AMERICA CUP.

Evening Star, Issue 11895, 25 May 1903, Page 6

AMERICA CUP.

SHAMROCK HI. **> Association—By Ttleerraph—Coprrlelit LONDON, May 24. (Received May 25, at 8.47 a m.) The yacht Shamrock 111. starts for America about the middle of this week. THE CUP DEFENDER. LONDON. May 24. (Received May 25, at 9.22 a.m.) The announcement is made that the yacht Reliance’s superiority over her predecessors is Undoubted. [From reports before the Pressmen and the guests of Sir Thomas Lipton were allowed in to see Shamrock 111. just before she was launched, an impression had got abroad that she would be more of a keel cutter than either of the previous challengers .built for Sir Thomas (says the ' Yachtsman ’ of March 19). To the surprise of many, however, she has turned out to be even more of a bulb-finner than was Shamrock 11. Certainly the huge bulb of lead is longer in proportion than in some of the more extreme bulb-finners of the smaller raters; but at the forward end the lead, when seen in section, has all the now well-known resemblance as. to shape to a champagne glass. Judging by the eye, the forward end of the bulb comes to a spot just about under the mast step, and it is as heavy at its forward end as it looks anywhere. A perfectly clear view of the bottom of the boat would perhaps make it necessary to modify these opinions, but that is the view the lead presented as seen between the pontoons. The hull of the boat has all the refinement of the second Shamrock, with ail the pouter of the first one, and it is just here that Mr Fife’s triumph in this model will lie. It may be remembered it was said of his first Shamrock that she was a bulldog, while Columbia was a greyhound. The new Shamrock looks as if she wonld have more freeboard after all her weights are on board than had Shamrock 11. The forward overhang of the new challenger dees not look at all excessive, but aft it is of great length. The turn of the bilge is easy, much more so than in some types of bulb-finners. In short, the form of the bilge goes back a little way towards the sweet, round-sided types which were such a delight to Mr Fife’s father. The floor, so to speak, of the foiward overhang is less flat than has been the case in some recent clippers and consequently the yacht should not pound so heavily in a sea. The sides show no tumble-home. The boat has very little sheer, as sheer was wont to be understood. Altogether, she is the most beautiful boat of her kind vet seen on this side. She was launched with her bowsprit in position. It is a beautiful span of Oregon, and much longer than was the bowsprit of her immediate predecessor. It is stayed with bobstay and two side shrouds, all in single parts and of enormous strength. In fact, the fixing of the bobstay inside the boat is i perfect study. By carrying the eye from the mast-hole in the deck to the bowsprit end, it was easy to see that this latest Shamrock will have an enormous amount of canvas in her head sails. The hull is plated with the finest steel, the plates being laid on in the out-and-in pointed style to the l w.l. and flush above. The deck 'heath'ng proper is of aluminium,' and the metal is covered with a layer of strong canvas. There is not even the most rudimentary attempt at bulwarks, and the men get their protection when working the ship from a light rail about 4in high, whieb runs round the deck a few inches inside of the covering board. The cleats, fair leads, and other deck fixings are of gun metal and. most revolutionary change of all, th<* tiler has at length been discarded, and she is to be steered by a wheel. The spokes of the wheel are of steel wire lighter even than those of a racing bicycle, while the bandies are of white*meti of Theverl lightest sort.] }