New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-15
Seven-Minute
Lead IsCiyen
To .Resolute
RESoLH7E
6VHo7o %Hok<Iy. AaxW6Zo
tcentInusd from page one,

In comparison with other years there
will be few spectators gathered about
the course when the British and Ameri-
can yachts come together to decide
whether Lipton's fourth attempt to take
the Americas Cup is to be successful
or is to fail like its three predecessors,
Few excursion boats have been able
to comply with the regulations govern
ing passenger vessels going beyond the
three-mile limit, and only small num-
Der of licensed ocean carriers have
been available. These are CHARGING
ilege of seeing one of the three races
that must be sailed to decide the issue.
Air Policing" Problem
Private owners of "blimps" and air
planes are expected to infest the skies
over, the cup course, and the policing
overhead is expected to be more diff
cult than keeping the water clear.
To-day's race will bring together the
very last word in yachts designed
solely for speed. 1t is conservatively
figured that the preparations neces-
sary for the present cup contests have
cost something in excess of $4,000, OOO
The Shamrock " is the last of the
famous family Of cup hunters that be-
gan their American invasion in 1899.
She was designed by Charles E. Mich.
olson, next to William Fife the most
famous marine architect in England.
Under his supervision she was built in
Gosport, England, and so very little is
known of her real ability here that she
has come to be called the "Gosport
mystery ship"
While the American defenders huh
is made of a composite bronze, that of
the invader is wood. In no other way
has Mr.. Nicholson followed the prece-
dents established by the former Sham
rocks.
In appearance the challenger is to-
tally unlike any other racing craft ever
seen in American waters. Blunt of
bow and square of stern, she looks the
mystery ship that she is to the Ameri-
can yachting public.
Shamrock Unlike Predecessors
In every respect except that of the
material of which she is made, the
fourth Shamrock is a radical depart
lowed by architects both here and
abroad since the distant days Of the
Vigilant and the Valkyrie. From her
cucumber-shaped keel to the tip of her
157-foot mast she is as different from
the Resolute and her long line Of
victorious Herreshoff ancestors as a
fishing smack is from a modern
Cunarder.
When the present challenger first
the experts to be fast in a blow and
sluggish in light airs. Now they have
reversed their opinions and say she is
q ghost in breathless atmosphere and
apt to crumple up under pressure.
A close study of her few and un-
satisfactory trials in American waters
would seem to indicate that the re-
vised opinion is at least 80 per, cent
correct. The Shamrock actually Is
feet shadow in light airs. She seems
to be able to gather propelling breeze
under these conditions that her square
shouldered, scow-like hull loses its
cumbersome appearance and becomes
a green fash propelled by an invisible
hand.
Challenger Mystery
But what does she do when the wind
is piping merrily and the course be-
jeweled with white cap? Looking at
her stout hull and husky spars,. one
would wager that she could stand the
raff long after the Resolute had been
blown to cover. She has not proved
this to be the case. She has not proved
anything that would give true line
on her ability to weather rollicklng
blow.
Since she has been under sail in
American waters her amateur skipper,
William P. Burton, England's premier
Corinthian, has shown no disposition to
reveal her weather qualities. On the
few occasions. when she has encoun-
tered real wind off Sandy Hook, Cap
tain Burton has sailed her with con-
siderate hand. He has never called
upon her reserve power and her lee
rail has had little chance to get &C.
quainted with the green waters of the
Atlantic.
Inasmuch as the challenger>has been
subj cted to no pressure during her
brief tuning up period, it is impossible
to say how she will answer the call
that may be made upon her rigging
and hull to-day. She may or may not
be there with the reserve power.
Charles E. Nicholson and Captain Bur-
ten alone know the capacity for pun
ishment contained in her huge spread
Of wings. And their British reticence
on the subject has been polite but firm
The outstanding fact is that they
have had no apparent desire to drive
the Shamrock or to test her strength
aloft. Whether this is due to much
confidence or none at all is a matter of
conjecture.
There is no such mystery shielding
any point in the Resolute's repertory.
The incorporating hand OF Charles
Francis Adams. her New England skip
per, has bgowbeaten the Resolute into
divulging her every weakness. he mas