The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-15
|SIR THOMAS TALKS
| BUT SAYS LITTLE
Intimates That Prophets Will
BE Surprised When Plans
Are Known.
TRIALS FOR DEFENDERS
Thirty-five Races Arranged
Give Promise Of Greatest
Yachting Season.

| Sir Thomas Upton and every ono con-
nectcd with the Shamrock ~. are in
clned TO he secretive about the size.
model and construction OF that yacht, and
beyond the fact that she Is rs feet on
the water line nothing definite is known.
Many stories have been In circulation
about the details OF the cup challenger.
but these yarns are neither confirmed no.
denied by those who really know about
the yacht Sir Thomas Upton was inter-
Viewed recently and said that he could
not reveal the details of the challengers
construction, but could say that those
newspapers which have been INDUCING In
prophecies about the yacht are wide OF
the mark. They will, Sir Thomas said.
be vastly surprised when they know the
true construction OF the vessel
| II has been generally accepted by news
papers on the other side that the Sham
rock ". has n centreboard, that she is
planked with wood. and that she Is n
big powerful vessel with an enormous
spread Of canvas
Sir Thomas dearly loves mystery. He
has always made more or less OF secre.
OF the plans of his yachts and keeping
/ under cover the plans OF his latest chal-
lenger Is thoroughly In keeping with his
general policy. Nevertheless in view OF
the present state OF yacht building for
the coming series of races each side could
profit much by learning the plans OF the
other. II the reports are wide OF the
mark It Is possible that Nicholson. the
49,
a vessel Of small displacement and fine
lines. baslng his hopes OF success on the
time ne will receive from a larger yacht
Nicholson il in rather a peculiar posi-
| ZION. lie has just one chance OF sue
cess. and he must have figured exceed
ingly care fully and closely before he
elected what size yacht he would design
/ He Is n man who Is not tied to tradi-
| items Designers OF former cup challeng-
ars. on the other hand. have been slow TO
profit by experience. II Nicholson thinks
a centreboard will be an advantage he
| will not hesitate to use one. II he thinks
II better TO give than to receive time he
will go the limit Of size. His yachts have
always been canvased to the limit, and
It is probable that ne will still adhere TO
this rule unless he figures that under the
| American system the time allowance Is
| In favor OF the small yacht. Whatever
the Shamrock ". may be. yachtsmen on
this side will have to treat her with great
| respect, for she Is sure to be fast and
able
on this side the American defenders
| have three chances OF success. Each In
dvidual designer has only one chance.
but there are three defenders building.
and as these three are Of different types
the New York Yacht Clubs chances Of
/ keeping the cup are three to one The
Gardner yacht. building for Alexander $,
Cochran. will be a big. high powered
vessel, probably the largest Of the fleet
building for the defence OF the cup. The
Defiance the owen designed yacht, II is
| aid. will be the smallest, and the HERES
! off yacht for the New York Yacht Club
syndicate will be of moderate size.
The thlrty-five races arrah2ed Tor
! .hese yachts promise to be the most in
tereS:ing series ever sailed IN American
waters. There have been as many de-
tenders In former years notably the Re-
lance Constitution and Columbia In 1908.
The Constitution Columbia and the lnde-
pendence In 1901. and the Vig.iant, Jubi-
lee. PILGRIM and Colon!a In 1898. but
here have never been so many races
scheduled for the defenders. Moreover
in those years there were many break
lowns caused by the enormous size OF the
| Yachts. whose spars and rigging could not
be made 10 stand the strain Now de-
signers and builders know much more
| about materials than they dld ten years
ago. and judging by the record made last
year by the hfty-footers there should be
few mishaps this year with the rs footers
There will be plenty of other racing
with yachts this year. Some OF the mites
will he in commission. Some OF the
smaller schooners will race also. but the
Elena and Iroita Will not be raced. The
rrolita will be the tender for the Defiance.
and Capt. Dennis. wSo sails the Elena for
Morton +. Plant. will have charge Of the
Cochran yacht Several Of the smaller
classes Of sloops will MI we'll The yachts
OF classes L and q will be In commission.
and there will he new ones to compete
with the older boats. There will be a new
fleet OF yachts in class II. and in the spe-
cial, one design, handicap and smaller
classes there will be large fleet OF racers
ready TO compete In all the regattas.
II has been necessary TO make the rae
ing schedule this year ut In with the
schedule arranged for the cup defenders.
and the regular yacht racing season will
close somewhat earlier than usual because
the races for the Americas Cup are set
for early In September and every one
owning yacht will want To witness those
races rather than sail his own boat
II will he a big year for cruising yachts
Steamers and auxiliaries that have been
laid up for several seasons will he in
| commission. These yachts are expected
to ut out in time 10 take part In the cruise
OF the New York Yacht Club and remain
In commission until the cup races are
ended. Some. years ago In a cup race
year there We're more than $50 yachts In
the squadron OF the New York Yacht Club
and 1t Ia probable that this year a new
| record will be set.