The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-07-27

Challenger Leads at Start
but Defender Passes L
at 4::2O p. NJ.

Sandy Hook. N. j., July 2S.-
Shamrock w today led Resolute
across the starting line in the
"final' international yacht race to
settle the destiny Of the Americas
cup.
The Official starting time was the
same for both boats at 2:17:00. be-
cause both had failed to cross with
in the two-minute handicap limit.
Starting on the 30-mile windward
and leeward course. charted for
this afternoon, Shamrock had the
better Of it. her skipper berthing
her nicely to windward before the
yachts crossed the line.
Shamrock Gets Best Start
Preparing for the first leg. q 15-
mile beat to windward from the
Ambrose channel lightship south
southwest to q point of Asbury
Park, the sloops stood along to
southwark OF the line, then headed
for the lightship. reached past the
line. and. coming about headed for
it when the starting signal was
sounded.
The sea was very smooth. A
surprising feature of the first Ave
minutes Of sailing was the way
Shamrock held herself into the
wind. She increased her gain as
| she moved inland. She crossed
| Pac01uta,c how NJ 9.9O
! The Shamrock at 2:39 p. m. still.
held a slight lead and was leading,
Resolute by several hundred yards
at $3.50 o'clock when six and q half
miles Of the 30 mile race had been
covered.
Resolute Noses Ahead.
i At 4:06 p. m. Resolute ran intr
! a favoring slant of air and rapidly
cut down Shamrock's lead. BY rap
i'd footing fore she reached Sham'
rock and then came about on the
port tack at 4:0S p. m. The de-
fender, however, could not quite
clear Shamrock's bow and was
forced to come about on the star
! board tack as Shamrock had the
right of way. Only few yards
separated the racers at 4:10 p. m.
Resolute, at 4:20 p. m, began to
slip out ahead Of the Upton craft
and had taken the lead from the
Ichallenger, although it was slight
lone.
| Time May Again Beat Them.
! At 4:22 p. m. Resolute tackled to
port Shamrock's bow. At 4:30 p.
m, with about six miles to 90 to
the outer mark, it looked as though
the race might be called off be-
cause of inability to finish before
, the time limit expired at SIT p. m
, At 4:35, the yachts were almost
becalmed.
Third Effort Made Today.
The fifth international yacht
race, postponed Saturday because
, OF too much wind, and declared OF
yesterday after the two yachts hat
floundered around for hours in {
. calm, today was ordered postponed
at 1880 o'clock at 15-minute In
tervals. while the crews whistlet
for a wind. -
Although eager to run on tn
! final race and break the tie for tn
. Americas cup. shippers of Reso
I lutte and Shamrock Nv found scarce
ly a cupful of air when they reach
ed the Ambrose channel lightshiI
the starting point in today's con
\ test.
Try to "Buy q Breeze"
Whistling for the wind and eve
pitching pennies into the sea I
J buy a breeze failed to bring result
and at 12:45. three-quarters OF a
hour after the time originally 81
for the start, the sloops were wasl
ing about the lightship ON Q s3iSl
ground swell.
At 1850 the postponement 6a
was still flying.
Course Is Changed.
At .1:45 the code flag "A. r. p
was set, indicating southwe
course for the final race. Tn
gives the yachts a 15-mile beat
windward down the Jersey Goa
from the Ambrose channel ligh
ship to . point OF Asbury Par
with a home run.
The preparatory signal vi
sounded at 2 p. m. for start
tI.15 o. m.