The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-07-17
LONG WAIT ON A FLAT SEA
BEFORE SIGNAL FOR START;
RACERS TOWED TO THE LINE
Crews on Edge During Long Wait-Sham-
rocks Time Allowance to Resolute
Minutes, 40 Seconds.


Loud footing OF whistles welcomed
Shamrock when she appeared at tho
Llghtship. Sho dropped her tow,
then stood away on the starboard
tack. Her sails were barely filled by
the light breeze then blowing, prob
ably az two or three knots. The ap-
pcarancc OF calm spots In the sea
raised doubts that the yachts could
cross the finish line within the six
hour time limit.
Announcement was made by the
Regatta Committee at 1l.20 A. M.
that Shamrock must allow Rosolute
six minutes and forty seconds over
the thirty mile course. as previously
stated. ...
At 1920 both yachts were motion
less, their sails flapping idly, and
though there was AFFAIR sailing breeze
lnshore there was no appearance of
sufficient air ten miles out to warrant
activity and preparation.
Tho Shamrock standing down on a
stArboard tack camo a mile and a
half in toward the shore, crossing the
line, then jlbbed and headed back for
the lightshlp. Tho breeze was ap-
parcntly freshening. In tho meantime
Rosolute worked about Immediately
70 the north toward the llghtship.
FALSE HOPES OF START RE-
PEATEDLY RAISED.
Tho crescent OF tire observing feet
became suddenly active and effected
n quick renlignment. Indicating ex-
pectation OF n start at 12.45. though
the preparatory and warning signals
had not been made out from shore.
At 1880 o'clock both yachts picked
up a pun OF breeze and moved across
the line. II was not a start. however
The yachts came about and entered
the space back OF the line, apparently
in anticipation that the wind would
hold and freshen.
In the Ave minutes before o'clock
the yachts went through all the ma
noeuvres for tho prettiest possible
start. the Shamrock 20 the wlndward,
but MS the minutes wore on II becamo
apparent that the race was not yet A
prolonged blast OF the committee
boats whistle was visible by It's plume
of steam at los.
This was taken to be the prepara-
tory signal twenty-five minutes before
the start. In the haze the flag signals
tho blue peter bail: the warning
signal ten minutes later, a white
ball. and the start signal. the red ball
hoisted and the blue peter ball low
ered-could not possibly be made out
from shore in the haze.
A moment later the haze lifted
showing the signal "A r ID" from tht
committee boat, announcing that tn,
first leg of the race would be saileC
10 the southeast. directly into tn,
wind, as had been correctly guessed
by Western Union Observer Samue
Phillips at o'clock this morninI
when the wind was dead east.
The blue peter ball rose from tn
committee boat at 1.S1. Western Unioi
shore time. This signal is given III
teen minutes before the start and the
two minutes additional time is given
during which time tho yachts ma
cross the line without penalty.
Visibility OF eight miles prevaiie,
as the time for the start approached
Both defender and challenger pre-
pared early in the day for the sec
ond contest Of their sailing Qualitie,
The canvas covers were stripped fron
the booms OF Resolute and ShamrocI
IV. at an early hour and both crew
tailed on the mainsheets Justify. The
all went at the heavy preparation
work with the same vim that the
show during the most exciting mo
ment in a race.
Shamrock Tvs mainsail went ND q
S5 minutes after o'clock. Her head
sails were already up In stops, whit
strealOs from mast to bowsprlt. TW
or three sailors were out straddlir
the bowsprit making final adJus
ments OF the new piece OF timb,
which replaced the bOwspr,t remov,
:, after the loosing OF the bowsprit IN
in Thursdays contest. BY 9.s6 tn,
|, apparently had completed their !,
, satisfactorily. At about the san
4 time Resolutes headsails also went u
SHAMROCK GETS UNDER WA
a FOR THE START.
y Shamrock ~. then broke out n
It Jtb and ran up her -topsail. 81
i cast off from her buoy and got und
i way with barely perceptibleNheadwa
'e The tug Governor Smith stood by
Is take her in tow 20 the Ambrose Cha
: mel Lightship starting mark,
The wind was very light as Shan
: rock moved slowly out past San,
Hook point and she gathered We
II little headway Shamrock work
back and forth between the Zip Of 1
o Hook and her moorlnR6 for the M