The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-21
Nd FINISH IN
THE FIRST RAGE.
Reliance Outfooted and Outpointed Sham
rock iii in Fluky Wind and Lumpy Sea.
Immense Crowd of Spectators.

they had saAed eight miles, when the
wind backed TO south by east again,
making II o dead beat TO the mark and
restoring 10 the Reliance her frmer ad-
vantage In being 10 the windward or
Shamrock III.
LEAD BY QUARTER OF A MILE.
When they made their FIRST tack AZ
1890 Shamrock III was to leeward and
astern few hundred yards. The shower
had passed. Then for the first time the
British challenger gave the admirers of
the defender a bad scare, Without ap-
parent reason she began 20 foot faster
than the Reliance passed 10 leeward OF
her and drew away a head, but still TO
leeward. Ii looked for moment as II
she was going 10 show her heels 10 the
slick craft which was carrying the hopes
OF all Americans, but when she came
about and the two boats met the ad-
mirers OF the Reliance discovered that,
while the challenger had been outfooting
her. the American craft had been out
pointing the challenger and had even
increased her lead. The boats were nine
miles from the starting lire and the Re-
lance had lead OF quarter OF a mile.
In a dropping wind tho British boat
twice repeated her performance Of sHp-
ping past the Reliance 10 leeward. but
she was losing round In the windward
thresh by reason OF the Reliance sailing
closer to the wind. When four miles
from the turning mark. at las p. m,
they started on a long leg out to sea.
As they came about IL was apparent
that the Reliance was a mile ahead.
The wind had dropped 10 a little better
than a nat calm and the racers were
moving very slowly. In vain effort 10
WOO the fckle airs the yachts changed
| their head sails, but the race had de-
generated into a drifting match. Fluky
| streaks of gentle air drifted across the
| course.
RELIANCE GOT FLUKE.
One OF these fukes when the Re-
/ lance was more than two miles from
the mark, sent her off at a good gait.
while the Shamrock was headed of by
an unfavorabe slant until she pointed
two points further or the actual course
| than did the Reliance Three and a
| half hours after the start II was evident
that the race could not be finished within
the time limit.
! The Reliance had steadily gained and
was then a good two miles dead ahead
| OF her rival when observers noted that
| Shamrock III had caught a little slant
Of wind from the west and cutting down
| the lead
The Reliance promptly went about when
a mile away from the turn and. catch
| ing the westerly wind. scurried away
| from the mark at almost a racing pace.
The wind continued TO freshen until she
swept around the mark at 3:37:2o, heel
ing TO q smart northwest breeze and
| giving the first real exhibition of her
! speed.
The defender hauled on the wind for
| a close reach back TO the finish line,
| saluted by the whistles OF the big fieet
| Shamrock III was coming on at fast
clip to meet the returning defender but
she had been so far astern that some
eight minutes elapsed after the Reliance
turned the mark before the racers me,
going In opposite directions. indicating
that the Reliance actually led by II
minutes.
RACE DECLARED OFF.
Just at that moment the regatta com
mttee tug displayed the signal. 9TH.
race is of" and the, Shamrock III cam,
about and followed the Reliance shor
distance, Shamrock III never turned
the mark. They were taken I'm tow o
tugs. and the fleet. hurryNhg homeward
quickly dropped them.
The admirers OF the Reliance are Ju
bilant because the American yacht d.
monstrated that in extremely light air
and unusually rough water she coul,
show her heels TO the British challenger
and those were the conditions believes
to be the severest test OF the Herreshof
boat
Group instantly relieved. DIR. Thoma.