New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-28

the race had not been completed. Their yacht
was thereby saved from the worst defeat she
mas yet suffered at the hands of the Herreshsf
yacht. 1t gives them another chance TO show
what Shamrock III can do. in weather that is
best suited to her, which now seems to be the
strongest kini of a breeze and sea
Both yachts arrived early at the Ightship,
with fine fitting mainsails and swinging their
biggest club topsails aloft. Each had the same
party on board as on the previous races. Cap
tain Nat" Herreshor being or the defender
and William Fife jr on the challenger, in an
advisory capacity.
The committee boat Navigator established the
starting line at 1915 o'clock by anchoring about
three hundred yards southwest of the 1ghtshlp'
and few minutes later the course signals were
set. They were the code flags "A R D. meaning
southeast" Off went the tug Scully in few
minutes 10 log the course and at 10:45 o'clock
the preparatory signal was set The wlnd at
this time was of not more than three knots
strength and from the southwest. and the SKY
overcast.
The feet of Yachts and excursion steamers
not nearly so large a one as before-was being
warned away from the line to the halt-miie
limit. and every one was on the alert, watching
the rg1anoeuvres between the two yachts Their
play for places at the start was very interesting
in spite of the fact that their movements were
necessarily slow on account of the extremely
light wind.
THE sTRANGEsT START ON RECORD.
Such a strange start as this was never seen
in International yacht racing. The Reliance was
bandicapped Il seconds and the Shamrock
minute ~ seconds, and this is how it hap
penAd. The wind was very light from the
southeast-so light that it was difficult TO ma
noeuvre the yachts
At the warning gun the Shamrock was in the
wind. south of the line. AS she filed away to
port the Reliance did the same Both were
SOW on the starboard tack, beam and beam,
heading east, with the defender in the weather
berth Barr luffed the Reliance TO check her
way. She dropped back to the Shamrock's
weather quarter, both now having the wind
on their starboard quarters.
At one minute before the starting gun they
were standing to the northeast, with the light
ship to port of them, the Reliance keeping TO
7gindward of her rival all the time When the
gun was fired they had both reached the stern of
the lightship, but instead of gybing to starboard
and then lufing around it they luffed to star
board, Wringe having the inside berth next the
nghtship and being evidently determined to
use UP his time allowance at the start. Barr
luffed with him, for the Reliance was close
aboard to leeward at this time, and he was
bound to stick to his rival even at the expense
of being handicapped himself.
There was only one minute left them now to
cross the line. and still they were heading away
from it. Barr tackled first to port, the Reliance
having forereached the Shamrock, and as
he kept her Oft she crossed the challenger's bow
The handicap gun fired just Barr was
beginning to luff the Reliance for the stern of
the Ightship. He sent her across the line close
hauled the port tack, with a handicap OF
Al seconds wringe had been outgeneralled for
he forced to cross the wake of his rival
several lengths astern. and by the time he
luffed her around the lightship and across the
line she handicapped l minute - seconds,
and was 81 seconds astern of the Reliance.
The official time of the start for both yachts
was LOO. Their actual start was: