SHAMROCK IV.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15223, 22 May 1920, Page 7

SHAMROCK IV.

I { ♦ RADICAL CHANGES TO BE MADE. Information has been received from the New York correspondent of the Scotsman that it is Contemplated making alterations of a somewhat radical character on Sham-"' rock IV. The statement that it is contemplated making further reduction m the weight of her lead keel comes as, some- , .what of a surprise, .-..<-.-. ... • From the ■ time the vessel m America m the summer of 1914, it has been recognised that she was a much more powerful craft than either of the boats built for the defence. Her sail spread was considerably m excess of that carried by either of the American yachts, and to enable her to carry this spread of canvas she was given a liberal weight of lead m her keel. As originally designed, her lead keel was some thirty feet m length with a thickness at° the fore end of about three feet. The weight was computed at sixty tons. This keel has been described as prodigious m comparison with those of the boats built on the other side. Some seven tons were- removed from the fore end after she had sailed a few trials m this country. It has been recognised for some time ; past that the enormous sail spread of the challenger as compared with either Resolute or Vanitie, the American yachts, would penalise her heavily m the matter of time allowance. What this time allowance would work at exactly it is impossible to say until the measurement of the defending yacht is known, and thai; will not be until the final official measurements are made just prior to ; the actual races. However, Captain Thomas Fleming Day, . of New York, a very shrewd observer, who has seen both the challenger and the ' American boats sailing, estimates roughly ■ that Shamrock IV. would have to give about seven minutes oyer the Cup course of thirty miles. This is an enormous allowance between competitors m a contest such as that for the America Cup. Admitting that Shamrock IV. is a much more powerful craft than either of the yachts that might be selected to oppose her, it is purely a matter of conjecture whether she would be able to concede this allowance. It is assumed m American yachting circles that Mr. Nicholson, the designer of Shamrock IV., ttfith the knowledge he possesses of the performances of the American vessels during their trials m 191A, has come to the conclusion that*the challengers's chances of success mught be enhanced by bringing her measurement more approximate to that, of the probable defender. Ab it is the challenger's big eail area' that would be chiefly responsible for this penalty m time allowance, probably Mr. Nicholson has decided to reduce that; hence the possibility of reducing the weight of lead on the keel. ' This suggestion of alterations adds fresh interest to the coming contest. The point that will presept itself to yachtsmen m fchis country is whether the defenders will ! be content with their vessels m the trim m which they sailed their trials m 1914, or will radical alterations be made m either one or both of the boats built for the defence? I