Shamrock V.

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 665, 17 May 1929, Page 6

Shamrock V.

SIR THOMAS LIPTON MAKES LAST GREAT EFFORT TO LIFT AMERICA CUP FOR ENGLAND

FAMOUS YACHTING TROPHY Although that keen sportsman. Sir Thomas Lipton, is 79 years old, he has decided to build yet another yacht, Shamrock V, and have one more try to win the America Cup. The international yacht-racing contests began in the Great Exhibition year, 1851, when the schooner America bore away a trophy presented by the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes. Commodore Stevens, the owner of the America, died in 1856, and by deed of gift set tho cup apart as a “perpetual challenge for friendly rivalry between foreign countries.” One of the conditions is that the challenger must cross tho Atlantic to meet the holder at the starting-point. For many years unsuccessful attempts were made to bring the cup back to England, and in 1898 Sir Thomas Lipton’s challenge was' ac-

cepted by the New York Club. In 1899 his Shamrock (the first) raced the Columbia, but was beaten. In 1901, with Shamrock 11, Sir Thomas was again defeated by the Columbia. In 1903 Shamrock 111 was beaten by the Reliance, and in 1920 Shamrock IV was unsuccessful against the Resolute. And now the Shamrock V is being built to cross the Atlantic and compete for the cup at Sandy Hook. Sir Thomas Lipton was born in a poverty-stricken cottage in Glasgow—he is now a millionaire. He began to earn his living as an errand boy at 4s a week, and had to leave his job for presuming to ask for a rise of Is...“lt’s a good thing to be born poor,” he said lately; “the rich boy never realises the value of money.” As a boy, however, Sir Thomas certainly longed for wealth—coupled with adventure. When in his early ’teens ho stowed away on board a vessel bound for America, and was bundled ashore at the Battery in New York, where, in later years, he was greeted in his palatial yacht with blaring bands.

Years later he got back to Glasgow with £ 100 in his pocket, and bringing a sack of flour and a rocking-chair as presents for his mother. In Glasgow he opened a small grocery shop, and by original advertising soon made headway. Only once, he says, has he made a bet, although he is such a noted sportsman. Sir Harry Lauder and he were both going to America on different steamers, and Sir Thomas staked 9d against Sir Harry’s 4sd that he would be in America first. It was a close race. Sir Harry Lauder won, but he must have had some terribly anxious moments.