Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-27
Yachts Close Together.

or the yachts being unable to hnlSh WITHIN
the time limit, the regatta committee fired
the preparatory gun at 10:45-
Yachts Close Together.
At that time both yachts were close to-
gether on the leeward- side of the line. sail
Ing about with jib topSails set in order to
maneuver more quickly.
In the preliminary work Reliance seemed
to sail about with more life than the Sham
very fast.
Six minutes before the time set for the
start the wind had increased to about live
miles an hour and the fight for position
became brisk.
The fight for position at the start was
very keen and was entirely in favor of the
American boat. Four minutes before The
starting gun was fired Shamrock, being az
a further distance to the south of the COM
mittee boat, headed back to the line.
Reliance Started After Her.
Reliance held away for about a minute
and then started after her. The great sail
spread of Reliance enabled Capt. Barr to
completely blanket Shamrock, and from
this position Capt. Wringe was unable 70
extricate his boat
Capt. Wringe. however, was able to pre-
vent Reliance getting down into position on
the leeward side of the line, and both boats,
when the starting gun was fired, were on
the lightship.
Reliance then pulled by Shamrock and
rounding the lightship headed for the line
on the port tack. In the meantime the
handicap signal had been fired and Re-
lance, coming slowly for the line, finally
crossed it nearly a minute later.
shamrock was more than minute aSte"n
of the American boat and had a handicap
of two minutes and five seconds.
Shamrock's Start Poor One.
1t was the worst start an English boat
has made in an Americas cup contest for
many years.
AT Ills 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.
The wind as the yachts sailed farther
away from the lightship seemed very tickle
and at 11:20 Shamrock was heading four
or five points off the course sailed by Re-
lance. In fact. the Reliance twenty min
utes after the start had apparent lead
of nearly half a mile.
Reliance Had Decided Advantage.
The conditions of the start gave Reliance
very decided advantage, for though both
yachts are officially timed as crossing at
HOP Shamrock actually crossed one minute
and seven seconds behind her competitor,
thereby reducing the time which Reliance
must overcome in her time allowance one
minute and seven seconds.
Thus Reliance in actual sailing only has
to overcome in time allowance fifty sec
onds.
Both yachts held to the eastward on the
starboard tack until 11:2S. Reliance con-
tinued to pull away a 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 lfghtship
when she came about. Neither yacht was
heenng over to any extent. The air was
very light and the excursion fleet con-
tinually had to stop so as not to be in ad-
vance of the racers.
Prospects Of Finish on Time.
At 11:55 the wind in shore was blowing
six or seven miles an hour from the south
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. Reliance's
gain as the yachts worked slowly out to-
ward the mark was continuous and she
pulled away until at 1925 there was a
space of about a mile between the two
boats.
The breeze had freshened to about seven
knots. and the yachts were moving faster
than at any previous time in the race
Shamrock appeared entirely unable to hold
Reliance. At 12:15 they were half way to
the outer mark.
Tackled to Starboard.
1t was 1890 when Barr hove his wheel
over and tackled to starboard Captain
Wringe evidently had an idea Of his own
and did not intend to be Influenced by any
of the defenders actions.
Barr found his opponent did not follow
his lead. and only heldsthe starboard tack
for four minutes. when he again tackled to
port. Hardly had he filed away when
Shamrock came about Barr did not hold
his direction long, and quickly followed
the challenger's example and tackled to
starboard.
The yachts at this time had apparently
sailed about ten miles of the course. The
wind had not fallen and the prospects
were for finish race
AS the yachts drew nearer the outer mark
Shamrock seemed to hold the Reliance bet
ter, appearing to point almost as high and
foot as fast. ---...
Headed Toward South.
At LOO both boats having made long
tack to starboard came about and headed
toward the south. They were somewhat to
the westward of the course, and 1t looked
as If they might reach the mark on the
next tack. The wind Off shore seemed to
be holding fairly well, blowing about six
miles an hour.
NEW YORK, August 27lThe port tack
was held by Reliance for eighteen min
utes. 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 of shore, and 1t was twenty
minutes later, at 1:42. when Reliance turn
ed the floating beacon which marked the
outer limit of the course. Shamrock turned
at AS.
Homeward Course Slowly.
The yachts sailed the first four or five
miles of the homeward course very slowly.
Reliance, with her great sail spread. con-
tinued to gain, and at $50 was over a mile
In the van.
Unless the wind decreased Reliance was
the certain winner, and Sir Thomas third
effort TO win the Americas cup was DOOM
ed to failure.
The wind began to haul a nttl etc the
south as the afternoon progressed Most OF
the excursion fleet kept to the eastward Of
the line. but others hurried forward for a
good position near the finish line.
At o'clock Reliance was about eight
miles from the lghtship and looked to be
about a mile and half ahead of the Sham
rock
STORY OF THE START.