ALL EYES ON SHAMROCK

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1076, 13 September 1930, Page 1

ALL EYES ON SHAMROCK

Today’s Big Yacht Race SAILING COURSES DESCRIBED Sir Thomas Lipton’s Chances PICTURE two tall yachts embodying respectively in their pyramidal sails and glistening bodies all the ingenuity of British and American boatbuilding science and a great amount of money. See them plunging their shoulders into United States water, the while flinging white spray impetuously aside, fighting out the greatest yacht race in the world. They are straining in the centre of an enormous arena, the focus of a million eyes. That arena is formed by scores of pleasure craft, sight-seeing steamers, a host of nondescript craft, all kept in bounds by fast patrol boats ensuring right of way for the challenger and defender of the America s Cup, famed international trophy, which has resisted every attempt to take it hack to England.

This may well be a glimpse of the scene off Rhode Island when Shamrock V., Sir Thomas Lipton's contender for the America's Cup, meets Enterprise, the yacht the United States ia relying on to cling to the prize, in the first race for the cup, scheduled for today. The issue will be known in Auckland early tomorrow morning. Station IYA will endeavour to relay a broadcast from the course, New Zealand listeners being able to get the news almost first hand and in vivid Yankee “talking reporter” style, if atmospheric conditions are good. It may be that a stifling New Y'ork autumn day, with scarcely a breath of air, will be the ruling condition when the big yachts line up, and it is quite on the cards that the race may resolve itself into a drifting match. It is then that the scribes think up that brilliant line about "painted ships upon a painted ocean.” At all events, it the yachts which start some time after noon, according to latest advice from the Radio Broadcasting Company's consultant in the States, do not finish the 30-mile course in five and ahalf hours, the race will be resailed. A race resulting in a tie, a happening extremely remote in yachting, is to be sailed again for a definite decision. In 1920, when the Resolute successfully resisted Shamrock IV.’s challenge, only five races were scheduled. This time the winner will be the yacht first securing four out of a maximum seven. RACING COURSES The courses are more to Britain's advantage on this occasion, being marked out off Cape Brenton reef, to the south, and seaward of Newport, Rhode Island. (See chart of locality.) Formerly, during the whole 60 years British challengers have attempted to get back the America’s Cup. the racing has been held off Sandy Hook, a stretch of water notorious for its peculiar currents and fluky winds. "Local knowledge” happily will count far less on the new course, and the breezes are said to be more reliable. The actual starting point, which will not be varied throughout the contest, will be a mark (shown ou the accompanying chart with a flag on it at the apex of the triangle) about 10 miles south-east of Brenton Reef. The first race will be what is known as a windward and leeward one, that is to say, the boats will sail 15 miles dead in the eye of the wind, which means “slogging” (tacking) hard the whole way. At the 15-mile mark they will turn, and “run” back to the finishing line with the wind directly behind them—a glorious sight, with every stitch pulling them along, the hulls being overawed by a mass of sail looking like a cumulous cloud. The second race will take place over a triangular course, 10 miles to a side, the third windward and leeward again, the fourth the triangle, and so on. It may be that cable advice will state that today's race gave the “run’’ first and the tacking last, but whatever it is, the principle is the same. The rules state that no race shall start later than 12.30 p.m. The Racing Committee, a really sacred hierarchy, has enormous powers to ensure absolute fairness. Incidentally all this talk about Sir Thomas Lipton and earlier challengers having been “diddled” out of the cup can be dismissed with contempt. This is the opinion not only off Sir Thomas Lipton, but of all designers and crews of the beaten Shamrocks. In fact, Charles Nicholson, designer of the present Shamrock, holds United States sportsmanship scrupulously above board.

POWERS OF COMMITTEE This Racing Committee may postpone a race if there is a fog, the space round the starting line is obstructed, the wind is too light to determine a windward and leeward course, both I yachts consent to a postponement, or j if the weather threatens to be so severe as not to afford a reasonable ; opportunity of a fair test of the speed ! of the two yachts. Finally, a serious accident to either craft may cause a postponement. Suppose a grave mishap befel Shamrock before the start the Americans will allow her up to four weeks to effect repairs. Jf an accident happens to either yacht during a race the next race may be postponed as late as October 31. A message from the States commented recently that a lot of interest j had been aroused because for the first | time in the history of the contest I the boat first over the finishing line I will be the winner. Hitherto differ- ' ence in measurements has compelled either the challenger or the defender to give the other time allowance. In 1 1920 Lipton took over such a weird ' design, a regular racing machine that ■ outdid anything the Yankees had conceived. that Shamrock had to give [ Resolute seven minutes! NOTES ON CONTEST The following note on today's con- ! test is given by Mr. A. Buchanan, an I Auckland yachtsman very well up in ! the science of the sport. Sir. Buchanan

who has not long returned from a world tour, has seen the yachts he names.

“For the first time in races for the America's Cup the rival yachts are of the same rating, measured under the New York Yacht Club’s measurement rule,” says Mr. Buchanan. “The Valkyries and the other Shamrocks raced against opponents limited only as to water-line length, consequently the rivals frequently varied considerably in power and sail area, and time allowance was given for differences in rating under the rule for the time being in force. In the races between Shamrock IV. and Resolute the former was the more powerful craft owing to her great quarter-beam length, extreme form and great saY area, and consequently when measured had to give Resolute more than seven minutes’ time allowance on the 30-mile course, the time allowance scale, of course, being known to both designers when the yachts were designed. FIRST IN WINS “In the present races the yachts must not exceed 65-foot rating under the rule, and the first boat in wins. Again for the first time the yachts are built staunchly under Lloyd's rules as to construction, and therefore both boats will be seaworthy and useful for 20 years or more, and will not be broken up like most of the other contestants. Resolute, that defeated Shamrock IV., built 17 years ago, is still in first-class racing—a striking tribute to her design and construction, which disposes of the popular error that the other Shamrocks were stauncher in construction. It is well known thaJ; Shamrock IV. was appreciably lighter in build than Resolute. “The present measurement rule is practically a sail area rule. Enterprise is 80 feet on water-line, and Whirlwind, the longest of the American candidates, is S 6 feet there, but by a sacrifice of a small area of sail equals the rating of the shorter boat. "The dimensions of Shamrock V_, of all the new yachts built, is the nearest to Enterprise, Shamrock being 81 feet waterline, and carrying 30 ot 40 square feet less sail. Owing to her extra foot in length, her displacement will be four or five tons more than her rival's, consequently in light to moderate winds one would expect Enterprise to have the best of it Shamrock has to displace approximately five tons more water for every SO feet of the 30-mile course, and this with a little less sail. One would expect Shamrock's best day would be in fresh to strong winds, when her extra length and stability should count. Every one of the last six successful defenders of the cup were designed by Nathaniel Herreshoff. whom the English designers will admit to be the greatest of all. He has now retired in favour ot younger men, and the Enterprise was designed by S. Burgess. Frandis Herreshoff. the designed of Whirlwind. which so far has not been a success, must not be confused with the great Nathaniel.”