Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-11
OLD BOAT WON OUT
Shamrock III Lost on Time
Allowance.
GAVE TEN MIN u ES
FIRST REAL TRIAL UNDER RAG
ING CONDITIONS.
We TEN MIN U TES
New Yacht Did Not Do Satisfactory
Work While Reaching-Fouled
by Steam Yacht.

WEYMOUTH. April 1.-THE first contest
today of the challenger for the America s
cup. under actual racing conditions, was
distinctly disappointing to those who exult-
ed so much at the results of the preliminary
trials. The Shamrock 1 won on her handi-
cap allowance, the new craft only beating
her six and half minutes over course
thirty-four miles long. On the first half of
the course the challenger outsailed the
older boat handsomely, but in the fresher
wind, on the second turn, she little more
than held her own. This was only partially
explained by fiuke of wind which favored
the Shamrock I and enabled her to gain
considerable ground on the second beat
The course of the first real contest between
the two Shamrocks under strict racing con-
dtions was altered today to one of thirty
four miles. instead of forty-two miles, as
announced yesterday The starting line
was off Portland, thence easterly to a
mark off Lulworth Cove and back across
the mouth of Weymouth bay to a mark off
Portland and thence home, twice around
The handicap allowance of the Shamrock
l was not officially declared prior to the
start. but it was understood to be ten min
utes.
fine fresh west-southwest breeze, of
sufficfent strength to cause the yachts un-
der club topsails to heel over and make
fast sailing, blowing as the two Sham
rocks maneuvered for position.
Jockeying at the Start.
During this jockeying the Shamrock III
proved both faster and handler and Capt
Wringe had easily the best of the start
The preparatory signal was given at 9:55
am; am and Just before the starting gun was
fired at 10 o'clock both yachts stayed by
the outer mark boat The Shamrock 1
being to the weather of the challenger
Grew out and was two or three lengths
ahead as they bore away for the run
The starting times were:
Shamrock III, 1O:OOOS.
Shamrock /, 10:OO:23
The yachts quickly squared away, set
spinnakers and the new boat immediateiv
opened out. constantly increasing her lead
from her opponent they ran towards
Lulworth Cove. The wind remained fresh
and steady and the racers made exceIlent
sailing as they ran across on the first leg
OF the course. The Shamrock 1 followed
dead In the wake of the cup challenger but
was quite unable to hold her. the Sham
rock III spinning out bigger lead all the
time. In twenty minutes running the chaI-
lenger gained two minutes. The times off
White Nose were:
Shamrock III. 1O:22:3O
Shamrock I. 1O:24:35.
Throughout the rest Of the run the new
boat continued to prove that she was
much faster than the older boat down the
Cove mark were:
Shamrock III 1O:4o:O3
Shamrock l. 1O:42:55
Shamrock I Fouled.
The Shamrock 1 was fouled by a steam
yacht when half way through the second
run to Lulworth cove. Her spinnaker
ooom and the steam yachts bowsprit were
Doth carried away, but the Shamrock 1
escaped other injury and continued the
race. The accident was of little disadyan-
tage, as the Shamrock HIS spinnaker was
Immediately doused in order to make the
conditions even:
Dropping their spinnakers the boats luff-
ed ana came the wind he hao 10
Wlndward across the bay toward Portland
A couple of long boards were sailed and
the challenger. going handsomely, lifted to
wtndward through the smooth water Re-
fore they had gone half way to the mark
the Shamrock III was a mile ahead and
dead to windward.
The breeze freshened little and both
yachts travelled at a fine pace, the chal-
lenger apparently reveling in the stronger
wind.
When they turned the mark off Portland
the Shamrock III had lead of over six
minutes on less than twelve miles sailing
The times at the Portland mark were:
Shamrock III, II 1920
Shamrock T. IL :46.35
Thence a broad, easy reach brought the
boats home, and on this point of sailing
the Shamrock held her opponent we'll
The 1rst round was finished as follows:
Shamrock Ill, 11:571S
Shamrock /, 12:03.23
The challengers showing on the reach
was distinctly disappointing. On the sec
ond run down the wind to the Lulworth
Cove mark the old boat had somewhat of
an advantage by bringing up a fresher
breeze, and the Shamrock III was only
able to make a minute and a half between
the marks. The timings at Lulworth Cove
were:
Shamrock III, 12:41.5S
Shamrock /, 12:493O.
Some Sea Encountered.
With only a beat to the mark off Port
land and reach home to sail the chal-
lehSer had sull two and a half minutes
handicap against her. The yachts had
hard wind and some sea during the heat
and both laid down handsomely to their
work with lee rails under
In beating for the mark off Portland Can
tain Wringe did not appear to drive his
boat SO keenly as he had DONE He kent
pinching her into every eye of the wind
while the Shamrock 1, although dropping
to leeward. gained distinctly The hard.
enlng wind suddenly drew round a cople
OF points and gave the Shamrock the only
luke OF the day. She was far down to lee
ward but under the favoring breeze wiped
out considerable of the new boats lead
Wringe then started to drive the chal
lenger again, but at the mark boat Off
Portland she had lost a minute and q hair
OF her previous lead. The timings were:
Shamrock III, $3.50; Shamrock I 10 40
On the three mile reach home the cha1
lenger was sailed for all she was worth
and on the leg on which the Sha fnrock
had held her even during the first round
the Shamrock III on this occasion gained
half a minute.
The finishing times were: Shamrock TIT
1:4s:3S; Shamrock l 1:55:O9