AMERICA CUP

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1003, 20 June 1930, Page 9

AMERICA CUP

WORLD’S GREATEST YACHTING EVENT CONTESTS IN SEPTEMBER Successful trials of the British challenger, Sir Thomas Lipton’s Shamrock V., and the launching of the four American yachts built by separate syndicates for the purpose of defending the America Cup, the world’s most important yachting trophy, has aroused the enthusiasm of the British and American nations in the series of seven races for the historic trophy, the first of which will bo held on Saturday, September 13. off Newport. New York. Shamrock V„ rating as a 23-metre yacht, sine© May .18 lias won five suecessive races, competing against 21metre to 24-metre yachts. .In July Shamrock V. will be jury-rigged for the voyage across the Atlantic to New York, which she must sail on her own bottom, in accordance with the conditions of the deed of gift governing The America’s Cup. In her passage she will be convoyed by Sir Thomas Lipton’s steam yacht, Erin 11.

Shamrock V. will have her racing span and gear refitted in New York harbour, and will undergo a series of trials over the course of 30 miles off Newport, Rhode Island, that has been selected for the Cup races. American yachtsmen are making a special effort to retain the coveted trophy. Four wealthy syndicates of prominent yachtsmen have designed, built, equipped and crewed four yachts, each of which varies in detail of design, but is restricted to a rating of 7G feet, in accordance with the New York Yacht Club rules which govern the contest. The names of these yachts are Enterprise, Whirlwind, Yankee and Weetamoe. They are, like Shamrock V., singlemasted yachts rigged with Bermuda mainsail and headsails, are all fitted with centreboards, and in each yacht the bowsprit has been dispensed with. The fitting of the centreboards is a new departure in yachts built for the Cup races. The four American contenders are to take part in a series of observation races in June and July, and trial races throughout August, when the management committee of the New York Yacht Club, which is to control the races for The America" Cup, will select one of the yachts to defend the cup against Shamrock V.

The America’s Cup, the most famous trophy of the yachting world as far as the general public is concerned, is a trophy which, costing 100 guineas, was originally presented by the Royal Yacht Squadron in 1850 for a race to be held off Cowes between yachts belonging to clubs of all nations. The New York Yacht Club built a schooner yacht. The America, of 94 tons, which in 1851 defeated a fleet of 12 British yachts and carried the trophy to America. The New York Yacht Club in 18G9 offered the cup as a perpetual challenge trophy for competition between yachts of foreign countries. Since 1870 thirteen challenges have been issued for the coveted trophy, eleven by British yachtsmen and two by Canadian yachtsmen. American yachtsmen have successfully defended the trophy to date. Sir Thomas Lipton. the Grand Old Man of British yachtsmen, now in his 80th year, is to make his fifth attempt to wrest the historic cup in the series of races to be held in September.