CLASS-J
YACHT SHAMROCK - ENGLISH - 1930
Shamrock was the unsuccessful Irish challenger for the 10th
America's Cup in 1899 against the United States defender,
Columbia. Shamrock (also known as Shamrock I, to distinguish
it from its successors) was built in 1898 under a shroud of
secrecy, and christened by Lady Russell of Killowen at its
launch on June 24, 1899.
During its trials it raced against the 1895 America's Cup
challenger, Valkyrie III, as well as twice beating His Majesty's
Yacht Britannia in regattas on the Solent. It sailed to New
York for the America's Cup race in the summer of 1899. The
Cup defender Columbia beat Shamrock in all three races. It
returned to Britain in the autumn of 1899, towed by Lipton's
steam yacht, Erin. It was subsequently refitted by Lipton
and used as a "trial horse" to test the later challengers,
Shamrock II, III, and IV.
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