Evening star., 1903-08-31

At a;tts both yachts took a tow line from
their tenders and started out of the Hook
so as to be down at the start in time.
The storm which set in a few hours al -er
Thursdays race had been called off for lack
of wind had blown itself out, but still a
number of weather sharps pointed out that
the wind, getting more to the northward,
had gone around the wrong way, and that
there would be no pleasant weather until
the breeze again reached the south.
Only Once in History.
Only once in history has Reliance faced
anything that compared with the heavy
seas that have prevailed off Sandy Hook
since Friday morning.
In July last the Herreshoff yacht had a
race off Newport in half a gale and a tum-
bling sea- with the result that although
she broke the record for thirty miles over
a triangular course. she came out of the
encounter with six-foot dent SIX inches
deep in her port bow.
With broken tumble of sea outside the
Hook and fresh breeze Shamrock had
every promise of just the weather in which
those in charge expect her to do her best.
When prepara tions for racing were started
shortly before o'clock the wind had fallen
rather under what Captain Wringe would
have chosen had the selection been left to
him. but there still the promise of
fine fresh weather trial. with sea enough
to test any weakness that might exist in
tie nun or elther boat.
Butted Into Short Swells.
AS the yachts rounded out into the open
sea both butted into the short swells with
terrific force, smashing their heads into it
in such a way to dash masses of water
and foam over them.
Reliance rounded much harder than did
Shamrock. and made difficult work of it.
The committee boat Unique followed both
yachts so as to assist in case of accident.
AS they got further out decks were con-
tinually covered with the wash from the
head and in front of their bows
a continuous bone" of white foam
The Navigator reached the Hook at $40,
but, finding the yachts gone. ordered the
stake boat the John Scully to her position
and started for the lightship herself, max
ing it evident that there would be a race
unless the sea was too rough.
Wind Increases.
The wind at 9:45 was blowing about
eleven miles fresh from the northeast. AS
she went out past Sandy Hook the Navt-
gator signaled to Sir Thomas that the con-
ditions favored start of the race and that
the committee would see him at the start.
The Erin had no special guests from New
York this morning, Sir Thomas having noti-
fled them there would probably be no race
today. The Erin left the Hook at 10 O'Clock
for the starting point
When the committee boat reached the
lightship it found that to start a race
from that point fifteen miles to leeward or
wiUdward would he impossible and a signal
was hoisted postponing the start until line
could he established sufficiently south of
the lightship to send the yachts to wind
ward.
- soon as the signal was hoisted the
Navigator began to steam south from the
hghtship, while the two yachts and the
small accompanying fleet followed in that
direction.
Course Signa1ed as East-Northeast.
The committee boat came to anchor about
four miles south by west of the lghtship
The course was signaled as east-northeast,
which would bring the turn southeast of
Long Beach. about six miles off shore.
The wind had dropped to about seven
knots, and these seemed to be prospects of
/ long. slow race. On the way down to the
new starting point Shamrock swapped top
sails, exchanging her No for "a much
larger one. The sea was much calmer than
when the yachts first went out.
Promptly at II: 30 the committee fired the
preliminary gun. which will make the start
at l1:45 and give the yachts until 5:15 this
afternoon within which to finish the race
When the preparatory signal was fired at
IL: 30 the wind was still dropping off and
had strength of scarcely more than five or
SIN miles an hour.
Contest for Position.
The contest for position at the start began
before the warning signal was fired each
captain making desperate effort to get the
better place. Today Shamrock seemed to
have little more life, and Captain Wringe
w.S able to get her out from beneath the
great blanketing sails of Reliance.
At 11:44 minute before the starting
gun fired. both boats were holding
along the Starboard tack, with Reliance a
rrf+ ir,t tE., Loo II,lE
starting gun was fired jib topsails We're
broken out on both boats.
The starting gun was fred at II :45 with
boats to the leeward of the line. They i'm
mediately trimmed in their sheets and went
across the line on the .starboard tack Re-
lance a little to w:ndward.
The wind at the start was blowing about
seven miles an hour. and both yachts at
once headed toward the Long Island shore.
Each carried the same sails with large
club topsails and intermediate baby jib top
sails.
Both Boats Went to Port.
Immediately after crossing the line Sham
rock went to port, Reliance following her
example thirty seconds later. For five min
utes they sailed on the port tack.
Reliance was pointing magniicently to
windward, but smashing the seas badly.
Shamrock apparently unable to hold
so high wind. but she sailed rather more
water, and there was therefore little change
In their positions when they threw back
again to starboard. Reliance being first to
break tack and Shamrock following
promptly.
During the first half hour after the start
the yachts made three tacks, but the wind
being light at 12:15 they had scarcely COW
cred more than two miles of the course
Reliance. as usual, seemed to gain steadily,
ana at l2:2o was apparently leading by an
eighth or quarter of a mile
Shamrock First to Tack.
Shamrock in all the tacks that were made
up to this point was the first to make the
move, Reliance following usually inside of
a minute. The wind seemed to have little
HE and at l2:2o was blowing not more than
1--WE or six miles hour.
As the yachts beat slowly to windward
tAe heavy ground swell lifted the bows of
the racers 50 that their fins could be seen
The wind seemed to suit Shamrock better
ana she made easier work of the long swell
though Reliance was pointing higher The
yachts We're making slow time of it and
were being greatly retarded by the flood
tide. At l o'clock hope that the yachts
would finish within the time limit began to
disappear.
Went on Starboard Tack.
Soon after 1 O'Clock Reliance went on the