AMERICA'S CUP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21906, 15 September 1934, Page 13

AMERICA'S CUP

FIRST RACE TO-I)AY FINAL TESTS OF YACHTS THE BRITISH CHALLENGER By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright NEW YORK. Sept, 13 The British challenger for the America's Cup, Mr. T. O. M. Sopwith s Endeavour, and Mr. Vanderbilt's Rainbow, the defender, were given their final tests yesterday and are now at anchor at Bristol, Rhode Island, awaiting the first race on Saturday. The consensus of lay opinion is that there is little to choose between the two yachts. The palm for beauty and unity of design goes to Endeavour. When asked at Newport to comment on London cablegrams questioning Rainbow's adherence to the rules governing construction, Mr. Sopwith said: "I intend to abide by the New York \ acht ('lub rules. I will have no protest." BRITAIN'S PROSPECTS ENDEAVOUR'S QUALITIES ARRANGEMENTS FOR EVENTS Although Britain has been proverbially unlucky her prospects in her 13th attempt to win the America's Cup are brighter than they have been for many years. The challenger is the new yacht Endeavour, which will be sailed by her owner Mr. T. O. M. Sopwith. The defender will be Rainbow sailed by Mr. H. Vanderbilt, and owned by a syndicate of prominent American sportsmen. | The first race of the contest is , scheduled to start at 10.30 a.m. to- j day. There will be a series of seven races and the cup will be awarded to the j first boat to secure four victories. With j the first race being sailed to-day the j conditions provide that the remaining races shall be held on the succeeding ; week days with one intervening day of rest if required. The course this year | will be in Block Sound, off Newport, j | with the starting and finishing lines ! ' nine miles south-east of Brenton Reef j Lightship. In 1930 this was proved a much better course than the old one ! off Sandy Hook as there is much less j traffic, the tides are not so tricky, the winds are steadier and there is a safer haven with deeper water. Rules for the Competitors The races will again be alternating ones, the first being 15 miles to windward and leeward and the second round an equilateral triangle of approximately 10 miles each side. Tf possible all starts in the triangular races will be made to windward and the warning signal, 10 minutes before the start, will be given as near as practicable to 10.30 a.m. No race will be started after 12.30 p.m. To prevent any possibility of a race developing into a drifting match the winning yacht must complete the course within five and a-half hours. In the event of a tie, such as occurred between Resolute and Shamrock IV. in ' 1920, the race will be resailed. If either of the boats is disqualified through any breach of rules the race will be awarded :to the other yacht, irrespective of : whether she completes the course. Up-to-date Nature o! the Boats Endeavour is a slightly bigger boat i than Rainbow, being four feet longer j overall and one foot longer on the waterline. The principal dimensions I and particulars of the two boats, those jof Rainbow being mentioned first, ; are:—Tonnage, 138, 143; overall j length, 126.6 ft., 130 ft.; waterline length, 82, 83; beam, 21.9 ft., 22ft.; draught, 14.9 ft., 15ft.; sail area, 7555 square feet, 7550 square feet. Both yachts represent the latest ideas in hull design and method of rigging. The rigging in particular shows a remarkable advance on those of former contestants for the cup. On both boats it has been evolved with the aid of aeronautical data and Rainbow has a streamlined mast and chrome metal shrouds.

Endeavour has given every indication of being an exceptionally fast boat and handled by Mr. Sopwith, a yachtsman of proved capabilities, she is confidently expected to make a bold bid for the trophy which has been in American hands for 83 years.