New-York tribune., 1903-04-12
SHAMROCK III BEATEN.
OLD BOAT SAILS WE'LL.
Race Won ON Time AIlo1cdnce-Ac- c.
cident to iShdmrock L.

Weymouth. April 1.-The first contest to-day
of the challenger for the Americas Cup unoer
actual racing conditions was distinctly oisap
pointing to those who were exultant over the
results Of the preliminary trials. shamrock
won on her handicap allowance, the new craft
only beating her six and q half minutes over
course of thirty-four miles 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 nuke
of wind which favored Shamrock I and enabled
her gain considerable ground on the second
beat.
The starting line was off Portland, thence
easterly to a mark off Luworth Cove and back
across the mouth of Weymouth Bay to a marx
off Portland, and thence home, twice around
The handicap allowance of Shamrock 1 was
not officially declared before the start, but it was
understood to be ten minutes.
A fine fresh west-southwest breeze of suffl-
cient strength to cause the yachts. under club
topsais, to heel over and make fast sailing was
blowing as the two Shamrocks nannuvred for
position. In this jockeying Shamrock III proved
both faster and handler, and Captain Wrnge
had easily the better of the start The prepara-
tory signal was given at 9:55 a m. and just be-
fore the starting gun was fired at 10 o'clock
both yachts stayed By the outer markboat.
Shamrock l. being to the weather of the chal-
lenger drew out and was two or three lengths
ahead as they bore away for the run. The
starting times were:
Shamrock III
| The yachts quickly squared away. and set spin
| makers. and the new boat Immediately opened
| out constantly increasing her lead as they ran
| toward Lulworth Cove. The wind remained
| fresh and steady and the racers made excellent
7
| Of the Cup challenger, but was quite unable to
| hold her
| In twenty minutes running the challenger
| gained two minutes The times off White Nose
were:
Shamrock Io:5z:sS zss
| Through the rest of the run the new boat con-
timed to prove that she much faster than
| the older boat down the wind The t1mlngs on
turning the Lulworth Cove mark were:
shamrock III io:72:55
Dropping their spinnakers. the boats luffed
and came on the wind for the beat to windwafd
across the bay toward Portland. couple OF
,onp boards were sailed, and the challenger
going handsomely, lifted to windward through the
smooth water Before they had gone half way
to the mark Shamrock III was mile aheau
and dead to windward. The breeze 1resheheo d
little and both yachts travelled at fine pace
the challenger apparently reVeiiing IN the
stronger wind.
when thew turned the mark off Portland
Shamrock III had lead of over six minutes on
, less than twelve miles sailing, The times here
were:
sbsmToek
Thence a broad easy reach brought the boats
home and on this point of sailing Shamrock
held her opponent well. The challenger's show
ing on the reach was distinctly disappointing.
The first round finished as follows:
Shamrock 90
Shamrock i-'oo--'
On the second run down the wind to the Lul-
worth Cove mark the old boat had somewhat of
an advantage by finding a fresher breeze. and
Shamrock III was only able to make a minute
and half between the marks. Here the tim
ings were:
Shamrock 12;is;so
Shamrock was foued by a steam yacht when
half way through this run. Her spinnaker boom
and the steam yachts bowsprit were both car
ried away but Shamrock 7 escaped further in
Jury and continued the race. The accident was
of little disadvantage to her, as Shamrock 111's
spinnaker Immediately doused in order to
make the conditions even.
The damage to Shamrock amounted to 5000
The spar was of hollow wood, and some time
will be needed to replace 1t, but in the mean
time the trials will be continued without spin
makers The trouble was caused by the steam
Yacht misjudging the pace of the racer. serl-
Gus accident was narrowly averted.
With only beat to the mark Off Portland
and a reach home to sail, the challenger had
still two and half inmates handicap against
her The yachts had hard wind and some sea
during the beat and both lay down handsomely
to their work, with lee rails under In this beat
Captain Wringe did not appear to drive his
boat so keenly he had done He kept pinch
ing her into every eye of the wind, while Sham-
rock l. although dropping to leeward. gained
distinctly.
The stifening breeze suddenly drew round a
couple of points, and gave Shamrock the only
real fiuke of the day. She was far down to
Ieeward but under the favorfng breeze wiped
out considerable of the new boats lead. Cap
tain Wrnge then started TO drive the challenger
again. but at the markboat, off Portsland, she
had lost minute and half OF her previous
lead. The timings were:
Shamrock 80 Shamrock 80
On the three miles reach home the challenger
was sailed for all she worth, and on the
leg on which Shamrock ] had held her even In
the first round Shamrock III on this occasion
gained half minute. The finishing times were:
Shamrock 1:4s:ss Shamrock o9
nEElCERS