Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1903-03-18
SHAMROCK Ill
LAUNCHED TO-DAY
Upton Expects Much of New
Challenger.
NEW DEPARTURES ADOPTED.

sir thomaS says his Is His Most
Serious, and Perhaps Last Attempt
to Lift the cup-IncidentaIIy Lauds
Genius of American Builders.
Glasgow. March 17-The Shamrock
III was launched at 1 Is today.
An examination of Shamrock III as
the yacht was revealed in the launch
ing shed, confirmed the previous dis
patches Of the Associated Press on the
subject and showed that Fife had
struck out boldly on entirely novel
lines instead of trying to improve on
either of the previous Upton challen-
gers. Like her predecessors, how
ever, the Shamrock III is built close
UP to the 90-foot water line limit. Her
length over all is 140 feet The most
striking feature of the challenger is
her extremely short fin. 1t is just
20 feet lol-g. Her draught is 19 feet
and the fin is almost level along the
bottom. The lead In the hull is drawn
down to the fin, suggesting the deep
body typical of the British cutter, rath-
er than the extreme fiat fiOored type,
adapted from the American center
board yachts and used in all the re-
cent challengers.
American wheel steering for the
first time replaces the British tiller
and the lesson learned with the Sham
seas has led to a longer and finer
drawn bow giving the challenger the
appearance Of being a boat capable
of negotiating comfortably any mod
ern sea. With lesser draught and not
SO fiat f1oOred as the previous Sham
rocks, the challenger will not have so
much stability, as Fife has either
gone in for a light weather boat or he
has cut down her sail area. There
are daring novel features in the de
sign, the effect of which cannot be ac-
curately gauged, except by actual trial
They suggest the possibility of diff
fculty in getting the new boat to trim,
steer and carry her canvass. IT,
however, she accomplishes these OBJ
jects well she will prove to be by
far the most formidable challenger
ever sent out.
The under body of the Shamrock LII
is painted with a white and fOuHng
composition. Her top sides are white
and she has broad bands of green
along the water line and rail. Her
hull frames and plates are all of nick
el steel, specially made. The deck is
of aluminium plates, covered with wood
fiber, which gives a safe foothold
The workmanship of the yacht is
superb in every detail, no dent, rivet
or joint is visible under the polish of
her paint
After the launching Sir Thomas Lip.
ton said to a correspondent of the AS
ISOLATED Press:
My third and perhaps my last at
tempt at lifting the Americas cup will
be the most serious, and l think the
most hopeful of my efforts. The Re-
lance may beat up, but it will not
be because l have not got the best
boat British brains and workmen can
produce.
IF the cup stays in America, it will
stay there because of the extraordinary
genius of the American yacht build
er. If he can produce a style still
further improved in his art, l shall
begin to think that he is a bit more
than human. There is no question
but that the best boat wins in the in.
ternationaI races. l believe the Sham.
rock III will come near filing that
bill. To my mind, she is marvel In
which Fife and Watson have outdone
themselves. With good trial races
and no accidents, her arrival in New
York should mark the coming of the
most formidable challenger ever sent
over. | scarcely need add that as
much as l long to win, and expect to
win. third defeat will only increase
my admiration for a people who can
beat us at game that was once our
own
However, added Sir Thomas. "a
third defeat is, of course, quite out of
the question"
Large crowds gathered at the Den.
nys yard at Dunbarton, in spite Of the
rain, which, however, ceased before
the arrival of the special visitors train.
Sir Thomas Upton escorted Lady
Shaftesbury to the christening dais.
Among the others on the platform
We're the earl and counties of Mar
and Kellie, Lord Overton, Lord Pre-.
vost, of Glasgow; the Hon. Charles
Russell, Reginald Ward, William Fife
and Captains Wringe and Bevis. At
11:15 a. m. Lady Shaftesbury broke the
bottle saying:
Il christen you, Samrock. May God
bless you and may you bring back the
| cup"
Then amid loud cheers, the Sham.
rock III slid easily into the water. Af-
ter more cheering, the visitors went
| to luncheon