The Penn's Grove record., 1899-07-21

The Challenger Was Sixteen Minutes and
twenty-five Seconds Ahead at the
Finish shamrock's Sailing Powers
Were Not Exerted to the Utmost-Her
Chances to Win the Cup.
SOUTHAMPTON (By C~able).-The first trial
race between Shamrock and Britannia re.
suited in a victory for the cap challenger,
which won easily, beating Britannia by
sixteen minutes aud 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 fleet from
Southampton, Cowes and other points
made for Ryde. TIL scene Mt Ryde Pier
was most animated. Long before the start
crowds OF fashionable visitors had arrived.
As the starting gun doomed Britannia
Immediately crossed the line, Shamrock
following In u way to give the impress ion
that she had no objection to giving Britain
mia a slight lead, The latter, however,
did not long maintain the advantage.
1t was a dead heat to wiDdward, 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 starboard Shamrock forged
ahead rapidly. 1t was at once noticed
that she was sailing nearly halt a point
nearer the wind than Britannia. Sham
rock was carrying her mainsall jib-
headed, topsail, jb and %foresail. britannia
carried the same canvas, but, In addition,
her c%lubtopsail. Shamrock was half a
mile ahead passing Warner.
Hogarth was at the helm of the cup chal-
lenger. The boat held up admirably, and
there was not a drop OF water adeck. She
proved extremely quick in putting about,
only taking ten and one-half seconds.
on rounding the Nab LIghtship both
yachts set their spinnakers for the run
back.
The only mishap of the day was that
when Shamrock's sail began to fill the top
caught in the erosstrees. The huge can
vas Topped fat, and then suddenly burst,
like a balloon, and n big rent became Wis
ible In the upper part, where a long strip
had been torn out, leaving a hole big
enough for a man to crawl through.
Shamrock's speed naturally suffered
somewhat from this accident.
Both boats soon set their topsails, and
later their balloon foresails, The yachts
iibed to port near Ryde. They we're then
travelling at such a rate that the press boat,
going at a speed of eleven knots, was I'M
able to keep the pace with Shamrock,
though the wind lishtened considerably af-
ter leaving the Nal Lightship.
Britannia appeared to be holding her
own for a short spell before she reached
Ryde, but Shamrock again crept slowly
ahead widening the gap.
The scene at this time was an insplriting
one. Both yachts, undera cloud OF canvas,
were gliding on even keels.
As, the Shamrock rounded Old Castle
Point and came into full view Of the
crowds on the Cowes esplHnador she mad
all sails full set, showing an immense
stretch of canvas and affordlng q spleud,d
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
buoy. After jibing around they reached
back, finishing with a short tack to make
the home mark.
The corrected times at the finish were:
Shamrock, 3.43. so: Britannia, 4.00.l5. The
times passing the buoy on the Soient bank
were: Shamrock, 3.l5.45; Britannia, 3.25 "a.
Both yachts we're admirably handled, but
the Shamrock had u clear advantage
throughout.
The result Is considered most s~atisfac-
tory to Sir Thomas Upton and others who
are anxious to see the Americas Cup re-
turn to this country. Mr.. File and Mr.
Jameson wero on board Shamrock, but Sir
Thomas Upton followed on board the Erin,
which, with a few yachts and one solitary
but crowded excursion steamer, escorted
the racers around the course.
Gu the actual difference in the times OF
Shamrock and Britannia at the finish OF
the race, 1t does not appear that Shamrock
has a great chance OF winning the Ameri-
ca'si Cup. These signs, however, may be
deceptive.
1t 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, aud 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 snow
Britannia a clean pair of heels. He mad
no desire, however, to let every one into
the secret OF the actual merits or best
speed OF the challenger.