The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-19
SHAMROCK WON.
She Outsailcd the Old Challenger at
Every Point.

Southampton. July iS.--There was
much excitement OH the Solvent over the
Britannia -Shamr~.::s' race. From early
morning crowds watched the prerara
tions ON board both yachts. while the
whole fleet from Southampton, Cowes
and other points made for Ryda. The
scene at Ryda Pier WAS most animated.
Long before the start crowds of fashion
able visitors had arrived.
The course sailed was about forty
miles.
Both yachts were admirably handled.
but the Shamrock had IL clear advantage
throughout She gained at every tack
To windward.
The correct times at the finish were:
Shamrock, 3:43:50; Britannia. 4:00:15.
COMMENTS On, THE RACE.
Cowes Isle of Wight July 1S.-On the
difference in the times Of tIle Shamrock
and britannia at the various points and
the tinieSat the finish to todays race It
does not appear that the Shamrock has
Il great chance of winning the America s.
crp. These signs, however. may be de-
certive. 1t was the opinion of those who
closely watched the race from the steam.
er following the yachts that the Slan-
rock was never pushed to her utmost in
todays trial and that Mr. Fife. the de-
signer of the yacht, who practically en-
gineercd the contest on behalf OF Sir
Thomas LEIGHTON merely desired To as
certain whether the Shamrock could
show the Britannia clean pair of heels.
He had no desire. however. to let every
one into the secret of the actual merits
or best speed of the challenger. Con
nrmation of the foregoing opinion is
found in the fact that while the Britannia
carried every possible stitch of canvas.
the Shamrock was running before the
wind from Nab Lightship to the Solent
Bank buoy and only had her lib headed
with the topsail instead of the club top
sail like the Britannia. and that on the
bread reach home from the Solent buoy
the Shamrock lowered her jib topsail,
which would have been Of material as,
sistance had her shippers really wished to
show her at her best.
The shamrock is decidedly the fastest
boat ever launched in these waters. No
other craft ever gave the Britannia such
Il beating on a fair sailing trial There
was considerable manouvering of the
'"'ntS peitfe iite start. ana tlp opinion
was freely expressed that the Shasnrock
dld not appear to be so we'll handed as
the Britannia which was in the hands of
the veteran Carter. who skippered her
successfully against the Vigilant in 1884.
1he Britannia was sailed beauti
fully and excited general admiration
among the immense crowds of fashiona-
bic people who witnessed the return of
the boats from every point of vantage.
POSTLEY'S OPINION.
New York. July 1S.-Commodore Clar-
ence y. Postley. of the schooner Cololii;l.
said when he heard Of the Shamrock's
victory:
Il don't attach much Importance to
the Shamrock's performance 1t is. of
course. good for the first trial of Il new
boat. hut You mast remember that tie
Navahoc has beaten the Britannia. the
Nigllant has beaten the Navahoe and
the Defender can beat them both more
than that number of minutes over the
same course. to say nothing of what
the Columbia will do with the Defender
when she is tuned up. No, | should say
that to win the America $ Cop the Sham
rock Will have to beat the Britannia
more than thirty minutes over a course
of that length