Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-17
MANY THOUSANDS GO
DOWN BAY TO SEE RACE
ny Associated Press to Every Evening

by Associated Press to Every Evening
Sandy Hook, n. J.. July l7--With in
terest in the international cup races IN
creased by Sir Thomas Upton winning
the first contest, thousands more specta-
tors went down the bay today for the
second race.
The fleet of yachts. anchored inside the
Hook, was augmented by motor cruisers,
tugs and gasoline launches. while over
head buzzed planes from all points OF the
compass.
Today's contest was triangular affair,
starting and finishing at Ambrose Chan
mel light ship. Thursdays race had two
fifteen-mile legs Today there were three
legs, each OF ten miles. The addition OF
another turning point was expected 10 add
interest, should the race develop into
drifting match, such as con n.inued Thurs
day until broken halyard and gaf put
the defender Resolute out of the run
ming,
Shamrock ", with two more victories
TO win if she is TO lift the Americas Cup
and Resolute with the duty of taking
three races, both were ST after mishaps
encountered with first day Unlike Reso-
lutte which had to drop her sails for a
tow back to the hook. Shamrock WAS able
10 sail VIGOROUSLY over the line despite n
weakened bowsprit which forced lowering
of all headsails except her staysail.
Charles Francis Adams I'd, skipper of
the American sloop, was confident of win
ming today. barring another accident.
Captain William p Burton hoped for n
good breeze To enable him to overcome the
handicap Of SIX minutes and forty seconds
which the challenger must give Resolute
because of greater sail area.
x,rtpl snf fhrar lnafS hlpurpu
| from the northeast at s o'clock this
| morning.
| 1t was tickle breeze Captain Burton
cast a searching eye seaward from the
/ deck of the Shamrock to observe pros
poets.
| THE Americans say that the British
weather is all samples and no bulk, he
said, but on Thursday We had rain, had,
| squalls, calms and cloudbursts Now
! what have we today?'
| The wind gauge at Sandy Hook Was
| barely doing three knots an hour and the
! faint breeze failed to rufie the Jersey
groundswell that was running off s.lore.
| Weather indications promised a slow race
| though beach-combers said the wind prob
/ ably would haul into the southeast by the
| time the sloops reached the starting line.
| A southeast breeze would give the yachts
! a beat to windward on the first leg of the
triangular race, a broad reach for the
second, and close reach home for the
| third leg.
| Canvas covers were stripped from the
| booms on both yachts early and the crews
| tailed on the mainsheet in lively fashion.
| Every manjack of them is a sailor by in
stinct and training and they work at
| the arduous duties of hosting the
| heavy cloths with the same zest that they
show during hot race.
| Shamrock was the first to get her main
sail up. 1t tapped idly for time in the
| light air. The challenger's crew also
| sent up headsails in stops.
Shamrock today did not carry the Mich
olson jacket designed to prevent back
| windage from the mainmast. The cup
committee informed Captain Burton that
if Shamrock carried the jacket she would
| have to be remeaSured
Rather than have the time allowance
increased Captain Burton advised the
removal of the jacket.
| Captain Burton and Designer Nichol-
| son said today that five races were not
an adequate test for the Americas Cup.
1--WE have had one race; we won it in
an accident" said Captain Burton, "and
still | am looking to today's race to OBJ
/ TAIN SDiItG 1Otd III Tic IeSDtCtIft SAiiluk
points of the two contenders.
THE first race was sailed In fukey
| conditions and was no test have sailed
As races in England on one boat and still
| am in doubt as to the best craft. Here,
after months of preparation, we endeavor
to show which is the better sloop in short
series of five races"
Captain Burton admits in sailorman
| fashion that IN a lumpy sea with faint
airs the Herreshoff sloop foots faster than
| the Nicholson craft.
He said that in the early stage OF Thurs
days race Shamrock had outfooted Reso-
lutte and was in position to have crossed
her bow when she was struck by squall
and wended off, so that when the weather
cleared and the wind hauled Resolute
found herself we'll to weather and ahead.
Captain Burton showed two photographs
taken from an iarplane just after the start
| to show that the challenger was leading.
Claude Hickman, navigator OF Sham
rock Nv, said in regard TO the criticism oi
Shamrock's start in the first race that the
Shamrock's iockeying was spoiled by the
squall
Sir Thomas is said to have told friends
here that he will challenge again if Sham
rock Nv fails to lift the cup.
Seaworthiness may win or lose the cup
"Resolute had an accident Thursday,
said Mr.. Nicholson. "We had one too, but
were more fortunate. We may have one
today. But, under the conditions of 8
cup race construction counts as much
as sailing ability"
Robert w. Emmons, I'd, managing
owner of Resolute, said:
II have seen nothing to change m,
opinion that we have the better boat.
YACHT RACE COURSE AS
SEEN FROM A. p. SEAPLANE