THE AMERICA CUP

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1929, Page 2

THE AMERICA CUP

SIR THOMAS LIPTON LEAVES TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS.

(British Official Wifeless.)

RUGBY, August 27,

Sir Thomas Liptpn, veteran yachtsman and founder of the firm which bears his name, left London to-day for America to make final arrangements ifor his fifth attempt to win* back for this country the America Cup, the yachting trophy for which he has been competing since 1899, without success.

The preliminary conditions of the races for the America Cup, the result of a challenge by the Royal Ulster .Yacht Club, on behalf of Sir Thomas Lipton, 'were settled in June with the New York Yacht Club, the holders.

The races will start on September 3. 1930, and will take place off Newport, Rhode Island, instead of Sandy Hook, as in previous races. In announcing the acceptance of the challenge the New York Yacht Club stipulated that British and American vessels shall all be of 76ft rating sailing without time allowances.

Sir Thomas Lipton’s new boat, to be known as the Shamrock V., will be designed by Mr C. E. Nicholson, the designer of Shamrock IV., and will be built by Camper and Nicholson, Ltd., olf Gosport. Sir Thomas has made four attempts during the last'thirty years to bring the America Cup hack to England, but without success. It is estimated that the cost of these attempts, for each of which a Shamrock was especially built, amounts to nearly £500,000. “I am delighted with the acceptance of the challenge,” said Sir Thomas. “It has been the great aim of my life to bring back the America Cup, and 1 am looking forward to a renewal of the contest with keen interest.” In Sir Thomas’ last attempt, in 1920, Shamrock IV. was beaten in a series of five races under a time allowance made on account of her size. But competing vessels have now been standardised by the rule passed by the New York Yacht Club, and victory now depends upon design and seamanship. The Newport course will afford a slight advantage to the American vessels, in that their skippers will have an intimate knowledge olf the tides, winds, and general racing conditions. Four American syndicates are expected to produce vessels for the races. The America Cup was first offered by the Royal Yacht Squadron for a yachtrace round the Isle of Wight.