New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-22
SHAMROCK w HAS
22-FOOT BEAM
Continued from page I

AZ point where the designer con-
siders additional length to be Oh 10
benefit. When the boat is heeled over
in n stiff breeze this produces sawed
off effect which detracts from her
appearance, but Designer Nichoisoh
throughout has paid no attention u
beauty. his aim being speed, ana th's
he seeks to obtain through the drlV!hS
power Of big sail spread rather thah
through fneness of model, for me
Shamrock " is decidedly big BODIED
boat. Her midship section shows
fairly fat floor. with an easy rouiiu
to the upper blge, the curve OF whlch
is continued right up TO the deck si'-
ing a considerable tumble-home 10 ne
topsides. These is a shorter curve
from the floor to the lead keel. which
is appreciaby Dubbed and fiat on the
bottom.
The keel is fairly long and the rake
of the stern post is not excessive. Inc
position CT the greatest breadth OF
beam is not forward of the mast, as
recently stated. Like the Nanitie. she
will be fitted with a single headsail;
/ hence her bowsprit outboard VIII be
very short. The challenger will be
fitted with a hollow wooden mast the
height of which is one of the secrets
the designer would not disclose, but II
will certainly be tremendous. The re-
port that she will carry Marconi top
mast is erroneous.
A steel mast will also he provided as
a substitute for the wooden mast II the
latter proves defective.
Shamrock Tvs construction is com
posite being of wood plankcd on metal
web frames, which are in part OF steer
and in part of aluminium The plank
ing is Of three thicknesses' the two
inner skins running diagonally and the
| outer longitudnally.
II believe" said Mr.. Nicholson, that
we have quite as light a hull as II II
had been wholly of bronze or other
metal with the additional advantage
| of a little more elasticity and greater
/ smoothness, as there are no rivet heads
| showing through"
! The centreboard is a thin metal plate
| housed in a trunk coming well above
| the cabin floor.
FRANKLY" said the designer, the
| centreboard is purely experimental. l
am not sure that it will prove OF any
advantage or that we will use II in the
cup races, but by the American rules,
under which the boat is built, any ex-
! cess Of draft over and above lo.9 feet
| is heavily penalized while no penalty
| is attached to additional draft derived
/ from a centreboard, and as such addi-
tional draft may help in windward
work have had recourse TO a centre
board"
In design the Shamrock " differs
markedly from all previous cup chal-
/ lengers and bears no close resemblance
| to any American craft. Designer
| Nicholson discarded conventions and
boldly carried out his own ideas, with
the result that the Shamrock " is
certainly original, If somewhat freak
| ish.
After being tried out against the %
metre Shamrock she will start across
the Atlantic about July 20 according
| to present arrangements.
What are her chances Of winning?'
/ Mr.. Nicholson was asked, and his an
/ swer to that query was a shrug OF his
shoulders. Il have done my best" he
| said, land three American designers,
who have turned out cup defenders,
! have done their best, too. 1t is strik-
/ ing proof that there is still much TO
/ learn in yacht designing that all four
/ of us. working under the same rules
have each turned out something diff
| ferent."