Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-08-31
RELIANCE AND SHAMROCK OUT AGAIN

The committee boat came to anchor
about four miles south by west OF the
Mghtship. With the assistance OF an
other tug the ima ginary starting line
was then formed and the course was
signalled as east northeast. This Wan
bring the turn southeast Of Long Beacn
about six miles off shore.
The wind dropped to seven knots an
hour and it looked at 11:2O as though
it would be a long slow race. Inc
preparatory gun was fired at 1l:3O-
The sea at this time had become much
caImer and the wind was still dropping
lower and lower, Both boats man.
euvered slowly, the Shamrock being
able to get from beneath the blanketlng
sails of the Reliance. The warning
gun was fired at 11:40 and the chal-
lenger held back along the lines with
the Reliance a short distance asrern.
At II :45 both boats went on the star
board tack with the Reliance a httle
in the lead. The starting gun was
fired at this hour and both boats tack
ed along the line to starboard. The
start was made at 11:45-26 with the
Reliance little to windward.
After crossing the Shamrock went
Immediately to port and the Reliance
followed her thirty seconds later. The
Reliance was pointing magni1ciently
to windward but the smashing seas
was handicapping both boats. The
Shamrock was unable to point so high
but. seemed to take to the seas better
but could not better her position.
During the first half hour Of the race
the boats had only sailed two miles.
The yachts made three tacks to wind
ward after this first half hour and then
the Reliance seemed to gain steadily
on the Shamrock and at 1920 was
leading by about one eight of mile.
The yachts beat slowly to windward
the heavy seas lifting the bows of the
racers until the fins could be seen.
The Shamrock still made easier work
of the seas but could not pull up and
the flood tides retarded their progress.
At one o'clock hope that the yachts
would finish within the time limit be-
gan to disappear and again it seemed
as if it would be a race against time.
At 1:16 the Reliance was well to
windward and was leaeding by at least
one sixteenth to one quarter of a mile.
AT 1:3O the Reliance had increased her
lead to one quarter of a mile and both
boats were pounding badly. At 1:4O
a shift of the wind to the north east
put the Reliance about a mile to wind
ward Of the Shamrock. At 2 o'clock
Reliance had increased this lead and
was apparently leading by one and one
half miles
At 2:05 Reliance which was then four
miles from the outer mark, was lead
ing Shamrock by two miles. At 2:3O
the Reliance took in her jib tepsail and
set larger one and set sail speedily
for the outer turn. AT 2:36 the Sham
rock endeavored to cut down the lead
Of the American boat by going on the
starboard tack. The Reliance, how
ever, quickly followed E on the same
tack. AT 2:40, when within one mile
from the turn. the Reliance was still
leading by two miles, and the wind
was blowing at only five knots.
At thirty-seven seconds past three
the Reliance turned the outer mark
and sped away on the 15-mile run for
home With favorable wind there
is a chance of her getting over the
finish line within the specified time
At a quarter-past three there was a
slight shift in the wind and the Reli-
ance set her spinnaker. The Sham
rock turned the outer mark at
3:19:10.