The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-09
HARD CONDITIONS TO BE MET.


| REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Bristol. R. l.. March S-Whatever may
| be the surprise that Mr.. Fife has in stor,
| for American yachtsmen with his Sham
rock III, it is acknowledged by those in
position to speak that Captain NAT" Her
reshoff, with the new defender. will NEE
that surprise and show the world a trick
| in naval architecture hard to beat
In the year 1901 after the challenge Of
was accepted. Captain MAJ Drought oui
the Constitution.
1t is stnl held by him and by yachtsmer
whose opinion is worth listening to that
the Constitution was positively an improve
ment in design. rig and construction over
the famous Columbia
fortunate circumstances. the Constitution
did not succeed in occupying the enviable
position of defender of the Americas Cup.
In the same season appeared the indie
pendence Famous or otherwise. as she may
have proved to be, she served purpose.
and a keen observer and designer learned
from her just how far he could go in that
particular model
FINE QUALITIES.
In the races in which she met the Column
bia and the Constitution she could not VII
from them. and III certain conditions her
performance was deplorable. but there were
conditions and times when she demonstrated
that she possessed real qualities. notaoiy
when sailing free
In summing up the COnGltlOnS TO SuCStSc-
fully meet the Shamrock II. Mr.. Herresaoff
nor any other acute designer could ignore
the fact that free-wind sailing Is Just as
much of value in retaining the cup as any
In the races for the old trophy. the ar
rangement is that the second and fourth
eouilateral triangles. one leg OF which is
planned to be to windwarC, the otneis
reaching and running.
The problem, then, before the designer
loip emhDdv the Special
features which gave the 1ndependence her
abnormal power in sailing free: and at the
same time to plan vessel ,, whose ,s su,' he
equal to that of the Columbia or the Son-
stitution. and at the same time In sa1ing
free to be as nearly up TO the Independence
as the peculiar combination would admit
TASK ACCOMPLISHED.
That, it is believed. has been accom-
plished The new defender. now rapidly ap-
preaching completion in Bristol. IS believed
derstood the Decularities Of her model to
be ore of the most remarkable designs ever
evolved from the fertile brain of Captain
Nat Herreshof.
the yacht will combine in wonderful de-
gree qualities which will produce the high
est results in sailing against the wind as
in a good breeze should be. as one who will
sail On her apt!y expressed it. Fast as an
express train
Whisperings are also heard In Bristol re-
garding the dimensions of the new defend
er. From a blue print of the boat 1t has
been learned. so the story goes; that her
overall length will be between 146 and i4I
feet, which is hardly possible, but the
well Uniformed" yachtsmen OF this yacht
building village seem sure of their informa-
ton and all who express doubts upon this
point are simply requested to wait and
see" That the boat is fully l42 feet. If not
more. over all. is quite sure: while the
beam is only slightly under IS feet
The Yacht will be launched the best tide
in April which promises to be about the
middle Of that month. II there are no draw
backs encountered. which is hardly pos
sible There are 800 men on the HerreShon
pay rolls-a number unprecedented. even In
cup years.