SHAMROCK IV.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 100, 3 June 1914, Page 7

SHAMROCK IV.

AMERICA CUP CHALLENGER.

SOME UNUSUAL FEATURES.-

"Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Beeeived June 3, 8 a.m.)

LONDON, June 2,

The yacht,. Shamrock IV. has a huge mast dwarfing the previous challenger's rigging. She shows one immense foresail instead of the usual jib and foresail. [This is Sir Thomas Lipton's fourth challenge for the America Cup, which is now, in the custody of the New York Yacht Club. There was some delay in the work on the new America Cup challenger, owing to difficulty in obtaining delivery of the aluminium alloy which plays so important a part in the building of the vessel. Like tf.ie boat being designed by George Owen for the Phila-delphia-Boston-New York syndicate, Shamrock IV. is of composite build — that is, metal frames with a mahogany skin. The novel feature in the design of the new challenger, as already announced, is that she is fitted with a centreboard. This is due to the fact that under the universal rule of measurement to which the contesting boats are being built for the forthcoming races, excessive draught is penalised, and under the deed of gift which governs the Cup contests a centreboard is not measured. Hence it has been adopted both by Herreshoif in the boat he is building for the New York Yacht Syndicate, and by Charles E. Nicholson in the challenger. The Shamrock's draught is I4ft (23ft with the centreboard down), and her length 75ft. The height of the mast is 160 ft from the water-line. The races are to take place on September 10, 12, and 15, of this year, the duration of each to be six hours. It is probable that America will race more than one defending yacht.]