BOATING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18906, 5 July 1923, Page 4

BOATING

Not much can bo said in favour, of the weather for our pastime, and only the keenest sports ventured far at the week-end. The work of refitting for the coming season will shortly begin in real earnest, and wherever boats arc accommodated there also will be much activity. Mr J. M‘Phcrson has just completed a fine launch of whaleboat type, which will Ire used for fishing purposes. She is a fine substantial oraft, and looks A 1 at Lloyds. The enthusiastic residents of Dublin Bay are contemplating the erection of a shed on the harbour front. For the purpose of raising iunds they are promoting an entertainment in the Mccandrew’s Bay Boating shed on the Saturday evening of July 21. A first-class programme, including items by Maori visitors from the Kaik, has been prepared and the residents of this little bay are hopeful of following the recent example of their near neighbours in Cosy Dell. Several boats are under construction in Auckland, including a fine 8-metro yacht, several 14-footers on the new Rona design, a 22-footer, a 32ft launch, another 38ft by 10ft, with a speed of IC* knots, an 18ft ty sft runabout, a 30p launch, and a 34ft cruiser launch fitted with a 100 h.p. Sterns engine, which is estimated to give a speed of at least 18 knots.

SIR THOMAS'LTPTON WILL TRY AGAIN. It was recently cabled from New York that Sir Thomas Lipton will 1 challenge this year for another series of yacht races for the America Cup. The contests will take place in tho summer of 1924. According to The Evening Post Charles Nicholson and William Fife, England’s famous designers, will collaborate on the design of the Sham rock V. Sir Thomas Llpton’s firsts bid for tho America Cup was made in f 899, when he sailed in tlie original Shamrock on behalf of the Royal Ulster ’Yacht Club. America defended with Mr 0. 0. ' Iselin’s yacht Columbia, and the Shamrock was beaten in each test In 1901 Sir Thomas challenged with tho Shamrock 11, but he again failed to win any of tho tests. His next attempt, in 1903, was also unsuccessful. In 1914 Sir Thomas Lipton entered, .Shamrock IV. While the vessel, accompanied by the millionaire’s steam yacht. , was on the way to America, nows was received of tho outbreak of war. _ Wireless messages were intercepted showing that . the German Fleet was less than 250 miles away. Without losing a moment the Erin. Sir Thomas’s stcarii yacht, took Shamrock IV in tow, and fled at top speed for the Bermudas, which were reached in safety. A few days later tho Erin, still with Shamrock IV itr tow, again ventured out to sea, and completed the voyage to America. The yacht was afterwards dismantled, and remained in America until the termination of hostilities' permitted a resumption of tho America Cup contest. It was with Shamrock IV that Sir Thomas Lipton made his nearest approach to victory in the historic contest. The yacht showed several striking changes from the previous designs. It had a-larger sail area than the Resolute, which was America’s defender of the title In the first heat tho Resolute was disabled, and Shamrock IV secured a walkover.. In the second heat the yachts failed to finish within the six-hour time limit. In the ,ro-sail the English boat won by 2min 26sec, thus having two legs in. However, the Resolute won the third, fourth, and fifth heats, thus retaining the cup. Sir Thomas has spent more than £1,000,000 in his attempts to win the America Cup. He has also set aside £1,000,000 in his will so that the efforts to capture the cup may be continued after his death. if he docs not succeed during his lifetime. Sir Thomas Lipton was born at Glasgow; of Irish parents, in 1850. When 15 years of age he emigrated to America, where be worked as ■ a tram-driver, a grocer’s assistant, and plantation worker. Later he returned to Glasgow' and founded a small provision shop. Gradually his business extended throughout the United Kingdom, and to supply his many shops he purchased large tea, coffee, and cocoa plantations in Ceylon, and established bacon factories in Chicago and England. Ho was created a barenet, in 1898. Tho America Cup "'as first raced for in IPSI in British waters. The conditions provide that the challenging vessel shall sail across the Atlantic, so that stability as well as speed are required. Tho United Slates sent the yacht America across for' the. first contest, and she defeated the English boat Arora by 18 minutes. There was an interlude of 19 years before the next contest was held, when the American defender Magis won .from the British yacht Cambria. In Inter years the contest was made the best, three out of five heals, but England has never succeeded in regaining the cup.