The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-31
SHAMROCK LEFT FAR BEHIND

the yachts off tc windward AS soon
| as the signal was hOisted the Navigator
began to steam south from the lightshlp
! While the two yachts and the small ac-
| companying fleet followed in that di-
| rection.
The committee boat came to anchor
about four miles south by west OF the
lightship. The course was si4nalled as
| east northeast, which would bring the
turn southeast of Long Beach ABOUT six
| miles off shore
The wind has dropped to about seven
| knots, and there seems to be prospects
of long slow race. On the way down
to the new starting point Shamrock
swapped topsails. exchanging her No
for a much larger one. The sea was
much calmer than when the yachts
first went cut. Promptly at IL 80 the
committee fired the preliminary gun,
4 which viii make the start at 1l:45 and
give the yachts until Sis this afternoon
within which to finish the race
/ Today Shamrock seemed to have a
| little more life and Captain Wringe
was able to get her out from beneath
the great blanketing sails of Reliance.
At 11:44, one minute before the start
ing gun was fired, both boats were
holding along the starboard tack with
Reliance trifle in the lead. Half a
minute before the starting gun was
fired jib top sails were broken out on
both boats.
The starting gun was fired at 11:45
with both boats to the leeward of the
line. They Immediately trimmed their
sheets and went across the line on Il
starboard tack. Reliance a little to wind
ward The wind at the start was blow
ing about Z miles an hour and both
yachts at once headed towards the Long
Island shore.
Each carried the same sails with large
club top sails and intermediate bapy
jib top sails. Immediately after cross
ing the line Shamrock went to port Re
lance following her example 40 seconds
lot =
on the port tack. Reliance was point
ing magnifcently to windward but
smashing the seas badly. Shamrock
apparently was unable to hold so high
a wind, but there was little change in
their positions when they threw back
again to starbOard, Reliance being first
TO break tack and Shamrock following
promptly.
During the first half hour after the
start, the yachts made three tacks, but
the wind being light at 1915 they had
scarcely covered more than two miles
of the course. Reliance, as usual, COM
menced to gain steadily, and at 12:20
was apparently leading by an eighth or
a quarter of a mile
Shamrock in all the tacks that were
made up to this point was the first to
make the move, Reliance following
usually inside of a minute. The wind
seemed to have little life, and at 1920
was blowing not more than five or six
miles an hour. AS the yachts beat
SAOWAy TO WluuWdIQ the 0eaVy ground
swell lifted the bows of the racers so
that their fins could be SEEN The wind
seemed to suit Shamrock better and
she made easier work of the long swell
though Reliance was pointing higher.
The yachts were making slow time of
1t, and We're being greatly retarded by
the mood tide. At I O'Clock hope that
the yachts would finish within the time
limit began to disappear.
When both boats started towards
Long Beach it was easy to see what
great advantage Reliance had estab-
lished because of her better ability to
go to windward. When the short hitch
eS had been completed Barr was over
a mile to the windward of the Upton
boat. Reliance caught a bad slant of
wind at one time and for two minutes
the challenger Travelled about three
points higher. But Shamrock received
the same slant later so that this slight
advantage was soon overcome. The
wind hauled little more to the north
and headed off slightly until at1:57 Barr
shot Reliance about on the port tack
followed one minute later by Shamrock.
When the yachts Strengthened out on
the port tack headed for the mark Re
lance seemed to have a lead of about a
mile and a half.
When Barr learned that Shamrock
Jared better in the heavy ground swell
he led his rival to the Long Island
shore where Reliance had better sail
ing and continually increased her lead.
Reliance had the better of all the shore
bitches in shore where he Dinched his
boat to windward in every puff and
clamp of wind The wind continued to
drop until it was blowing not more
than three or four miles an hour.
Under these conditions Shamrock roll
ed considerably but Reliance's fiat
broad body kept her on her feet and
constantly moving. Within one mile of
the mark Reliance made two short
bitches to fetch it, She left the mark
r6 oryb
she went around at 3:0045, unofficial.
The wind had backed so far around
to the north that Reliance was unable
to set her spinnaker and she carried
balloon jib toDsail. mainsail and club
topsail as she headed away straight for
the nhish. Is miles away, with just two
hours and Is minutes within which to
reach the finish line in order that there
should be a race. When Reliance
turned Shamrock was still over two
miles from that point
New York, Aug. 31-Captain Barr
OF OF Rehance and Captain Wringe of
Shamrock III evidently believed the |
race would be sailed, for the crews of |
both boats put up their jibs and stay
sail stops and began active prepara-
tions to go out. Sir Thomas on the
Erin smiled as he said:
We'll, guess we're all pretty bad
judges of the weather. 1t looks more
like a calm than a breezy and heavy
sea-.
Captain Barr said that there would
be one objection to the day if the breeze |
continued to fail, and that would be
the choppy sea which would retard the
boats and prevent their doing the
course inside the time limit
The rain of the early morning had
cleared at S:15 and along the horizon
line was a streak of light that gave the
impression that there would be plenty |
of bright sunshiny weather. before the |
noon hour arrived. The wind was 10 |
miles at $50 and both of the racers |
were ready to be towed out as soon as
the committee signal was observed |
Sharp eyed men with glasses kept
watch of the narrows for the appear
ance of the committee boat but at $3.50
it had not come in sight. During the |
early morning hours the sea grew
call,,er Ehe h1lc.a ,,,n,lr,ta i,,s .,f s.r,a., !