Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-08
SHAMROCK M
Is Coming Over to Try for the
Americas Cup.
Sir Thomas Upton Signs His Third
Challenge and Mails It.
Terms Do Not Materially Differ from
Those of 1900.

London. oct. Sir Thomas LiptOn's
third challenge for the Americas cup
WIS signed. this afternoon, at Belfast,
ireland. by the officials of the Royal
lister Yacht Club. Hon. Charles Rus
seII represented Sir Thomas Upton.
The challenge was Immediately posted
and will go to New York on the White
Star liner Oceanic, which will sail from
Liverpool and from Queenstown, Thurs
day.
The Associated Press understands
that the terms of the challenge do not
materially differ from those of 1900. The
first races are expected to take place
in August. Sir Thomas Upton said:
Il cannot discuss the terms until the
officials Of the New York Yacht Club
have had an opportunity to deal with
them and have signified their opinion
in regard to them. l have every rea-
son TO hope they will be considered
satisfactorily. I have always found
the members of the New York Yacht
club too good spOrtsmen to stick at
minor details. What we both want is
a good race under the best possible
conditions, and may the best boat win.
"Do | think | shall win. Well, l don't
think / would try my luck for the third
time unless | thought l had a pretty
good chance No other Britishers has
exhibited any desire to lift the cup. If
ANYBODY had turned uD | would will
incly have made way for him. But l
cannot let the chance go altogether.
Il certainly believe the Shamrock III
will be an Improvement on the last
challenger. If she is beaten the Amer
leans will have to produce a better boat
than can be built in the United King
dom.
Il intend leaving the Shamrock III
in America as trial horse there. while
use the Shamrock l for the same pur-
pose on this side.
ION previous occasions the arrange
ments for the competitions were so adj
eauately fulfilled that l can suggest no
improvement. | am anticipating my
visit with the keenest pleasure. whether
win or lose. | have always been
treated with the greatest kindness and
it Is quite a case of re-visiting old
friends. only this time | hope they will
not have a faster boat
The fact that the challenge was
matted to New York was not published
here. today. but the comments made
on the subject by yachtsmen when in
formed of it by representative of The
Associated Press, Indicate that yacht
ing men In Great Britain identify them
selves as completely and enthusiastic
caily with this challenge as they did
with the two which preceded it. few
irTeconclabes still quote the Dunraver
episode, but the majority of yachts
men are undisguisedly pleased that an
other attempt to vindicate Great Brit
aims claim to yachting supremacy is
10 be made.
Opinion is divided on the prospects of
success. The older school of yachtsmen
Is generally respondent and argues
that the only chance of British success
lay in the retention of Mr.. Watson as
designer. The opinions of large ma
J0rity of yaChtsmen, however, appear
to coincide exactly with those of the
Clyde yaChtsmen. builders and experts,
many of whom expressed the view, this
evening, that Mr.. Fife. with all the de-
tails and plans Of both Shamrocks be-
fore him. has better chance of turn
Ing out a successful challenger than
Mr.. Watson had when he started the
Shamrock H.
Mr.. Fife has approached the problem
OF producing Il winner in a manner
radically different from that employed
in the construction of any previous
challenger. Hitherto the idea domi-
mating the design was to secure length
and power. The Shamrock | carried
THIS idea to one extreme. and the
shamrock Ill will carry it to the other.
The lines and measurements of the
shamrock III suggest that the first
idea has been to get a boat better suit
ca 10 autumn weather off Sandy Hook.
stability and sail-carrying capacity
nave. therefore. been made secondary
TO the production of a hull which can
De easily driven. Fears have been ex-
pressed in inner yachting circles that
the Shamrock III will be easily over
powered in a fresh breeze. but Messrs.
fite and Watson are both satisfied ito
take this risk in order to obtain good
light weather boat.
The challenger will be built at the
Dennys yards and nickel steel will be
employed throughout for her frames.
plating. deck and principal spars.
The early start of the Shamrock III
ior The other side will. it is considered,
give her considerable advantage over
previous attempts, the failures of
which are attributed to inadequate
preparation more than anything else.
it-s evidently intended that the new
ooat shall have all the advantages of
thorough testing on both sides of the
atlantic before the races.
hachtsmen appear to regard the re-
turn 10 plain steel as a sensible decis-
ION ana one of the most hopeful fea-
lures IN the new challenger.