New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-28
ONLY A TTRESOME DRIFT.
Hind Promised Race, but Fell Flat
on Run Home.


breeze. the Reliance just missed getting home
yesterday in time TO have her third decisive
victory over Shamrock III recorded and ac-
cepted a race. There was no doubt what
ever from end TO end of the slow, laborious
contest of the superiority Of the American yacht
under the prevailing conditions. An hour after
the two sloops crossed the starting line IL was
apparent that the Reliance must win. It was
only question Of the margin OF triumph.
Up to the time the racers rounded the outer
mark. fifteen miles to windward OF the start.
there seemed every reason TO expect that the
light breeze would carry the winning boat over
the in time to settle the Americas Cup
series until the next challenger comes over the
seas; but soon after the Reliance. smOthered in
billowy waves of snow white canvas turned the
flashing buoy and set her face toward Sandy
Hook Lightship. the wayward airs began 10
faint and droOp, and from that time on all hands
were alternately consulting watches and anx-
iously straining their eyes through the haze in
effort to make out the rgly craft which
marked the end of the thirty-mile race.
Shamrock III was bout a mile and a half
behind the Reliance when the latter finally sue
ceeded in drifting across the finish mark IN
deed. IN the gathering haze and against the du
gray of the afternoon horizon. the challenger
seemed but a vague sloop of dreamland sailing
sleepily through impalpable airs to some des-
tnation marked only the charts OF fancy.
There were some errors OF Judgment made by
the sailormen who handled the two flyers. but
none that had any bearing on the comparative
victory Of the Reliance her failure
finish within the prescribed time limit OF five
and half hours. few minutes of a ten or
twelve knot breeze would have been enough to
drive the Herreshoff sIOOp home in time to finish
the series and hold the Cup for as it was shs
was only minutes 81 seconds too late.
SHAMROCK STEADILY FALLS BEHIND
1t was a stern chase fer Sir Thomas's boat
from the go-off for her skipper ~ot her across
the line minute and one sec, d after the
Reliance. and neither boat crossed until after
the handicap gun. this time was so much clear
loss. and went far to neutralize her time allow
ance. AS or Thursday OF last week. when the
wind was lighter than yesterdays wretched
zephyr. the challenger showed herself no match
for the defender at drifting. She would not
point up so closely to the wind nor would shs
foot so fast. and. starting behind her rival. she
steadily fell behind and TO leeward. At the
outer mark which signalized the end OF the
windward half of the thirty mile journey. the
Shamrock was 12 minutes and 80 seconds
behind the Reliance and. though the sec
ond boat invariably gets the best OF the wind
when the breeze is light and variable. she lost
still further distance on the run home.
The race. therefore. revealed only the ex-
pected. II told only what we'll known be-
fore regarding the respective merits OF the
boats. After the start the only excitement of
any account enjoyed by the spectators was the
speculation as TO whether Captain Barr could
possibly squeeze enough speed out OF the empty
air 10 finish the thirty miles IN five hours and a
half. and end the series his he could not do.
could any other skipper have accomplished
~ and Eiv yr-f1 hqy- ffea-
tomorrow.
Affected by the gray and doubtful weather. as
we'll by the fact thar the Shamrock was
thought to have only outside chance. the
observa tion fleet was a comparatively small ons
yesterday. The usual number OF excursion
boats and river steamers were present. but they
were not thickly populated as usual while
the number OF steam yachts and sailing craft
was apprecisbly reduced. When the feet got
out 10 the nghtship they found only the merest
breath Of air moving not more than three o.
four knots an hour. The wind and course lay
fifteen miles to the southeast. and promptly at
1875 the tug John SculIy started OF To log Il.
followed leisurely by the suide-h Ccastv-ise-
BARR GETS BEST OF THE START.
Captain Barr was manpuvring his boat al =
most from the time her tug turned her loose. :
he seemed only 10 be killing time while waiting
for the preparatory gun. but a matter of
fact he was playing bslr' all The time. The
consequence was that when the time came for
quick action the Reliance was where he wanted
her Captain Wringe's only recourse was 10 let
the Reliance get away ahead OF him. in order
not 10 be under her lee Both boats were far
behind the handicap gun when they crossed but
the challenger got much the worst OF IT, The
Herreshon yacht crossed at 11;O2;41 and the
Fife product at II O3;42. or I minute and 1 sec
ond later. This setback for the Irish racer
Take the pgcATIoxAL SIGHTSEEING NEW