New-York tribune., 1901-04-20
TO LAUNCH SHAMROCK.
CHALLENGER TO TAKE THE WATER To-
DAY-SIR THOMAS CHARMED
WITH HIS BOAT

Glasgow, April 19.-Au is now ready for the
launching of Shamrock II, although this even
ing men were working at the yards of the
Dennys under Mr.. Watsons vigorous eye CIV
ing the final touches to the craft.
Sir Thomas Upton, when asked what he
thought of his boat. replied
l can only tell you what John Henderson, who
built the Meteor, the Thistle and the Valkyrie
remarked to-day. after close inspection She is
the finest yacht ever built this side of the
Atlantic"
c, I can see nothing in the way of resistance.
other experts who have seen Shamrock II.
The notable people who will attend the launch
ing ceremonies will arrive here Tomorrow
Among those expected to be present is Mr.
Fife No American who looks on will watch
with more critical eye the craft than the
designer of Shamrock I. and almost within a
week-for Sir Thomas Upton hopes that the
yacht may sail for the Solent on Thursday-the
keen contest Of designers will begin between
Mr.. Fife and Mr.. Watson
1t is ascsrtained that Shamrock I has been
improved to a greater extent than Mr.. Watson
might have wished. So much mystery has been
made of the building of the new Cup challenger
that there Is an expectation of something
phenomenal and absolutely unique in the way of
yachting architecture TO be disclosed when she
is knocked away tomorrow. This expectation
is doomed to disappointment Early in the
decided TO risk nothing in the production Of
freak boat and to the unskilIed eye Shamrock
II looks exactly like the latest of the big racing
cutters. The test tank experiments of which
so much has been written. certainly gave
very VaIuable results; but these results
tended mostly in the direction os confirming the
yacht designers on the general line upon which
they have been building. The alterations sug-
gested by the towing experiments were in shape
and not In type and this has led even some
members of the who saw the yacht yester-
themselves
there is nothing new in the shape OF Sham
rock II.
This however is barely half the truth. for AL
though the hull presents no abnormal charac-
teristic, it embodies a number OF new features
which may have an important bearing on the
ment of yacht designing.
The first and most important point disclosed
in the experimenting was that the anxiety gen
orally displayed to fine down the forward lines
of the underbody to enable those parts to cut
easily through the water entirely mis-
placed. 1t was found that moderate fulness for
ward was an advantage, rather than draw
back and that the first thing desirable a
clean run aft. To attain this the bulk of
Shamrock II has been carried well forward with
full lines under water and full deck lines in the
forward overhang. The bow instead of being
Hattened on the sides, is carried round in a per-
feet spoon The mast is stepped forward of
the usual place, and the beam is carried well
into the overhang. The freeboard is cut down
to about two-thirds of the side Shamrock I
showed above the water.
These are the most striking characteristics.
The under water body is simply adaptation
tlons. The turn of the bilge favors the Co
lumbia, rather than Shamrock 1, and the fin is
shorter and shallower than that of the last
challenger. Over all the boat is longer
than both the challenger and defender of 1893.
being 133 feet. Her waterline length is right up
to within a few inches of the allowable limit of
ninety feet. In beam she is practically the same
as the last Cup racers. but her draught has been
cut down with a free hand and is something
less than nineteen feet.
Her sail area is more by two hundred square
feet than the Columbias. and close up to the
amount shown Shamrock.
The stepping forward of the mast has avoided
the chief fault found with the last challenger the
immense size of the fore triangle. In this meas
either of the other boats her exact measure
ment being seventy-one feet from mast to bow
spirit end.
Generally, the yacht is fairly lined and sweetly
turned, and looks quite fit to sail for Cup
honors
The Lord Provost of Glasgow. who will make
the principal speech at the launching ceremony,
said to-day:
ment along the Clyde when Cup races are on,
but this time 1 am afraid our people will go
pretty nearly mad. 1 do not approve of gam
bling and the excitement it causes, but, other
wise. 1 think such competitions do much to
create a better feeling between Great Britain
and the United States
I'VE are very proud of Sir Thomas Upton.
He was a Glasgow boy, despite his persistence
in giving his boats Irish names. Somehow or
other we think this year that he is going 10
bring back that coveted Cup 1t will be a proud
day for the Clyde when that happens for we
have never sympathized with or believed in the
! individual complaints made in some quarters
regarding alleged American unfairness.
1--WE have been sorely vexed that the Cup has
ter than the people of Glasgow that it was be-
cause American skill and seamanship have peen
superior to ours; but before my term or ONCE
expires. hope that bit of silver will be IN our