The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1901-08-16
THE NEW SHAMROCK
Challenger Is a Fine Look
ing Yacht.
IT IS CALLED THE BEST YET.
Far OutcIasses Boats Which Have
Heretofore Tried to Lift the Cup.
Shows Effect of Its Builders
study of Herreshoff's Model.

heretofore tried TO LIT the Cups
Shows Effect of It's Builders
study of Herreshoff's Model.
NEW YORK, Aug 13.-Shamrock II
as she lay at her anchor off Stapleton
Staten Island, had many visitors. She was
examined by the critics and nautical ex-
perts, and the general verdict was that
she looked handsome. More than that it
would be undiplomatic to admit. The
easy graceful lines of a racing yacht
above the water line are not the factors
that produce the speed that wins prizes.
1t is the form of the craft below the wa
ter line-the shape of the underbody, in
| fact-that does successful work in the
way Of lifting" cups.
That Shamrock ii is by far the hand
soonest and most graceful yacht that has
ever challenged for the Americas cup
must be conceded by the most strenuous
Anglo haters. She outclasses Shamrock
like a triton among the minnows.
Shamrock had an ugly, coarse bow tina
used to pound and batter the water
whenever the slightest semblance of a
head sea was raised. The bow of Sham
rock ii, reminds one of that of the Co.
lumbia. 1t has vast penetrating power.
1t will divide the water with ease.
1t cannot be denied that Mr.. Watson,
the designer of that wonderful bow,
learned much from the intelligent study
of the bow of the Gloriana, that marvel.
Gus Herreshoff production that revolu
tionized racing yachts. The whole fore
body of the challenger, in fact, shows
clever adaptation and skillful modifica-
ton of the forward sections of all the
good parts of the Watson and Fife and
Herreshoff creations.
The stern, too, tapers beautifully. Mr..
Watson is nothing if not artistic. The
curves of his boats are admirable indeed.
The graceful way in which Mr.. Watson
has disposed of the great beam of the
challenger, the factor which in combina-
ton with her 90 tons of lead gives her
immense sail carrying power, is indeed a
wonder of naval architecture. The sweet
ness of the lines and the facility of the
curves lead one to believe that the I'M
derbody has some surprises in store. 1t
is, however, granted only to a naturalist
Of eminent renown to give the image
of a mastodon from the scrapings of
toe nail.
From the water line to the rail, or,
rather, the covering board, for rail she
has not, Shamrock ii has all the at
tributes of a racing yacht. She will cut |
the water clearly, and she will leave
little fuss behind. That is all that can
be predicted of a boat whose mysteries |
of underbody have been concealed from |
the vulgar gaze. When she was launch
ed, a pontoon disguised her. Ever since |
special efforts have been made to hide |
her from profane vision.
There are a few things, however, that
cannot be hidden. She has the same pow.
erful fittings that characterized the two
Valkyres, the same deck purchases fol-
fattening in sheets, the same turnbuckles
for setting up the standing rigging that
have been features of the Watson boats
from the day of the Thistle down to date.
She steers with tller, and from all that
can be gathered from the conservative
men aboard she is an excellently bal
anced boat, always under her helmsman's
control and never showing a tendency to
take charge of herself in a brisk squat.
Captain Sycamore says she has been
all along. The skipper is a
modest man, and when the tug Lawrence
towed Shamrock ii into the Erie basin
at a little after o'clock big crowd vel
coined the Irish yacht. Mr.. Barrie, who
looks after Sir Thomas Lipton's interests
III llS CullCu hcldlSSl was III ShuIS &c VI
the challenger.
Arrangements were made for taking out
the jury mast Of the Shamrock. Then the
racing mast will be stepped-that gigantic
spar, lower mast and topmast combined,
the like of which never before has been
seen on a single masted craft. After this
the yacht will be put into drydock and
the accumulation of seaweed and barna-
cles removed. Judging from superficial
observation there is little marine growth
On her hull. On her starboard bow there
Is a big patch where the bright green
paint of her top side has slipped off as
clear as though sharp scraper had been
1T work. Otherwise the craft seems to be
clear.
The jury rig under which the yacht
crossed was evidently intended for tow
ng. The gaff topsail, loose footed at that,
lad very little pulling power The stump
opmast was only capable of setting a
mere rag of a sail and the square sal
yard dashed on the port side of the deck
lad never had sail bent to it. No bow.
,prit and no jigger mast were there to
pffer obstacles to the crew. All sails
we're set and taken in without difficulty.
After the steam yacht Erin has been put
n drydock the Shamrock will be hauled
tut for cleaning. Then and not till then
will the shape of the challenger be re
yealed to the public eye.