Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-08
GOOD TEST OF YACHT
Shamrock III Out in a Fresh
Wind.
OUTSAILED OLD BOAT
GAINED ON EVERY POINT 0E
SAILING.
Best Time Made in Working to Wind
ward by the New
Challenger.

WEYMOUTH, England. April S.-With
club topsails set in good twelve to four
teen-knot breeze off shore. promising fast
racing and a thorough test both of speed
and gear, the Shamrock III and the Sham
rock 1 started today off down the wind for
Ieeward and windward trial. The Sham
rock III was a good length ahead as the
boats we're sent off. She gathered way
faster and was off with double that lead
before the older boat had fairly started.
Booms were run off and the Shamrock I
drew into the wake of the cup challenger,
getting between her and the wind. This
advantage enabled the old boat to draw up
| somewhat, but the blanketing did not last.
and the challenger opened way fast and
ran in such fashion as helped to dispel the
doubts to her speed when off the wind.
+ When the boats were three-quarters on
the way to the Shambles hghtShip the
wind drew more westerly, and the Sham
rock III had to run a course considerably
more to the westward. throwing her aStern
as they luffed for the Shambles. The Sham
rock led round the lightship. The times
were:
Shamrock I-10:45O2.
Shamrock III-1O:45:26.
Sheets were all home as they came on the
wind, and the challenger gaining fast, and
a trffe freer, went right past and to lee
ward of the older boat before they had
gone mile to windward.
Gained on the Old Boat
After holding this tack for twenty mirl-
utes Shamrock III came about and passed
wide across the bows of Shamrock I. taxi
ing up position ahead and wide to wind
ward; pointing higher and sailing faster,
she gained on every mile. The freshening
wind caused some as the boats beat
back. but the challenger stood up well to
the wind and took the seas easily. She
again crossed the bows of Shamrock I aS
they beat into the bay.
The times the yachts turned the Erin
at the finish of the first round were:
Shamrock III-11:46
Shamrock I-11:47:50.
The challenger gained therefore exactly
two minutes on seven-mile beat to wind>
ward
As the two yachts rounded the Erin spin.
makers were set for the next run to the
Shambles. Smarter work on board Sham.
rock I enabled her to make up twenty Sec
onds of lost ground. They made fairly level
racing down the wind, the challenger not
gaining appreciably in the first couple OF
miles,
The wind held fresh and fairly steady,
allowing fair trial of speed. Both boats
were equally served by the wind, and SAIL
ing practically in the same water 1t took a
miles, and the boats turned the Shambles
on the second round as follows:
Shamrock III-12:42:37.
Shamrock I-12:44:57.
Challenger Gained on the Reach.
All sheets were brought aboard again as
the boats headed home looking as though.
with the breeze more westerly. they might
fetch through. The challenger gradually
increased the gap. 3
The yachts trimmed in as close as they
could lie to fine, steady breeze, and both
made short work Of the Journey doing
about twelve knots Shamrock III pulled
ahead the whole time, gaining fully three
minutes from mark to mark.
The yachts finished the second round as
follows:
Shamrock I'LL 1885.
Shamrock IL :33 :5S.
The boats were then sent off on another
spinnaker run seaward Shamrock III.
which had short lead in starting. widened
the gap. About mile from the ShambleS
the spinnakers were taken in and the two
boats reached for the mark, which was
turned on the third round as follows:
. Shamrock III-2:29:05.
Shamrock I-2:30:17.
This was a gain of about minute for
the new yacht in the seven miles.
A couple of long taeks brought them
home. Jib topsails were set and the chaI-
lenger rapidly opened out a long leads
seemingly being we'll suited for the fresh
ening winds.
The trials were regarded by experts as
showing that Shamrock | II is markedly SUI
perior to the old boat in freshly weather and
more open water. In running off the wind
in light breeze Shamrock i was only some
seconds mile slower, but on the wind the
challenger quite outclassed her