Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-03
FOURTH DAYS TRIAL
Reliance Led From the Line
in Light Winds.
AGONY ALMOST OVER
SUPERIORITY OF AMERICAN BOAT
NO LONGER A QUESTION.
Sir Thomas Upton Lost Keen Interest
After Second Beating and Longs
for the Inevitable Result.

NEW YORK, September 3.-With a fog
heavier than on any previous morning, and
but five six-mile wind from the north
ward the conditions early this morning for
the fourth attempt this week to sail the
third Of the series of the international
yacht races were far from ideal.
Withal, however. there more wind
than on the three previous days, when all
attempts at a race were futile. and there
were hopes that the fog would lift and the
wind would increase in velocity. as 1t blew
from a favorable quarter.
At O'Clock the fog could not be pene-
trated beyond 100 feet, but in less than two
hours there were indications of its lifting.
The wind still held true, and at S;35 was
reported officially at Sandy Hook at five
miles.
The sum- too, began to break through the
mist, and it then began to clear rapidlys
Soon it was possible to see half mile or
more blue skies We're in evidence and the
prospects of a race We're more encouraging
than on any previous day this week.
Boats Off for Lightship.
At $50 Reliance started for the lightship
in tow. At that time the wind according
to the official observer. had dropped to
three miles an hour from the northeast.
Eight minutes later Shamrock left, also In
tow.
When the yachts reached the Hghtship
the wind had hauled around to the south
east and was blowing about five miles an
hour 1t was clearing gradually, but the
fog was still so heavy that at 10 80 the COM
mittee boat Navigator signaled postpone
ment of the start until later in the day.
AS in yesterdays proceedings. there was
nothing for the boats to do but maneuver
about the start, in hope for some wind.
BY Has o'clock the sun came out warm
and bright. 1t continued to burn away
the fog and by noon it was comparatively
clear. The wind had increased at that
time to six miles, according to the ofti-
cial observer at Sandy Hook. and showed
some signs of becoming strong enough to
make a race.
Race Started Late.
AS the weather was gradually growing
clearer the committee decided to wait until
o'clock, the latest hour under the rules.
before starting the race. At this time the
wind had increased to seven miles. and as
it was from the southeast the course was
undoubtedly a fifteen-mile beat in that
direction and run home.
The yachts nlaneuvered about the start
ing line until that time, and at O'Clock
when the starting gun was fired, both boats
headed for the line with Reliance slightly
in the lead. Both boats went over the line
on the starboard tack. but moved very
slowly. They had sheets we'll fiattened for
the beat to windward. Immediately after
crossing the line the yachts apparently
went about on the port tack and headed for
the Jersey shore.
Reliance Led Across Line.
The preparatory gun was fired at 12:45
and the warming gun ten minutes later.
The American boat crossed about minute
after the starting gun was fired followed
about thirty seconds later by Shamrock.
With the light air and perfectly calm
sea Reliance had exactly the condition in
which she is admittedly unapproachable,
and Immediately she began to open lead
pointing out steadily to wirrdward AS they
held in on the port tack the wind freshened
and the yachts began to move at a fair
rate. After sailing about thirty-five min
utes Reliance took in her baby Jib topsail
and set smaller one.
The change was made to enable her to
point higher. and the sail was in place in
side of two minutes. Yachtsmen remarked
upon this and pronounced 1t a smart piece
of sail handling.
The yachts had not sailed many minutes
before the wind began to strengthen. Re
lance continued to gain, eating out to wind
ward of Shamrock, although the latter
seemed to foot almost fast. At 80 both
yachts We're about four miles off the Jersey
shore. The fog which had hung low over
the ocean all the morning. and which lifted
shortly before the started was still
much in evidence