£1,000,000 FOR A £50 CUP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144084, 1 May 1913, Page 3

£1,000,000 FOR A £SO CUP.

Sportsmen all the world over will hear with interest; the nows that Sir Thomas Lipton has again, chaQcnged for the American Cup. ' Sir Thomas is a rare sportsman. Most men. would have given up the task of “lifting the Cup” after such experiences as the famous provision merchant has gone through in his endeavours to secure possession of this emblem of yachting supremacy. His three past attempts to win. the Cup have cost him about £IOO,OOO for yachts alone (Shamrock I. and 11. £30,000 each, and Shamrock 111, £35,000), and altogether he has spent on the efforts nearly £400,000, Since the Americans won the Cup in the race round tho Isle of 'Wight in 1851, twelve attempts have been made to recover it, at a total dost of about £1,000,000. The Cup itself is worth barely £30.. It is stated that when Shamrock HI. was beaten Sir Thomas vowed that he would never race for the trophy again, but a most 1 successful yachting season last year—-his “Shamrock” won 23 firsts in 30 races in homo waters, and six races out of eight at Kiel international races—spurred him on to yet another attempt. 1 So last Wednesday Sir Thomas dispatched his challenge to the New York Yacht Club, and Mr. Nicholson, of Gosport, a most successful designer and builder of racing craft, is already at work on the hull of Shamrock IV.

-, It was in 1904 that Sir Thomas Lipton’s Shamrock 111. was beaten by the Reliance, and the next race docs not take place till September 1914. About six years ago Sir Thomas issued a challenge tinder “Universal. Rules,” which encourage a more wholesome type of boat, but the officials of the New York Club declined it. This time Sir Thomas has decided to . race under the original rules laid down by the donor of the Cup, thus seeking no favours with regard te the construction of his boat, despite the fact that it will have to cross the Atlantic. Sir Thomas is very hopeful of the prospects of realising what has been one of the ambitions of his life. “I have a strong feeling,” lie said, “that I shall have a good reasonable chance of success. I felt that if I were going te win the Cnp I should prefer to win by challenging on the old terms, rather than be under any favour or obligation to anyone, apd by challenging, under the Deed of Gift I knew there could bo no refusal. I am looking-forward with great pleasure to meeting my rivals again, and I am a great believer in the luck of the four-leaved shamrock.” Either Captain Sycamore or Captain Wring will sail the new- boat, which will cross the Atlantic on its own bottom, but for reasons of safety it will be under - the escort of Sir Thomas’ steam yacht Erin or some speciallychartered steam craft.