Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-01
THE SHAMROCK III
Delights All Spectators With
First Days Performance.
Far Better Boat Than Shamrock | and
Best Challenger Yet Produced.
But Day of trouble Awaits Her in
Meeting Reliance.

Gourock. Scotland, March 31.-The
Shamrock III and the Shamrock I went
| for a trial spin, this morning. Sunshine
and a light, steady breeze had succeed
| ed the wild weather of the past week
and no time was lost in getting the
two Shamrocks off. Though the breeze
was light it was decided not to risk
anything. and the cup challenger
working topsail was accordingly set.
| The Shamrock I followed suit.
The challenger was the first to leave
her mornings and looked the picture of
a racer as she headed off shore. Out
| in Gourock bay the wind was so light
that the motion was more drifting than
sailing. The Shamrock III slipped
| through the water without leaving a
ripple and carrying her head well up.
The first time the challenger broke
tack it was apparent that by shorten
| ing her fin Designer Fife had produced
a boat that was fast on her heel, even
compared with cup racers. She carried
her way right through turning and was
off on her new course while the older
boats would have been still looking at
it, thus showing herself free of the
greatest weakness of the Shamrock II
There was no attempt at a set race.
The Shamrock I went off over a mile
| ahead and then the sheets were
/ trimmed on both boats and a course
was laid down channel. The two
yachts were close hauled while crossing
the mouths of Holy Loeb and Loeb Long
ana the wind was squally and uncer-
TAIN They both sailed faster as they
got better breeze and the challenger
showed herself to be little tender in
squalls. But she sailed with her lee
rail just clear of the water.
The wind fell off in the afternoon
as the yachts reached out of Rothesay
bay and along the Butte shore. The
shamrock | at that time was nearer
lolulng the challenger than on any
other point of sailing. The Shamrock
H. however, still proved the better
boat and gained a little.
The yachts then squared aWav and ran
across the firth for the Cumbrae shore
with little difference in their relative po-
stions Off Cumbrae the boats by ar
fanSement, rejoined one another and
started afresh on long turn to wndward
ard back toward the Rothesay shore This
was considered crucial test and it would
have been more satisfactory if there had
been more wind. but as it was, the Sham
rock III behaved eXcellently, going faster
and always holding the better wind than
the older boat.
On the conclusion of the windward
work turn was made south to Rotilesay
bay. The Shamrock 1 was again allowed
to go ahead half a dozen lengths, after
Which the challenger started in pursuit.
and with the beats reaching free in the
same water and with the wind practically
affording them level conditions, she not
only rapidly overhaued her opponent on
this board but passed wide to windward
and in an easy reach of about five miles
gained lead Of quite quarter of a mile
Off Cloch Point the challenger dropped her
stay sail, thus finishing the trial.
Shamrock III travelled fast and closed
steadily upon the Shamrock l. Under The
mountainous peninsula the land breeze
came true and fairly fresh and the yachts
went fetching down channel on what look
ed like real racing tests, in which the
Shamrock HIS greater speed was demon
strated. Sailing in the same water and
no better served by the wind, the chal-
lenger pulled up on her rival like hauling
in rope as the boats fetched down chan
mel, until off " emyss bay the Shamrock
III lay better to the wind and sailed fast
er.
During this eight miles she had closed
on the Shamrock l by fully a mile and at
the same time had edged quite a quarter
of a mile further to the windward Elk
perts consider this performance alone suf-
fcient to stamp the Shamrock Ill as be.
ing under the conditions prevailing, today, |
by far the fastest racer built on this side !
of the Atlantic to compete for the Amer
as cup.
Sir Thomas Upton, in an interview,
after the trial of the challenger, said he |
considered that he had every reason |
for the utmost qualification at the re-
suit. Shamrock III had done all that |
could be asked of her. He thought the |
trial proved her to be undoubtedly the |
best of Americas cup challengers. In |
his opinion she was the fastest boat |
afioat in today's weather and he looked |
hopefully to see her do equally we'll in
heavier weather
ID. f. d. Neill. a leading Clyde anna
teur yachtsman, who was the only out
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