The San Francisco call., 1899-09-05
SHAMROCK ON
A TRIAL SPIN
OFF NEW YORK
Tests Her Speed in
American Waters.
Special Dispatch to The Can.

NEW YORK, Sept 4.-The Shamrock
spread her wings for her first practice
in American waters to-day and every one
who saw her move said she was very fast.
1t was about II o'clock when the trial
was started and between and when il
was over. Sir Thomas Upton, Mr.. Fife,
the designer OF the Shamrock, and Mr..
Ratsey were aboard the Shamrock. Cap
tain Archie Hogarth and his assistant,
Captain Bob Wringe, steered the yacht
alternately. She sailed over the regular
cup course, starting from the Scotland
nghtship, making for the Long Island
shore, then back to the New Jersey shore
and then back TO the starting point.
Aside from the Shamrock and her escorts
there were no boats down there except
the press boats.
After the trial the Shamrock with her
tender anchored in the Horseshoe, where
they will remain until after the races are
over. The Erin, with Sir Thomas Upton
aboard, will probably stay at Sandy Hook
until " edneSday, when she Will bring her
owner TO Tompkinsville. There Will be
another trial tomorrow with the Sham-
rock carrying the same spars but another
set OF sails.
The only unusual incident of the trip
was the passing Of the Shamrock and the
ocean liner City of Rome. which was in
coming. This occurred when the Snam-
rock had started on her trial and was
about four miles of Sandy HOOK ne
steamship saIuted the Shamrock with her
siren whistle and dipped her coiors. Inc
passengers were all crowded TO the side
and gave the Shamrock a hearty cheer.
NEWPORT, r. L, Sept. I'm today
race the second and last Of the official
trial races for the settlement Of de-
fender of the Americas cup, the Column
bia again demonstrated that she IS the
superior OF the Defender, the 1873 cham-
pion, by defeating her ten minutes ana
seven seconds over a triangular course IN
an eight-knot breeze and a smooth sea
The contest was a procession throughout
with the Columbia leading at the start pE
one and half seconds and gaining on
every leg OF the course.
The first leg was a reach from the start
ing line at Brentons Reef lightship, south
east one-half, east to a flag mark, dis
tance Of ten miles and from the moment
the Columbia crossed the line sne STEAD
ily sailed away from her rival, gybing
around the first mark three minutes and
thirty-siX seconds ahead.
The second leg was also a reach, a lit
tie broader than the first, but even II the
Defender did not set her spinnaker mile
and nineteen seconds more in the run
TO the second mark.
The third leg OF the triangle was almost
a dead beat 10 the finish, the TWO boats
making long hitch clear up to the Mar
ragansett shore. The Columbia made
two other short tacks before she reached
/ the line, but the Defender, by holding
longer in-shore, managed TO reach the
lightship without another tack. Still the
Columbia gained, showing that with
sheets close hauled she is the fastest
American sailing yacht adoat. On this
last leg she added four minutes and
I twenty-five seconds TO her lead, making
a total for the entire course Of ten min
utes and seven seconds.
There will be no more official races,
that of to-day settling conclustvely in the
minds OF the committee which of the two
boats is better fitted to meet the Sham
rock.
The cup committee is permitted 10 de-
fer naming the cup defender until week
prior TO the date OF the first contest, and
therefore the decision was not made pub
lie. OF course there is not the slightest
doubt that the Columbia will be the craft
What all the yachtsmen would like to
see is a contest between the boats when
On the run OF the New York Yacht Club
from this point TO Vineyard Haven
during the recent cruise, in a half gale
the Defender practically defeated the Co
lumbia on time allowance. and there are
to-day many who think that the old boat
is the faster in stiff breeze. On the
run to the Vineyard the Columbia had
pine mast, which no doubt handicapped
her 10 some extent, and what remains to
be seen is whether she is improved in
heavy weather by the steel mast as much
as she is in moderate breeZes.
The Columbia's mainsail fitted a little
better to-day than ii did on Saturday, due
no doubt to the stretching il received in
the first trial race and the subsequent
hauling out on the boom and gaff Still
there is an opportunity for much improve
ment as there is q curl to the leach that
some of the yachtsmen do not like.
There will be race tomorrow morning
between the Columbia and the Defender
for cup offered by William Goddard of
Providence, Mr.. 1selin's father-in-law.
The reason for holding this race is to try
a new and lighter weight mainsail on the
Columbia
The official summary Of to-day's race
follows:
star.-Colunbia. 1860; Defender. 11-2s.22
Fiufsh-Columbia 2:4S: :53; Defender, 2:53:5s
Elapsed time-CoIumbia- S:1:24; Defender
3:27:3l
So the Columbia won by 10 minutes
seconds, actual time, in race Of close TO
thirty-three miles, for about three miles
must be added for the windward work
sailed in the last leg Of the course, There
fore the Columbia averaged ten miles
hour for the entire distance