The Washington times., 1914-07-08
SHAMROCK " SAID
TO Be VERY SPEEDY
But English Experts Believe
Challenger May Not Be as
Well Manned as II Should.

American yachtsmen who are in CLOSE
touch with the preparations being made
by Sir Thomas Upton for his fourth at
tempt 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 ex-
perts will not commit themselves re-
garoing the chances of the challenger as
yet. the impression appears to he grow
ing that II Shamrock w makes the
prove far more formidable than any of
the Shamrocks or Valkyries that raced
for the cup between 1898 and 1903.
AS in the case with the cup defense
yachts Resolute, Defiance, and Vanitie.
there still remains mucn to be done on
Shamrock w before she sails for Amer
lea late this month. Several changes i'm
rig and ballast have already been made.
and the experimenting and drilling OF
the crew will continue until the chal-
lenger 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 experts. but when II
comes to the crew and skipper the
same confidence and support IS lacking
In fact, the command and manning of
the yacht Is the subject of much talk
and wide divergence of opinion. The
old yachting hands. while acknowledg-
ing that Captain Burton. WHO is to
command. is probably the best racing
man in Great Britain today. do not like
the idea of Captain Sycamore. with all
his experience of racing off Sandy
Hook. being entirely eliminated.
This move was doubtless decided upon
to avoid the friction that occurred IN
1865. owing to a sort of dual command.
This year Captain Burton will be in
sole command. He will have rs his as
sistant however. Captain Turner, who
In most of the big races in English
waters and recently on Sir Thomas
Lpton's twenty-three meter yacht !
Shamrock in English regattas. Aside |
cup races. some doubt is expressed
among racing yachtsmen whether these |
two will get as much Of the crew as
would Captain Sycamore, who Is bet |
Ter knewn among the men forming the |
crew.
A 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 ,
of training Of the crews of the Sham
rocks. The Americans, he points out,
spend weeks In getting their crews into |
training, and hour after hour they are
put through practice of lowering and
raising sails, until orders given by the
captain are carried out with a quick
ness that Is a marvel and surprise to
English yachtsmen. While the Ameri-
cans are practicing. he said. the British
crews take life easy. The result Is
seen when the race Is on. since quick
ness in carrying out orders marks the
difference between success and defeat II
That Captain Burton realizes this is
shown by the fact that the Shamrock
w men are being drilled harder than
any previous cup challenging crew II
Those who are inclined to be pessimis-
tic, however, contend that the real
test will come when the amateur skip
per Of Shamrock " endeavors to
arouse the enthusiasm in the crew nee
essary to bring about the utm st speed
and harmony among its Individual n:em-
bers. They hold TO the opinion that
a veteran professional like Captain
Cycamore can always get better results
from the men before the mast than
an amateur Time alone can solve this u
problem. which is Of far greater i'm
portance than would appear from sur
face Indications.