Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-14
Lipton's Quest
Again Appears
Hopeless.
BREEZE FAVORS
BRITAIN'S BOAT
American Sloop
Dispells Doubt as
to Superiority.
RY ALAN GOULD

NEWPORT, r. l., September IS
R.-Enterprise, sliding through
the mistS like a big white ghost,
ran away from Shamrock v to-
day in a moderate breeze, and
Sir Thomas Lipton's quest for the
Americas Cup again took on the
aspect of a fruitleSS chase after
another will o. the wisp.
The first race OF the series,
sailed over a 3o-mile leeward and
windward course in the open sea,
southeast of Newport, was won
deciSively by the American de-
fender, which now needs three
more victories to keep the classic
trophy safely at home.
Enterprise Leads Always.
Enterprise, ably skippered by
Harold S. Vanderbilt, led from
start to finish, though it was close
enough at several stages of the
leeward run when the American
boat was no more than SO yards
in front. The slim, trim, Yankee
built sloop had a margin OF 2
minutes and Z seconds at the 10
mile mark. On the beat home
she increased to a f1nal margin
Of 2 minutes and So seconds.
The gap between defender and chal-
lenger might have been much wider
80 csI-iv...<ar- Tar4Sarn{lf either nv
choice or necessity, lost at least min
ute's advantage in taking an extra
hitch to get across the fnish line.
Enterprises elapsed time was 4 hours,
3 minutes and 20 seconds and Sham
rocks 4:Oe:40, for the 30-naile course.
Gorgeous Spectacle Of Sea.
At such times as the sun succeeded
in breaking through the fog, 1t was a
gorgeous and record breaking spectacle
of the seas as the two trim racers glided
along between . naval pageant spread
out for miles, but the contest itself was
almost completely lacking in competi-
tive thrills.
At none but q few stages in the lee
ward run through the fog did there APP
pear the slightest doubt that Enter
prise had the situation in command
that she was the faster and the better
boat, though perhaps no better handled
at the helm.
At times the experts, peering intently
ut the spectacle from the swaying decks
of destroyers, had the accuracy Of their
views impaired by reason of being a
half mile away with fog contributing
further to poor visibility, but whenever
the stately sail spreads became etched
against the gray or the blue back
grounds, there never seemed any cues
ton but that Enterprise was in front
and staying there very comfortably.
Defender Slips Away, Too.
Enterprise, after the first mile, ap-
was an hour after the start when
Shamrock boosted along by a big puff
Of wind, closed much of the early gap
and was no more than 40 or so yards
astern.
When the same puff hit Enterprise,
the defender slipped away fast She
was well ahead at the turn, added 100
yards to her advantage on the first
tack and was fully half-mile in front
until she lost ground near the finish
As the race was sailed, no particular
display Of tactical skill or master sea-
nnanship seemed called for under SAIL
ing conditions that were distinctly ordi-
nary. In the leeward run, Enterprise
simply footed faster, with all sails
spread, and shift of the wind made
the beat home much simpler matter
than was to be expected. 1t was mere
~ long reach. close-hauled.
Thrills Are Lacking.
It was a disappointment in many
respects to the immense armada OF
pleasure craft that had borne, perhaps,
$4,000 spectators out to sea, all hoping
for some thrills; most OF them eager
to cheer the gallant quest Of the 30
year Irish baronet.
For all its magnificence, when the
scene was sunlit, there was no excite
ment whatever and not even a great
deal of footing or noise making when
Enterprise glided triumphantly past the
tug Susan A. Moran at the finish mark.
The significant feature. so far as the
experts we're concerned, was that Sham
rock was beaten under conditions Of
light air and moderate sea in which she
was presumed to excel. Either the ex-
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