The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-19
Shamrock Easily Defeats the Prince
Of Wales Yacht.
Shows Her Heels to the Royal Graft In an
Excellent Wind for Racing.
In Actual Differences Of Times at
the Various Points, and at the
Finish, It Does Not Appear That
the Foreign Racer Has Much of
a Chance Of Winning the Cup
So Long Held in America.

the Foreign Racer Has Much of
Chance of Winning the Cup
So Long Held in America.
SOUTHAMPTON, July 1S-There was
much excitement on the Solent to-day
over the Britannia-S Shamrock race.
From early morning crowds watched
the preparations on board both yachts,
while the whole fleet from Southamp
ton, CoweS and other points made for
Ryde. The scene at Ryde pier was
most animated Long before the start
crowds of fashionable visitors had ar
rived.
The Shamrock was towed from
Southampton, the Erin following with
Sir Thomas Upton and a distinguished
company. The weather was hot and
slightly hazy, with slight southeast
breeze, which promised to last through
the day. The course was from Ryde
pier head eastward around the Nab
lightship, leaving it on the starboard
hand; then back past Cowes to a buoy
on the Solent bank, rounding the buoy
on the starboard and finishing at
Cowes, opposite the Royal Yacht
Squadrons house. 1t is about forty
miles long.
The Prince of Wales arrived at
Southampton at II o'clock, wearing a
yachting suit, and boarded the Britain
mia from the yacht Fire Queen, on
board of which he left Southampton.
The yachts started punctually at II
o'clock with a fresh southeast breeze
blowing. The Shamrock had the best
of the start, but on the first tack the
Brittania get to the weather side and
led. On the next tack, however, the
Shamrock got the weather beam, and,
sailing closer to windward than the
Britannia, got we'll to the windward
and was three-quarters of mile ahead
within half an hour after the start.
The Shamrock passed Warner at
12:36:13 and the Britannia at 1:06:20.
The Shamrocks spinnaker tore badly
when being set for the run back.
The Shamrock passed Ryde pier at
l :54:3O, and the Britannia at 2:02:3O.
AS the Shamrock rounded Old Castle
Point and came into full view of the
crowds on the Cowes esplana1e abe
had all sails full set, showing an i'm
mense stretch of canvas and affording
splendid sight, which drew hearty
cheers from the assembled spectators.
The yacht passed the Royal Yacht
Squadron's house, going westward, the
Shamrock at 2:40:27 and the Britain
MIA at 2:51:OO
The Shamrock won easily. arriving
at the finish line at $4,000. The
Britannia finished the course II min
utes behind the challenger for the
Americas cup.
Both yachts We're admirably han
died, but the Shamrock had a clear
advantage throughout. She gained on
every tack to windward.
The corrected times at the finish
were: Shamrock 3:43:5O, Britannia
4:0O:15. The time of passing the buoy
on the Solent bank were: Shamrock
3:15:45, Britannia 3:25:04.
POOR CHANCE FOR SHAMROCK.
COWES (Isle of WighD, July 1S.-On
the actual difference in the times of
the Shamrock and Britannia at thu
various points and the times at the
finish Of to-day's races, it does not ap.
pear that the Shamrock has a great
chance of winning the Americas cup
These signs, however, may be de,
ceptive. 1t was the opinion of those
who closely watched the race from the
steamer following the yachts, that the
Shamrock was never pushed to her ut
most in to-day's trial, and that Mr.,
Fife, the designer of the yacht, who
practically engineered the contest ON
behalf of Sir Thomas Upton, merely
desired to ascertain whether the Sham
rock could show the Britannia a clean
pair of heels. He had no desire, he
said, however to let everybody into the
secret of the actual merit or best speed
of the challenger.
Confirmation of the foregoing opinion
is found in the fact that while the Brit
ANNA carried every possible stitch of
canvas, the Shamrock was running be-
fore the wind from the Nab lightship
to the Solent bank buoy and had her
jib headed with the topsail instead of
the club topsail. like the Britannia, and
that on the broad reach home from the
Solent buoy, the Shamrock lowered her
jib topsail, which would have been or
material assistance had her skipper
really wished to show her at her best.
The fresh breeze that was blowing
y,
vived sufficiently to bring the racers
home at spanking pace, anG proved
an excellent wind from the racing point
of view, as it enabled the cracks to be
tested as to three points, namely, beat
ing to windward, running and reaching.
The Shamrock showed to the best ad.
vantage beating to windward. and
gained six minutes on the Britannia
on the eight-mile beat to the Nab light
ship from the start, although beating
is considered one of the Britannia .
strong points. On the run back to Cowes
the Shamrock's gain was less percept-
ible, but she did not set her club top,
sail and so did not do her best. On the
reach home the Shamrock did better
and could evidently have gone the dis.
lance in much shorter time if she had
been put on her mettle.
The Shamrock is decidedly the fastest
boat ever launched in these waters. No
other craft ever gave the Britannia
such beating on fair sailing trial.
There was considerable maneuverine
of the yachts before the start, and the
opinion was freely expressed that tho
Shamrock did not appear to be SO well
handled as the Britannia, which was
in the hands of the veteran Carter. who
skippered her successfully against the
Vigilant in 1894. The Britannia was