YACHT ENDEAVOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21912, 22 September 1934, Page 11

YACHT ENDEAVOUR

SKILL OF DESIGNER NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS With the remarkable success so far achieved by Endeavour in the races for the America's Cup interest naturally will turn to her designer, Mr. Charles E. Nicholson. All his life Mr. Nicholson has been designing racing yachts and sailing them. A true lover of the sea, he is a yacht owner and a sailor as well as a yacht builder. He has had experience in racing and can handle a big yacht with the ease and skill of a professional skipper. It is through his practical knowledge that he has had so many outstanding successes and in recognised as the foremost yacht designer in Britain. Endeavour is the third America's Cup challenger Mr. Nicholson has designed His two previous productions were the late Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock IV. and Shamrock V. One of his many groat achievements was the adoption by the big racing yachts of the new Bermudian rig. Although severely criticised he demonstrated the superiority of this now and revolutionary development in yachting and finally was com missioned to convert the King's yacht Britannia to the new style. Perhaps Mr. Nicholson's most outstanding success in yacht design was Velsheda, the steel vessel built last year for Mr. W. L. Stephenson. Although not intended as a challenger for the America's Cup, Velesheda met with such success at the English regattas that British yachtsmen were confident they had, at last, a boat which could regain the trophy. Air. Stephenson, however, realised the sterling qualities needed by a successful challenger and finally Mr. T. 0. M. Sopwith decided to build a yacht designed by Mr. Nicholson on similar lines. Hence Endeavour, which in the main principles is identical with Velsheda. The credit also goes to Mr. Nicholson for* the design of the 12-metre yacht Mouette, which has proved a champion in her class on both sides of the Atlantic. With his close association with and experience of the America's Cup, it is interesting to learn that Mr. Nicholson is of the definite opinion that in the past the Americans have won the cup largely through the vast superiority of their boats. So much the greater pleasure will he enjoy if Endeavour is successful in regaining the trophy.