The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-19
SHAMROCK'S FAST SAILING.
GOES FIFTEEN MILES TO WINDWIRD
AND BACK IN 3 hours 30 MINUTES.

60 within Three Miles of the Yacht
The Shamrock sailed fifteen miles to wind
ward and return yesterday. off Sandy Hook. In
hours and 80 minutes. The wind at the
start was about eight knots an hour. hut II
continued to freshen 80 that at the finish II
was blowing about fourteen knots The sea
was smooth. The time has been beaten only
once in Cup race. The Vig!ant on Oct. ID,
1903, sailed over the course In hours "a
minutes and 30 seconds. and the Valkyrie's
time was hours 26 minutes and So seconds.
This race was sailed in strong breeze and
there was quite n sea on. The yachts when
going to windward carried only working top
sails. The Valkyrie led to tho windward
mark and on tho run home she lost her spin :
maker. The Vigilant sent her spinnaker up.
too. for the run home.
The trial OF the Shamrock yesterday was re-
Rarded as very salts factory by those who are
In charge Of the yacht and 1t showed that she
is getting into racing trim The beat out to
the windward mark was made in ? hours aud
20 seconds On the way home tho wind hauled
80 that her spinnaker had to be taken in and 1t
was broad reach The elapsed time on the
homeward journey was 1 hour and IA min utes.
or at the rate OF nearly twelve knots an hour.
The Cup challenger was towed out from
the Horse Shoe shortly after 10 o'clock in
the morning by the tug James A. Lawrence.
On her way out to the ightshp the mainsail
was hoisted and the club topsail sent up. She
carried the cross-cut sail that has been used In
her former trials. The new club topsail Is not
quite so largo as those used last week. but still
is very largo piece OF canvas. The lib and
fore staysail we're in stops. and when the club
topsail had been set the tow line was cast of
and these sails broken out. This was done at
IL O'Clock. and the yacht was then about half n
mile north of the Scotland Lightship. with the
Erin following in her wake.
Sir Thomas Upton remained on the Erin
with Designer Fife. preferring to watch the
performance OF the yacht from that point.
The wind then was from the southeast ard
was blowing about ak knots. 1t had fresh
ensd little after the yacht left the Horse
Shoe and there was promise Of a nice wind
later on. The Shamrock reached to the light
ship and then sailed about there waiting for
the Erin to give the signals for the start. At
IL 40 o'clock the Erin was south OF the light
ship. and the Lawrence was sent off to log the
course. fifteen miles southeast.
At the preparatory signal the Shamrock stood
In toward the shore for few minutes. then
tackled and went for the line. AS the starting
signal was sounded Capt. Hogarth shot the
yacht over. tho crew breaking out the baby lib
topsail as she crossed. Sheets were nattened
the port tack. The breeze was about eight
knots. She heeled slightly under its force and
went through the water at a rapid rate. 1t
was evidently a trial to see how much could be
got out OF the boat. for all the crew were gath
cred along the windward rail. Capt. Hogarth
sailed the yacht with good full and did not
try to pinch as close to the wind as he might
have done He was holding the yacht about
four points or
"a RI tail nplv n hnr nd At
few minutes before noon the Shamrock tackled
to starboard and headed in toward the shore.
seconds from fllI to fuil. The malnsal. WSieh
had been retrimmed a little since the yacht
was out last, set as perfectly as usual. but the
wrinkles on the Iutr which were probably due
start. This tack was held until y Fl o clock.
Then the ;rS Shamr9Gk lacked to- port heading on
and yacht Vent asr throueh tho wster
She heeled more than in. the previous trials
and her rail WAS almost, down to the waters
big riR the wind has been light and she has
stood w, very well under the pressure, but yes
would have done II she had been sailing by her
At, l2:45 O'Clock the Shamrock tackled to
starboard and was again standing In toward
every minute. blowing at about fourteen knots.
There was some spots Of foam on the waves,
ocean swell. The Shamrock went throug h the
water as easily as ever, There was the usual
appearance OF being rail under but there was
no following wave. and very little wake after
20 o'clock she went to port. and after sailing
on TINS tack ter twenty minutes , she went
mark and at once tackled Then she turned
the tugboat, Lawrence, at 2;lQ O'Clock. The
ftteen-mile beat had taken her 2 hours and IS
AS she rounded the boom was eased of to
starboard and the spinnaker pole was lowered
pole out. and when ali was ready the spinal
was holsted from the lower deck through a
hatchway and set flying, 1t shot up In the air
quickly hauled outboard. and In less than
minute after rounding It was drawing well.
seemed heavy and lifeless in spite OF the fresh
breeze. under the influence Of which she ought
it aa been ss .p:d sss
hauling. and At 2:3o, o clock the spianaker was
The wind had gone to the south. southeast
making max It a 6road reach e home, This Is the
at once increased her speed SO that the press
tug could not keep up with hor; She seemed
f. ny f9THush fhs and the
1t was estimated that three miles had been
sailed with the spinnaker in sixteen minutes,
trimmed 10 a little in fifty eight minutes The
time for the tittesn miles was ! hour and IA
OF at lne rate OF q traction better
than twelve knots an hour.
Capt. Roberts OF A Battery. Fifth Artillery,
had detachments of A and G Batteries at Fort
Hancock yesterday. firing 1O-inch rapid fire
gun, Tho lye shots were fired at range
Of about 4 200 yards. There was delay OF an
hour during the firing. while a schooner beat
Ing down the coast got out OF range. Capt
Roberts said last night that the Shamrock was
not in range ut anytime, and that his shells all
fell over three allies inside Of her course The
shells were fred at such an elevation that they
did not ricOchct.
At the time that this practice was goin on
some Shots from the Sandy Hook proving
ground were fred. and II was said last night
that one OF them went within three miles OF
the Shamrock, which was turning near the
cotland ldghtship. The shot was ired to the
north OF the Lightship and outside OF it,
The afternoon yellow journals made a sem
sational story OF the shooting saying that a
shot dropped 80 yards from the ShamrocE
One Of the yellows told how the spray caused by
the shot falling into the water splaShad on the
deck OF the yacht.
,Nness something unforeseen happens the
Shamrock will be drydocked in the Erie Basin
on Sept %. All the details are carefully
guarded but 1t is known that Designer Fife
Will superint tend the docking OF the boat per-
eonaily instead OF the veteran and experienced
dockmaster. John McGilvery. No credence is
given at the yard to the story that the Sham
rock will be docked in 'petticoats," as the
phrase Is. The day is selected In order 70
nVpi1 thu crowd yvb inc,