New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-21
DAY OF FITFUL BREEZES.
Clouds and Heavy Sho1cers Partly
Mar. Spectacle.

In a day of clouds heavy showers and faint
and ftful breezes the attempt TO sail the frse
of the series Of races between Shamrock III and
the Reliance for the Americas Cup resulted in a
fluke. The wind simply would not travel fast
enough to carry the yachts over the thirty-nils
course within the time limit Of FIVE and half
hours. and at 3:45. when the racers had been
sailing about four hours and three-quarters and
still many miles from home. the race was
declared Off
At that time the Reliance had turned ths
outer mark something more than mile and
half in advance of Sir Thomas Liptons chaI-
lenger, and appeared to be steadily increasing
her lead. Shamrock III on the other hand. did
not even turn the mark but seeing that the
Reliance could not possibly finish in time. she
abandoned the race when she met the American
boat on her course for home. came up into the
wind and signalled for her tug.
1t was about the worst possible sort OF day
for a yacht race. but while thousands who Vent
down TO the sea in ships were sorely disap-
pointed at the result, they had the satisfaction
of an assurance which many yachtsmen believe
fairly conclusive. that the Cup will be success
fully defended. Sir Thomas Upton is record
as believing that light airs and windward work
are the strong points OF the challenger. Yester-
days race was almost entirely to wndward. and
the breeze was zephyrike. Yet from the very
pointed up appreciaby better. and OutfOoted the
Irish boat constantly. save when the latter
sailed further of the wind. The fact thaS
Shamrock III did not turn the outer mark makes
it difficult 10 estimate accurately the lead of
the American yacht at the end OF the twenty
mile beat. But il was something like thirteen
minutes in time. and the distance was surely
more than mile and half Had the breeze
freshened an hour or two earlier than it did the
= A-g~~
YACHTsMEN THINK cup SAFE
Yachtsmen were asking each other last night
how. if Shamrock III could not make a better
showing under conditions that her owner, her
designer and her skipper considered favorable
to her. she could expect to win when the cir
cumstances were less favorable There were
not lacking enthusiastic partisans of the Her
reshoff boat who declared that Shamrock III
could beat either the Constitution or the Co
lumbia. This is probably an extreme view.
but there is doubt whatever that nine out
Of every ten yachtsmen who saw the
serenely confident that victory is assured th9
Reliance
Candor compels the statement that the racs
as a race was not much TO look at. The su-
periority Of the Reliance under the existing con-
ditiOns became apparent after the yachts had
come about for the first time after crossing ths
time Barr had made up all the heavy time al
lowance conceded to the challenger, and bit
more. and from that time the Reliance steadily
drew away from her rival. though during most
Of the time there was not wind enough fill the
mainsails. and the soops rolled so heavily in the
nasty swell that their white wings lost good
part Of what little wind there was Interest TOO.
was largely dispeIled by the fact that long be
fore the Reliance turned for home il was known
that nothing short of bowling gale would
waft her past the lightship in time TO make =
race But worst of all. the wind hauled from
the southwest well toward the west in the last
hour of the race and when the American boat
turned the stake she found a reach home. and
not a run before the wind awaiting her This
settled the thing beyond peradventure. and a
good part of the attendant fleet promptly turned
their noses toward New-YOrk. without waiting
Tor the official announcement.
Conditions were unfavorabIe from early mora
ing Dull clouds overhuug the harbor and the
air was almost Hfeless. Yet the observation fleet
was early astir. and from o'clock until the
starting gun was fired marine avalanche
poured down the Bay and through the funnel OF
the Narrows. all bound for the Sandy Hook
Iightship, the scene Of so many notable yachting
assemblages. II was a spectacle worthy the Oe-
casion. There may nave been few more craft
assembled there for previous races but the sea
was black and white with oceangoing tugs.
palatial steam yachts. stately coastwtse hneis.
excursion steamers topheavy with eager specJa-
tors. swift launches and sailing craft OF every
possible description. from the 15-fOOt catboat 10
the majestic .schoOners ft 10 sail in any wind
tbat blows and on any sea that flows.
The observation fleet found the racers await
ing them when they arrived at the hghtship.
Both yachts were taken IN tow before O'Clock.
the Reliance being towed by the Guiding Star.
and tie Shamrock by the Cruizer Arrived at
the l.ghtship. both OF them got up sail. and.
under mainsaiI nd forestaysaiL each OF the
rival racers stood of and the wind waiting
for the arrival of the hour and the spectators.
The difference betNeen he two yachts vas
striking in the extreme-so striking thar the
The entire service Of thegfudson River Day Linz
is built and arranged exclusively for The handling
....rL.r a ". Oh 4.