Evening star., 1901-09-26
Rounds Stake Boat Slightly Ahead
Of Shamrock.
NOW RUNNING HOME BEFORE WIND
Shamrock Seems to Be Gaining at
Latest Report.
BULLETINS FROM RACE

NEW YORK. September 26.-wfth a brill
| liant autumn sun and a piping breeze the
| first day of the international yacht races
| opened with every promise of perfect con-
ditions of wind and weather After blow
| ing half gale nearly all night the north
east breeze subsided trifie at sunrise and
| at O'Clock both Sandy Hook and the
Highlands of Navesink reported that It 10
still blowing at eighteen knots. II had
swept away every vestige of mist or maze
and the Long Island shore was visible from
| the Jersey coast
The sea, however, was quite rough and
| heavy surf was pounding on the beach at
Sandy Hook OF the Sandy Hook lightship
little feet of pilot boats was scudding
| about under reef mainsail, while two OF
| three tramp steamers bound out tumbied
| badly in the heavy seas.
Remembering how the breeze fell yester-
| day, however, from a half gale in the early
| morning to light six knots at o'clock,
the weatherwise were inclined to place only
faint faith in the early morning conditions
On board the challenger and defender
every one was early astir. About 6 o'clock
the launch from the Columbia's tender nut
some sailors aboard the yacht, and they fin
lshed up the work they began yesterday Of
polishing off the side paint Shortly after
O'Clock the Shamrock's crew was put
aboard from the Porto Rico and went to
work stripping the protecting canvas from
the boom and bowsprft and putting the
forward sails in stops. In the meantime
the Columbia's crew had gone to breakfast
and the boat was deserted for about an
hour. On board the two tenders all was
excitement and preparation.
Shamrock Wanted stfn Breeze.
On the Porto Rico, where the sailors Of
the Shamrock are quartered. the men were
confident No NJ ~,
If it continued. was in their favor Fif-
teen to seventeen knots, they said, was
what they wanted. BY o'clock the full
crews of both yachts were aboard and
| every man was as busy as a bee.
by $40 o'clock both boats had gotten
their 1ibs and staysails in stops and laid
their spinnakers ready to break. The big
club topsails also were made ready and
lne covers taken of the mainsails. The
bedding and personal belongings of the
watch were taken from both yachts and
sent aboard their tenders, and by haIf-past
o'clock it seemed IL everything was
ready for start.
No changes Were made in the principal
sails. The Shamrock ii has the same
mainsail bent that she used in the sauall
off Sandy Hook last week, and the CO.
lumbta's mafnSan is the same one which
she tried last Saturday on Long Island
sound.
Captain Sycamore walked the deck of the
Shamrock for about fifteen minutes, anx-
iously looking seaward. Captain Barr Of
the Columbia, with his mate, Miller, did ex-
actly the same thing.
At the challengers main truck a brand
new Shamrock flag was flying. The Co.
lumbia flew only a small wind pennant
At $50 the crew of the Columbia went
below and appeared minute later wear
ing clean white working suits and watch
caps of black and yellow, z. ID. Morgau's
co1ors. The Shamrock's men are wearing
white navy hats with their white suits.
Sir Thomas Upton Admires His Boat.
On board the Erin Sir Thomas Upton and
his guests turned out early, and from tho
quarter deck closely watched the prepara-
tions on both the racing yachts. Standing
with Mr.. Jameson and Designer Watson,
Sir Thomas said:
THAT boat" motioning toward the Sham
rock II, ''is perfectly fit. If she does not
win 1t won't be because she has not been
given every attention"
z. d. Morgan went on board the Column
bia from the tender Park City at few
minutes before o'clock, Manager Jameson
and Designer Watson reaching the Sham
rock at about the same time. At e:05 the
Columbia slipped her mooring and was
taken in tow by the tug Flint. A moment
later the Shamrock was taken in tow by
the Lawrence. Going at full speed the
Flint with the cup defender passed the
point of the Hook at 9:12, heading for
Sandy Hook lightship. At that hour the
wind had decreased slightly and was blow
ing at sixteen knots from the northeast
As the Columbia passed the Hook several
Of the official boats went by her, but at
that hour few vessels of the great excur-
sion fleet had appeared and the racers had
the waters practically to themselves.
The Victor. with the guests of Sir
Thomas Upton arrived at the Hook about
9:40. and the party aboard was transferred
to the Erin. which Immediately started af-
ter the Shamrock.
1t had been Sir Thomas Lpton's inten-
tion to sail in the races on board the Sham
rock, but this morning he concluded that
his leg, which is still lame from a recent
fall, would prevent his taking an active
part in the management of the boat so he
remained on the Erin.
On board the Shamrock were W. Butler