The San Francisco call., 1899-07-20
Ea silly Demonstrates
Superiority.
SECOND TEST OF SPEED
CUP CHALLENGER GOES AWAY
FROM HER COMPETITION.
After the Race She Runs Aground on
Bank Off Horses Foot Fort,
but Sustains No Dam
age.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

COWES, July 19-There was beautiful
weather to-day for the trial of the yacht
Shamrock, challenger for the Americas
cup. against the Britannia. There were
big crowds both ashore and afOat to wit
ness the race. The course to-day was
yesterdays course reversed The start
ing point was off the Royal Yacht Squad
ron's house, around the Solent bank buoy,
thence to the Nab lghtshp, finishing at
the spit buoy off Portsmouth.
The Prince Of Wales boarded the Brit
annia shortly before the start. There was
a good southeasterly breeze blowing all
the morning, but II softened considerably
toward the time for the starting Of the
race. Both yachts carried club tOpsails.
A good start was effected at 1912 a m,
the Shamrock crossing the line q half
! length ahead Of her competitor being
very smartIy handled She had new
spinnaker set for the run to the SOlent
bank. Her sails seemed to set better than
yesterday. The breeze almost died out
as the yachts stood along shore and the
boats housed their spinnakers. The boats
then BEADED for the center of the channel
/ to avoid being becalmed on the lee of the
island. Th Britannia followed. There was
but little air. and the yachts practically
drifted during the next half hour. The
I breeze then revived and the Shamrock.
which meanw hile had slightly increased
her Lead. secured A start. widening the
gap that separated her from the Brit
ANNA. and rounded the SOlent bank buoy
o.
buoy at ll:2l:35.
The boats returned cIose-hauled up the
port tack. There was only the faintest
breeze and the Britannia was getting the
better Of it, slightly reducing. the, gap.
Nearing Cowes. however. the breeze
freshened considerably and the beat 10
the Nab lightship promised to show better
time.
The Shamrock passed Ryde. going to-
ward the Nab lghtship, a mile and a half
ahead of the Britannia, and finally won
easily
PORTsMOUTH. July l9.-The yacht
Shamrock grounded off South Sea be
tween Portsmouth harbOr and Langston
harhOr, but was soon tOwed off. 1t does
not appear likely that the challenger sui
fered material damage.
As was the case yesterday, the Sham
rock showed her superiority very soon
after the start was made. Beating TO
windward. she ran away from her Oppo-
I neut to the Nab HghtShip and went
about in ten seconds. the Britannia occu-
pying twelve seconds. The whole per
fOrmanCe again showed that the chal-
Ienger is far ahead of the Britannia. al
though the unfortunate hecalming of the
boats precIuded the finishing of the course
before the Prince OF Wales was obliged to
start for London. The Shamrock was ap-
DarentlY not damaged by the grounding.
The course as originally planned was not
completed. When off South Sea the
Britannia signaled that the Prince of
Wales had an enga cement in London, and
requested that the race be considered
over. as he must return to Portsmouth.
The Shamrock was then twelve or fifteen
minutes ahead. She was Immediately
grounded on bank off Horses Foot Fort.
She remained fast for ten minutes, when
she was safely and easily tOWed off and
back to southampton.