THE AMERICA CUP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15650, 2 July 1914, Page 7

THE AMERICA CUP.

TRIALS OF THE SHAMROCK. By Telegraph—Press Association— " London, Juno 30. The trials 'of Shamrock IV. have been ' completed at Torbay. Under America Cup conditions the challenger showed a remarkable turn of'speed. LINES OF THE CHALLENGER. The Shamrock IV. was built by Messrs. Camper and Nicholson of Gisport, and was launched on May 26. Opinion then varied as far as the mere looks of the new challenger were concerned, but there was a general concensus of opinion that she should prove a powerful and speedy boat. . Tho principal dimensions are Waterline length, 75ft; length overall, 110 ft; bean), 23ft; draught, 13ft 9in; to which about 10ft Ja added when the centreboard is down. She carries her greatest beam just forward of the midship section, and from there she curves away forward on the deck plat, until right forward, wMe, instead of being drawn out into a sharp angle, her :aoso is snubbed off. This gives her a peculiar appearance when looked at stem on. Her fullness is tarried well aft, and, the counter is very wide, with flattened under-section and the end . sawn off. Her' under-body is a distinct departure from conventional design. Her lead keel is 30ft long, perfectly flat at tlio bottom/ but round on the top, giving almost the impression of a submarine boat. He head rounds into the upper portion of the keel, which comes up to a sharp bilge, with flat section, and rounded tumble home sides. These rounded sides form one of the most striking features of the boat, and the tumble home reduces the width on deck by several inches, as compared with the extreme beam. The keel forward is sharpened almost like ft knifeedge, until it rounds into the, flaring overhanging bow chain plates, in the form of hugs angle irons, which protruJTe from the aides of the boat to give mater spread to the righting, Mr. Nicholson is a staunch believer in these chain plates. All his later designed yachts have been fitted with them. The sail area which tho vessel would carry was at that time a matter for conjecture generally. With a mast of about 1601t and bowsprit only - 10ft outboard, it can be imagined that the plan will bo lofty and comparatively narrow. Three masts have been built. Experience of former challengers has shown the necessity for being prepared for a cany away. One of the masts is of steel, and the other two are of wood hollow, A wooden one will be the first stepped. The construction of the Shamrock IV. is extremely light. Everything has been sacrificed for speed. The outer shell of the hull is composed of three skins of wood. The strakes of the outer skin are laid horizontally in the ordinary manner, ' while the two inner ones ore diagonal and I crossed. The grain of the planking thus ■ runs in three directions to combine strength with lightness. The deck is in five layers of thin wood, somewhat on the principle of a wooden seat of a chair, covered with canvas. The topsidea of the yacht are painted a brilliant emerald green, with a white boom top. The underbody is black varnished.