The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-15
RESOLUTE THOUGHT
!. TO DEFEND
Either Herreshoff Designed
Craft or Vanitie Will Meet
Shamrock ".
FOR AMERICAS CUP
Yachting Circles Once More
/. Agog Over Challenge From
I. Sir Thomas Upton.
FOR AMERICAS (

nacity and perseverance the British
Yachtsman Is without a peer. At the
same time 1t cannot be denied that
large number of British peers arc inter-
ested in yachting.
For sixty-seven years British design
ers have sought to construct yacht
with sufficient speed to win the blue rib
bon of the seas from the American de-
fender, and disheartening failure has
marked each attempt.
The present challenger has been trying
for nineteen years to regain the COW
eted trophy. pinning his faith to boats
named Shamrock, but each Shamrock
met the Same fate.
Sir Thomas Rad arrived here with
Shamrock ". in 1914. ready for another
tilt with the American defending boat.
when the war broke and put an end to
the sport so far as the submarine in
tested ocean was concerned.
Now, with the coming OF peace. the
Irish baronet returns in an attempt to
lift the Cup.
The history Of this celebrated yachting
trophy Is peculiarly interesting, as well
sas particularly irritating TO English
yachtsmen, due as much to the uneN
pected manner in which they lost the
trophy as to the determined way in
which the Americans have held on to
the Cup.
" Half Century Ago.
II was on August %, 1851. that the
schooner yacht America, designed by
George Steers for a syndicate of the
New, York Yacht Club, headed by Com
modore John c. Stevens, showed her
!, heals to n fleet of the speediest boats
arouhd the Isle of Wight. The victorious
boat. thus captured the Royal Yacht
Squadron Cup. which has enormously
been referred to as the Queens Cup.
This trophy was later renamed the
Americas Cup in honor of the yacht
and gallant crew that won 1t In British
waters against heavy odds.
:, The Americas Cup was formally pre-
scented 10 the New York Yacht Club I'm
1857, and it was accompanied by deed
OF gift prescribing the terms and condi
: tlons under which the English challeng-
ers could compete for it.
After thinking the matter over for
seventeen years the English yachtsmen
decided to attempt to recapture the tro-
ply and in the summer of 1870 James
> Ashforth's Cambria was pitted against
p the entire feet Of the New York Yacht
Club. This condition was insisted on
race against the whole fleet IF the
+ Royal Yacht Squadron when she won the
Cup.
- The Magic, a centreboard schooner,
won the race, and the Cambria came in
eighth,
- 7'sl Change I'm Rules.
After this contest the guardians OF the
I, Cup decided to select from American
yachts one boat to defend the Cup
against the challenger. and this plan has
been followed up to the present time.
Negotiations between the rival yachts
men ofttimes have been peppery and
acrimonious. but on the whole sports
manship has been predominant.
After Lord Dunraven had failed In six
attempts to lift the Cup with yachts
named Valkyrie, the Englishmen tempo
rarily ceased their efforts The Valkyrie
III. received her final defeat on Septem-
Der ~. 1895. and the contests lapsed for
four years. when Sir Thomas Upton ap-
peared as a challenger with Shamrock !.
While the English designers chung to
the cutter style the schooners gave way
to sloops. and the Americans produced
the Swimming dish type with centreboard.
1t did not appear to make much differ
. ence what new schemes were Matched by
the British designers for the Americans
always had the speediest boat when
they cleared away from the starting line
off Sandy Hook.
The Irish sportsman undoubtedly has
been the most popular of all the chal-
lengers for the Cup. and Americans
have felt that II he finally won the
trophy Upton would not be begrudged
: the honors.
Three Shamrocks Defeated.
Yet with three Shamrocks designed
by Charles Nicholson the Baronet failed
TO win a eingle race.
These setbacks seemed to check the
? ambitions of Sir Thomas and he re-
manned passive for ten years Then
he suddenly challenged again, and on
the terms being settled he set sail
across the ocean with Shamrock w.
conveyed by his famous steam yacht
Erin, since then torpedoed in the Med
iteTranean.
. on the outbreak Of hostllites the
yacht race, with Resolute as defender
was naturally called off and the chal-
Longing boat has lain in Tebos Basin
South Brooklyn, ever since.
In view of the fact that the time Is
too short for the construction Of new
!, boats il is altogether likely, IL the New
York Yacht Club decides to accept the
challenge, that Shamrock " will con-
test and either Resolute or Vanitie will
defend.
Resolute won the greatest number OF
trial races In 1914, but many experts
held to the opinion that Vanitie was
the better boat. 1t is not unlikely that
trials may be held between Resolute
and Vantie to determine which shall be
selected to defend the Cup.
The Resolute was designed by the
Herreshoffs for a syndicate and the
vanitie was designed by William Gard.
ner for Alexander Smith Cochran.
New BOnt's Lines.
In view of the fact that the Sham.
rock w will be the challenging boat
n the races are sailed next summer
some of her peculIarities of construc-
ton will make interesting reading al
this time.
She is the largest boat ever sent over
here in quest OF tho Americas Cup. Her
y mast from deck to truck Ia 1862 feet and
from. the water line to the cap is 1853
J 'feaL Above this the club topsail is set
carrying the sail twenty feet higher so
that when racing she will tower IFS
feet above the water.
The boom Of the Shamrock Is 80 feet
her gan SIS feet and her bowsprit out.
-1board Q feet The yacht will carry more
, than 10000 square feet OF canvas, OIL
1900 more feet than the Resolute.
, Her water line length is limited TO III
feet, according to agreement, and with
her tremendous sail spread she will be
compelled TO allow time TO the defend,
ing yacht.
All Shamrock has wider beam than IN,
~ largest American yachts. her Width