The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12
SHAMROCK |. BEATS
THE CHALLENGER
First Trial Under Actual
Racing Conditions a
Disappointment.

| WEYMOUTH, Eng, April 1.-THE
| first contest today of the challenger for
the Americas cup under actual racing
| conditions was distinctly disappointing
| to those who eXulted so much at the
| results of the preliminary trials. Sham
| rock l. won her handicap allowance,
the new craft only beating her six and
half minutes over a course thirty
four miles long. On the first half of
the course the challenger outsailed the
older boat handsomely, but in the
fresher wind on the second turn she
little more than held her own. This
| was only partially explained by fluke
of wind which favored Shamrock I.
and enabled her to gain considerable
ground on the second beat.
The course was altered today to one
of thfrty-four miles, instead of forty
two miles, as announced yesterday.
The starting line was off Portland
thence easterly to a mark off LulWorth
cove, and back across the mouth Of
Weymouth bay to mark off Portland
and thence home, twice around.
The handicap allowance of Sham
rock 1. was not officially declared prior
to the start, but it was understood to
be ten minutes.
A fine, fresh west-southwest breeze
Of sufficient strength to cause the
yachts to make fast sailing, was blow
ing as the two ShamrockS Unanswered
for position.
During this jockeying Shamrock III.
proved both faster and handler and
Capt. Wringe had easily the best of the
start. Shamrock I. being to the wealth.
er Of the challenger drew out and was
two or three lengths ahead as they
bore away for the run.
The starting times were: Shamrock
Ill, 10:00:08; Shamrock l., 10:00:23.
The yachts quickly squared away,
set Spinnakers and the new boat i'm
mediately opened out, constantly in
creasing her lead from her opponent
as they ran toward Lulworth cove.
The wind remained fresh and steady
as they ran across on the first leg of
the course. Shamrock / followed dead
in the wake Of the cup challenger, but
was quite unable to hold her. In TWEEN
ty minutes running the challenger
gained two minutes. The times off
White Nose were: Shamrock III,
10:22:30; Shamrock T., 10:24:95.
Throughout the rest Of the run the
new boat continued to prove that she
was much faster than the older boat
down the wind. The innings on turn
ing the Lulworth cove mark were:
Shamrock III, 10:40:03; Shamrock L,
10:42:55.
Dropping their spinnakers the boats
luffed and came on the wind for the beat
land. A couple of long boards were sail
ed, the challenger going handsomely,
lifted to windward through the smooth
water. Before they had gone half way
to the mark Shamrock III. was a mile
ahead and dead to windward The breeze
freshened a little and both yachts trav-
emily reveling in the stronger wind.
When they turned the mark off Port
land Shamrock III. had a lead of over six
minutes. on less than twelve miles sail
ing The times at the Portland mark
rock l., 11:46:35.
boats home, and on this point of sailing
Shamrock l. held her opponent Well:
The first round was finished at follows:
fs:os ?5S' ILL., 1;o';lS' shamrock L.
The challenger's showing on the reach
was distinctly disappointing: On the sec
mark, the old boat had somewhat of an
advantage by bringing up fresher breeze
and Shamrock III. was only able to make
a minute and a half between the marks.
The Things at Lulworth cove WERE.
Shamrock III, 12:41:5S; Shamrock L,
12:49:30.
Shamrock T. was fouled by a steam
yacht when half way through the second
run to Lulworth cove. Her spinnaker
boom and the steam yachts bowsprit were
both carried away, but Shamrock I. es-
capped other injury and continued the race.
The accident was of little disadvantage
to her, as Shamrock III. s spinnaker was
Immediately house in order to make the
conditions even.
With only beat to the mark off Port
land and reach home to sail, the chal-
lenger had still two and a half minutes
handicap against her. The yachts had
hard wind and sea during the beat, and
both laid down handsomely to their work
with lee rails under.
In beating for the mark off Portland
Capt. Wringe did not appear to drive his
boat SO keenly as he had done. He kept
pinching her into every eye of the wind
while Shamrock l., although dropping to
leeward gained distinctly.
The hardening wind suddenly drew
round a couple Of points and gave the
Shamrock l. the only f1uke Of the day. She
was far down to leeward, but under the
favoring breeze wiped out considerable of
the new boats lead. Wringe then started
to drive the challenger again, but at the
mark boat off Portland she had lost a
minute and a half Of her previous lead.
The innings were:
Shamrock III. ................... 1;SS;S0