Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-06
Marked Difference in
Big League Races
Fair Comment on the
Golfers
PUGILISTIC NOTES

New York, July 4.--American yachts
men, who are in close touch with the
preparations being made by Sir Thorn
as Upton for his fourth attempt to
lift the Americas Cup, have recently
received an interesting analysis of
the preliminary showing of Shamrock
~. According to this report the chal-
lenger designed by Charles Nicholson
is likely to prove the most dangerous
yacht ever sent across the Atlantic in
quest of the famous trophy. Although
the English yachting experts will not
commit themselves regarding the
chances of the challenger as yet, the
impression appears TO be growing that
If Shamrock " makes the ocean trip
without straining she will prove far
more formidable than any of the
Shamrocks or Valkyries that raced for
the cup between 1893 and 1909.
AS in the case with the cup defense
yachts Resolute, Defiance and Vani-
tie, there still remains much to be
done on Shamrock " before she sails
for America late this month. Several
changes in rig and ballast have al
ready been made and the experiment
Ah5 oAAo III iihAh6 VA Siit Gle" VIII SOii-
tinue until the challenger is put under
jury rig for the long voyage to the
cup course. All this experimenting
and, improving meets with the entire
approval of the English yachting ex-
perts, but when it comes to the crew
and skipper the same confidence and
support is lacking. In fact the COM
mand and manning of the yacht Is the
subject of much talk, and wide diver
gence of opinion. The old yachting
hands, While knowledging that Cap
tain Burton, who is to command, gis
probably the best racing man in Great
Britain today, do not like the idea of
Captain Sycamore, with all his expert
ence of racing off Sandy Hook, being
entirely eliminated
This move was doubtless decided up
on to avoid the friction that occurred
in 1903, owing to sort of dual COM
mand. This year Captain Burton, will
be in sole command. He will have as
his assistant, however, Captain Turn
err, who acted in q similar capacity for
Burton in most of the big races in
English waters, and recently on Sir
Thomas Lipton's twenty three metre
yacht Shamrock in English regattas.
Aside from the lack of experience in
America Cup races some doubt is
expressed among racing yachtsmen
whether these two will get as much
out of the crew as would Captain Syc-
amore. who is better known among the
men forming the crew.
yachtsman who has had experience
with each of the yachts Sir Thomas
has sent across the Atlantic. expresses
the opinion that one of the chief causes
of failure in the past has been the
lack Of training of the crews of the
Shamrocks The Americans, he points
out, spend weeks in getting their crews
into training. and hour after hour they
are put through practice of lowering
ard raising sails, until orders gwen by
the captain are carried cut with
quickness that is a marvel and sur
prise to English yachtsmen. While the
Americans are practicing, he said, the
British crews take life easy. The re-
suit is seen when the race is on, since
quickness in carrying out orders marks
the difference between success and de-
feat.
That Captain Burton realizes this is
shown by the fact that the Shamrock
" men are being drilled harder than
any previous cup challenging crew
Those who are inclined to be pessimis-
tic, however. contend that the real
test will come when the amateur skip
per Of Shamrock w endeavors to
arouse the enthusiasm in the crew
necessary for to bring about the ut
most speed and harmony among It's
individual members. They hold to the
opinion that veteran professional like
Captain Sycamore can always get bet
ter results from the men before the
mast than an amateur. Time alone can