The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-17
lack Of BREEZE
DELAYSSTART Of
BIC YACHT RACE
Second Contest Between the
Shamrock " and ReSolute
Begins Hours Behind SChed-
uIe--Defender Crosses First


SANDY HooR. N. j., July IL
Resoute crossed the starting line ahead
of Shamrock " today in the second
international cup race. The starting
signal was blown at las pm,
The official starting time was l.46;2t
for Resolute, and 1861 for sham
rock ".
The sloop3 stood away to sea on the
starboard tack, both shippers holding
their charges in the eye OF the wind
Resolute seemed from the shore TO WORK
better than the challenger and II any
thing seemed to foot faster, There was
not enough air, however, TO put them
down on their true racing lines.
Capt Charles Francis Adams III, SKIP
per Of the Resolute, won all honors
at the start Soon after the sham
rock crossed the line she took in hei
jibs.
Fifteen minutes after the start Reso
lutte was = quarter Of mile 10 wind
ward and holding shamrock well.
At EOS p M a wireless message sen
from the destroyer designated as Of
fetal press boat stated that both yacht
still were holding the starboard tacl
with Resolute TO the windward ant
Shamrock trifle ahead, but unable L
cross the defenders bow.
inc HdEnIs were tUt fAhI
board tack. Both were about neck ant
neck Three minutes later the defender
was well to weather and increasing
her lead.
Crossing the line, ooth shippers stood
away on a starboard tack, holding as
close to the wind as possible. Reso-
lutte seemed to work better to weather
than the challenger Shamrock followed
under her lee. Shamrock tried hard
to kel Resolute's wind at the start
and several times tackled on top OF tho
defender. Each time Adams slipped
away by bearing off.
when the starting signal sounded both
were to leeward Of the line with Reso-
lutte heading away.
wind OF three knots strength from
the northeast was blowing at 3 O'Clock
his morning.
1t was a tickle. fitful breeze. Capt
Burton cast searching eye seaward
from the deck OF the Shamrock TO OBJ
serve wind and wave prospects.
The Americans say that the British
weather is all samples and no bulk, "
he said, but on Thursday we had rain,
hail, squalls, calms and cloudbursts,
Now what have we today"
Canvas covers were stripped from the
booms on both yachts early today and
the crews tailed on the mainsheet In
lusty and lively fashion. Every man
jack OF them Is a sailor by instinct and
training, and they work az the arduous
duties OF hosting the heavy cloths with
the same zest they show during a hot
race.
Shamrock was the first TO get her
mainsail up. II tapped idly for a time
in the light air. The challengeT's crew
also sent up headsails in stops.
Breaking out Jib Shamrock dropped
her mooring buoy at 9:22, and moved
slowly out the Sandy Hook point The
nd oh
Resolute was still at her mooring
when the challenger rounded Sandy
Hook point.
Resolute at e:52 prepared to drop her
mooring in the Horsheshoe, Meanwhile,
Shamrock " was tacking lazily against
the feeble northeasterly breeze. She
had but little way upon her as she
passed Sandy Hook spit
Out Of the northward from the Long
Island shore large bank Of fog passed
slowly seaward and 1t was hard TO see
the fleet of excursion craft as they
poked their noses into the lower New
York bay.
The Shamrock was barely in motion.
Capt Burton finally gave up the ef-
fort to get TO the lightship under his
own sail and at 1907 o'clock took n
tow from n tug
At 1915 am. stray airs most east
crly. were ruffling the sea. and weather
pTbpnetS nTeulCltu more east WlUu Dy
noon. which would give the yachts a
beat off the Long Island shore. reach
toward the Jersey shore and another
reach to the finish
Resolute dropped her mooring buoy
at 1921 and took a tow from tug
for the starting line.
The race. II sailed under conditions
at that time. promised little more than
drifting match. as the wind was
feeble.
At iO:3O am. it was a fiat calm at
the lihgtship with no breeze in sight
from any direction.
At II am. the two yachts in tow,
accompanied by the excursion fleet
with cutters ahead, were running out
to the lightship The weather continued
clear and the air lfeless,
The regatta committee announced at
1890 am. that the time allowance
which Shamrock must give Resolute
would remain q, six minutes, 40 sec
onds for the 30-inie course.
The yachts slUshcd and wallowed In
the mid ground swell and their sails
tapped lifelessly in the dead air The
regatta committee at 1890 sgnalcd a
postponement Of the race until later in
the day
40 wind was observed in any quar-
ter The time limit for the race is six
hours.
At 11:45 a m stray zephyr came In
from the south and gave the yachts
Just steerage way. but not enough Ia
warrant starting the race.
The spectator fleet was larger than
il was Thursday while the decks OF
the steam vast Victoria were crowded
with guests OF Sir Thomas Upton The
Corsair, flagship OF the New York Yacht
club, also carried a heavy passenger
list
At noon there was not the slightest
sign OF a breeze.
Under sailing rules. the regatta com
mittee had power TO postpone. the race
by hoisting the &c" signal flags at
I5-mLAute intervals
Al I'D The starting signal was sounded.