Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1903-09-01
Sir Thomas is Beginning to Get
Very Impatient
SAYS HIS BUSINESS SUFFERS

wants to Finish Up the Affair and
Get Home-Will Sail Three Days
After 1t Is Over-It Looked During
the Early Morning Hours as Though
the Yachts Might Race.
New York, Sept 1.-As an event in
yachting the International races have
become prolongation of an agony
which all wish to see ended and what
interest remained after the first race
between Reliance and Shamrock III
has gradually disappeared with each
succeeding attempt to race.
The decided superiority of Reliance
over Shamrock demonstrated in the
two races that have been sailed has
left no doubt in the minds Of the world
at large as to the better boat, and the
consequent unsuccessful attempts to
sail the third, and what is looked upon
as surely the decisive race, is but sus-
pense to the Shamrock's supporters
as well as to the American world of
sports.
In yesterdays attempt the tagging
interest was most evident. There
were private yachts to follow the
boats over the course, the excursion
fleet was little more than a small pic
mic party, while the bulletin boards
about the city newspaper offices We're
almost deserted. The third race must
be sailed, however, to carry out the
articles of agreement Of deed of gift
of the Americas cup.
8 The prospects at dawn for a race
were very dubious. but in a few hours
the wind freshened and gave more en-.
coura cement. At o'clock the north
easter which died out SO suddenly was
in evidence to some extent. Three
hours before the time set for the start
the wind was about eight knots.
There was every indication with the
breeze from the northward that the
yachts would be sent on run to lee
ward and a beat home. About 9:15
the wind suddenly began to display its
subtlety. and dropped out, until in less
than half an hour there was hardly
four miles to its velocity. From this
time the weather conditions changed
rapidly and with each succeeding
change the chance for a race disap-
'peared. A light fog set in and it was
impossible to see more than three miles
off shore. 1t was apparent that unless
there was a decided change and that
within a short time a race was impos-
sibIe.
On both boats the usual morning
preparations were begun. Staysails
and 5ibs were put in stops, covers tar
ken from mainsails.
4 At S:15 Shamrock had gotten her
mainsail well stretched and was put
ting up her clubtopsail with the eYi-
dent intention of going down before
the breeze to the starting point. Rell-
ance was very slow with her sails
and she did not get the big mainsail
in place for fully fifteen minutes.
At 9:25 the wind at Sandy Hook
had dropped to two and half miles.
Sir Thomas Upton on the Erin said:
II don't think there can be a race to-
day. The very thick haze does not
promise a good wind and there is not
enough breeze to half help u.s. It's
too bad. We should get the thing
over. am needed at home on urgent
business matters and my present
plan is to sail for England within two
or three days after the completion of
these races. I feel ought to be
there now and every days stay is in
jurfng my business"
BY o'clock Reliance had started
out Of the Hook in tow and a few
minutes later Shamrock followed her
for the starting line.
By this time the haze at sea had
fhickened and the breeze shifting to
northwest had become a mere zephyr
The sea was dead calm and there
was no prospect Of finish unless the
wind increased. To shore observers
the yachts soon disappeared in the
haze. They held their tows until
they reached the lightship. The com
mittee boat reached the starting point
: about the same time and made the us
ual preparations for starting a race.
The wind was too soft and variable
for the committee to decide on a
course or the starting of the race and
thus the usual starting gun at II
o'clock was postponed until later in
the day in the hope that there would
be an Improvement in the weather
conditions. The race, according tc
the rules, must be started before ]
o'clock, or the race declared off for the
day
To-day's attempt to sail the third race
In the international series of cup races
was another failure and at 1880 it was
called off for the day because of lack
of wind. Despite the weather condi-
tons which made it almost a certain
ty that no race could be sailed both the
boats went TO the starting point. They
lay about the lightship for two hours
and then the committee boat signaIlad
that the race was off. The Yachts
dropped their sails, picked up their
tows and made for Sandy Hook.