Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-05-10
THE FIRST M|SHAP.
Shamrock Il Disabled in SouaII
While Racing Shamrock l..
Shows HerselfFaster Than Old ChaI-
|enger in Heavy Weather.
Radical and Important Changes in Plan Of
Rigging Constitution.

Southampton, May 9.-The Go-mile
racing trial of Shamrock l and sham
rock III from Southampton water to
Weymouth was suddenly terminated
| Oft the Needles by bad scuall. during
which the gan topsail yard of the new
| challenger was carried away and fer
gaff .crumpled up. She was forced to
abandon the contest and returned to
southampton in tow of the Erin, for
icpaics.
Tie accident was primarily due to
the carrying away of a heavy back
stay. a block of which fell and struck
the deck at Sir Thomas Lipton's feet
Had the block fallen a foot nearer Sir
Thomas Upton would probably have
been killed.
At the start, today, both yachts turn
ed out for the first time in fun racing
trim, having the biggest club topsails
set over their full lower canvas and
also carrying jb topsails. Tho Erin
from Off Cowcs sent off the yachts at
PA L. NJ. the Shamrock II having
three lengths the better of the start
They reached off with the wind just
forward of the beam.
Shamrock IFS mainsaiI was setting
better than on her previous trials and
She began at once to draw out her lead.
The canvas of Shamrock was draw
ing beautifully and she went well on
the reach. but was not quite able to
hold the new challenger. Passing the
East I.eps buoy. two miles from the
start, the Shamrock I was about one
minute astern of the Shamrock III.
The wind came in n few hard squalls
while the yachts sailed the next mile
ana half to West Lcps buoy. ana the
Shamrock II proved herself wonder
fully we'll able to stand up to her can
vas. The timing taken ut West Leps
showed the Shamrock III 10 be- minute
and 10 seconds ahead OF her cOmpeti-
tor and in the next four miles the chal-
lengcr increased this lead to > minutes
ami Is seconds.
At this time n thick black thunder
Equall came diving off the Iamp-
shire coast and the two yachts We're
soon racing along with their lee rails
hidden in n smother of foam. The chal-
lengar sailed out Of the "quall but the
Shamrock l carried it longer and closed
uD rapidly. on Hurst Castle. only !
minute aud 81 seconds separated the
two yachts.
Another ana much fie"ccr squall then
came sweeping along. The laoinG Of
Shamrock Is tofTsail started and the
sail was half lowered and the Sham
rock lis boom was run square off.
When the squall struck. the challenger
went racing along with every rope and
spar straininS and her boom lifting
high under her bellying mainsail The
scuall blew at the rate of about 90
knots an hour and the Erin, doing a
good Is knots. was unable to keep up
with the racers.
While the squat was blowing its
worst, the backstay block broke and
dropped The main mast was thus left
without support aft and swayed omin-
ously and the cutter plunged into the
seas Then from aloft came Il tearing
and rending sound The topsail yard
had broken. AS this big sail fell on the
saff, that spar. which is built OF mol
low steel plates. crumpled up six feet
from the rest and collapsed. AS soon
as possible the wreckage was cleared
away and the disabled cutter was TAX
en- back to Southampton. The Dennys
have new gaff nearly ready.
In this afternoons trial the challenE
er sailed IL miles in hour and 10 min
utes. 1t is expected that the next Hial
race will take place, Saturday.