AMERICA CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 261, 4 November 1933, Page 4 (Supplement)

AMERICA CUP.

Another Race Foreshadowed —Activity by British Yachtsmen—The All-steel Boat Era—Will Mr. T. 0. M. Sopwith Take Up the Lipton Tradition? —Influence of the Velsheda.

There appears to be a distinct probability of another America Cup race. Last month word was cabled from London that Mr. T. O. M. Sopwith, a prominent English yachtsman who purchased Shamrock V., the last challenger for the cup, after the death of Sir Thomas Lipton, had entered a challenge, naming his all-steel yacht Endeavour as the challenger. Formal notification of receipt of the challenge has not yet been made by the New York Yacht Club. ' The following article in the English "Field" seems to indicate that the challenge was anticipated in England as a consequence of the experience of yachtsmen in British waters of all-steel yachts, and of the Velsheda in particular.

When Mr. W. L. Slephenson gave the order for a new J Class cutter, and entrusted the design to the leading English designer, Charles Nicholson, it was naturally felt that the future of bigclass racing in British waters was assured, writes Major Maiden HeckstallSmith. There was every justification for the opinion that the newly-adopted measurement rule for yachts of above 14i metres would prove to be satisfactory in practice, and would produce a type of yacht superior in its leading features, as well as in detail, to 'that induced by the International Rule. This view, however, was not shared by all the experts, as it was feared that there might be an inducement to sacrifice seagoing qualities. The form, both of bow and stern, which is the outcome of the influence of the "quarter-beam" measurement, differs greatly from that produced by the bow and stern taxes of the International Rule, in that it is practically free from inducement to distortion by rounding in the endings of the load water line and by pinching in the deck line forward. There is also no advantage to be gained, duo to a relatively unequal assessment of forward and after girth values. Combination of Speed and Comfort. The rule to which Mr. Stephenson's yacht, Velsheda, was built differs in some respects from that which obtained for the America Cup race between Enterprise and Shamrock V., in that the quarter-beam length is taken at a different spot, a slightly lower midship freeboard is required, the minimum ■weight of mast, its minimum diameter, and its centre of gravity are fixed, as also is the maximum height of the fore triangle. In addition to these regulations, J . Class yachts must, in cruising or racing trim, be arranged to accommodate, witli reasonable comfort for living and sleeping on board, the owner, guests and full complement of crew. J Class yachts, when racing in British waters, must be fitted with a compa-nion-way deckhouse having a minimum dock area of 44 square feet and a height above the deck of not less than 3ft at the centre of its sides.

She had her share of bad luck as, just when sne had got into her stride, she broke the experimental boom, which seemed to be suiting her well, and she had to sail for the rest of the season with White Heather's old boom, which had the uncomfortable habit of buckling up in the middle in anything like a breeze. Her record for the season of 20 first prizes and about a dozen others in 44 starts against yachts to which she was conceding time allowance, is sufficient in itself definitely to stamp Velsheda as a marked success, but it is probable that the best is still to be got out of her. At one time it was thought that Mr. Prince would have been able to bring Weetamoe over for a season in British waters, but as, unfortunately, this hope was not fulfilled, there was no possibility of getting a line as to her chances against the best of the American J class yachts under the new system of measurement and regulations as to cabin accommodation. Probable Design of New J Class. In view of the fact that Mr. T. O. M. Sopwith has placed an order with Messrs. Camper and Nicholsons' for another J class yacht, it is greatly to bo hoped Weetamoe may cross the Atlantic and take part in the regattas found the coast during next season. She would bo certain of getting some good sport, as, with Velsheda on the top of her form, and the new Nicholson yacht also out, there would be no lack of interest in the racing. American yachtsmen, too, would have the opportunity of getting a line, through Weetamoe, on the capabilities of the English yachts in the event of another challenge for the America Cup. There is, naturally, a good deal of speculation as to the line Charles Nicholson will take in the design of the new J class vessel relatively to that of Velsheda, but of this nothing is, of course, known as yet. Under the universal rule —to which J class yachts are built —there is every inducement to design vessels with large but easily-driven hulls, and, in view of Velsheda's undoubted success, it is highly unlikely that her designer will go in for anything smaller. One may expect the new yacht to be slightly larger and even more easily driven.

From the foregoing it will be realised that Velsheda has been designed and built under conditions which differ considerably from those which influenced Starling Burgess when he produced Enterprise to comply with the conditions under which the races for the America Cup were sailed. Velsheda is essentially a craft in which the owner and his family can live and race and cruise in comfort, and she has to race against the other yachts of the big class which are also fully equipped in accordance with the revised rules, as agreed upon by the American and British authorities.

So much for the conditions * under which Velsheda was designed. How would these bo met? And in what way would the new vessel differ from Enterprise, Shamrock V. and the Clinton Crane designed candidate for the honour of defending the Cup, Weetamoe? The answer in concrete form was a logical one. Velsheda was given 3ft more length on load water line, and 14J tons more displacement than Enterprise, and about Ift 3in more beam than Weetamoe on the same displacement and water line length. On the season's racing against Britannia, Shamrock V. and Astra, she sailed with marked success. After a somewhat unfortunate beginning at the East Coast regattas, owing probably to being out of trim and her mainsail having been, stretched out of shape, she began to show promise of her true form, and from that time onward she may, on the whole, be said to have dominated the situation. She was remarkably quick "off the mark," and when once she had gained the lead she seemed to get clear away from the others in a manner which left no doubt as to her capabilities.