New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-16

StSSp SioSer TO view the wounded
racer
II was the beginning of the and so
Tar as the first race was concerned.
With her mainsail sagging, Resolute
rounded the stake under the momen-
tunl she had gathered in the splendid
dash just before the defect in her too
delicately planned mechanism began
to spread In three minutes the main
sail was down on the deck and she was
hmping along with only one thin piece
OF canvas in place. The lookers-on
began to realize that for the first time
since the schooner Livonia's victory
IN All opening race in the early sew
enties an American yacht was doomed
20 lose one race in series for the
Americas Cup.
1t remained only for Shamrock "
to return to the starting point within
the six hour limit. Then, by the rules
of the international cup races, she
would win, and there was no doubt
that the sturdy green challenger could
finish within the time limit.
There were thousands of critics
watching the Resolute when the col
lapse came, and the bittercst of these
were the professional mariners of the
navy, who were dancing with real
deep sea rage as the crew of Resolute
slowly to the decks of the defender
without trying to repair the damage.
Naval Men Rave
"They could splice the BANKED
dashed halyards and they could lash
the equally blank dashed gaff," an
nounced one who had been rolling
about in the North Sea during the
World War. with a BANKED dashed
oIf ,,,l IS ~,
minutes they could patch her up and
make the run home. In the navy they
would do it."
But while the deep sea mariners of
the navy danced and ragged on their
iron decks Resolute's crew were pack
ing the fallen canvas to keep it out of
the water The race was over for the
day-for them
Civilian critics began to compare the
Resolute with the New York Yankee
baseball team. ut starts off as though it
would Iyst laugh its way through, just
as the Yankee team rushes out into the
lead in a pennant race. Then it gets
brittle, just like the Yankee team, and
collapses when it ought to be right
home with the race. It's just as
brittle"
Trained down too fine" remarked
another. THE Resolute, like many a
human and many racing animal, gave
away too much for speed. 1t couldn't
take Off that much weight and hold up"
What did yesterdays race demon
Lutte. if it can hold up and if it is
Unanswered as skillfully as it was
maneuvered yesterday, can beat the
Shamrock ~ boat for poat-if il can
hold up. But on this point there is
moro than a little to be feared. There
certainly was not more than an eight
Knot breeze blowing when the delicate
defender collapsed.
Backers Anxious Now
With sitter breeze than any that
blew yesterday, the defender would he
put TO much sterner est. Can
Resolute stand rougher weather and
heavier wind? No matter how far the
defender may forge ahead in the races
mat are to come, her hackers will be
on the anxious seat until she crosses
the finish line. '-~S
In fairness to the challenger this
is not to be regarded as a fiuke vic-
tory The staying power of Yacht
factor considered in the Inter
national Cup races under the rules. 1t
must be strong enough to carry the
spread OF canvas or pay the penalty.
An. American boat in previous
serles won its first race in much the
same way that Shamrock " won the
lirst race yesterday. In 1889 the chal-
lenger. Shamrock /, lost a topmast.
The American boat, Columbia, took the
victory.
This point was discussed ON all the
attendant boats yesterday, and specula-
L!ons were made as to whether Sir
Thomas Upton would disclaim the first
victory. He could not under the rules,
and this sort of speculation is idle.
Legally and fairly challenger has
won one race in the International cup
series for the first time since the vic
tory of Livonia. But it must be re-
membered, too, that the Livonia won
only that first race.
There were more than hundred YES
sells of all descriptions lowering about
near the yellow Ambrose lightship as
the time drew near for the start.
There were all varieties, from liners
and beautiful steam yachts to little
fishing launches and dowdy little sail
ing vessels. Five destroyers and as
many coast guard vessels fused about
directing the sea traffic. The green
Shamrock was towed out from the
Horseshoe and broke her canvas. The
dainty Resolute came out under her
own sails, and the whistles of the vari-
Jus CIdit gave IHeui Cuc usual HOlSy
greeting. Landsmen were glancing
anxiously at the lowering skies.
Resolute First to Cross
The sun was fishing to peer through
the mists when Resolute crossed the line
first with a beautiful sweep. Shamrock
w flashed across before the two min
utes had elapsed and forged to the
fore. Fluttering side by side, Resolute,
with her convex mainsail, seemed to
the challenger, despite the fact that
the official measurements showed she
carried something like 1900 feet less.
The wind died as the rain peited
down. soaking the acres of white can
vas as the yachts drifted through
patch Of quiet water. Then the breeze
started to freshen again and the fiat
nosed Shamrock forged ahead. They
were working in deliberate, business
like fashion on the challenger. After
the first rush of rain they sent four
men out on the bowsprit to change
sail. The fiat nose Of the challenger
was being thumped by the seas, and
the wash soaked the heavy bundle of
canvas, but the sail was changed.
Shamrock tackled to the starboard
and started ahead with fresh rush of
speed. ResolIte seemed to lose on the
tack. The clouds thickened, then the
mists closed about the two racers and
hid them from view of the following
boats. Only now and then the closest
OF the attending vessels could make
them out.
Whan tho r,ictS 1if+ad aco;o Do.al,,<o