Willmar tribune., 1903-03-21
Lipton's American Cup Challenger
Slides Into the Water at
( (. Glasgow.
NOVEL LINES IN ITS CONSTRUCTION,
u Evidently q Light-Weather Boat
or Will Carry Less Sail Area-Sir
Upton Is Much Pleased with His
Yacht, and Is sanEulne of Victory
Over Anne rican Boat.

nys' yard at Dumbarton, in spite of
the drenching rain, which, however,
ceased before the arrival of the spe-
clal visitors train. Sir Thomas Lip
ton escorted Lady Shaftesbury to the
christening dias. Among others on
the platform were the earl and
countess of Mar and Kellie, Lord
Overtoun, lord provost of Glasgow;
Hon. Charles Russell Reginald Ward.
William Fife and Capts. Wringe and
Bevis.
At 1915 p. m. Lady Shaftesbury
broke the bottle, saying:
II christen you Shamrock, may
God bless you and may you bring
back the cup.'
Then, amid loud cheers, the pom
toons on which Shamrock III. was
resting slid easily into the water.
After more cheering the visitors
proceeded to luncheon.
An examination of Shamrock III.
as the yacht was revealed in the
launching shed, confirmed the pre-
vious dispatches of the press on the
subject, and showed that Fife had
struck out boldly on entirely novel
lines, instead of trying to tinker or
improve on either of the previous
Upton challengers- Like her prede-
cessors, however, the Shamrock III.
is built close up to the 90-foot water
line limit. Her length over all is 14O
feet. The most striking feature of
the challenger is her extremely short
fin &c 11cf
draught is 10 feet, and the fin is al
most level along the bottom. The
lead in the hull is drawn we'll down
to the fin, suggesting the deep body
typical of the British cutter, rather
than the extreme fat foored type,
adapted from the American center
board yachts and used in all the re-
cent challengers.
Llght-WeaAher Boat.
American wheel steering for the
first time replaces the British tiller,
and the lesson learned with the
Shamrock II. through her pounding
in head seas has led to longer and
finer drawn bow, giving the chal-
lenger the appearance of being
boat capable of negotiating COM
fortably any modern sea. With
lesser draft and not so fiat floored
as the previous Shamrocks, the chal-
lenger will not have so much stabil-
ity, so Fife has either gone in for
light weather boat or he has cut
down her sail area. There are dar-
ing novel features in the design, the
offn0f 0f oh no ~
gauged, except by actual trial. They
suggest the possibility of difficulty
in getting the new boat to trim, steer
and carry her canvas. If, however,
she accomplishes these objects we'll
she will prove to be by far the most
formidable challenger ever sent out.
Is White with Green Stripes.
The underbody of the Shamrock
III. is painted with white anti
fouling composition. Her topsides
are white and she has broad bands
of green along the waterline and
rail. Her hull, frames and plates are
all of nickel steel, specially made.
The deck is of aluminium plates, COW
cred 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.
Sir Upton Hopeful.
After the launching Sir Thomas
Upton said to a correspondent of
the press:
my third and perhaps my last at
tempt at lifting the Americas cup
will be the most serious, and, I think,
the most hopeful of my efforts. The
Reliance may beat US, but it will not
be because 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 extraor-
binary genius of the American yacht
builder. It he can produce a still
further improvement in his art I
shall begin to think he is, a bit more
than human, There is no question
but that the best boat wins in the
International races. I believe the
Shamrock III. will come near filing
that bill. To my mind she is a mar
vel 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. I scarcely need add
that much as I long to win and ex-
pect to win, a third defeat will only
increase my admiration for a people
who can beat us at game that was
once nur own. ..< p. q { 4s55 ..s=2s
However added Sir Thomas,
laughing, "a third defeat is Of course
quite out Of the question. . h @ !;
Francis Returns from Mission.
New York, March 18.-DaMd r.
Francis, Of the Louisiana Purchase
oxposition, who returned from El-s,
rope on the steamer Kronprinz Will
helm Tuesday, said that though
!, had made a hasty trip Of sc four