The Star. THURSDAY, JULY 15, 1920. THE AMERICA'S CUP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19999, 15 July 1920, Page 6

The Star. THURSDAY, JULY 15, 1920. THE AMERICA'S CUP.

The-first of the 1920 series of races for the America’, 1 ; Gup is to bo sailed off to-day, when tho defender, the Resolute, will meet the challenger. Shamrock IV. The contest tor the Cup has excited world-wide interest, as tho event has undoubtedly achiever] international importance. Sir Thomas Lipton’s yacht will certainly carry the host wishes of sportsmen in British lands, and it may be assumed that tho people of tho United States will take a keen patriotic interest in the performance of tlie Resolute. It was on August 22, 1851, that the schooner yacht America, designed by George Steers for a syndicate of tho New York Yacht Club, headed by Commodore John O. Stevens, showed her heela to a fleet of tho speediest boats that England could muster, in a race around the Lslo of Wight. The victorious boat thus captured the Royal Yacht Squadron Cup, which has erroneously been referred to as the Queen’s Cup. This trophy was later renamed the America's Cup in honour of tho yacht and galland crew that won it in British waters against hoary odds. The America's Cup was formally presented to the New York Yacht Club in 1857, and it was accompanied by a deed of gift prescribing the terms and conditions under which tho English challengers could compete for it. It was not until 1870 that the English yachtsmen decided to attempt to recapture the trophy, and Mr James Ashforth’s Cambria was pitted against the entire 'fleet of the New York Yacht Club. This condition was insisted on because tho America was compelled to raco igainst tho whole fleet of the Royal Yacht Squadron when she won the Cup. Tho Magic, a centreboard schooner, won the race, and tho Cambria came in eighth. After this contest the guardians of tho Cup decided to select from American yachts one boat to defend the Cup, and this plan has been followed up to the present time. Victory, however, has always rested with the Americans, in spite of some very fine attempts on the part of British sportsmen to carry tho Cup back across the Atlantic. Particularly memorable were Lord Dunmven’s efforts with Valkyrie H. and Valkyrie' 111., but he lost ail qix races, one on a foul. Tho most modem history of the contests is associated with Sir Thomas Lipton -md his line of four Shamrocks. Ho commenced in 1899, and tho last race took placo in 1903— seventeen years ago. There would have been a scries of races in 1914 bub for the outbreak of war, but they had to be called off while tho fleets of tho nations held the seas for sterner contests.. Shamrock TV. hud crossed the sea for the 1914 contest, thus fulfilling tho very exacting condition that the challenger must perform this voyage, and she was laid up in Tcbo’s Basin, South Brooklyn, until tho preparations were put in hand for the races which will take place this week. The Shamrock IV. is tho largest boat ever sent in quest of tho America’s Cup. Her mast from dock to truck is 152 feet, and from tho water line to the cap is 159 feet. Above this tho club topsail is set, carrying th 0 sail twenty feet higher, so that when racing sue will tower 179 feet above tho water Ihc boom of the Shamrock is 90 feet, her gaff Co feet, and her bowsprit outboard 9 icet. Tho yacht will carry more than 10,000 square feet of canvas. or 2000 more feot than the Resolute. Her water line length is limited to sovcuty-fivi) feet, according to agreement, and with her tremendous Bail spread she will bo compelled to allow time to tho defending yacht. Shamrock lias wider beam than the largest American yachts, her width amidships being about 23 feet The fin keel is nearly 30 feet in length, and her over all length is 110 feet. Tho construction of the hull is light, with steel web frames, braced by wood longitudinals. English yachting experts expressed the opinion that if the boat carried her rig and held together tiho would bo a marvel in a light breeze. The designer was Mr Charles -Nicholson, who also designed the three preceding Shamrocks. The defender, the Resolute, was designed by the famous Herreshoffs for a syndicate. She has been tried out most severely against the Vanitie, which some experts consider the faster boat, and which has undoubtedly won some of the trials The result of the first race will u awaited with very great interest even in New Zealand, and we are sure that a victory for the British yacht would bo received with tho greatest satis- • faction.