The Washington herald., 1920-07-21

its second race against the American
One more win will give the doughty
coveted cup back to its native isle.
The Shamrock finished at 4 :3S :oo,
scudding before brisk breeze under
two headsails just as the sResolute
went over and reached for the line
more than mile behind. 1t had been
a race to thrill even the most disin-
terested, for every mile of the 90
mile triangular course had been con-
tested and up to the end it was be-
Keved the Resoiute would have a
chance to win by reason of the time
allowance of ? minutes and second
given her by the challenger. 1t was
aot enough.
Lead Held Most of Way.
Shamrock had led practically all
the way, the only exception being
a short distance right after the
start, when the crew of the invader
had difficulty with the sails and
Resolute slipped to the fore for a
lead of about 200 yards. 1t was very
temporary.
The wind throughout much of the
race was light. and 1t was feared
the yachts might not get around
the course within the six hours al
lowed to complete the race. As 1t
was Shamrock had more than thir-
ty-six minutes to her credit when
she crossed the mark.
Excitement reached its height
when, before a brisk breeze tina.
put a bone in her teeth. the sham
rock swept down the last few miles
with ResoIute speeding behind her.
only too far behind. The rails OF
the excursion boats along the course
were lined with eager spectators.
glasses pressed to their eyes and
handkerchiefs and hats waving
frantically.
The cheering apparently was for
either or both the craft, for they
were sailing beautiful race On
slipped the Irish racer, and behind
her, gaining. but somewhat of the
course, came the trim white yacht
to which the Americans have pinned
their hopes. Even after the Sham
rock had crossed the finish mark
excitement ran high. Could Reso-
lutte put the remaining distance be-
hind her in fast enough time to gain
the benefit of that time allowance
which was hers? The watches of
the official timekeepers clicked and
the stately defender finished her
struggle But the reading on the
dials was 4:4S:21, and Shamrock's
ASSOC had given her the race, with
the time allowance figured in, by a
margin of two minues and twenty
eight seconds.
The race was in the nature of a
comeback" for Skipper Burton, Sir
Thomas Lipton's amateur command
er of the Shamrock, for in his two
first meetings with the Resolute the
captain of the challenger had not
made a fifst-grade showing and had
come in for considerable censure for
his handling of the craft.
Little Difference i'm Time.
In official time the Resolute was
beaten only by a hair. Her COM
mander. Capt. Adams, made a va
liant effort to bring the defender
across for a win. In the last mile
he sent his craft forward uDler her
balloon jib, but he had been beaten
well back on the course.
The race started at 11:16 a. m.
eastern standard time) after fif-
teen-minute delay, during which
hardly a breath of wind stirred.
The breeze was little more than
three knots when the signal for the
start was given.
Shamrock got away in front,
crossing the line in windward of the
defender. Seven minutes later
Resolute had passed the leader ana
stood out in front until at 1880 she
had a 200-yard advantage. The
challenger had had trouble with her
balooner, which would not break out
and had to be partly hauled oowh.
The British sailors worked fever
ishly, cleared the fouled sail, and
then set out to overhaul their rival.
Resolute's longest lead was half a
mile at 1 o'clock; then she hit a
soft spot in the air and IL was Sham
rocks turn.
The wind had veered to the south,
and, taking advantage of the fair
breeze where she found herself, the
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