The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1903-08-22
ny ASSOCIATED rRfss.

ny ASSOCIATED rRFSS.
New York, Aug. as.--l'iiy-two years
ago this very day the yacht America. IN
race Tor a cup offered by Queen Victoria,
won prize, which since that day has be-
come recognized as the most highly sought
trophy in the yachting world.
The courageous Commodore Stevens,
after many reiusals, was finally permitted
To enter a contest against English boats
to be sailed around the Isle OF Wight. aud
SO well did he sail his yacht that the re-
mark has become historical, There was
no second"
A true, clean contest which can leave
no doubt Of supremacy, such as nuky
winds permit. should result today IN tho
race between the Reliance and Shamrock
III for the prize which 50 long has been
coveted Ly English yachtsmen.
The wind at a. m. blew steadily out
of the west southwest at rate Of from
eight 10 ten knots and from a perfectly
cloudlcss sky. There was every indica-
ton that the matchlcss yachts represent
ing the two nations would sail finished
race
The breeze which had died down some
what during the night, had shifted to the
southwest aud increased in strength as
the sun rose. A perfect day broke and
the air was dry and cool with no indica-
iions of n return Of the sultry conditions
which prevailed al the same time on
Thursday.
Boats Leave Moorinos.
Reliance started mp her mainsai at $40
and five minutes 10 o o'clock a line from
her tender and with jib and staysails in
stops and mainsails, left the Hook for the
start.
Shamrock followed few minutes later.
She did not take a line from the cruiser
bnt broke out her jib and staysail and with
her mainsai set and sailed out OF the
hafbor.
After Reliance had rounded the Hook
she set her club iopsal.
Reliance clung to her tender until o 80
when she dropped the tow and started
down the coast. BY 10 O'Clock both yachts
had arrived in the vicinity Of the starting
line and had set all the sails which they
intended To carry across the line.
BY this hour the first Of the excursion
fleet had begun TO appear. The wind
steadily increased and the wind gauges
showed that the yachts would have a whole
sail breeze Of about 10 knots an hour to
start with.
Owing to the direction Of the wind the
committee had some dillIculty on deciding
on the starting point, as it was apparent
that beat to windward Of IS miles from
the lighiship was impracticable. II was
finally concluded to make the start several
miles TO the eastward. This change nee.
essitated a delay from the hour set.
Race Is Exciting.
The contest Immediately developed nts
a close and exciting one for, while Rcli-
ancc seemed to pick up and to be to wind
ward Of Shamrock, she was unable to get
by. At I2:II O'Clock the American boat
swung around on the port tack and headed
for the Jersey shore. Shamrock kept on
two minutes longer before lacking to port.
This tack developed into long run in
shore and as the time passed it was evil
dent that the Shamrock was doing bet
ter on the port tack than on the starboard.
As the yachts worked down toward the
outer mark they began TO feel the full
force Of the food tide coming up the
coast.
In the first 50 minutes OF racing the
contest was so close as 10 create the most
intense excitement among the thousands
OF spectators on boat and shore.
At 1885 the yachts were still holding
the port tack standing toward seabright
but fully eight miles OFF shore. The wind
held strong and the yachts had all of it
that they wanted for the sail they were
CARRYING.