The Indianapolis journal., 1903-08-21
Race Declared on When IL Was Seen
that the Boats Could Not Finish
Within the Limit.
SHAMROCK GOT AWAY FIRST
But RELIANCE DRIFTED FASTER
AND SOON FORGED AHEAD.
Splitting Tacks with the Wind Down
the Mast-Great Crowd Out for the
Day-London Disappointed.

NEW YORK. Aug. a0.-One OF the big
gest crowds of sightseers and yachtmen
that ever sailed down to Sandy Hook TO
witness an attempt of a foreign cup hunter
to wrest from America the yachting SUI
premacy of the world, returned To New York
tonight disappointed because the sea had
refused a field of combat 10 the racers, but.
nevertheless, jubilant in the conviction that
Sir Thomas Lpton's latest challenger, like
the two Shamrocks which had preceded her.
was doomed TO return to England empty
handed. OF course, the race to-day was
not absolutely conclusive. owing to the light
and shifting character of the air, but In a
fifteen-milc beat to windward. a portion OF
which was sailed in driving rain. the cup
defender Reliance, showed it's heels TO
Shamrock III in commanding style. and in
weather conditions which were supposed to
be to the particular liking of the chai-
lenger. Flies latest creation has been her
aided as veritable wizard in light breezes.
in windward work, especially with lumpy
sea on, while the Reliance in its trials.
had demonstrated best reaching and run
ming in whole sail wind. Yet to-day, with
a breeze varying from ten to twelve knots.
and against a long ground swell. the de-
fender outfooted and outpointed Shamrock.
The Shamrock did not turn the outer mark.
and there is. therefore, no way Of knowing
absolutely how much it was beaten. but il
was estimated that Shamrock was more
than a mile astern, or about sixteen min
utes in the existing strength Of the wind,
when the Reliance rounded.
AS result OF the trial the experts be-
lieve, blow high, blow low, that the Re-
lance will win this. the thirteenth series
for the Americas cup.
The day was a miserable one for those
who went down to the ocean race course of
Sandy Hook. A mist lay over the bay I'm
the morning and when the great fleet of
excursion steamers, steam yachts. tugs and
sailing vessels reached the starting line.
where the racing yachts were already
jockeying. for position, black, threaten
ing clouds were gathering over the Jersey
highlands. The dark water reflected no
shadow, and the mist all about shortened
the observation. The breeze was not over
six knots. and the murky waves spilled no
white froth from their crests. The course
was set fifteen miles south-southwest.~
straight down the Jersey coast and return.
At the very start Captain Barr cleverly
outgeneraled Captain Wringe. sending the
Reliance over the line thirty-three seconds
behind the challenger. but In the windward
berth. In the first twenty minutes OF sail
ing the defender showed its windward quail
tiles, drawing up on even terms with the
challenger, besides DelnS ABOUT Ho yaFuS
to windward. Then the cloud broke, and
for thirty minutes the rain came down I'm
torrents, the wind meanwhile increasing to
twelve knots.
When the storm had passed the defender
was seen TO be firmly established the
weather bow of Shamrock III, and IL was
never afterwards headed.
During the last two hours OF the race
Reliance steadily increased its lead, rouDd-
ing the turn mile ahead OF Shamrock.
Heading back for home, close-hauled. Re-
lance had just reached Shamrock. still out
ward bound when, it being apparent that
the race could not be finished i'm the time
allowance the regatta committees boat az
345 fired the signal which declared the race
off.
The work of the patrol fleet was perfect.
Moving at right angles, line ahead and line
abreast, the revenue cutters kept the yachts
I'm the hollow OF "A moving angle, as free
from interference as IL they had been sail
ing in mid-ocean.
Under the rules the first race. fifteen
miles to leeward or windward and return.
is now postponed until Saturday.