The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-08-02
CUP CHALLENGER Wins.
Shamrock Easily Defeats the Britain
mia in aForty-MiIe Course.
THE YACHTS OWNER IS PLEASED.

Tho Challenger Was sixteen Minutes and
Twenty-Five Seconds Ahead at the
Finish . Shamrock's Sailing Powers
Were Not Exerted to tho Utmost-Her
Chances to Win the Cup.
SOUTHAMPTON (By CabIe).-The first trial
race between Shamrock and Britannia re-.
suited In victory for the cup challenger,
which won easily, beating Britannia by
sixteen minutes and twenty-five seconds.
Both yachts were handled with admirable
skill. The course sailed was about forty
miles. The Prince Of Wales was aboard
Britannia.
There was much excitement on the So
lent over the race. From early morning
crowds watched the preparations on board
both yachts, while the whole feet from
Southampton, Cowes and other points
made for !Ryde. The scene at hyde Pier
was most animated. Long before the start
crowds OF fashionable visitors bad arrived.
As the starting gun doomed Britannia
Immediately crossed the line, shamrock
following In way to give the impression
that she had no objection to giving Britain
mia a slight lead. The latter, however,
did not long maintain the advantage.
It. was g. dead heat to windward, and
little distance was covered before Sham
rock, which started on the short leg to
port, overhauled her, and on the following
long leg to stsrboard Shamrock forged
ahead rapidly. It was at once noticed
that she was sailing nearly hall point
nearer the wind than Britannia. Sham
rock was carrying her mainsall jib-
headed, topsail, lib and foresail. Britannia
carried the same canvas. but, in addition,
her clubtopsaIl. Shamrock was half @
mile aheadrpassing Warner.
Hogarth was at the helm OF the cup chal-
Ienger. The boat held up admirably, and
there was not drop Of water adeck. She
proved extremely quick IN putting about.
only taking ten and ne.half seconds.
On rounding the Nab Llghtshtp both
back.
The only mishsp Of the day was that
when shamrock's sail began to fll the top
caught in the crosstrees. The huge cap-
vas hopped fat, and then suddenly burst,
like a'balloon, and big rent became WIS.,
,ible In the upper part, where long strip
had been torn out, leaving hole big
enough for man to crawl through.
Shamrock's speed naturally suffered
Both boats soon set their topsalls, and
later their balloon foresails. The yachts
jibed to port near Ryde. They were then
travelling at such q rate that the press boat.
going ata'speed Of eleven knots, was un-
able to keep the pace with Shamrock,
though the wind lightaned considerably at
ter leaving the Nab Lightship.
Britannia appeared to be holding her
own for short spell. before she reached
Ryde, but Shamrock again crept slowly
ahead widening the gap.
one. Both yachts, under cloud OF canvas,
were gliding on even keels. ..,s -.
As: the Shamrock rounded Old Castle
Point and came into full view Of tho
crowds on the Cowes esplanade, she had
all sails full! set. showing an immense
stretch Of canvas and affordlng splendid
sight, which drew hearty cheers from the
assembled spectators.
The wind freshened after passing Cowes,
and both boats took In their spinnakers and
started on the broad reach to the Solent
back, finishing with short tack to make
the home mark.
The cortseted times at the finish were:
Shamrock, 3.4a.50; Britannia, 4.0o.15. The
times passing the buoy on the Solent bank
we're: Shamrock, 3.15.46; Britannia, 3.25 .04.
Both yachts were admirably handled, but
the Shamrock had clear advantage
throughout.
The result Is considered most satisfac-
tory to Sir Thomas Upton and others who
are anxious to see the Americas Cup re-
turn to this country. Mr. Fife and Mr..
Jameson we're on board Shamrock, but Sir
Thomas Upton followed on board the Erin,
which, with few yachts and one solitary
but crowded excursion steamer, escorted
the racers around the course.
,Ou the actual difference In the times OF
Shamrock and Britannia at the finish OF
the race, 1t does not appear that Shamrock
has great chance Of winning the Ameri-
ca'si Cup. These signs, however, may be
deceptive.
It was the opinion Of those who closely
watched the race from the steamer follow
ing the yachts that Shamrock was never
pushed to her utmost In the trial, and that
Mr.. File, the designer OF the yacht, who
practically engineered the contest on be-
half Of Sir Thomas Upton, merely desired
to ascertain whether Shamrock could show
Britannia a clean pair Of heels. He had
no desire, however, to let every one into
the secret OF the actual merits or best
onaad ~ tho chatlan0 oar