offered a toast to Sir
Thomas Upton, wishing success to the
challenger. In reply, Sir Thomas said
he appreciated the talent and skill Of
their American cousins in the science Of
yacht-designing and building and in the
sailing OF a boat Nevertheless. he
would go across the Atlantic full Of
hope and feeling certain that the Amer
lean yachtsmen would be the first TO
congratulate him on his victory if
Shamrock II were successful.
The Marquis of DufeTin said the
more pleasant characteristics Of these
races were the friendIiness and fairness
Of spirit with which they were entered
into on the part Of the representatives
Of both nations There was no wish
on the part Of either side but that the
best boat should win.
Earl Breadalbane, in proposing the
health Of Designer Watson, remarked
that the Americans had proved 70 be
expert designers and that Herreshoff
held the blue ribbon. At the same time
IL was safe TO say that Shamrock II
would be hard boat to beat and it was
not for anybody to blow as yet Mr..
Watson he declared. in designing the
present beat had simply excelled him
self
Replying TO this toast. Mr. Watson
referred TO the great assistance he had
received from Designer Fife and the
Generosity Of SIR Thomas Liptoh. He
spoke with dimdence and without