AMERICA CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 217, 13 September 1930, Page 17

AMERICA CUP.

lenge must be given, together with the name of the owner, and of the boat, also her length on waterline,. beam, draught and registered tonnage. As Americans at that time were keeu on centreboards one of the clauses allowed centreboards to be fitted without being taxed for measurement. The original contests were best two out of throe, later altered to best three out of five and for the present contest the best four out of seven. Some modifications in the original deed have since been made. In the event of light weather challengers are allowed to be towed when their speed falls below five miles per hour on the voyage across the Atlantic. For the first race the challenger had to compete against a whole fleet of boats and the Britisher only finished m

■ committee did not attempt to remedy, i and Valkyrie crossed the starting line' -j in the next heat, but withdrew at once. Thus the issue was left in doubt as to which was the faster boat. Such a lot of feeling was stirred up on . both sides over the result of this contest , that the America Cup was in bad repute ■ in England and the Royal Yacht Squadron was not at all keen on backing further contests, at all events under exist- ■ ing conditions, which were later modified as a result of this controversy. Sir Thomas Lipton's First Challenge. Sir Thomas Lipton now came on the scene in 1899. During the course of business he met many Americans and the subject of a challenge was evidently discussed. When ,the Royal Ulster Yacht Club, writing on behalf of Sir Thomas, suggested a, challenge, the New York Yacht Club promptly cabled: "A challenge from you would be most acceptable." A forward challenge for Shamrock I. followed in due course and she was matched against Columbia. Sir Thomas Lipton, who asked little and conceded much, was very popular with j New York yachtsmen and with Americans generally. This popularity has continued throughout his four contests and many New Yorkers would be pleased to see Sir Thomas "lift" the cup this time. Cup challengers and defenders were now built of bronze or expensive alloys. They were built as lightly as possible specially for each contest and their cost increased enormously over the earlier boats. Shamrock I. sailed over in the fast time of 14 days 20 hours. By an agreement with the U.S. Navy, patrol boats were told off to keep the course clear, and they did their job well. The races between Shamrock I. and Columbia turned out to be very trying; on no less than twelve days the boats turned out, but no race was finished owing to light airs and fogs. Finally, on the thirteenth day Columbia and Shamrock had a race, Columbia winning .by 10 minutes. Next day Shamrock led for a long time, but she lost her topmast and retired. The final race was a great go from start to finish and Shamrock led until close to the finishing line, when Columbia passed her and won by a small margin. Two years 'later Sir Thomas sent Shamrock 11. across to try and regain the Cup. Racing was very close in this contest. In the first race Columbia, again tho defender, won by 375. In the second race Columbia won by 2m 425. The final race was the closest and most exciting in the history of the contest to date, Shamrock crossing the line 2s ahead, but, having to concede 43s to Columbia, she lost by 41s. Two years later, in 1903, Shamrock 111. sailed against Reliance. Shamrock 111. carried the huge sail area of 14,100 square feet, but Reliance outdid her with 16,000 square feet, the

largest sail area ever seen on a cutter. Reliance won the first race by 7m 3s.

j The triangular race was closer, Reli- , ance winning by only lm 19s. The ;' concluding race was a decisive win for Eeliance, Shamrock retiring. Last Contest Interrupted by War. Sir Thomas Lipton challenged again in 1914 with his fourth Shamrock, which was actually on her way across to New York when war Avas declared. Being warned by wireless on board the s.y. Erin that German cruisers were in the vicinity, the yacht was at once towed to Bermuda, the nearest British port. After a few days, the Erin got word that the coast was clear, and she rushed Shamrock to New York, where she was hauled out until the end of the war. In 1920 the interrupted thirteenth contest was resumed between Shamrock IV. and Resolute. In this contest the conditions called for the best out of five races. In the first race Shamrock won, Resolute retiring through trouble with her throat halyards. In the second race over the triangular course, Shamrock, which had to concede Resolute 7m Is, won by 9m 275, or 2m 2Gs over her time allowance. With two wins to her credit, British hopes ran high, but Resolute won the third race after a most exciting duel right through, the two crossing the finishing line a dead heat, but Resolute won by her time allowance, 7m Is. In the next two races Shamrock %vas badly beaten, in the fourth by 9m 58s, and in the final by 19m 455, so the cup was safe again in the hands of the New York Yacht Club.

For the present contest, a new rating rule is in force which compels boats to be built up to Lloyd's scantling rules, thus ensuring- a stronger boat, and one which will be good for years after the contest. It also docs away with the necessity of strengthening the challenger to cross the Atlantic. Altogether the present contest will be sailed under the best and fairest conditions in the history of the cup.

If good wishes count for anything, Shamrock V. should win, and as Britishers we all hope that she will achieve for Sir Thomas his life's ambition of "lifting the Cup."