Shamrock (yacht) facts for kids
Shamrock and Columbia in 1899
|
|
| Yacht club |  Royal Ulster Yacht Club |
|---|---|
| Nation |  United Kingdom |
| Designer(s) | William Fife III |
| Builder | J. Thorneycroft & Co. |
| Launched | 26 June 1899 |
| Owner(s) | Sir Thomas Lipton |
| Racing career | |
| Skippers | Captain Archibald "Archie" Hogarth |
| America's Cup | 1899 |
| Specifications | |
| Displacement | 156.9 metric tonnes |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 7.46 m (24.5 ft) |
| Draft | 6.15 m (20.2 ft) |
| Sail area | 1,214.30 m2 (13,070.6 sq ft) |
The Shamrock was a special racing boat called a yacht. It was built in 1898 in Ireland. This amazing boat tried to win the 1899 America's Cup, a very famous sailing race. However, it lost to the American boat, Columbia.
Contents
Building the Shamrock
The Shamrock was designed by a talented boat builder named William Fife III. His family had been building boats for a long time in Scotland. The boat was built in 1898 by a company called J. Thorneycroft & Co..
Who Owned the Shamrock?
The Shamrock was owned by Sir Thomas Lipton. You might know his name from Lipton Tea! Sir Thomas was a member of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club. He loved sailing and wanted to win the America's Cup.
Where Was It Built?
The Shamrock was first planned to be built at Church Wharf, Chiswick. But the boat was too deep for that location. So, it was built in a different place called Millwall.
Secret Construction and Launch
Building the Shamrock was kept very secret. People didn't want others to know its special features. The boat was officially named, or "christened," on June 26, 1899. Lady Russell of Killowen did the honors.
What Was the Shamrock Made Of?
The Shamrock was built using a mix of materials. This is called a "composite build." The bottom part was made of a strong metal called manganese-bronze. The top part was made of aluminum. These parts were built over a strong steel frame. The deck, where people walk, was made of pine wood.
The Shamrock's Racing Life
The first captain of the Shamrock was Captain Archibald Hogarth. He was in charge of sailing the boat.
Practice Races
Before the big America's Cup race, the Shamrock had practice races. It raced against another famous boat called Valkyrie III. The Shamrock also beat the Prince of Wales's yacht, Britannia, two times in races on the Solent sea.
The America's Cup Challenge
In the summer of 1899, the Shamrock sailed all the way to New York for the America's Cup. This was the main event! But the American boat, Columbia, was very fast. Columbia won all three races against the Shamrock.
After the Big Race
After the America's Cup, the Shamrock went back to Britain. Sir Thomas Lipton's steam yacht, Erin, pulled it home. Later, the Shamrock was used to help other boats practice. It became a "trial horse" for future America's Cup challengers, Shamrock II and Shamrock III.
