IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8189, 26 July 1906, Page 3

IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

ME WILLIAM FIFE. The house of Fife, the yacht building houße won't build any more Shamrocks. The new one of the Dame—for Sir Thomas Lipton ia going to have another try for the Gup—has buen given in to the care of a new builder, and it re mains to be seen bow much better be will fare. The Fifes in the other Shamrocks tackled a job wbicb is hardly appreciated outside the circle i f initiated yatcbsmen. It was always said when each ShamrocK was beaten, "Ah, the British tifin'fc build yatchs like the Yankees," but are they given the chancer In the first and la-t place the terms on which the American Oup are held and raced for are unfair and unsportsmanlike. They are both things because the holders on the American side claim—nad have been unwisely

allowed to claim—a distinct and

manifest advantage. If the challenge were issued and accepted and both sides together named their boats and stack by their plans, that part would be undoubtedly fair, but the Fifes complained pretty loudly on a former occasion beoause this condition is noa existent. As not many people know rf the condition which eixata in its place it may be of advantage to give it. The challenging party then must name his boat ten months before tne race and stick to liia choice of design. He must, in fact, enter his "horse" as a "yearling" for an event later on, and by the entry without adjustment . Bat mnrk the other side! The Americans can build a boat or a dozen boats at the same time and watoh the progress of the nhallehging vessel, so far as it can be watched practically to the last moment to see whiah one has the likeliest chance. For ton months before the race the challenging party is bound to his keel, his deck, his spars and his name, but up to a month before the race the defending party is free to change, as uften as he likes, as until that time is reaohed be has a free hand. In the opinion of some authorative people this condition cost Sir Thomas Lipton dearly in one of his throe great contests for the Cup, as on this occasion had the defending party been compelled to (Stick up the boat the Fifes designed the challenger to beat, the American Cup would have changed {oustodlans. But at the last moment the Americans changed the vessel, and so upoilt the plans of the British builder. This is the weakest spot in connection with the American Oup as a competitive trophy, and its.existenoe reaterially discounts the value of any contest in connection with it. To test in any branoh of sport is conclusive where there is any advantage to either party competing.