The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-25

New York, August 20.-One of the
biggest croyds of sightseers and
yachtsmen that ever sailed down Sandy
Hook to witness an attempt of a for
eign III hunter 10 wrest from Amer
world. returned to New York tonight
disappointed because the sea had re-
fused a field of combat to the racers.
but nevertheless iubilant in the con-
VictiOn that Sir Thomas Lipton's
latest challenger. like the two, which
had preceded her, was doomed to re-
turn TO England empty handed. OF
course. the rae today was not abso-
lutely conclusive owing to the light
and shifting character of the airs. but
in a fifteen mile beat to windward. a
portion Of which was sailed in a driv-
ing rain. the cup defender Reliance
showed her heels to Shamrock III. in
commanding style. and in weather con-
ditiOns which were to be to
the particular liking of the challenger.
Flies latest creation has been herald
ed as a Veritable wizard in light
N1SIACS III dIu "OIhs especially
with a jump sea on while the Reliance
in her trials, had demonstrated best
reaching and running in a whole sail
wind. Yet today. with a breeze vary
ing from one to twelve knots. and
against a long ground swell. the de-
fender Out-fOOted and Out-pOinted her.
The Shamrock did not turn the outer
mark and there is therefore no way
of knowing absolutely how badly she
was beaten, but it was estimated that
h was more than a mile astern. or
about sixteen minute in the existing
strength of the wind. when the Re
lance rounded.
As a result of the trial the experts
believe, blow high or 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 off Sandy Hook. A mist
lay over the city and bay in the morn
ing and when the great fleet of eX-
cursiOn steam yachts. Jugs
n sailing vessels reached the start
ing line where the big single stickers
were already JOckeying for q position,
black threatening clouds We're gather
ing over tile Jersey Highlands. The
dark water reflected no shadow and
the mist all abOut shortened the OBJ
S~erVatiOn. The breeze was not over
six knots and the murky waves spilled
no white frOth from their crests.
The course was set fifteen miles
southwest. straight down the Jersey
coast and return. At the very start
Captain Barr cleVerly ~outgeneraIled
Captain Wringe, sending the Reliance
over the line thirty-three seconds be-
hind the challenger. but in the wind
ward berth. In the first twenty min
utes of sailing the defender showed
her windward qualities. drawing up
On even terms with the challenger. be-
sides being about two hundred yards
TO windward. Then the storm broke
and for thirty minutes the rain came
down in torrents, the wind increasing
to twelve knots.
When the storm had passed the de-
fende was seen to be firmly eStab-
lished on the weather bow of Sham
rock III, and she was never after
ward haaded.
The work of the patrol fleet was per-
feet. Moving at right angles. line
ahead and line abreast. the revenue
cutters kept the yachts in the hollow
of a moving angle. as free from in
reference as if they had been sailing
in mid-ocean. Under the rules the first
race. fifteen miles to leeward or wind
ward and return. is now postponed
until Saturday.
The Reliance reached the starting
line at 10 a. m. and dropped her tow
line. Shamrock III arrived ten min
uteS later. No sooner had Shamrock
III fled AVA than the Reliance bore
down upo her from a windward posi-
ton and hauled on the wind alongside
of her in a position to blanket the
challenger.
Captain Wringe prompted wore ship
and bore away from the Reliance. re-
fuSing to take part in the brush.
When the committee tug fired the
preparatory signal at 1913 the two
racers We're crossing the line for a
little brush out 10 he Windward of it.
but as the warning signal was fired
at 1885. they whirled about and ran
back toward the line. Shamrock III
whirled on her heel just TO Ieeward of
the line. and recrOssed it. The Re
lance proptly followed.
The Shamrock III led the American
boat across by about fifty yards. but
the Reliace held the windward posi-
ton: The official starting time was:
Shamrock III. Hollis.
Reliance, 11:O1:47.
Both boats sailed seward about an
hour and wenty minutes. The wind
dropped TO about four knots soon af-
ter the start. Within twenty-five min
utes after starting the Reliance had
overhauled Shamrock III and was
abean or her and TWO q yards
to windward. The Reliance had not
only faster but pointed higher than
the challenger and was showing that.
under conditions supposed TO be the
most ~unfavorable. Il was a better
boat.
Half an hour after the start. when
the boats We're about four miles from
the starting line. a rain shower swept
across the course and obscured the
yachts from all observers except those
very close. The shower brought a