Morris tribune., 1903-08-22
FIRST MEETING BETWEEN RELL
y ANcE AND SHAMROCK III.
ENDS IN NO RACE.
DEFENDER TWO MILES IN THE LEAD
CHALLENGER LED FOR A TIME
BUT is EASILY ovERTAKEN
BY AMERICAN BOAT.

New York, Aug 21.-The first con
test between the Reliance and Sham
rock Ill for Americas cup ended II
no race because of the light wind pre-
vailing. The race was called OFF al
4 o'clock, shortly after the Reliance
) had passed the fifteen-mile turning
point, the defender then being fully
two miles ahead of the Shamrock III
The preparatory signal was given
at 45 as the boats were manuever
ing for position under the three lower
sails, a club topsail and also jib top
sail.
The wind was then from the south
west and the course signalled was fif
teen miles to the windward and run
home
Promptly at II o'clock the starting
gun was fired.
Reliance was running down the line
on the port tack with Shamrock a
short distance astern. At the start
ing signal Reliance gybed and headed
for the line. Shamrock came about
on Reliances weather and also
headed for the line. Shamrock was
first to cross. Both boats were on the
starboard tack with fattened sheets,
Reliance little to Windward of Sham
rocks wake and a few hundred yards
astern.
Little by little, almost imperceptibly,
Reliance seemed to gain on her ad-
versary, but before she is on equal
terms she must overcome the l min
ute and 81 seconds time allowance.
Soon after the start the yachts ran
into a drenching rain storm which,
when it passed, left a calm which was
only broken by faint and Wavering
wind. Considering the conditions the
pace made by the big racers was re-
markable, but it was apparent that
unless the breeze improved consider
ably it would not take them round the
course within the time limit
Reliance overtakes Shamrock.
At IL o'clock the yachts were about
four miles due east Of Monmouth
Beach.
Scarcely had the first shower passed
when another heavy downpour over
took them. The wind shifted slightly
and in such way as directly to at
feet Reliance so that when eight miles
of the course had been sailed the boats
were on even terms.
Repeated shifts of the wind con-
tinued to favor Reliance and little by
little she gained on her opponent.
When about eleven miles of the course
had been sailed Reliance led by 200
yards. Shamrock was to leeWard, ap-
parently footing faster, but not point
ing so high into the wind as Reliance.
The rain had stopped, but showers
continued to threaten. The wind at
this time was blowing about six knots.
AS the rain ceased the wind fresh
ened a little and with it's increasing
force Reliance began to prove her bet
ter sailing qualities. While for a
time Shamrock seemed to foot as fast
as Reliance the latter was pointing
much higher and soon ate her way into
a commanding windward berth, giving
her a distinct lead Gradually she
breeze seemed to improve 1t looked at
/ o'clock as though the race would be
finished within the time limit. At
that hour both boats were on the port
tack about three miles from the mark,
with the Reliance slightly more than
a quarter of mile in the lead.
Reliance ContlnueS TO CALM
With Reliance ahead they beat down
to the outer mark in tacks Of varying
lengths. Time after time Shamrock
went about with the idea Of shaking
clear and looking for favoring slants
of wind. Reliance. however, played
the game as it should be played and
broke tack with her opponent every
time, keeping constantly between Rer
and the mark Progress was slow In
the light and shifty winds. Gradually
the wind fell until, at 1:45, when the
yachts were just off Asbury Park, they
were almost becalmed, with Reliance
over a mile in the lead.
In the long tedious beat down the
Jersey shore to the outer mark Re-
lance continually pulled away from
the challenger, although it was conf
IDENTIFY expected by the supporters Of
the latter boat that in the light winds
she would prove a wonder and beat
the Reliance or at least hold her. The
we'll known drifting qualities of the
Herreshoff boat, which she showed In
the races early in the season, stood
her in good stead and her gains were
continuous.
The excursion feet obeyed orders
better than ever before and gave both
boats plenty Of sea room, in fact the
space about the boats extended more
than mile on either side. The larger
excursion boats also kept well astern
so that they did not at any time affect !
the wind.
Wind Completely Subsidies.
BY 2 o'clock the wind had subsided
almost completely, leaving the boats
Tapping about in the long ocean roll.
They twisted and turned in desper-
ate effort to get into favorable slant |
of wind, during which head sails were
frequently shifted. Inshore and far
ther. up the coast towards Sandy Hook
q fine northwest breeze prevailed, but
It worked off shore very gradually. !,