The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-07-24
WINDWARD THRASH
SUITS AMERICANS
British Believe They Have
an Equal Chance to Win
the Cup, But Admit That
Skipper Adams of Reso-
lutte Has Remarkable
Skill in Handling Boat.

Sandy Hook, n. j.. July 24.-Reso-
lutte and Shamrock Nv to-day made
ready for final battle for the America 9
cup in series of rain squalls which
followed a furious electrical storm that
thundered during the night.
The storm passed away shortly after
dawn, leaving an overcast sky and q
steady wind from the south that
kicked up sousing sea. Clouds Of
dense vapor came inland from the
ocean. but weather sharps said it would
clear by noon.
A series of rain squalls followed in
the wake of the storm The wind
hauled into the southwest shortly aft
er s o'clock and the sun made brave
effort to pierce the clouds. The breeze
was about II knots in strength.
To-dav's deciding contest between
Sir Thomas Lipton's 10-foot challen-
ger Shamrock " and the American de-
fender Resolute is set for a 30-mile
windward and leeward course. The ad'
vantage for the final struggle lies with
the American boat, which in all the
previous races has shown decided su-
perioritv over the challenger IN a
thrash to windward.
The Englishmen believe they have an
equal chance with the Americans to
win the cup. but they admit that the
Herreshoff sloop is a wizard going into
the wind The sailing skill of Charles
Francis Adams, I'd, skipper OF the Res
oIute. also has provoked the decided ad'
miration of the sailors of the Sham
rock. who have come to regard him
with a sailors superstition as su'
perman of the sea.
Weather conditions which would
make start impossible or a falling
wind resulting in failure to finish the
race within the six hour time limit
were the only factors that could pre-
vent a final decision today
Piping Breeze of ls Knots.
When the sloops began making sail
the wind had piped out of the south.
west to Is knots Crested waves beat
upon the shore and five masted bar.
kentine walowed in the sea off the
Ambrose channel lightship, where the
start was to be made. II was just such
a day as real sailorman loves 70
weigh anchor and head seaward, carry
ing every sail his ship will bear.
Resolute was the first to make sail
Head sails were sent up in stops and
her mainsail was swapping i'm the
strong breeze some time before the
crew of Shamrock began failing or
their mainsail.
The challenger prepared for battle
with a brand-new Vnainsaii. Her SAL
ormen snapped it up in true seaman
like fashion.
Spectator craft began gathering
early to-day for the yachting classic
but first to glimpse the racing sloopi
was a giant liner inward bound. She
was the Aquitania and her passen
gers lined the rails of their great NOV
ing grandstand to watch the famous
boats make ready for their marine bat
tie.
The first thing the ocean travellers
observed was Captain William r Bur
ton directing his crew to take reef II
the challenger's mainsail- He evident
ly expected wind aplenty.
Resolute. however, which kept hei
top sail up in yesterdays squall wheI
Shamrock lowered hers to-day carried
her big spread Of canvas without
reef. Shamrock broke out her lib n
l0:lO and dropping her moorings STOOD
away to sea. The wind caught her a
she wore ship and she heeled over s.
that he lee rail was awash. With onl!
mainsail and jib, shamrock scoote'
away for Sandy Hook spit ike a ghos
in the piping breeze
Destroyers, bearing newspapermer
20 cover the contest. were held tor a.
hour in the Hudson river, where p
knot wind was blowing, until the NeV
York Yacht club officially announce
that the sloops would race.