New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-07-04
TIE RELIANCE AND GR4MRoCK III

The loss Of one of the Columbia's crew was
mournful incident but in all other respects the
results Of the trial races off Newport are high
ly satisfactory. 1t has been shown that the
Constitution had not so much in reserve as
many have surmised; that the Columbia meas
Ured by the highest standard, is a wonderful
boat and that the Reliance is the fastest Amer
lean craft afoat in all conditions Of wind and
sea. 1t may possibly be said that this last
statement still lacks proof, but we do not see
how the contrary can be maintained with any
show Of reason. After the earlier trials no
doubt was left in any mind that she was IN
approachable in airs so light that it seemed al
most miracle that any boat could move at all.
1t has been Columbia's weather this week
around Newport, and the old defender has made
an impressive exhibition Of truly great quail
ties, but nevertheless the races have furnished
wellnigh conclusive evidence that among the
creations of American designers the Reliance is
in a class by herself.
1t is virtually certain therefore, that the new
boat will be chosen to defend the Cup, unless
some accident should hopelessly disable her; in
which case it would be close contest for the
honor between the Constitution and the Column
bia, with the chances in the latter's favor.
Happily there is little reason to fear such a
misfortune. Every constituent part of the Re-
nance mas Deen SuDJecteQ CnlS week 10 SeVerer
strains than she is likely to encounter again
this season, and the manner In which she has
borne them is cause for hearty praise and con-
graduation The denting Of plate is a trifing
thing, which might happen at any time under
similar conditions to ocean steamship; and
after such a test of hull and spars and rigging
it is fair to assume that the Reliance is fit for
whatever is in store for her. She is not an adj
mirable type though a marvel as a racing ma
chine, but she is Enthusiastically the reverse of
fragile. 1t is proper to use superlatiYes in COM
pairing the Reliance with her homemade COM
petitOrs, but it would not be decOrous or abSo-
lutely safe to go further Except to her owner
and his immediate circle of experts Shamrock
III is practically an unknown quantity. Others
have ample warrant for believing that she is
an exceedingly able boat and considerable rea-
son to suppose that Sir Thomas Lptons san
guine temperament does not wholly account
for the faith which he has professed but
whether or not his confidence still survives,
after a cool consideration of the latest perform
anceS OF the Reliance, is a question which only
he and those around him are competent to an
swer.
Sir Thomas is reported as saying that If he
fails this year he will challenge next time with
a schooner That is an interesting announce
ment and suggestive Of benefits to the science
of marine architecture; but if there are Ameri-
cans who think that the loss of the Cup would
be a good thing for international yachting, they
will not be pleased at the prospect of a schoon-
er's coming after it. For it is not presumptuous
to say that foreign designers in the schooner
class have much to learn and must come here
for instruction.