The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1903-08-28
YACHTS FAIL TO FINISH IN The
TIME LIMIT OWING TO
LIGHT WIND.
SHAMROCK III. H0PELESSLY BEATEN
MILE AND A HALF BEHIND RELl-
ANCE AT THE END OF
THE CONTEST.


for the Americas cup was without re
the time limit. At the expiration OF
the five and one-half hours Reliance
was three-quarterS of mile from the
finish and Shamrock one and hall
miles astern of the American boat
hopelessly beaten.
When the starting gun was fired
both boats were on the windward side
heading over toward the lightship
Reliance then pulled by Shamrock and
rounding the lightship, headed for the
line on the port tack. Shamrock was
more than a minute astern of the
American boat and had handicap OF
two minutes and five seconds. 1t was
the worst start an English boat has
made in an Americas cup contest for
many years At IL Is both yachts were
headed little north of east, sailing
very slowly on the starboard tack.
Reliance was we'll in the lead The
wind at that time was blowing about
five knots and at 11:20 Shamrock was
heading four or five points off the
course sailed by Reliance. In fact. the
Reliance, twenty minutes after the
start, had an apparent lead Of nearly
half mile.
The conditions of the start gave Re-
lance a very decided advantage, for
though both yachts are officially timed
as crossing at 1902 Shamrock actually
crossed one minute and seven seconds
behind her competitor, thereby reduc-
Ing the time which Reliance must
overcome In her time allowance one
minute and seven seconds.
Reliance Continues to Pull Away.
Both yachts held to the eastward on
the starboard tack until 1925. Reli-
ance continued to pull away bit and
when both tackled to port she had a
lead Of fully three-eighths of mile.
Shamrock had moved SO slowly that
she was scarcely mile from the light
ship when she came about. Neither
yacht was heeling over to any extent.
The air was very light and the excur-
sion fleet continually had to stop SO as
not to be in advance of the racers.
At l1:55 the wind inshore was blow
ing six or seven miles an hour from
the southeast and there were prospects
OF the race being finished on time. AT
noon the boats had been sailing about
an hour and covered about one-third
the distance to the outer mark Reli-
ances gain as the yachts worked slow
ly out toward the mark was continuous
and she pulled away until at 1925
there was a space of about a mile be-
tween the two boats The breeze had
freshened to about seven knots and
= fo oCtn
at any previous time in the race. Sham
rock appeared entirely unable to hold
Reliance. At 12:15 they were half
way to the outer mark.
At 1890 the yachts had apparently
sailed about ten miles of the course.
The wind had not fallen and the pros
poets were for finish race.
Shamrock Seems to Do Better.
AS the yachts drew nearer the outer
mark the Shamrock seemed to hold
the Reliance better, appearing to point
almost as high and foot as fast. AT
l 02 both boats, having made long
tack to starboard, came about and
headed towards the south The wind
was off shore and seemed to be hold
ing fairly well. blowing about six miles
an hour.
The port tack was held by Reliance
for eighteen minutes, when she went
over to starboard and headed straight
for the mark The Shamrock went on
the same tack at 1:21, about mile in
the rear. The wind was very light off
shore and it was twenty minutes later.
at Lac, when Reliance turned the
floating beacon which marked the
outer limit of the course. Shamrock
turned at 1 81.
The yachts sailed the first four or
Ave miles of the homeway run Of the
course very slowly. Reliance with her
great sail spread continued TO gain
and at 2: :l5 was over mile in the van.
The wind began to haul a little toI
The south as the afternoon progressed. |
At 3 o'clock Reliance was about cigh
miles from the lightship and looke'
TO be about a mile and half ahead OF
the Shamrock.
Reliance Racing Against Time.
At 3:20 p. m. the contest had devcl |
,ped into a race between Reliance and
lime. Reliance was still six miles
rom the lightship and had one hour
md ten minutes within which to cover |
hat distance Shamrock was hope |
essly beaten.
From that time to the end 1t was q |
race against time by Reliance, a.
Shamrock was nearly two miles astern |
II the American boat.
At 3:4O p. m. the wind had de |
creased perceptibly and Reliance had
moved a mile In twenty min
ties.
At 4:06 p. m. Reliance reset he!
,pinnaker, which she had taken In, for
last brave effort to reach the line.
At that time she had three and half
niles to cover In twenty-six minutes.
At 4.l6 Reliance was still over two
niles from the finish. with the wind
light.
At 4:3O the race was declared OF.
Reliance was about three-quarters OF
| mile from the finish and Shamrock