Norwich bulletin., 1920-07-16

Sandy Hook. July 15.-Great Britain gained her first toe-hold in 49 years on the America's cup today when Sir Thon1- as Lipton's challenger. Shamrock ", won the first race of the 1920 regatta after the defender ResoIute. had been forced out of the running by an accident to her rigging.
 The green challenger must win two more races out of 2 possible maximum Of four if she is to achieve Sir Thomas Lip tons dream of taking the bottomless pewter trophy back to Britain. Resoute must win three out of four to retain the cup which has been in possession of the New York Yacht Club since 1851. The The second race will start at noon on Saturday.
 Accident Crippled Resolute.
 Shamrock TVS victory today was won in the face of what had seemed certain defeat Resolute had taken the lead at the start and held it by an ever wid- enfng margin sintil. as she swooped with in half mile of the turning mark flf- teen miles from the start, spectators on the great feet of pleasure craft saw her great area of bellying canvas shiver and begin to sink. futtering. down her mast A sudden gust had snapped her throat halyard and a second later the jaws Of her sauff were shattered beyond repair
 Gave Race to Challenger.
 Captain Charles Francis Adams. 2nd. sent two men aloft to repair the damage while the stricken yacht Tipped slowIy around the turning mark nearly five min utes ahead of Shamrock " A few mo- ments later. however. zthe men descend- ed. reported the extent, of the damage and Captain Adams gare the order that furled Resolute's mainsan and gave the racs to Shamrock "
 When Resclute was seen to be in trouble. a tug bearing Sir Thomas Lip tons colors drew swiftly up to the steam yacht Victoria from which Sir Thomas was following the progress of his cf1al- leaeer Many yachtsmen believe Sir Thomas was ordering Shamrock " to fail to cross the finish line, making it no race. statement he issued later said this was his initial impulse. but that he had been nersuadsI by his companions to permit Shamrock IVzto finish. as it was felt that constructions and stnrdiness of the contenders should he taken into account in determining the issue as well as comparative skill of the rival crews.
 More than 100 craft. ranging in size from an ocean liner 10 tiny power boats that were ilmost lost in the maze. fol- lowed the contenders over the thirty mile course that started even with the squat, yellow Ambrose Hghtship and took them fifteen miles southwest by south along the New Jersey coast and back.
 Ovation For Shamrock ".
 Shamrock " was given a mighty ova- ton of screaming whistles and sirens as she flashed across the line at 26 minutes 75 second after four o'clock. having con- pleted the course in four hours, A min utes and 4s seconds
 The weather was anything but satis- factory for a yacht race. The sky was heavily overcast and what little breeze was stirring was ftful
 Race Began in Sheets of Rain.
 The lowering clouds burst shortly aft CT the race began and poured down sheets of rain that completely obscured the rac- ing sloops from the crowds that lined the Jersey shore and even rom spectators on the following craft. Squalls of rain ac- companied by electrical disturbances re- cured throughout the race and a heavy bank of fog settled as the contenders neared the turning mark. The added weight of the rain caught by Resolute s sails was declared by yachtsnen to have been largely responsible for the acci- dent which robbed of an apparently cer- tain victory.
 Jockying For Position.
 The rival yachts came sailing out from their births. behind Sandy Hook, shortly after ten o'clock. their great stretches of canvas looming high above the wait ing pleasure craft as they came up to the start By II o'clock. they were cruising in great circles about the Am prose lightship, jockeying for position At IL35 a. m challenger and defender crossed for the first time winthin hailing distance of each other and their crews could be seen eagerly sizing up the riva craft
 Shamrock's greater size and sail area e which had resulted in race officials awarding Resolute a handicap of si, minutes forty seconds-was plainly wis ibIe as the two sloops crossed. Bui Resolute was to show. betWeen the start of the race and the time she was forced out. that for sailing weather sucf as tcday's she needed no handicap. The 5 second start she had gained at the out set had been widened to nearly five min utes before she was obliged to furl hel disabled mainsail and drop out of tn, race.
 A feature novel in races for the Amer ica's cup was the appearance over tn, course of air and seaplanes- sailing craft that had not been perfected wher the last clash for the cup occurred seven teen years ago. A half dozen planes flew over the course bearing newspaper men news photographers and moving pictur, men.
 Resolute Will Be Ready Saturday.
 The Resolute will be ready to meet tn Shamrock " on Saturday for the sec ond race. according to Robert Enlmons End. managing director of the Resolute tonight
 When the preliminary signal wa. blown at 11l5 there was just wint enough to give the two yachts steeragt way. The fight for position began a once. and for the first few minutes Cap tain Burton on Shamrock had his boa nicely berthed over Resolute Then Cap tain Adams on the defender slipped ou and by quick twist, gained his fayorits berth on the western end of the line neal the lightship.
 Shamrock on to Poor Start
 Burton seemed to ignore this and start ed for the line nearly minute ahead oi ths gun. Finding that his calculation was wrong, he endeavored to run along the. line to piece out the time. but reach ed the committee boat ahad of the sigma and was forced over. He tackled imme diately under Resolute's stern and re. crossed 5S seconds after the defender 1hsreiiv giving inc latter a commanding Nsad right at the start It was undobut-