The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-04
RELIANCE PROVES
WORTHY Of NAME.
Defender Made Spectacular Finish, Burst
ing Through Fog to Cross Line and
Americas Cup Stays Here.

proves his superior seamanship by out
generating Capt. Wringe until the boats
went across the line
During the fifteen minutes before the
! starting gun Capt Barr held the British
boat under his lee and most OF the time
had her blanketed He never relinquIshed
the windward position which Reliance
held when the preparatory gun was fired
| Ten minutes later, when both boats were
heading away from the line. Shamrock
luffed and forced Reliance about. where
upon both headed for the line. on the
way to It Reliance held the challenger
under her lee quarter partially blanketed
! Alternately luffing and keeping away
Capt Barr prevented Shamrock from
getting away from him and across the
line, but two minutes after the starting
gun and at the sound OF the gun indicat-
| ing the expiration OF the handicap Wringe
| lufed shaprock across the stern OF Re-
| lance and the two boats went across the
| line close together
Shamrock actually crossed the line at
l;02;o3 and suffered a handicap OF three
1 seconds
Both were heading seaward. but as
Reliance from the lee bow OF the sham
rock was backwinding the challenger's
sails. the Shamrock III went about and
| headed down the Jersey shore. Reliance
I held on fora minute and then followed
The manoeuvres placed Reliance TO wind
ward but astern OF the challenger.
BREEZE FRESHENS FAST
They went off az swift pace In a
| freshening breeze. Capt. Wringe attempt
| ed 10 outsail the defender by giving his
boat a good full and letting her romp
away at fast clip, while Capt. Barr
| pinched Reliance close to the wind and
cleveriy nursed her toward the turning
/ mark. Shamrock III at first footed fast
er, but Reliance more than made up
! for the speed by outpointing her
For more than an hour they sailed on
me same tack, down past the shore OF
Sandy Hook and the Highlands Of Nave
! sink AT Seabright, and during all that time
the Reliance steadily worked up TO wind
/ ward OF the beaten challenger out
! pointing and outfooting her az the same
/ time and passing 10 windward OF her
! When they tackled of seabright. head
ing seaward. the American boat had
gained quarter OF a mile straight 10
! windward. On the new tack Captain
| Wringe again gave his boat good full.
| and she cut through the Reliance's lee
! at an alarming gait, but all 10 no pur-
pose. Pinched In the wind or with sails
full the Shamrock was hopelessly out
| classed.
| After half an hour of the turn off shore
! they sailed toward Long Branch for half
| on hour more. Captain Barr attempted
to make hitch OF shore. but Sham
| rock would not follow. and he took Re
| lance about again 10 keep in her COM
pany. Meanwhile Reliance had steadily
gained. and when at $40 both boats head
| ed of 10 the mark six miles away Re-
lance was a good mile ahead and still
/ gaining.
WIND AND SEA INCREASING.
Heeing to freshening wind and Jump
ing into a rising sea, which at times
vat
10 come down with a splash that sent
clouds of foam flying from under their
powerful shoulders. the boats were max
ing pretty spectacle The boats were
gaining I'm speed In every mile, and sham
rock III was long mile astern when Re
lance whirled about the mark and tower
| ing stretches of canvas broke and bellted
out from her spinnaker pole and over her
bow The homeward stretch had begun.
The boats were timed at the turn as
| follows:
Inns.
neHahCe '....''..'.''.'........... 3.4o.S
shamrock ll........................... 35l4s
Reliance has gained II minutes and
! three seconds in the thresh 20 windward
AS the boats started the run home
ward under splnnaker and balloon top.
sails split about three feet long ap-
I peared In the foot OF the Reliance's sp,n
l ~.
continued 10 carry II. For three quarters
OF an hour the only variation was a slow
ga n by the leading boat
lhe SKY was clear and the slantinR
rays Of the yellow western sun were
painting beautiful marine picture. with
the two yachts as centre figure. when at
i:2O. with almost half the course vet 10
be sailed. thick blank OF fog came roll
ing in before southeast wind and en-
veloped Shamrock I'm n gray mist that
shut her out OF the vision Of the feet
as though she hnd been wiped from the
surface of the sea. Reliance ran along
for nve minutes longer with the sun
glinting upon her sails until the fog bank
reached and rolled over her, and she
too disappeared from SIGHT
As N caught her she felt also a heavier
wind from the southeast. snothered her
spinnaker and. leaning TO the wind. red
az swift pace like a dim ghost through
the mist.
one by one the vessels OF the fee, dis
appeared from view until the only evi-
denoe OF their presence was the hoarse
believing ~ Their warning whistles as
they scurried of In search OF the old
red hEhtship.
SALUTE TO VICTOR.
The two racers sailed IN that dangerous
fashion az top speed for an hour Mean
time the Navigator. carrying the regatta
committee. hunted for the lghtship 20
establish the finish line
II was 500 before she found a. and
the feet began 10 gather about her. All
was n blank wall OF fog Ten minutes
they waited. Then Reliance heeling low
before the wind her sails beliying hard
and her lee rail dragging up the splndrift
burst through the veil ~ fog and upon
the startled vision OF the expectnnt
watchers on the little fleet,
Hardly had they recognized the familiar
features OF the American craft when.
with her great balloon jibtopsail futter-
ing into the arms OF the nimble members
Of her crew out on her bowsprit. she sped
acrc-s the line 20 victory.
The whistles of every craft In the fee,
that had whistle. openei wide IN
recognition of her achievement
The delighted yachrmen danced about