The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-21
ADVISE ALTERING SHAMROCK.
British Yachtsmeu Think She May
BE ImprONed.


NEW YORK. Oct 2L-British yachts
men. in reviewing the races between the
Columbia and Shamrock II. think that
Mr.. Watson could build another yacht
that would win the Americas Cup. and
think that even the Shamrock might DO
very much improved The "Yachtsmau-'
has this 20 say about the races.
The fight for The Americas Cup I'm 1901
will long be remembered as the most ex-
citing series Of races ever sailed. Hitherto
The chaIlcngcrs nave always been beaten
| In an uumistakahIc fashion. but even now
| there are those who, having seen the
races, remain Of the opinion that the
beaten boat is the better Of the two.
! That such might be the case with those
most closely identified with the vessel
would De natural enough. but We refer to
the expressed opinions Of Americans. We
are inclined 70 the same opinion though.
not having seen the races w. taxi, tho.
reports OF lost opportunities and faulty
Judgment on board al, Shamrock with re-
serve But ia forming an opinion of the
two boats one must remember that no
vessel afoat has been more perfectly and
thoroughly tested than Columbia When
she first came cut she had a long seasons
racing with Defender ana her gradual i'm
Ir'N,meEt was palpable. This season.
with the same sailing master. she had a
thorough and exhaustive series of races
win Constitution. and when she came to
inc hht at the Cup races. her skipper had
so 20 speak, grown into the boat Against
Jhis, 1t may be admitted that no chaIIen-
ger was ever so thoroughly tuned up as
HhamE"Ck- hut that is not saving much;
and, through bad luck mainly. she was to
some extent still q dark horse
p 10 week before she discontinued
her trials with the older Shamrock that
vessel was quite Enthusiastically her suDe-
Nor. ard II seems to us now that the i'm
proVcment shown by the new vessel after
"A scrub and the substitution Of the pole
mast. was 70 some extent illusory. The
FORM SHOWN by the challenger in the hard
wind on Thursday was suspiciouSlv like
iAat OF the race at Weymouth. when
reaching, running and turning TO wind
ward the older boat showed pronounced
superiority IN speed. So far as ca he
Judged from the Cup races. Shamrock II
Is only superior to Columbia I'm a breeze
OF from tW Give to thirteen knots strength
which Is just the strength which Mr. Wat
son seems 10 have desired Ia any other
strength Of wind Columbia would aupear
Ia be the better boat-that IS to say.
she Is the better ali-rOUnd craft. though
there IS very little between the two at
any tne- he result OF the races album
G@fllll proves the wisdom Of the New
York Yacht club In selecting Columbia
instead of Constitution to defend the CuD
u IS pretty certain that this saved the
NID. llT. HERE ShOT may or NAV not
have reached his last word i'm Columbia
buJ 70 Judge from Constitution and from
shamrock II. IL seems as If the limit Of
useful sal area has been arrived at in
her Both these boats have larger sail
spreads. and it is more than likely that II
Constitution were cut down Il little she
would be sOmcW hat improved
W hethGr Sir Thomas Upton will chal-
lenEe again or 10. We have not heard out
n ne does We dc not sec why ne need
build new vessel No doubt the New
York Yacht Club would accept Shamrock
ii again as a challenger II She were re-
built or altered If Mr. Watson can see
any alteration likely 10 work an improve
ment. II cannot be 2 very great one. and
very little, IL Is manifest. is required TO
give her the whip hand Of Columbia To
De sure, she might not in future have to
meet Columbia, but another possibility Is
that Mr.. WatsOns Improvement might be
marked one Sir Thomas Upton is re-
ported 70 have said that ar. Watson has
been planning Shamrock II for five years
that Is 10 say. he has been contemplating
improvements on NaIkyrie III ever since
her races The result shows that he has
eliminated that vessels worst faults and
has kept all her good qualities. The
present boat may not be perfection but
she is almost good enough. A very little
whether IN design or handling. would suf-
hCe. Shamrock II did not win the Cup
but she most decidedly made il rock. and
We believe that. given the opportunity
Mr.. watson could cause her to make II
fall