The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-31

Palatial yachts rolled gently on the swells, side by side, with the grimy little lobster boats. Destroy CTS and cruisers flying the Stars and Stripes, slid swiftly about as if play ing tag with British men of war. Clumsy excursion steamers poured out their smoke over ten-footers, sixteen footers, square-riggers, and tiny outboards
 Official Committee SQuatting pompously near, and literally alive with blue-coated, white-capped, and brass-buttoned digritaries, was the official commit tee boat in charge of this, the most costly and exclusive of the worlds sporting events.
 It was from this boat by means of marine flag code, that the course was to be announced. It was cer- tain to be 30 mile run, fifteen to windward and fifteen to leeward, or vice versa, according to the wind at the scheduled starting time of la2:4O p. m. The wind prophets, meaning those gentlemen who haunt high roofs with a raft Of gadgets, predicted a brisk breeze from the southeast, accompanied by scattered showers. This was subject to change without notice. i Other cold facts on the series are:
 Number of races: Best of seven, racing on every week day unless both contestants agree to a post ponement or the weather is too rough.
 i, The Time Limit l Time limit: Five and a half hours flor the windward-leewar course and five hours for the triangular course. If neither boat finishes within the time limit it Is no con- test.
 Designers: Ranger-Starling Bur- gess and Olin Stephens and Drake 6parkman. Endeavour Second - Charles Nicholson.
 After guard: Ranger-H. S. Van- derbilt (skipper), Olin Stephens, Roderick Stephens Jr., Arthur Knapp Jr., and Professor Zenas Bliss. Endeavour Second-T. O. M. Eopwith (skipper), Sir Ralph Gore, Frank Murdock, Mrs. Sopwith.
 Newport and New York bookies have established Ranger as an odds on favorite. The big white hulled sloop, which flied the burgee of the New York club for 2 to to win to- days opening brush, and l to 2h 1 to take the series and keep the cup on this side of the Atlantic. Just as 1t has been since the first of these international jousts in 1851. These odds were based largely on ' Rangers remarkable showing in the l observation, trial and practice races. Ranger won B straight races, beat ing the best Glass J boats in the world with the exception of En- deavour Second. Her only defeat was by Endeavour First, the unsuc- cessful challenger in 1884, and ex- perts attributed that reverse to false weather conditions.
 The British yachting experts here ko report the series were inclined to scoff at the odds, however. They pointed out that Endeavour Second also had a spotless record save for e licking or two at the hands of her predeceSsor. Actually any compari- sons of the yachts until they race, are absurd. Granting that the two boats are equal in speed, Vanderbilt etill would have to be given the edge. He is recognized as the great est Glass J skipper in the world, and he has the advantage of know ing the waters off Newport down to the last ripple. He has sailed in them ever since he was eight years old, and this will be his third cup defense. He sailed the Enterprise against Sir Thomas Upton in that old gentleman's last bid in 1880 and trimmed Sopwith, four races to two, three years ago.
 It is also generally conceded that Nanderbilt's Ranger is manned by the finest crew afioat. Most of the sailors have aeen with him since ao3O, ard anticipate his plans. Sop with, handicapped by an amateur crew three years ago, carried a pro- fessional one today, but they are not likely to be as swift and as sure as vanderbilt's black sweatered robots.
 HANGED TN CELL