Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-07-16
INITIAL ROUND
IN YACHT RACE
WON BY Upton
Shamrock w Takes First
Lap of Contest When Cup.
Defender, ReSolute Is Dis
abIed BY An Accident.

tav MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wtRsl
Sandy Hook, n. j., July ID
Great Britain gained her first toe
hold in forty nine years on the
Americas cup today when Sir
Thomas Lipton's challenger, Sham
rock ", won the first race of the
1920 regatta after the defender,
Resolute, had been forced cut of
the running Icy an accident 10 her
rigging.
The challenger must win two
more races out of a possible max
imum of four if she is to achieve
Sir Thomas Lipton's dream of TAX
ing the bottomless pewter trophy
back to Britain. Resolute must
win three out of four to retain the
cup, which has been in possession
Of the New York Yacht club since
1851. The second race will start
at noon Saturday.
Shamrock Tvs victory today
was in the face of what seemed
certain defeat. Resolute had taken
the lead at the start and had held
UNTIL as she swooped within half
mile of the turning mark, fifteen
miles from the start, her great
area of canvas shivered and flut-
tered down her mast. A sudden
gust had snapped her throat hal
yard and a second later he jaws
of her gaff were shattered beyond
repair
When the Resolute was seen to
be in trouble a tug bearing Sir
Thomas Lipton's colors drew swift
ly IN to the steam yacht Victoria,
from which Sir Thomas was fol-
lowing the progress of his chal
lenger. Many believed that Sir
Thomas was ordering Shamrock
" 10 fail to cross the finish line,
making it no race. A statement
issued later said this was his in
itial impulse, but that he had been
persuaded by his companions to
permit Shamrock " to finish, as
it was felt that construction and
sturdiness of the contender should
be taken into account.
More than 100 craft, ranging IN
size from an ocean liner to power
boats, followed the contenders
over the thirty-mile course.
Shamrock " was given mighty
ovation of screaming whistles as
she flashed across the line at %
minutes, 26 seconds after O'Clock,
having completed the course in
hours, "a minutes. AZ seconds.
The weather was anything but
satisfactory. The sky was heavily
overcast and what little breeze was
stirring was fitful.
Aboard Steam Yacht Victoria,
July 8 (by Wireless to the Asso-
ciated Press. "A victory that was
not earned, is the way Sir Thomas
Upton, owner of the challenger,
sunImed up todays race.
II am exceedingly sorry that
Shamrock won through a fluke," he
said, ''and | would much prefer not
to accept the race, | am convinced
by my friends, however, that such
a course would not be for the best
interests of yachting and that 1t
would tend to set a precedent
whereby premium could be
placed on faulty or slight construc-
ton.
81 lost a race myself" he added,
through a fluke-the breaking of
a sail--and l know that the Amer
lean people sympathized with me,
I can say positively that it is no
pleasure or glory for me to win 4
race through a fluke With a good
steady breeze Saturday, | am cor
vinced that Shamrock will come
out a winner"
Sir Thomas viewed the race from
the steam yacht Victoria, chartered
BY him for the occasion.
He viewed the race for a conslc-
el able part standing on the navi-
gating bridge alongside Captain
Jairre, master of the Victoria. He
observed his yacht holding second
place with as much cheerfulnesS as
il the positions were reversed.
The vi tory gave him no FEELING
of exultaticn He accepted con
gratulatiors rendered him but mis-
interest in the prospects Of TIE
neyt race and his confidence IN
Shamrock fer future showing was
far more marked than was his IN
terest in the result of the first day s
race.