The times., 1899-07-19
SHAMROCK'S FAST Race
Britannia No Match for the Spright-
ly New Cup Challenger.
In n Eifty-Niic Spin in n Good Sail
ing Breeze the Old Boat Is Beaten
Seventeen Minutes - Upton Sure
His Yacht Could Have Done Better
The Prince of Wales Good Wishes.

Cowes, Isle of Wight, July 1S.-The Rrit-
annia though hitherto the best yacht ever
built in Great Britain. met the worst de-
feat she ever experienced today when she
was pitted against the cup challenger
Shamrock in trial race. The course was
that of the Royal Yacht squadron to the
eastward of the Isle of Wight, the start
being made from Ryde. The distance out
and home was something over fifty miles.
Both boats came to the starting point
under mainsail, jib, staysail, and jack
yard topsail. The Shamrock did not use
the diagonal mainsail she carried Satur-
day when out for a trial spin. The Brit
ANNA, as usual, got to windward at the
start and stood away on the starboard tack
towards Portsmouth The Shamrock cross
ed the line on the port tack a few seconds
after the Britannia crossed. Shortly after
ward the latter went on the port tack ard
crossed the Shamrocks bow. The latter
carried on little further and then vent
about, followed by the Britannia. Both
boats made long board to the eastward.
1t was Eow seen that the Shamrock was
pointing into the wind closer and going
faster than the Britannia. By the time
Noman Fort was reached she had cstab-
lished a considerable lead. After passing
Noman Fort both yachts made number
of short boards for the Nab Lightship.
While engaged in these maneuvers they
ran into heavy haze which rendered them
invisible from the shore.
The Shamrock rounded the Nab to star
board six minutes and eighteen seconds
ahead of the Britannia. Once around the
Nab it was a run back for Noman Fort,
and spinnakers were broken out to star
board On this point of sailing the Sham
rock did not gain as great an advantage
as had been expected from what had been
seen of her work. 1t was thought this
would be her best point, but she only
gained a few seconds in the run. When
Noman Fort was reached she jibed and set
her spinnaker to port. Passing Ryde she
was leading by seven minutes and twenty
five seconds. At Egypt Point she took in
her spinnaker. 1t was now an easy reach
to the Solent buoy, which is about three
miles east of the Lymington buoy. Here
the Shamrock was leading the Britannia
nine minutes and eighteen seconds. From
the Solent buoy it was a close haul for
home and the Shamrock made the Castle
in long and short leg.
The first gun was fired at 1115 o'clock
and the Britannia and Shamrock began
maneuvering for the start. The Shamrock,
which was far to the leeward, crossed the
line at 1905 O'Clock. The Britannia crossed
the line slightly ahead of the Shamrock
and slightly to the windward of her.
1t was close haul to the eastward. The
Britannia made short tack. On the star
board tacks to Portsmouth the Shamrock
made short tack TO port When the boats
went about again they were close together.
the Britannia being TO the leeward. The
Shamrock now seemed to be gaining. She
faS MT her
on the starboard tack toward the Spit and
went about together. The Shamrock
seemed to be pointing much closer than tue
Britannia and showed a good lead. When
the yacht went about at Noman Fort the
Shamrock made a short tack at 1921
O'Clock to round it and then held her
course with long lead.
The Shamrock passed Noman at 1:30
o'clock under cloud of canvas, the largest
spread ever seen here. The Britannia
passed at 1:36:40. Both carried their spin
makers TO the starboard.
After passing Noman both boats made
several short tacks and then disappeared
in the haze. At 1:42 o'clock they were
seen under spinnakers and jib topsails
running for Ryde.
At the Nab the time of the Shamrock
was 12:59:30 and that Of the Britannia
1:05:4S. Both had their spinnakers out
10 tue sLdTDCdru on the run 10 NOlndn.
On rounding both jibed, got their spin
makers to port. and ran to Ryde. which
they passed as follows: Shamrock, POP %;
Britannia, 2:09:40.
The boats then made the running for
Cowes, the Shamrock winning easily,
passing the goal at 3:44:40 o'clock.
The Britannia passed the goal at 1857: :55
o'clock.
The Prince of Wales witnessed the race
on board the Admiralty yacht Fire Queen
He was accompanied by Admiral Sir
Michael Culme-Seymour, Commander-in-
Chief at Portsmouth.
The official finishing time was as fol-
lows: Shamrock, 3:43:5O; Britannia,
4:O0:50.
After the race the Prince of Wales board
ed the steam yacht Erin and congratulated
Sir Thomas Upton upon the Shamrock 5
behavior. In an interview Sir Thomas said
that the Shamrock had not been forced TO
her limit. He instanced the fact that she
did not have her backyard topsail set when
the Britannia was flying hers. She could.
he said. certainly have increased her lead
but he was not prepared to say how much.
Captain Jameson, the Prince of Wales
yachting adviser. says the Shamrock Is the
fastest yacht he has ever seen. During the
race while the Shamrocks spinnaker was
being slackened. it was caught by hal
yard and torn.