Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-22

port tack standing toward seabrisht. but
fully eight miles on shore.
The wind held strong and the. yachts had
were carrying
Forcing Shamrock About.
There was no break In this long tack un-
til 1910. when Reliance went about. Sham
rock, however. continued four minutes
longer From shore 1t looked as II Reli-
ance forced Shamrock about. -..-
1t had looked as IL the challenger might
squeeze by and get the windward berth.
Reliance however, had too, much speed,
the Shamrock was compelled to tack In
order not to be blanketed by her opponent.
Reliance succeeded In holding far enough
to windward to draw UP until she was Just
to the weather of the challenger. and at
1852 1t looked as If the American defender
had succeeded in getting the upper hand OF
the challenger.
outfooting the Challenger.
She was on the starboard tack some dis
lance to the weather of Shamrock and
slowly but surely outfooting the latter.
At 1854 both boats were still holding to
the south on the starboard tack. with Re-
lance apparently in the lead by a short
distance.
The yachts at that time had sailed more
than half way to the outer mark.
On the yachts sailed. both plunging and
smashing in the nasty rolling sea. When
the wind softened Reliance would forge
ahead. but when the harder puff came
Shamrock would hold her nicely.
Reliance Tackled to Port. --,--.'-
Shamrock's starboard bow Reliance at 1:O3
tackled to port and headed inshore. "'F
Shamrock continued on the starboard
ia ~ RI ~ o6 oil
ance's wake when she also went about and
headed for the Jersey coast. 49,
The second tack off shore, or the third
which the boats had made in the race, was
not more than twenty minutes long.
In that time Reliance gained command
ing position to the windward and ahead of
her opponent and the American enthusiasts
began to feel that their gallant defender.
barring accidents, had the race we'll in
hand.
Leading by Quarter Mile.
AS soon as she was well to weather of
Shamrock. Reliance tackled inshore again
and when Shamrock. holding on until she
crossed her opponents wake also tackled,
it looked as If Reliance was leading by fully
quarter Of a mile. and after sailing on this
leg for about fifteen minutes It appeared as
if Reliance had drawn still further away.
At :25 the yachts were within five miles
of the outer mark. The wind still held
strong and true from the southwest, blowing
at about II knots and there was every pros
pect of quick run back to the finish under
spinnakers.
1t had taken Reliance quite time to
overhaul and draw clear of Shamrock, but
once in the lead the American set pace
which the challenger was unable to equal
and slowly but continuously she heightened
the distance between herself and Sir
Thomas boat.
Forced to Short Tacks
The wind nghtened as they beat for the
outer mark. and Reliance seemed to like
the weather better.
She increased her advantage with every
mile sailed. and at 1:5O 1t would seem that
but for some accident or some great fuke
she had the race won 80
When the wind softened it seemed to
shift more westward, and the yachts were
forced to make several short lacks as they
Unanswered to fetch the mark which Is
now about mile away. $500.
Reliance Turns Mark.
Reliance turned the mark at 1854 and
Immediately set her spinnaker to port, and
like huge bird headed straight for the
finish fifteen miles away, and as the wind
caught her huge expanse of sail her quick
ened pace soon placed her another eighth
Of a mile in the lead.
Shamrock turned the mark at 1890 set
tiiiS ucI SpiiHdheT 10 port one tr1eQ 10
hoist a balloon jib topsail but 1t seemed
to jam half way up, and after futile at
tempt to raise 1t substituted balloon stay
sail. ..-
Difficulty Overcome
The difficulty was overcome moment
later and Shamrock succeeded In getting
up her balloon lib topsail. but after the
yachts had sailed a short distance the bal
loon iibs were taken in. Fleet-footed Re-
lance gained constantly, and at 2:3O. had
increased her lead to mile and a half
In fact. the race was procession, Re-
lance, with her greater sail spread, draw
ing further and further away from Sham
rock. - ;tSHg e.
The run home was being made very fast
before the twelve to fourteen-knot breeze
and at 2:35. when the boats were timed
passing a point. the Reliance seemed to be
a full five minutes ahead and will appar-
entity win the race by from five to eight
minutes If no accident occurs. '-"
BY WIRELESS TELEGRAPH.