Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-07-21
SIR THOMAS
Continued from Page One)


finish line in time.
Shamrock on Home Stretch
The change came just before the
second turn. With everything spread
to catch the lightest puff Of wind OF
the Long Island shore. the Shamrock
had kept plugging straight toward
the mark while Resolute had worked
off TO windward half a mile or more.
her skipper evidently expecting to
pick up a strong wind from that di-
rection later and ride it down to the
stake boat.
Without warning. the breeze haul
ed clear round and swept in from
the south and the sea, almost of the
Jersey coast. 1t caught the Sham
rock first. Jib and great towering
mainsails went flying to port to meet
it. Stronger and stronger it came
and like live thing, the green boat
went heeling down toward the mark
err with white water under her fore
foot for the first time that day.
Big Sail Area Tells
A wild shout went up from the
Victoria's deck as the Shamrock
rounded and started the home
stretch with the wind over her star
board quarter. lifting her along at
a pace that forced smaller steam
craft of the excursion feet to hustle
to keep up. Just out of her path.
reaching down on that second turn
buoy was the Resolute. far behind.
The American yacht was nine min.
utes or more behind when she turned
to follow the Shamrock, then far up
the home stretch and running goose
winged a great triangle Of canvas
against the distant land haze. Again
Captain Adams of the Resoulte ap-
peared to plan a desperate venture
to overtake his fleeing rival. Swing
ing off to starboard. he kept boring
steadily off sea-ward with balloon
jib and his great main and club top
sails out for the quartering breeze,
while Shamrock rocked along under
a spinnaker. The gap between the
two widened as the Resolute drew out
on a cohrse diagonally away from the
lightship at the finish.
Victoria Guests Excited
Excitement\was intense aboard the
Victoria. All along her sides necks
were craned and more than 200 guests
Of Sir Thomas stared into the shore
ward haze seeking the first sign of the
finish> They still feared it could not
be reached within the Limit.
The Resolute was a white streak
on the water far to starboard, but her
bulging canvas showed she too. was
getting the full drive of the breeze.
Her course caused comment. 1t was
concluded Captain Adams was ex-
pecting the wind to haul again in
such fashion as to give him decided
advantage.
Shamrock Holds Lead
Well down in the haze and to port
of the Shamrock, the twin bulks Of
the Ambrose Channel Lightship hove
in sight. Again there was commotion
on the Victoria's decks, for the Irish
boat seemed far better placed for the
finish than her rival. The sloops jibed
over and took the breeze dead astern.
There was no question then as to the
Shamrock's lead. The Resolute look
ed to be two miles or more dead
astern.
On they drove with the wind
freshinging behind theriN Aboard the
Victoria, Sir Thomas was planted in
the wind bridge with his eyes glued
to his glasses. The engines were
turning over at top speed and the
steam yacht racing to be in when
the Shamrock finished. Astern and
to starboard the Resolute was bowl
ing along, and it became a question
Of whether she would cross soon
enough to wrest victory from her
more than seven minute time allow
ance.
Cheers for Challenger
When Shamrock rushed over the
line, a terrific burst of whistling
up on the Victoria, but officers on
the bridge, watches in hand, waved
for silence. They were counting off
the seconds of the defenders time
allowance, the handicap under which
Shamrock labored because of great
sail spread. The green boat rounded
just beyond the line and tackled back
and forth to await and time her
rivals coming.
Six minutes gone. Seven min
utes gone" came the word from the
Nictoria's bridge, then:
Now, you can shout, Time allow
Now you can shout. Time al
lowance gone"
Beaten by Over 2 Minutes
Another burst of cheering follow
ed, to be re-echoed from surround
ing yachts. The Resolute was still a.
quarter of a mile from the line
storming along with all her canvas
bulging far forward under the drive
or the wind, but beaten boat. Sec.
ond by second her time was licked
OF and the two minute margin Of
the Shamrock'S victory noted with
mounting citation on the Victoria.
After the Resolute crossed. the Vic
toria stood up close to the Shamrock
TO send her cheer. Sir Thomas was
almost dancing with joy. His fr;erds
sathered on the foredeck and hailed
MIN with cheers and shouts Of COM
mendation and congratulation.
Inc yacht owner was warm IN his
praise of Captain Burton, who sailed
the green boat to victory .oday desnita
questions raised as to his skill after
previous encounters, and to CAPTAIN
Charles Nicholson. designer of thA
winning craft. He characterized him.
self as an onlooker and said the credit
was theirs.
congratulations to Sir rhoma.
An lmpromptu reception in honor az
'he victory was started in the smoking