The Detroit times., 1914-05-26
SHAMROCK ~.
ISLAUNCHED AT
GOSPORT YARDS
Sir Thomas LiptOn's New Cup
Challenger Feels the Water
for the First Time
OWNER FEELS CONFIDENT
OF SUCCESS IN RACE
Believes That His Time to Win
the Americas Cup Has Come
at Last

PORTSMOUTH, Eng. May 26.-In
the presence OF distinguished com
pany OF British sportsmen. statesmen
and society women, the Shamrock w.
Sir Thomas Lipton's latest challenger
for the American Cup. was launched
todsy from the yard of Camper 4
Nicholson at Gosport. Later. on
beard his magnificent steam yacht
Erin, the millionaire sportsman.tea-
merchants guests drank enthusiastic
ally-but not tea--to the success OF
his fourth attempt TO win the Blue
Ribbon OF the Sea.
At the stubby looking craft moved
down the ways, warships guns in the
harbor doomed a royal salute in hon
or OF the birthday of Queen Mary.
That's happy omen" Sir Thomas
Upton said.
When the Shamrock ~ left her
slip, she took her place alongside Mel
sons ancient ship Victory, which inn
pressed Sir Thomas. he said, as an
other favorable sign.
81 am making no rash predictions
said Sir Thomas, just before the
gracefully lined craft slipped into the
water but | honestly feel that my
chances this time are on the winning
side. | know that this Will be the
best boat that ever crossed the At
lantic To try for the cup. Moreover,
luck ought to be with me. consider
ing that this is the thirteenth race
for that trophy. | have been prepar-
ing for the event for seventeen years
I have learned something valuable
each OF the three times | lost with the
previous Shamrocks, and the boat we
are now launching embodies not only
the results OF my own experience and
observation. but the ripened fruits OF
the marvellous talents OF that prince
OF designers, Charles f. Nicholson"
The work of rigging the Shamrock
will require about week. after which
she viii be put on her tuning up
trials. These will continue until
about the middle OF July. most OF the
races being pulled of in the Solent,
the stretch OF water separating the
Isle OF Wight from the mainland. The
present challenger is the first from
this side to be constructed with a
center-hoard. This drops ten feet
Nutu let uONHs uldhlnk itI NOtdl
draft when rugged and manned nearly
"a feet. Another innovation Is the
fact that she is built largely OF wood,
the previous Shamrocks being entire
ly OF metal Laid on framework OF
navaItum. recently patented metal
composition, there are two wooden
skins throughout--in places three
the outer layer being mahogany. Her
mast Is OF hollow wood. the longest OF
, that type ever constructed. A dupli-
cate mast will be shipped 10 America,
to be available in event OF accident.
Tie amount OF canvas to be carried
Is still secret Sir Thomas init
mates that the spread will astonish
the yachting world,
For the first time Upton chal-
lenger will be commanded by an anna
teur helmsman but yachting experts
regard w p. Burton as one OF the
most skillful in the world He GER
tainly has no peers In Great Britain.
In his yachting career, extending over
| 80 years, he has sailed more than a
thousand races, and has been the
owner OF several cup-winning boats.
| His total wins have been 235 first and
! 40 ether prizes including two Kings
cups, and the international l5-meter
cup-the blue ribbon OF l5-meter rae.
| ing Europe-which he won three
| years IN succession.