The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-23
RELIANCE SWEPT OVER LINE,
 WINNER BY NINE MINUTES

| Snamrock minutes seconds.
 The net result of the race shows that.
 her own uithe windwara work and had been beaten more than 5 1-2 minutes to | leeward.
 l At Sandy Hook Bay all was, activity and hustle on board the racing craft as early as 6 o'clock, and the prospect oi fast racing seems to imbue the men with more life. Before o'clock both boats had put their jibs and staysails in stops and taken the covers off their :nainsails while the captains and mates of each boat had been aboard and inspected | blocks and tackles. The sun burned away the early morning fog and showed a clear sky. except for the fieecy bits of cloud to windward which gave indication that the wind would keep up during the | day.
 I At S:30 o'clock the wind was blowing at fully twelve miles an hour from the I southwest and with no sign of abatement or change of direction. This would ay | the course down the Jersey coast close into shore and the wind not abating would get the race off within three hours. At S:55 Reliance In tow of her tender left the Hook for the start. Shamrock followed her few minutes later. After Reliance had rounded the Hook she set up her club topsail. Reliance at 9:S0 dropped the tow and started down the coast.
 Reliance seemed to have trouble in her club topsail and sailor was in her shrouds trying to remove the difficulty. She signaled her tender and was again taken in tow which she did not drop un- til she had arrived at the nghtship. By 10 o'clock both yachts had arrived in the vicinity of the starting line and had set all the sails which they intended to carry across the line. By this hour the first of the excursion feet had begun to appear. The wind steadily increased and the wind gauge showed that the yachts would have whole-sail breeze of about ten knots an hour to start with Owing to the direction of the wind the committee had some difficulty oli decid- ing on the starting points as it was ap- parent that beat to windward of fifteen miles from the lightship was impossible It was finally concluded to make the start several miles to the eastward This change necessitated a delay in the hour set.
 The weather conditions are beautiful and the prospects for finished race are bright.
 The committee boat followed by the racers and the excursion fleet, set out easterly for the new starting point. which was so fixed that course could be laid fifteen miles to windward and return The Navigator at II o'clock finally an- chored at point about six miles due east of the light ship and about eight miles from the Long Island shore south southwest. from Long Beach. The two racers and the excursion fleet soon reach ed the same point and awaited the pre- paratory gun.
 The committee hoisted signaI showing the course to be heat of fifteen miles to windward and return. and the boat making the run set off in the direction or Long Branch where the turning point should be, about six miles of shore
 At ll:SO the preparatory gun was fired ana immediately the two yachts began maneuvering for positions.
 At u:40 a. m. when the warning gun was fired, both boats were to the west ward of the line, standing in-shore Both boats stood at a quarter of a mile to the westward of the line then started and ran down the wind for fifteen seconds when Shamrock gybed. Reliance follow ing with the same maneuvers. Both boats were on the starbcard tack. heading for the line and crossed 1t holding about south, Shamrock about two lengths ahead Of Reliance. which went over the line at the weather end. Some minutes after crossiS<. both yachts broke out baby jib topsails. It looked as if Re- hance had purposely held back from crossing the line in order to cut down
 
 in case she finished first.
 Ten minutes after the start, the yachts were still holding towards the south on the starboard tack and from shore 1t looked as if Reliance was gain ing trifie. The wind which early in the day was from the west-southwest. seemed to be getting more to the south ward and the boats had every oppor- tunity to show what they could do In a beat to windward in a comparatively smooth sea and fifteen-knot wind.
 The contest immediately developed into a close and exciting one, for while Re- liance seemed to pick up and to be to the windward of Shamrock, she was unable to get by. At 12:11 o'clock the American boat swung around on the port tack and headed for the Jersey shore. Shamrock kept on two minutes longer before tack ing to port.
 In the first fifty minutes of racing the contest was so close as to create the most intense excitement among the thousands of spectators on boat and shore. At 12:35 the yachts were still hold ing the port tack, standing toward Sea- bright, but fully eight miles off shore The wind held strong and the yachts had more than they wanted for the sail they were carrying.
 It had looked as if the challenger might squeeze by and get the windward berth Reliance. however, had too much speed, for Shamrock was compelled to tack in order not to be blanketed by her oppon- ent. At 12:52 it looked hs if the American had succeeded in getting the upper hand of the challenger. She was on the star board tack some distance to the weather of Shamrock and Slowly but surely out footing the latter.
 Reliance turned the mark at 1:55:14 and immediately set her spinnaker to port and like huge bird headed straight for the finish line fifteen miles away, and as the wind caught her huge expanse of sail, her quickened pace soon placed her another eighth of mile in the lead.
 Shamrock turned the mark at 1:5S:30, setting her spinnaker to port. She tried to hoist a balloon jib topsail, but 1t seemed to jam halfway up and after a futile attempt to raise it substituted a balloon staysail.
 It is expected that the next race will be sailed on Tuesday,
 Sandy Hook, N. J., Aug. 22.-The Erin steamed into her haven at Sandy Hook after the race with the American flag flying at the mainmast and another at her bow, a tribute to the winner. Sir Thomas Lipton said, with a smile, to the Associated Press correspondent: "We were beaten fairly and squareIy It was splendid weather and Shamrock did not do as well as l had expected it would in the race to windward and return. ap- preciate the splendid manner in which my boat was handled. Reliance is a won derful yacht. My confidence in Sham rock. however. Is not shaken and T hone