The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-17

and rudders the Americans have al
ways shown a decided superiority. capt
Charles Barr, who will hold the steer
ing wheel or Reliance, is consluereo 70
be the best yacht skipper on. this sloe
of the Atlantic. Capt Bob" Wrlnge
holds the title of the best skipper In
England Barr knows Reliance thor,
Oughly. and Wringe is familiar with an
the moods and whims of Shamrock Ill
In measure the outcome of the race
will show the genius of these two men
and the crews of well drilled sailors
they have been training since spring.
In the evolution of yacht models it is
notable that the old time rivalry pc
tween shallow sloop and deep cutter
which marked all of the early matches
for the cup comes nearer to repeating It
self this year than for a decade. Broad
and shallow of hull with a thin mn
carrying the ninety and odd tons OF
lead ballast deep in the water. Reliance
seems to date back to the days of the
Burgess centerboarder for its MAN
plan. Shamrock III. is more nearly
cutter than any of its predecessors
since Thistle. 1t is comparatively mar
row and deep of hull. strikingly so LOT
a fin keel and in appearance is much
the handsomer boat of the two Willie
Fife. its designer. has produced boat
of exceptionally fine lines, sharp IN the
bow and stern, and one designed to give
the least possible resistance in moving
through the water.
Yachtsmen describe Reliance as big
brute" 1t carries a greater sail plan for
several hundred square feet than was
ever spread on slope of ninety feet
waterline before, and the hull is planned
to carry it. Above the waterline 1T IS
big and ungainly, with power TO hold
up the towering canvas shown at every
foot The overhangs are broad and long
and the bow kicks up a cloud of spray
when the yacht is heeled over in fresh
breeze. Below the water. where form
really counts. is a different story. There
every possible inch has been cut away,
leaving little bulk to push through the
water and reduce the friction of the wet
ted surface to the minimum. Just how
well the plans of hull and sails have
been combined was shown when Re
lance covered in a fresh breeze the fast
est thirty knots every sailed by a
sloop in this country, if not in the
world.
Much. of course. depends upon the
sort of breeze prevailing during the
races. but this will not give decided
advantage to either craft. Both have
shown themselves at their best in light
winds and at their poorest In strong
winds. On a reach in any kind of wind
Reliance, on account of its long sailing
lines, is practically unbeatable, and In
that style of sailing should run away
from Shamrock III. and any other nine
ty footer that was ever built. In wind
ward work and in running directly be-
fore the wind it has also shown super
iority over Constitution and Columbia.
Shamrock III. however. is the most
formida BILE challenger. and will be the
most dangerous in a beat to windward
in 4 light breeze If the conditions or
the tactics of the shippers necessitate
many short tacks the chances will be
still greater in favor of Shamrock III.
for the new boat turns more quickly
and handles more easily than any cup
on a pivot, and gathers way with sur
prising quickness. In running before
the wind Reliance is perhaps slightly
superior, in a measure due to the great
er sail spread and shallow hull
AS the race will be won and lost by
only seconds-an accident to either
craft means victory to the opponent
Reliance has shown its ability to carry
its sail spread of about 5000 square
feet in strong winds and heavy seas
Two accidents have been recorded on
the American craft-one the loss of a
topmast and the other a bent steel gaff
Shamrock III, on the other hand. was
once dismasted, has had a broken gait
and several parts of its rigging have
parted al various times. Here the
chances are all in favor of Reliance
In both boats, however, strength has
been sacrificed to lightness to the limit
When the craft are under way nex1
Thursday the novice will have nc
trouble in distinguishing the two boats
Reliance'S underbody is of tobin bronze
polished until it CLEANS like FURNISHED
gold, and it's greater size and enormous
spread Of sail will make it conspicuous
Shamrock III. on the other hand, is
plated all over with nickel steel. an6
the surface below the water line is
coated with a peculiar white ename
that has dried with the finish of Dor.
celain- The English yacht, moreover
has narrow green band surmountins
its topside and a broad band of The
same color at the water line. Reli.
ance's sails are pure white, while Sham.
rock III shows canvas of a dark crean
shade. some of the lighter sails beins
quite brown.
Sir Thomas Upton stands alone a:
owner of the challenger but the enorm
Gus expense of Reliance's initial cos
and maintenance is borne By a syndi
cate composed of Henry Walters. p. A
B. Widener, William B. Leeds. CIemen
A Gr1scom, James ]. Hill, Norman B
Ream. E. H. Gary, Cornelius Wander
/ bilt, G. Oliver Iselin, and William q
/ Rockefeller Mr.. Iselin is manager q
the racer. as he was of the yacht De
fender in 1895.
The interest in this greatest of al
sporting events is not confined to thos,
who will actually witness the yacht.
under way In every city and villag,
in the country reached by telegraph
crowds of people, the majority of whom
never saw salt water, will wait anxious
ly Tor bulletins to tell which is frs
oil Go tAAC line. hIlOWleQ&e o
nautical affairs is not essential to :
keen interest in the race. Those VIII,
do not know the difference between
spinnaker and the cabin boys duel
! trousers will discuss lacks and gybe
fiuently. To crafty this all prevaIen
demand for speedy news of the friendl,
battle going on miles from land, grea
expense has been incurred. Ships
equipped with wireless telegraphy, will
follow the racers and flash bulletins o
the progress every few minutes to tn
shore, there to be spread all over tn
land Stock ticlxers carry the result
and within half an hour from the finisl
several million people will know tn
name of the winner.
The conditions of the match provid
that the successful yacht in three race
out of five shall get the America cup
The dates as set by mutual agreemen
for this year are August 20. %. 25. q
and %. the intervening days being al
lowed so that the crews may get a res
and a chance to repair whatever dam