The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-21
Reliance Well to the Fore
in a Drifting Match.
FIRST CUP RACE NO RACE AT ALL
Yachts Unable to Get Home
Within the Time Limit.

Coming Out Shamrock Gets Away
Ills opponent Experts, Nevertheless.
Not Sure the Cup Is Safc-SteanbOat
Fleet and steam Yachts Race 10 Port.
The first meeting of the Titanic
single-st ickers, Reliance and Sham
rock ILL.,, ended in fluke yesterday,
due to light and battling breezes
During the first hour of the con-
test. which began in a southwesterly air
varying in force-if its feeble weight may
be 80 dignified-from three to six miles,
the American yacht demonst rated that
she was superior to the British racer by
outpointing her handsomely.
In the easy familiar Yankee style which
usually has distinguished the Herreshotf
creations, the Reliance carved her way
through crestless swells into the very eye
of the wind. When the challenger's skipper
found that he could not hope to get the
weather gauge on the Reliance he tried
to Offset his opponents undubitable adj
vantage by slipping through her lee, To
do this he eased OF a bit at times; but he
could not gain in footing what he had lost
in pointing.
To many trained observers OF the unsatis-
factory duel it appeared that with mere
zephyrs bellying their gorgeous sails and
in a moderate swell Of sea Shamrock III.
is minutes inferior to tie Yankee ship.
THE oN-LooKEEs
Distinguished folk from two WORLDS in
the most Respondent feet ever gathered at
a battle for the Cup, were on the rolling
deep to see and applaud the racers. The
biggest and best OF Sound and river steam
ers. the most magnificent and swirtest CT
yachts. and great fotllL Of small-fry creft
formed vast seInicircle, suggestive Of
marine amphitheatre, three or more miles
in extent astern and to the port and star
board of the immaculate sloops.
The patrol feet of tho Revenue Marine
Service, which was trifle behind schedule
in getting to the scene Of the race, kept
the two divisions Of Tie nect Of spectators
SO far out to sea and so close TO the Jersey
shore that they didn't see much OF the
mand uvering The starboard division had
a fine view Of Jersey summer resorts and
the port division gazed on q beautiful
stretch OF water, bounded on the east by
Europe, for several hours.
Later, when the Reliance, to the riot OF
whistles Of an infinite variety Of tone, the
thunder and bark of big and little guns, a
claf Of lal nd nd
screams Of patriots turned the outer mark,
fifteen miles from Sandy Hook Lghtship,
Off Asbury Park, the multitude afoat had a
chance to SEQ the yachts
They were permitted to gather within
a half mile Of the mark and take in the
turning. Everybody knew then that it
was impossible for the American yacht
to finish within five and a half hours, the
time limit set for the race. This knowl-
edge, however, had no restraining in
fiuence on the enthusiasm
GETTING AWAY.
The racers got away on their course of
fifteen miles dead TO windward, or south
southwest, parallel with the Jersey coast,
without making strenuous efforts to win
by jockeying. The Shamrock
crossed the line at ll:0l:l4, thirty-three
seconds before the Reliance. Capt. Barr
put the Yankee yacht on the weather quar-
ter Of the Shamrock and kept her there.
Such was the amplitude and lightness
of the sail of the marvellous racers that they
moved in the mere ghost Of breeze like
ghosts themselves. They carried prac-
ticaly the same sort of muslin, including
fiawlessly fitting club topsails, fore staysails,
jibs and handkerchief jib topsails The
Shamrock jib topsail was trife larger
than that OF the Reliance, and she soon
hauled il down and set smaller one when
her talent found that it was heading her
of bit.
To the unpractised eyes of those who were
near enough to see the yachts clearly the
appeared to be leading. The
experts saw clearly that the Yankee boat
had crept well out on the weather quarter
Of the challenger. The racers were only
iimly visible to both the inshore and port
divisions of the attending fleet.
LOST IN A STORM CLOUD.
Over toward the Atlantic Highlands a
slaty storm cloud formed, and presently
here came rushing across the water, like
he white crest Of food, the swish of the
storm. The long line Of crowded craft
,horeward vanished as if gauzy curtain
lad been rung down Oh it The swish soon
snveloped the giant strugglers and they
melted away in /: as If they had been
simply vapor creations What they did in
he few minutes of complete observation
nobody ventured to guess; but when the
leavy shower passed they became visible, |
still on the starboard tack, with the uai- |
lnce In somewhat better windward posi-
.on.
just after noon the shower grew thicker, |
md again the yachts, first becoming mere |
lhadow shapes, gradually We're swallowed
~ the mists. They materlGliZed few
minutes later, and IL was seen then that !
he Reliance was about third OF mile to |
and just abaft the beam of the !
TIE FIRST TACK.
Within minute and half after the
3riton made her frs: tack, going about |
III the port, the Reliance came around, |
planting herself on the weather bow of |
ier rival. Vainly the Briton made an
,tfort to gain by footing what she was
osiig in pointing The breezs began 10 |
all and the oontending giants, as they rose
md fell in the long undulations Of the
rot HESS swells, sent fountains squirting
rom under bows, mainsails tremuous
md head sails Tapping.
The air barely lifted flags and pennants