Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-27
HOPE FOR Wind
TO FINISH RAGE
Memory Holds Record of Some
DreariIy Protracted Americas
Cup Contests
BY LAWRENCE PERRY

Highlands. n. j., July 27.--Resolute
and Shamrock w left their moorings
inside Sandy Hook shortly after 10
O'Clock this morning, prepared to make
another attempt to sail of the deciding
race OF the Americas Cup series, which
now stands two and two, 1t may not
be said there was 4 great deal of en-
thusiasm over the event. Certainly
not In this section Of the South Jersey
Highlands.
For yesterdays drifting match. fol-
lowing upon the refusal of the racing
yachts to risk their fragile fabric in the
wholesale breezes of Saturday, was bound
to have disheartcning effect upon OIL
most every one. II appeared as though
even the sailors of the two sloops them
selves were getting rather weary of this
affair. A. least they set sail this morn
ing in manner which struck the
observer as perfunctory. certainly with
none of that vim which characterized
their demeanor In previous races.
Today's event involved n fifteen mile
beat to windward and then run before
the wind. or vice versa. 1t all depends
upon the direction of the breczes No
one yentured in the early morning hours
TO say what the wind conditions would
be. For ut this time Of year clouds
boil up over the horizon which appear
to be filed with wind and yet are only
laden with dashes of rain. IL anything
at all. while at other times the finest
breezes come out of skies which have
no definite character.
Every one was whistling for at least
enough wind to- blow the racers over
the course within the time limit. of six
hours today. whistling the more fer
vently inasmuch as memory holds record
of some drearily protracted America s
| Cup events.
A Depressing Drift
recall one occasion when there were
| six or seven flukes before cup sloops
were able to complete race. It's all Q
mart of the yacht racing game. but 9
very dispiriting part, for nothing sc
dims the enthusiasm of all. save the
dyed in the wool yachting enthusiast
than a day of catspaw brcezes in whicl
the Yachts drift and drift and drift
snnrs secured to keep them from slat
ting and hulls moving so slowly through
the water that the bows did not max
even a ripple.
Yesterdays race was a depressin
drift of this sort. The only thing re
| Vealeu was .WnuI every oiit uiituu
knows-that in the doldrums the de
fender can move better than the Sham
rock. The yachts were sent away o
what was to have been run wit
spinnakers and balloopGSsr but spin
makers were never used. The challenge
went over the line first. but after tn
sloops had travelled about five mile
Resolute slid to the fore and gradual
increased her lead until off Normandi
the wind headed the yachts off. havin
turned southerly. whereupon ballooner
were taken in, and then in turn reachin
topsails and finally babyjib topsai
were set
Tacking off shore. the single stickei
had sailed down the coast within n mil
or two of land. The rival shippers pro
ceeded to navigate their vessels in sue
manner as to make the mark. now lyin
to windward. in as few tacks as pos
sibtp. The wind at the time was sti
holding at not more than two or thre
miles an hour. and in the end the re
gatta committee. seeing that it would b
impossible to finish the race within tn
stipulated time of six hours, set signal
calling off the race.