It had been a highly emotional meeting between Nicholson and Nathanael Herresshoff during the Shamrock IV and Resolute measurement operations. The two men did not meet one another again until ten years later due to the visit arranged by Harold Vanderbilt. Very moved, the two friends were unable to speak and just shook hands for a long time. Since the 1920 challenge, Charles E. Nicholson had supervised the design of the Bermuda or Marconi rigging for the old cutter Nyria. This was the first time that a yacht of this size had carried this type of rigging. He had already tested this type of rigging (Marconi or Bermuda) before the First World War on Noranda. Other big vessels followed Astra (1928) and Candida (1929).

Nicholson built Shamrock V in 1930. Yet again, he was unable to equal the Americans. Although this time they did not have eight years experience with the new International Rule, they were out in force. For the 1930 challenge they built 4 Class J's including the very original Whirlwind. Charles Nicholson had only one chance to exploit the formula to the full. Moreover the Americans made faster progress than the English with their yacht equipment - Shamrock V looked a poor relative next to Enterprise. The challenger was undisputedly beaten by the defender, Sir Thomas Lipton's last challenge concluded with a disastrous defeat.

J-42 under sail - Robert Eger's J-Boat "Shamrock V" by Linda Dennis, San Diego, CA. Copyright © 2000, Linda Dennis.

Photo of Robert Eger's Shamrock V, runner-up 2000 J-Class NCR. Photo courtesy and Copyright © 2000 Greg Vasileff