Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-28
WHO'S AFRAID?
Shamrock Il Makes the Yachts
mems Eyes Stick Out.
Most Dangerous Proposition That
Has Yet Crossed the Water.
In Perfect Shape. While Constitution Is Sill
Needing Iinkering.

New York, Aug. 21.-Shamrock IL
given good long spin, today, both in
side ana outside the Hook She was
tried III windward work and broad and
close reaching. In fact the challenger
was given everything except a spin
maker run in 2 breeze tfat sometimes
piped up to Il knots and at no time was
under eight. Experts who saw her per-
Torrance call her a wonderful boat
and agree that she is the most danger
Gus proposition that has ever come
hunting fer the America s cup.
The only new sail tried, today, was
her largest clubtopsai. 1t appears
much larger than the topsails on the
Columbia and Constitution. Il extends
further out over the gaft and runs up
higher above the topmasr. il is said
mat the distance from the boot of the
| mast 10 the top of The topsaIl is over
100 feet.
Sir Thomas Upton was aboard dur
of the day was the constant saluting
which the challenger received from
ocean steamers.
AS soon as the yacht passed cut by
the Hook she began to feel the in
IiLcIltt u tIit tdclttIE SNt.lS. soiic lOOh
them nicely, making very little fuss
and pointing wonderfully high. Off the
bell buoy the BABY jibtopsail, which
had been set with the other headsails
was taken in. The yacht began at
once 10 point better and it was found
that even in choppy seas, the yacht
was working within eight points from
full to full-some of the watchers said
in seven and haif points.
At i1.30, the yacht had reached the
north end Of Gedney's where she tack
| ed to port. The breeze had freshened
considerably now and some lively work
was necessary in the short tacks across
the channel. She made six in all. and
| few of them lasted more than min
utes. At 1l43, she fetched out by the
last bouy. just as the big liner Kaiser
Wilhelm Der Crosse. bound out, Salut-
| ed with her deep whistle. Her captain
slowed down and allowed the Sham
| rock to cross her bow. while the pas
sengers crowded to the rail to get a
| glimpse of the handsome green yacht
At l.. o'clock the Shamrock went
about TO starboard. Four minute later
sheets were eased for the run in and
| the way she ran for Sandy Hook rath
er astonisheG those who We're trying to
follow her At the outer end of Ged-
ney's she gybed to starboard and stood
over for the channel
BY I L. NJ, she had reached the
Southwest spirit buoy and then, instead
of hauling up for her mornings as eX-
pected she started for Staten Island
on the starboard tack with the wind
about a point forward of the beam.
There WAS a strong ebb tide, about
three knots, ii was said, but the chal-
lenger stemmed ii easily in the strong
breeze, and kept the Erin going IL
knots to keep up with her.
1t took six tacks to bring her out
through the narrows. and close up to
Cony Island point. From there she
was able to point so high that she
SKINNED by all the West bank buoys,
and fetched the Southwest spirit with
out another tack. Then she picked up
her moOrings.
The Shamrock covered the nine miles
from the Southwest spirit to Owls Head
against the tide of three knots, in 80
minutes. The run back, over the same
course. including six lacks, was done
in 81 minutes.