JOHN ScoTT HUGHES : ' Endeavour '
Listeners will remember the broadcast in April of the launching of Endeavour at Gosport. She was built there for Mr. T. 0. M. Sopwith , who is the British challenger in the race for the America's Cup next August. That broadcast was relayed to America. Endeavour is to sail for the scene of the race in a few days' time, and tonight Mr. John Scott-Hughes , who gave an eye-witness account of the launching, is to say something about her.
He has been on board during some of her trial spins in home waters, and he will speak of the good form she has shown. It has often been argued that we have small chance of winning the Cup because the challenger has to be built to cross the Atlantic as well as to race. Mr. Scott Hughes , who is yachting correspondent of The Times, holds that actually the real handicap is the time wasted in the men's training, tor, on the journey over, they are naturally not handling her in racing trim. For one thing, the racing mast, which is higher than Nelson's Column, can obviously not be used.
Mr. Sopwith, well known in yachting circles, is also an aircraft manufacturer and an engineer. Listeners will wish him and Endeavour every success in his attempt to avenge the late Sir Thomas Lipton , whose pluck in challenging year after year was recognised by America when she presented him with a gold cup after his last unsuccessful attempt. May luck go with Endeavour. It was a happy augury that the siren of the Victory hailed her across the water at her launching.