The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1903-08-24
DEFEATS SHAMROCK M. BY OVER
SEVEN MINUTES IN MOST
EXCITING CONTEST.
RACikG CONDITIONS ARE .RFECT
FlFTEEN-MILE WIND GIVES THE
YACHTS A GOOD CHANCE
TO SHOW SPEED.

New York, Aug. 24.-On the fifty
second anniversary of the winning O
the Queens cup by the America tht
Shamrock ILL.,, Sir Thomas Lipton's
third candidate for the internationa
trophy. now known as the Americas
cup. was defeated by the Reliance
time allowance excluded from the reck
oning by 8 minutes SO seconds With
time allowance excluded from the recll
by minutes and 2 seconds.
At l1:30 the preparatory gun was
fired and Immediately the two yachts
began maneuvering for position. As
they sailed back and forth in this
preliminary struggle both boats
showed a good deal of weather side
as they laid down. dipping the lee
rail. Reliance made long board to
eastward. followed by Shamrock quite
q distance astern After standing about
mile from the mark Reliance came
about. Shamrock soon following. AT
11:40, when the warning gun was
fired, both boats were to the west
ward of the line standing inshore.
Both boats stood quarter of mile
to the westward Of the line, then start
ed and ran down the wind for fifteen
seconds. then Shamrock gybed. Re
lance following with same maneuvers.
Both boats were on the starboard tack.
heading for the line. and crossed 1t,
holding about south. Shamrock about
two lengths ahead OF Reliance, which
went over the line at the weather end.
Some minutes after crossing both
To n,,t hah hu
1t looked as II Reliance had purposely
held back from crossing the line in
order to cut down whatever time al
lowance there might be In case she
finished first.
Reliance Seems to Gain.
Ten minutes after the start the
yachts were still holding towards the
south ON the starboard tack and from
shore it looked as If Reliance was
gaining q trifie. The wind. which
early In the day was from the west
southwest. seemed to be getting more
to the southwark and the boats had
every opportunity to show what they
could do in a beat to windward In a
comparatively smooth sea and flf-
teen-knot breeze.
The contest Immediately developed
into a close and exciting one. for while
Reliance seemed to pick up and to be
to windward of Shamrock, she was
unable to get by. At l2:l1 O'Clock the
American boat swung around ON the
port tack and headed for the Jersey
shore Shamrock kept on two MIN
utes longer before tacking to port.
This tack developed into long run
inshore and as the time passed 1t was
evident that the Shamrock was doing
better on the port tack than on the
starbOard AS the yachts worked
down toward the outer mark they be-
gan to feel the full force OF the nood
tide coming up the coast.
In the first fifty minutes of racing
the contest was SO close as to create
the most intense excitement among
the thousands Of spectators on boat and
shore At 35 the yachts were still
holding the port tack standing toward
Seabright, but fully eight miles of
shore. The wind held strong and the
yachts had all of 1t they wanted for
the sail they were carrying.
Reliance Holds WIndward Berth.
There was no break In this long
tack until 12:40, when Reliance went
about Shamrock, however. continued
four minutes longer. From shore IL
looked as IL Reliance forced sham
rock about. 1t had looked as II the
challenger might squeeze by and get
the windward berth. Reliance. how
ever. had too much speed, for Sham
rock 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 1876 1t looked as
II the American defender had sue
ceeded In getting the upper hand or
the Challenger. She was on the star
board tack some distance to the wealth
er of Shamrock and slowly but surely
outfooting the latter.
AT 1854 p. m. both boats were stlli
holding to the south on the starboard
tack with Reliance apparently IN the
lead by Q short distance. The yachts
at that time had sailed more than
half way to the outer marx. On the
yachts sailed, both plunging ana
smashing In the nasty rolling sea,
When the wind softened Relance
would forge ahead, but when the hard,
or puff came Shamrock would hold
her own nicely.
After getting INTO Boou pool'ioh oii
Shamrocks starboard bow Reliance
at l:O3 tackled to port and headed In
shore Shamrock continued on the
starboArd tack until trife TO wind
ward OF Relance's wake, when she
also went about and headed Tor Tue
Jersey coast.
Reliance Has Commanding Lead.
The second tack of shore, or the
third which the boats had made IN
the race, was not more than twenty
minutes long. In that time Relance
gained q commanding position TO the
wind ward and ahead of her opponent
. and the American enthusiasts began
TO feel that their gallant defender.
barring accidents. had the race Wen