New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-04
SharnrockCains
Many Backers
By asst Trials
Betting ON Races Between
Resolute andBritish Sloop
Now at Even Money
By Jack Lawrence

WIN 'He HTSI race Tor the America 8
Cup scheduled for week from next
Thursday off Sandy Hook there was
Little to indicate last night that the
defending Resolute will 60 to the line
a top-heavy favorite over the challenr-
ing Shamrock w. On the contrary,
there was every reason to believe that
from now on the yachting sharps back
ing the American sloop will offer no
better than even money on their ia
vorite, although in the last week there
nave been many wagers made at to
and even 3 to |.
The gradual trend toward even money
betting on the cup classic is due prin-
clpally to the excellent showing the
challenger has made in her more re-
cent trials over the actual cup course,
and to the fact that she has completely
upset the established "dope" by prov
ing herself light weather racer in
tseao OF one requiring piping breeze
to be at her best
In this respect Charles E. Nicholson,
designer of the fourth and last of the
Shamrock cup hunters, can be said to
nave put something over on American
yachting experts who were led to be-
lieve from the first that the present
challenger, like her three unfortunate
sisters. was built to withstand the
sharpest sailing breezes and to
shoulder her way through turbulent
seas.
Quite the opposite has turned out to
be the case. Instead Of being a weather
boat the fourth Shamrock is a chester
Of the ghostlest type. Her towering
spars-the tallest ever stepped in a
racing craft-and her clouds of silken
sails were designed to catch and hold
the wandering and fitful zephyrs that
are almost certain to prevail during
majority of the international contests
False Reports Encouraged
The early reports that the challenger
was a sturdy boat built to race in
rough weather were encouraged rather
than denied by Der managers, who now
appear to 10 enjoying the sudden
change in the dope.
In Wall Street the Resolute reigned
a two-to-one favorite early in the week
but waves Of Shamrock money had
cvened the price at noon yesterday
and there was every indication that
the figures would remain that way.
1t is fact that thousands OF dollars
have been wagered on the Resolute by
landlubberly patriots, who declared
that they needed to know nothing more
about the affair than that both yachts
measured seventy-fve feet on the
waterlne and that one was American
and the other British.
These facts were enough for them
and they have backed the Herreshoff
entry heavily on boat-for-b boat basis.
Quarter beam length, sail area and
time allowance meant nothing to them
IN their super-patriotism. They were
willing to bet and even give handsome
odds that the British boat could not
beat the American.
Sharpers familiar with the rules gov
erning the cup contests were ready and
anxious TO take advantage of those
who knew nothing and cared less for
the technical details. The boat for
boat bets were quickly covered, and
the result is going to be dscouraging
awakening for those backing the Reso-
lutte. 1t is almost imposs BILE for them
to collect, as the Shamrock is practi
cally certain to make the better show
ing on elapsed time in every race.
In the opinion Of the most expert
students of the two contenders it is
merely q question of whether the chal-
lenger will be able to beat the Resolute
by sufficient time to overcome the time
allowance she must conceGe. What this
time handicap will be will not be known
definitely until July s, when both yachts
Iron Works in Brooklyn. II will not
be less than six minutes and will prob
ably be more.
Shippers Methods Differ
The cup races will bring together
two ell,
ding racing yachts are directly oppo-
site Captain Burton, of the Sham
rock, has indicated plainly in the re-
cent trial races that he does not be-
lieve in taking chances. He is quick
TO douse mis- club topsail when the
wind begins to run over twelve knots
and he seldom drives his boat to the
point where her lee rail is awash. He
seems satisfied to sail a dignifed race
and is seldom guilty Of a spectacular
maneuver
Charles Francis Adams, skipper of
the Resolute, employs quite the oppo-
site methods. He is a brutal master
who uses up the strength of his boat
TO the last fraction OF an inch. IF he
is losing, he calls on her reserve power,
and then it is just a question of
whether her spars will stay aboard.
Unlike Captain Burton, he cares
nothing for the velocity Of the wind.
He pursues a weather be damned"
policy. and is content to let the CON
sequences and possibly his spars fall
where they may. When Skipper Adams
raises his club topsail it is there to
stay until it blows overheard, as it
did on one occasion at Newport when
he had to drive Resolute murderously
in order to stem the rush of Vanitie.
Adams is cave man" skipper
without feeling or fear for his craft.
His idea is to win or blow the spars
out OF her, which is fine thing for
the spectators, because it seldom fails
to provide thrills. He almost broke
Resolute's heart in beating Vanitie at
Newport for the honor Of defending
the cup. Those intimate with the pres
ent condition of the defender are
wondering whether she will be able to
stand up under the "sandbagging"
Captain Adams will give her off Sandy
Hook.