The age-herald., 1901-05-14
SHAMROCK TRIAL
 IS DISAPPO|NT ING The Old. Boat Walked Away
 from the Challenger SPORTSMEN DESP0NDENT Lipton's New Boat Will Be Taken Back To the Dock and the Builder
 VIII Try to See What
 Is the Matter.
SP0RTSMEN OESP0NDENT

i Weymouth, May 13-The Erin lowed in both the Shamrocks yesterday fin a hot, hay calm, which gave little promise Of racing weather. The yachts entered in- side the Portland breakwater. During the night fresh easterly breeze piped up, and early this morning it was blowing half a gale and a big white sea was run ming outside
 On the first sign of a lull, sail was made on both yachts The wind was still hard and fresh, and a big sea was running out side, but it was desired to test the yachts in fresh as we'll as fine weather, The | Shamrock l. set her jib header over the full main sail and the challenger followed l suit. Anchors were ftripped shortly be- ' fore midday.
 Weather conditions were all favorable for fair trial with the wind fresh and steady; the course clear of all obstruc- tlons and no tide of any consequence. The Shamrock I. beat Sir Thomas Lip | tons new boat by five minutes and five seconds over triangular course of about twenty miles. The only possible disad- vantage to the challenger was the fact that she used her old main sail, which
 
 | Thursday.
 There was no discoverable holding back of the challenger, although once or twice she pointed such a course as left the sus- picion that the steersman was not talk ing advantage of every chance.
 1t Was Very Disappointing.
 There is no doubt that today's trial was distinctly disappointing to those who had pinned their faith to the new challenger, especially as the Shamrock I, on the pre- Wous- spins. had not shown even quality with the new racer on any point of sail ing with the excepting of running.
 The first leg of the course was from Portland breakwater to the Shambles lghtship; the second to White Nose point and then o.thei point of starting. The old Shamrock had a length the best of the start and held her advantage so well that the challenger was unable to hear her, and the Shambles lightship was rounded by Shamrock l forty seconds ahead of Shamrock II.
 The run to White Nose point was dead to windward. Captain Wringo went over the. course to keep Shamrock I on the weather bow of the new boat, and held all his advantages at the ending of the second mark As the yachts squared away for the home run Shamrock I led | by about a minute. Down the wind the two yachts sailed with jib topsails set, | the old boat adding to her lead through-
 out the six miles and crossing the finish
 line five minutes before the 1901 chal-
 lenger.
 Amateurs on board the challenger were
 inclined to be Respondent over the re-
 suits of today's race. One who holds out
 against this feeling. however, argues | that the conditions of the race were such | that Shamrock I did nothing surprising | in winning.
 An Explanation. | "As it proved in the case of Valkyrie | H." he said, these tremendous booms and gaff5 carried by cup racers over 1 burden them In any press of wind or sea One day on the Clyde, in conditions very similar, the Britania beat Valkyrie l III, although the latter afterwards made the closet fight ever made for the | cup.
 The alterations made in Shamrock I | since her return are just such would relieve her of the worst part of this bur | den. I consider that, had the new chal- lenger's spars been changed in the same manner for today. she would have beaten l the old boat easily while had Shamrock | I been in her American form, she would not have been anywhere in the neighbor- | hood of the line when the challenger | came in. In running and reaching this | shortening of spars was all in favor of Shamrock I, and in going to the wind ward the new yachts sack of sail left | her no chance"
 MT. Watson considers today's results | so unsatisfactory that he has decided off, 1 hand to take the new boat back to South | ampton and have her docked In order to ascertain whether any of the plates were | displaced by the grounding on Dean Bank last week.