AMERICA'S CUP.

Temuka Leader, Issue 7554, 18 April 1914, Page 6

AMERICA'S CUP.

INTERESTING FEATURE OF NEXT YACHT RACE. SPECULATIONS OVER SHAMROCK IV. A very interesting feature of tho next yacht raco for tho America s Cup will bo that Mr. W. P. Burton whom feu Thomas Lipton has secured lor lus» helmsman, is the first amateur who has steered a cup challenger since Mr. Heaver Webb sailed tho Galatea against tho M.avtlower in 1886. _ iMr Burton is unquestionably tlio best amateur in England to-day and besides winning the bluo ribbon, for lo meter racinc in Europo for tlueo years in suceossion, ho has won two Kings cups, and in all kirtds of races in which ho has competed during tho last sixteen years, amounting to somothing over oOl) matcli_>s, has won 375 prizes. . Tlie operations for the America s cup havo in past years been under a measurement formula that produced freaks —in fact, boats that were of very little uso for other purposes. This next race will bo under tho universal rule of measurement and will produce boats eligible co race at ordinary regattas. Now, of course, there is a great deal of speculation as to what Shamrock IV will be like. Charles Nicholson, who has drawn tho lines for this latest challenger of Sir Thomas Lipton, is a designer who has had wonderful success with ledger craft, and there is much British coniidenco in his ability. Some think that the product will orovo a radical design, and it has already been rumoured that this last Shamrock will have a centre board. At any rate, tho greatest secrecy is being preserved, even to the extent of allowing none but unmarried men to work on the laying of the keel! The boat is being built in a closed-in shed with glass roof, no possible precaution being neglected to guard her lines from the curi3us eye*. W. P. Burton, as stated, will, it is understood, handle her, and as he is generally conceded to be tho leading helmsman of his day there is an added element of confidence growing m British yachting circles. Captain Turner will be Mr Burton's skipper. He it was who raced the 20-ratere Luna and Saint, owned by F. B. Jameson, in the early nineties.

Tho crew of the new Shamrock will he mado up of as many of the men who sailed with Mr Burton in Octavia and Ostara, the two boats with which he won tho two King's cups.