Evening star., 1934-09-15
SopWith Trails Rainbow by
Six Lengths After
Slow Start.
RAINBOW ON STARB0ARD
TO COVER OPPONENT
President Heads List of Officials
Present-Shift in Breeze
Favors U. S. Ship.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated RTeSS.
NEWPORT, R. l., September Is
Harold S. Vanderbilt's Rainbow, de-
Tending the Americas Cup against the
challenge of T. o. M. Sopwith's En-
deavour, was leading by six lengths
at 1910 pm. hour and 80 minutes
after the start.
When the starting signal was made
promptly at 10:40 am. Vanderbilts
famed skill at the starting line was in
evidence and he took Rainbow over the
line nearly q minute ahead OF the
challenger.
The starting signal found Rainbow
down close to the buoy that marked
the line, while Endeavour was close
under the stern of the committee boat
at the other end of the line.
RAINBOW went across on the port
tack under mainsail and Genoa jib.
Sopwith Loses Time.
Sopwith lost precious seconds and
much of his way shifting from a
double-head rig to a large Genoa jib.
He had to pinch Endeavour to get her
clear of the committee boat and took
her across the line on the starboard
tack
A few minutes after the start Rain
bow went about on the starboard tack
to keep Endeavour covered.
Half an hour after the start En-
deavour had improved her position to
such an extent that 1t appeared she
might be able to cross Rainbow's bow.
Endeavour's genoa jib was drawing
better than the defenders and she
was footing faster. although still
somewhat to leeward.
At 1870 am. the yachts were we'll
over toward Cuttyhunk Island, with
it still a question whether Endeavour
could cross Rainbow's bow. Both re-
manned on the starboard tack virtu-
ally from the start. Rain had begun
to fall and the wind freshened slight
ly. Rainbow came about on the port
tack at 1852 and Endeavour almost
Immediately followed suit.
Rainbow Regains Lead.
At HAS am. Rainbow, apparently
favored by a two-point shift in the
breeze to eastward, appeared to have
recovered the lead as they left the
Vineyard Sound Lightship to port.
However, they were still long way
from the mark and it appeared doubt
full If either could fetch it without
taking another tack at least. At this
time the breeze had freshened to about
8 knots.
If President Roosevelt, who Is here
for the race. was getting any sort of
a view of the contest it must have
been through a powerful pair of BIZ
noculars as the Nourmahal, the Astor
yacht from which he was watching
the race, was firmly imbedded in the
spectator feet.
At 1920 am. the Race Committee
boat hoisted signals for the course
which gave the yachts l5-mile beat
to windward against light southeast
breeze which had freshened slightly.
The course takes the yachts to a point
about miles west Of the Island of
No Mans Land.
Yachts of all sorts, chartered steam
ers, Coast Guard cutters and craft of
all descriptions, freighted with spec
tators, were crowded along the l5-mile
course. The number of craft was esti-
mated at 1000. There was no way to
estimate the numbers of their pas
sengers.
Palatial Yachts on Scene.
The spectator fleet represented
everything from palatial steam yachts
to tiny power boats.
The northerly flank Of the excursion
fleet was patroled by Coast Guard
craft, while destroyers controlled the
southerly flank and the great armada
was kept in perfect control Eight
airplanes hovered over the excursion
feet.
Among the thousands out along
the course are some of the high
est officials of the State and Ma
ton. Secretary of War George H.
Dern, who arrived last night aboard
the Army Engineer boat Josephine
with Maj. Gen. Fox Conner, will be
the gest of President Roosevelt
aboard Vincent Astors yacht Nour-
mahal
The destroyer Fairfax has been as
signed as guardship for the President
during the races.
Governor Is Present.
Gov. Theodore Green, who arrived
last night to confer with the PreSi-
dents secretary, Marvin H. Mcintyre,
is on board the U. S. S. Mime
apolis as the guest of Henry Latrobe
Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary OF the
Navy. In addition 200 guests includ-
ing Mayor Mortimer Sullivan will
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