New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-05-12
JUDGING sHaMRocEs SPEED.
WILL HERE HAVE THE FINEST TENDEE
EVER ENGAGED FOR A,CUP YACHT.

WILL HERE HAVE THE FINEST TENDER
EVER ENGAGED, FOR A,CUP YACHT.
{ Every performance OF the twosshamrocks Is being
closely watched here and the Thursday showing
OF the two racers was viewed with Increased in
terest here owing 10 the neST challenger proving
able TO get away from the Fife boat in reach
ing breezes and when both craft had their lee
rails buried in smother OF foam. IL had pre-
viously been shown that with light winds aft there
was little TO choose between the two and the same
might be said about the first Shamrock and Column
bia, which I'm these waters many miles neck
and neck before following VIVID But the first
shamrOcks strong points We're Fgays supposed by
her designer, Mr.. Fife. to be in beam and quar-
oerfng breezes. and English yacfrtsmen have been
thinking IL possible that the new craft would not
do more than hold the old. one in this kind of
sailing. Their idea has been that II the Fife boat
could be kept terms in the running and
reaching the undoubted superiority, OF the chaI-
lenger In windward work would make a total per
tormance OF a promising character. The same view
has been pretty general in this city and there was
generous glow OF admiration here when IL was
found that the Watson craft before she broke
down had gradually gained all the way and beaten
the Fife boat her best gaits 10y two min
utes and fifteen seconds in seven miles
Thursdays test was. Therefore an interesting one
because both boats were JOing all they knew how
and with wind enough 10 bring out nearly all the
power they owned. The breakage Of the lower
mast backstay Is a not unusual one, and this
support has always given peculiar strength the
carrying IL away is almost invariably the result OF
setting Il I'D too when the vessel IS coming
out Of stays with the strain OF the mast. When
the yacht pays OF. the mast is thus not allowed
70 take its share OF the strain. the greater part
or which then comes the bac5stay, and there IS
hardly any gear thar VIII stand H. Yachtsmen
here attribute the breakage the challenger 10
this cause.
The gan OF ;he Watson boat is built OF nickel
steel. which is only S-l6 of an inch thick and at
the Denny yards there is a second one which can
accident took place OF Sandy Hook while the first
Shamrock was practising here Il was found that
broken.
Mr.. Barrie said yesterday that the steamer Porto
tlco chartered by him as the American tender
OF Shamrock II had straight 20 her
lower decks that would be especially convenient for
The easy placing OF spare spars OF such a length
20 feet long. affords ample for everything
on her three decks. and she has several steam
winches and Blooms, which win render the chal-
lenger independent OF separate hosting apparatus
Tor changing or moving heavy spars.
She also gives the charterer an advantage by
being able 10 stick IL out in any weather that
comes along. and when the Challenger Is taken
10 Boston she will be handy vessel have in the
neighborhood when the yacht is rounding the
that the Porto Rico will tow the Shamrock on this
trip as the steam yacht Erin will probably be too
iuh OF guests 10 undertake her usual task The
Porto Rico Is the finest vessel that has ever been
engaged tender for a cup yacht, having trtple
expansion engines powerful searchlighs and state
rooms TOT nfty-two first class passengers, besides
terday that this was another instance OF the ever
Increasing expense Of the Americas Cup racing
me Porto Rico being regular ocean vessel, capa-
re OF DOING her fourteen knots an hour and a
costly craft TO charter.