The San Francisco call., 1899-07-19
THE SHAMROCK
EASILY BEATS
THE BRITANNIA
Cup Challenger Is
Very Fast.
TRIAL RACE ON THE SOLENT
NEW YACHT IN FRONT FROM
THE START
English Experts Greatly Pleased
With Her Performance and
Confident of Victory Over
the Columbia.
TRIAL RACE ON THE SOLENT
NEW YACHT IN FRONT FROM
THE START.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SOUTHAMPTON. July 1S.-There was
much excitement on the Solent to-day
over the Britannia Shamrock race. From
early morning crowds watched the prep
arations on board both yachts. while the
whole fleet from Southampton Cowes
and other points made for Ryde.
The scene at Ryde pier was most ami
mated. Long before the start crowds of
fashionable visitors had arrived. The
Shamrock was towed from Southampton,
the Erin following with Thomas Upton
and a distinguished company The wealth
er was hot and slightly hazy, with a
slight southeast breeze which promised
to last through the day. The course was
from the Ryde pierhead eastward around
the Nab lightship, leaving it on the star
board hand, then back past Cowes TO
buoy on the Solent bank, rounding the
buoy on the starboard and finishing at
Cowes, opposite the Royal Yacht Squad
ron's house 1t was about forty miles
long The Prince of Wales arrived at
Southampton at II o'clock wearing q
yachting suit. and boarded the Britannia
from the yacht Fire Queen, on board OF
which he left Southampton.
The, yachts started punctuaIy at u
o'clock, with a fresh southeast breeze
blowing. AS the starting gun b0omed the
Britannia Immediately crossed the sham
rock, the latter following in a way to give
the impression that she had no oDJeCIl9h
to giving the Britannia slight lead. he
latter however did not long maintain the
advantage. II was dead beat to wind
ward. and little distance was covered be
fore the Shamrock, whicA started on the
short leg to port, oVerhauIed her, and on
the following long leg TO StarbOard the
Shamrock forged ahead rapidly. II was
at once noticed that she was sailing near
ly half q point rearer the wind tnan the
Britannia. The Shamrock was carrying her
rnainsail, jib-headed topsail, jib and fore
sail. The Britannia carried the same can
vas, but in addition her club topsail.
The Shamrock was half-mile ahead
passing Warner. Hogarth was at the
helm of the challenger. The boat held up
admirably and there was not drop Of
water on deck. She proved extremely
quick in putting about, taking only 1912
seconds. On rounding the Nab ightship
both yachts set their spinnakers for the
The only mishap of the day was that
when the Shamrocks sail began TO fill
the top caught in the cross-trees. The
huge canvas Topped fat and then sud
denly burst like balloon and big rent
became visible in the upper part, where
long strip had been torn out, leaving a
hole big enough for man TO crawl
through. The ShamrOck's 8 speed naturally
suffered somewhat from this accident
Both boats soon set their tOpsails and
later their balloon fOresails. The yachts
jibed TO port near Ryde. They were then
travelling at such rate that the press
boat, going a speed OF eleven knots, was
unable to keep pace with the Shamrock
though the wind Hghtened considerably
after leaving Nab lightship. The Britain
mia appeared to be holding her own for
q short spell before she reached Ryde, but
the Shamrock again crept slowly ahead,
widening the gap.
The scene at this time was an inspiring
one. Both yachts, under cloud Of can
vas, were gliding on even keels. The wind
freshened after passing COwes and both
boats took IN their spinnakers a star ted
on the broad reach to the SOlent buoy.
After jibing around they reached back,
finishing with a short tack TO make the
home mark.
Experts were satisfied that the Sham
rock will be able to give a good account
of herself in the contest for the Americas S
cup.
and the Britannia at 12:43:18. The Sham
rock rounded the Nab lightship at LOOPS
and the Britannia at 1:06:20 The Sham
rock passed Ryde pier at 1:54:30 and the
Britannia at 2:02:30. The yachts passed
the Royal Yacht squadrOn's house going
westward, the Shamrock at 2:40:27 and the
Britannia at 2:51:00. The Shamrock ar
rived at the finish line at 3:4600 The
Britannia finished the course thirteen
minutes behind the challenger for the
Americas cup.
Both yachts were admirably handled
but the Shamrock had clear advantage
throughout. She gained on every tack
to windward.
The corrected times at the finish were:
Shamrock. 3:43 so; Britannia, 400 Is. The
times of passing the buoy on the Solent
bank were: Shamrock, 3:15:45; Britannia
3:25:04