The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-02
THE SHAMROCK WAS HALF
A MILE AHEAD WHEN THE
RACE WAS DECLARED OFF
Columbia Got the Better OF the Start and Was
Leading Till Capt. Sycamore Took Gamblers
Desperate Chance and Fortune Played Into
His Hand==Next Race Will Be Sailed Thursday

/ shifting wind backed again and Barr
got the Columbia Strengthened out, he
was a third of a mile astern.
In this position the two boats rounded
the first mark. the Shamrock three min
'utes and eight seconds before Column
bia or a gain for Shamrock in the beat
to windward. adding the 70 seconds
which Columbia beat her over the line,
of three minutes and 20 seconds.
During the next hour in close reach
for the second mark the yachts were
able to cover about four or five miles
of the remaining 20 and as only 90
minutes then remaining before the ex-
piration of the time limit the race was
declared off
After turning the mark the experts
thought the Shamrock increased her
lead slightly. This gain may, how
ever, be accounted for by the fact that
sail while Columbia was working close to
the wind with small baby jib topsail,
mere handkerchief compared with
Shamrocks larger sail. When the ex-
cursion fleet headed for home the only
real race of the day occurred. 1t was
the race for New York.
Tonight both the Yankee and the
foreigners are praying for good stiff
wind on Thursday when today's race
will be resailed.
Always optimistic, Sir Thomas Lip
ton after the races today was In the
best of spirits. He said: Il really don't
see anything yet on which to base a
definite opinion regarding the two
boats While Shamrock was leading
when the race was called OF, there s
nothing to brag about. Today, while
the winds we're very light there was
little fluking, therein differing from
last Thursdays breezes, which in spots
failed utterly, each boat In turn strik-
ing dead Gains. After the showing
made thus far by both boats should
not hesitate If l were a. betting man to
| lay even money on Shamrock. Both
boats were handled today to the besi
ability of the best men each country
| could produce
Il DON'T think there is a better skip
| per in America than Capt. Charli
Barr Of the Columbia"
Sir Thomas expressed himself as per
sonally in favor of racing every day
provided any suggestion looking t.
that end should be made.
Capt. Bob" Wringer, who stands by
Sir Thomas on the bridge, when aske;
if he considered Shamrock's chances
better. said
II can't say her chances are better
for they were never bad"
When the string of signals was
hoisted on the committee boat indicat-
ing the course, the rival racers were
circling about the lightship performing
nearly every known. variety of marine
manouevre. The Shamrock was
clothed in a brand new suit of light
weather sails, admirably cut and OF
marvellous fit The Columbia. however
was obliged to content herself with
the same old suit that carried her tC
victory on Saturday.
Before the start, the Shamrock
hoisted a tiny jib topsail, perhaps the
smallest ever carried by contestant
in an international cup race. 1t an
swered its purpose capitally as 9
steering sail and proved of great adj
vantage in a day so prolific of fukes
and doldrums.
The preparatory gun was fired al
10:45. GAt that time both yachts were
on the port tack standing to the south
ward, with Shamrock in the lead and
Columbia following in her wake. Ten
minutes later came the bang of the
warning gun and the Columbia, wear
ing sharply around trimmed her sails
on the other tack, Shamrock crossing
her bow. The Columbia took good care
to secure the weather berth. and 10