The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-01
SHAMROCK Ills FIRST TRIAL,
CHALLENGER MAKES GREAT
SHOWING AGAINST SHAMROCK T..

-sWprise st Reaching Qualities Of
the Latest Fife Creatiea--IAght
Breczes Prevail In Flye-Hour sail.
Special Csbls Despatch to The sus.
GouRocK. March si.--The Shamrock III,
the challenger for the Americas Gun. went
out for her first trial spin to-day. There
was a fine, light breeze. The challenger
sst her mainsail early. with her jib and
staysail in stops. Shortly afterward the
jib-headed topsail was sheeted The Sham-
rock !. followed suit. and shortly before 10
'clook, when the head sails had been broken
out. the two yachts cast on their moorinss
and drew out OF Gourook Bay. In gentle
westerly breeze.
The challenger reached out on the port
tack for several hundred yards and stayed
round for the short turn back into the bay
around the Erin. the jb topsail being
set flying.
While both boats lodged around, waiting
for the arrival of Designer Fife, their dis
tinct characteristics showed to a marked
degree. The Shamrock I. is Of the strong
bulldog type. The challenger b the grey
III cNcIy boht Aliu Lc6tuIS.
The breeze was not full enough to afford
proof Of her facility In coming around.
but it was plain that she can turn ON her
heel with wonderful celebrity.
The calculation Of the total sail plan
makes the area over 14.0O0 square feet.
which Is rather more than Shamrock ii.
carried. Although the mast Is stepped
as far forward as in the Watson boat, she
carries longer bowsprit, and the fore tri-
angle Ia rather greater, while the painsail
looks at least as extensive. With the ex-
ception OF some crinkling near the foot Of
the leach, the mainsail. as q whole, was as
perfect fitting as could be looked for on the
first trial.
Mr. Fife reached Gourock shortly after 10
O'Clock and boarded Shamrock I.
The yachts worked across at a wide dis
lance toward the Kilcreggan shore for q
good northwest breeze. on Loeb Lang the
Shamrock I. was about a mile In front.
reaching Oh until she brought up under
Strone Point in calm. The challenger fol-
lowed a mile behind
As soon as she came out from Cape Point
With the best Of the breeze she stoodup to
her canvas well. and went through the water
with grace and speed. shedding the waters
finely on her sharp, well-turned bows. She
seemed to be getting rid Of it we'll forward /,
and the following wave did not seem likely
to have much retarding effect. On the
whole, the expsrts were favorably i'm
pressed.
The Erin steamed after the pair. and II
was understood that after the spin she
would bring them back to Gourock Bay.
The challenger was half . mile astern
when Shamrock /. struck new breeze Oh
Hunters Quay, and from that point to the
opening Of Rothesay Bay the wind was
crisp and steady and the boats had IN
interrupted reaching. In that distance
the old boat was overhauled. until on toward
the point the challenger although slightly
astern, was high on the Shamrock LIS
weather quarter.
The boats were laid hard OF the opening
of Rothesay Bay. The Shamrock III.
brought down her jib topsail and the two
boats luded across toward the Butte shore.
The challengers superiority while beating
to windward was undoubtsd. She sailed
faster and pointed higher and soon was az
least Q quarter Of mile to windwsrd and
well ahead.
The Shamrock I. was the first to break
the tack The new boat came around to
port about two minutes afterward. The
challenger was then q big distance dead
ahead. The boats beat into Rothesay
Bay shortly before noon.
After a few turns within Rothesay Bay
the yachts started on free reach back into
challenger broad on the old boats weather
From Wemyss Bay Q long reach on the
starboard, with sheets easy. was taken TO
Kilchattan Bay, and jibing. the booms over
side Of Cumbrae. toward LAres. Thence
they came by the wind back TO Rotheeay
Ray The breeze was light, but mostly
steady. from the northwest. The challenger
was kept ahead. and in lacking for the en-
trance to the bay was quarter OF mile
to windward.
The order to shape the course for home
was given under Toward Point, and with 9
breeze drawing from the west they paid
away their sheets and reached on the port
j. was some hundred yards ahead. and. get
ting the better Of the land breeze, che drew
away from the challenger. When the lattei
came into equal conditions she picked w
and, after four miles travelling. she had 9
clear lead and was SONG fast to windwar S.
challenger brought abeam at SIS, quartel
Of mile ahead Of the older boat. Their
abe lowered her staysail and topsaii, ana
the two thereafter sailed easily back u
Gourock.
fifty miles and lasted five hours. They
were extremely satisfactory from ever
point Of view and demonst rated that TIN
challenger calls well to windward In ligh
breezes, comes about quickly and she'd
on the bow waves effectively. Designer
Fife and Sir Thomas Upton are both salts
fed and hopeful Of winning the Cup
. The two boats will have another trial 70
morrow. They will be towed from here u
Wemyss Bay, where Mr., Fife will join TIN
party OF Sir Thomas Upton. On Thurs
day evening the Shamrock !. will start undel
sail for Southampton. and the challenges
will follow on Saturday in tow.
In an interview Sir Thomas lipton ealt
he was perfectly delighted with the nes
Yacht. He added that she Ia most distinctly
the faster boat. particularly on the wind.
Mr.. Fife is guarded in his statements
hut does not conceal his satisfaction q
the performance Of the Shamrock III. to
day.
that the boat has undoubted speed. H!
believes that she will turn out to he o.
Capt. Matthews OF Sir Thomas Upton
steam yacht Erin Ia Of the opinion that TN
challenger in a marvellous boat.
Tho Corrosruondent Of The Sun canno