New-York tribune., 1901-09-26
MEASUREMENTS OF YACHTS.

Square o sail area ............ i1+a4 lis 3S
The first of the for the Americas Cup
between the Columbia and the Shamrock will be
sailed to-day.
The Shamrock did not go out yesterday There
was a heavy roll outside Sandy Hook coming
in from the eastward showing that somewhere
II had been blowing much harder than at the
Hook. There has certainly been some extra
riveting the Upton boat and as already
told In these columns the challenging yacht Is
almost certainly in condition that requires
careful nursing. She has been ever since she
had her internal supports removed after her
arrival from England This internal trussing
held her in good shape while she crossed, but
since it taken out at the Erie Basin the
combining of the yacht to the bay and the
full avoidance of heavy seaway have shown
clearly enough told in these columns. that
there good reason for nursing the boat.
1t he said for the first time with
tainty, the result Of Information received
yesterday the steam yacht Erin. that 1t is
doubted by those on the Shamrock that she is
constructed to withstand hard trial. The hint
given here some time ago now be asserted
as fact that no time in the whole Upton COM
lsunity knows what the boat will do If she
counters heavy She may come through
all right. But it is the cards that the chal-
leneeT may lose the cup through pnySlcaI IN
ability to stand the strain
The wind going at twenty miles hour
when the two Cup yachts were first sighted at
their Sandy Hook anchorages yesterday morn
ing. The Columbia and the Shamrock had their
canvas slowed. and there sign either
boat of getting ready to go out. The men were
rubbing down the sides of The Columbia, but
there no attempt being made to remove the
paint that the boat would sail. when heeled
over on as smooth surface that presented
by the polished bronze of the Shamrock. W.
Butler Duncan said yesterday that he believed
this plan adopted by the Shamrock was the
better and that if the Constitution had been
chosen to defend the Cup it had been his in
tention to have her sail with her topsides bright
and FURNISHED.
on the Shamrock the covers the
mansail and there were two men in boatswain's
chairs up the mast olling the front of the mast
with the palms of their hands, that the mast
hoops would slide easier on the yellow painted
steel spar. a few minutes after l. o'clock Mr.
Jameson left the steam yacht Erin in the
launch and went over to the Shamrock with
expert who had come from New-York to ad
just the compasses the Irish boat The char
tered tug Lawrence took stern line off the
Shamrock and pulled her round so that she
pointed north and then the work began.
H. NJ McGildowney. of the Royal Ulster Yacht
Club. will represent tho challengers the de-
fender Columbia and W. Butler Duncan, jr.,
will sail on the Shamrock representing the de
tending club.
When asked about the alleged leaking of the
Shamrock, SIR Thomas Upton said:
We are all right Whether do the trick is
another story. ! came down from the Erie
Basin in the Shamrock early this morning when
there was pretty good sea rolling in from the
ocean. and found the Shamrock as dry
bone She did not leak drop. She is tighter
now than she before
It can be said that Si Thomas is by no means
so confident of victory he has hitherto been
reported The questions he asks of those who
have watched the Columbia all summer show
this In one case he told that he was go
ing TO lose
Well" replied Sir Thomas, 1T won't be be-
cause of any fault or inattention on my part.
I have refused all invitations. and have given
my whole time TO seeing that everything was
done for the boat that could be done"
The value of this constant attention may not
appear clear to the general public. but it would
if the facts about the first Shamrock just be-
fore her races better known. On this trip
Watson, the designer. is present with Sir
Thomas all the time. The first Shamrock came
up for her measurement, floating absurdly high
get small waterline She was wholly off
her proper sailing lines. and The Tribune said
so. The next day they piled back the ballast
when Fife was sick. and when the skipper was
said to be ashore. No one knew where it ought
TO go, and the yachts trim wholly altered
Care that nothing like this shall be done now
is of value. and Watson's presence is worth
much to Upton.
After l o'clock the Columbia cast off the
gaskets from the mainsalI, and sent it up after
previously sending up her headsas in stops
The clubtopsail was being hoisted at 2:0J. The
yacht slipped her cable with buoy to 1t. and
took a short tack over toward the Shamrock at
PA but there was no move the golden boat
Continued third page.