Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-28
THE WIND FAILED
And Big Yachts Could Not
Finish Within Limit.
Challenger 0utsaiIed, 0utpointed and
Outfooted by the Defender.
Had Wind Held, Would Have Been
Worse Defeat Yet.

less IMAM ii lHlFu Oh IL mile from
finish and Shamrock III hull down on
the horizon, fully two miles astern of
the gallant defender, the fourth race of
the present series for the Americas
cup was declared off, today, because of
the expiration of the time limit of five
and one half hours, as happened on
Thursday last. Although officially, it
was no race, the defeat administered to
the challenger was so ignominious that
whatever lingering hope remained in
the breasts of the friends of Sir
Thomas boat, vanished into thin air.
lseliance's victory was in every way
more decisive than that of last Satur-
day. Outsailed, outpointed, and out
footed, it was a procession from start
to finish.
The Herreschoff wonder beat the
Shamrock hoplessly in the Is miles of
windward work, rounding the outer
mark y minutes and 80 seconds ahead
of her, a gain in actual time of II
minutes and 90 seconds, and down the
wind she steadily increased her lead.
| The real race of the day was not
against Shamrock, but the exciting
struggle of Reliance in the last half
hour to- reach the finish line before the
regetta committee fired the gun which
should announce the expiration of the
time limit. Had the wind freshened 20
minutes earlier than it did the cup
series would have ended today with
three straight victories for the defend
er, and Flies famous light weather
boat would have sailed back to Albion
I,l, Of n ns.fr, ,1Slxr
Worsted challengers in the history of
the cup contests.
| Fully as discouraging as the sailing
qualities displayed by the challenger WAS
the atrocious manner in which she was
handled The Yankee skipper not only
out-maneuvered his rival in the spectacu
lar battle for position at the start, as he
has done every time they have met, but
worse still for the down-hearted support
lers of Shamrock Captain Wringe repeat
ed his blunder of Tuesday He crossed
the line in the wake of Reliance with a
handicap of 81 of the precious seconds for
(which Fife had sacrificed SO much in sail
spread for time allowance. Both, it is
ltrue, went over after the handicap gun,
but where both are handicapped it is only
the sternnost craft which actually suf-
Tiers
1t was not a pleasant day on the water
lana the observation fleet which put to sea
was hardly more than half as large as on
the preceding days. There was chill in
the atmosphere. Low wet clouds shut
out the sky and the mist wreaths on the
sea made everything look ghost-like and
indistinct, but the dark water of the
light breeze Of about four knots blew out
Eof the southeast The course was laid
Is miles dead into the wind and return.
At the end of the first hour, Sham
rock was beaten and the interest
lWaned. After rounding the float for
the run home and setting big balloon
ers. the wind which had strengthened
to six or seven knots on the beat, died
down and the towering clouds of can
vas drifted lazily down an ocean lane
a mile wide between the two divisions
of the excursion fleet Even in the light
air it was astonishing how the defend
er slipped through the placid seas.
With the gentle breeze on the surface
of her pure white sails and her stern
crowded with tars to hold her head up,
widening, until two miles separated
them.
Half an hour from home when the
spectators had abandoned any idea
that the finish line could be reached
in time. the wind suddenly freshened
and Reliance came bowling down at
& merry clip. But the wind had come
too late and when still few hundred
yards from home the gun on the Navi-
gator doomed across the water. The
excursion boats held off until she cross
ed to give her a rousing welcome and
then scampered for New-York.
Sir Thomas, who heretofore has al
ways followed his champion into the
Hook, in the Erin, went ahead at full
speed as il to drown out the memory
of the inglorious licking he got, to-
day.
The next race, which will be like
the one attempted, today, Is miles to
leeward or windward and return, will
: be sailed on Saturday.
Sandy Hook y. r., Aug. 27-Both boats
came up quickly to the Hook after the
failure to finish and took up their anchor
ages. Sir Thomas, speaking of today's
laffair, said
Il am willing to repeat what I said,
this morning | still have hope. slight
though it is. Let us hope for a spanking
good breeze, Saturday. / called my
friends around me, this afternoon. and
was about to express my regret at my
failure, when l happened to look at my
watch Then | reserved decision, and l
may never have to make that speech"
Mr.. lselin and Captain Barr declined to
talk except that Mr.. Iselin regretted that
+ the wind was not sufficient to bring the
! boats in on time.