The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-08
CHALLENGE FOR THE CUP
SIR THOMAS Upton STARTS THIRD
LETTER ACROSS THE WATER.
Fife Will Build Him a Boat with
Which He Hopes to Lift the Trophy
View of the Yachtsmen.

LONDON, Oct. 7.-Sir Thomas Lipton's
third challenge for a series of races for the
Americas cup was signed this afternoon at
Belfast, Ireland. by the officials of the
Royal Ulster Yacht Club. Sir Charles Rus
was posted and goes to New York on the
White Star line steamer Oceanic, which
will sail from Liverpool tomorrow.
The fact that the challenge was mailed
to New York was not published here to-day.
but the made on the subject by
yachtsmen. when informed of it by a press
representative. indicate that yachting men
in Great Britain identify themselves as
completely and enthusiastically with this
challenge as they did with the two which
preceded 1t. A few irreconcilables still quote
the Dunraven episode, forgetful Of the gen.
erous treatment accorded the Shamrock I
and the Shamrock III, but the majority of
yachtsmen are undisguisedly pleased that
another attempt to vindicate Great Brit
aims claim to yachting supremacy is to be
made.
Opinion is divided on the prospects of sue
cess. The elder school of yachtsmen is
generally respondent and argues that the
only chances of British success lay in the
retention of Mr.. Watson as designer, quot
Ing the Valkyrie III and the Shamrock III,
Mr.. Watson's last boats, as the only yachts
which ever came within measurable dis
tance of success. The opinions of a large
majority of yachtsmen, however, appear to
coincide entirely with those of the Clyde
yachtsmen, builders and experts. many OF
whom expressed the view this evening that
Mr.. Fife. with all the details and plans of
both Shamrocks before him, has a better
chance of turning out a successful chal-
lenger than Mr.. Watson had when he start
ed the Shamrock III.
Mr. Fife has approached the problem of
producing a winner IN a manner radically
different from that employed in the con-
struction of any previous challenger. Hith-
erto the idea dominating the design was
TO secure length and power. The Shamrock
l carried this idea to one extreme, and the
Shamrock III will carry it to the other.
The lines and measurements of the Sham
rock III suggest hat the first idea has
been to get a boat better suited to autumn
weather off Sandy Hooff. Stability and
sail-carrying capacity have, therefore, been
made secondary to the production of a hull
which can be easily driven. Fears have
been expressed in inner yachting circles
that the Shamrock III will be easily over
and Watson are both satisfied to take this
risk in order to obtain a good light weather
boat.
The challenger will be built at the Den
nys' yard and nickel steel will be employed
throughout for her frames. plating, deck
and principal spars. The early start of the
shamrock III Tor the Otner SIDE VIII, IL Is
considered, give her considerable advan-
tage over previous attempts, the failures
of which are attributed to inadequate
preparation more than anything else. Elk
perts point out that the Shamrock III was
admittedly delicate to tune and was never
properly tried after refitting. 1t evidently
is intended that the new boat shall have al
the advantages of a thorough testing or
both sides of the Atlantic before the races.
Yachtsman appear to regard the return
to plain steel as a sensible decision and one
of the most hopeful features liz the new
challenger. They say the slight saving ii
weight resulting from the use of bronz,
alloys is more than offset by the loss o.
truth in the lines of a yacht caused in the
difficulty of working the metals. The
Dennys are expected to turn out a stee
hull quite as light, probably as strong, ant
certainly more reliable than they could Il
they used manganese bronze.
So far as the drawing Office Is concerned
the work on the new challenger is believed
to be nearly completed. Mr.. Fife was once
heard to say that it would be easy to builC
a boat which would beat the Shamrock
by fifteen minutes in thirty miles. Mr.. Fiji,
undoubtedly is confident hat his chal
lenger will be the swiftest yacht yet at
tempted.