AMERICA CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 218, 15 September 1930, Page 7

AMERICA CUP.

the first race. Opening Honours Go To the Vanderbilt Yacht. sailed IN A LIGHT WIND. (United •P'.A.-Blectrlc Telegraph-Copyright) '/NEW' YORK, September 14. The first of the series of races for tie Africa Cup, held off Long Island yesterday, was wOn by the £toidiii£ yacht Enterprise, which defeated Six* Thomas Lipton's Shamrock V. .by 2m 40s. There vas an almost universal cx_reS6ion of sentimental support for the shamrock and popular hopes were with the challenger. However, Enterprise was ' 2 to 1 favourite m the betting. Heavy L and a light wind delayed the start until a - m - Heavily-loaded excursion steamers and an array of pleasure craft were kept clear of the course by a cordon of . destroyers and coast , patrol vessels. : The course was 13 miles to leeward and then to windward. Enterprise crossed the line first under mainsail, balloon jib and jib topsail. Sliariirock was the first to break out her spinnaker and began' to foot faster. Enterprise 'broke out a spinnaker a minute later. Both yachts bore away rapidly in a light wind/with Enterprise maintaining a glight lead. In apite of trouble with her spinnaker, which rippled and wrinkled, and although the foot dipped into the sea occasionally Shamrock, taking advantage of a favourable slant wind, pulled °to the .defender near the cud of the first holir's sailing* . . , After about eight miles had been covered in the first hour on the starboard oybe, Enterprise regained her slight lead.

Sis lowered her spinnaker, went over on the port gybe, and tlieii immediately reset the spinnaker. Captain Heard held Shamrock on the starboard gybe, font a shift in tlie wind forced him to -drop the' spinnaker and. follow Enterprise, which, under the freshening breeze, went well and rounded the halfway mark} at 2.3 p.m. Shamrock followed two minutes later. «

Enterprise was leading by 950 yards • with about seven miles to go. Her captain, Mr. Harold Vanderbilt, held a strategic position, as Enterprise was far . enough ahead to cross Shamrock's bow * if a tack was. necessary to fetch the finishing line. The headsails on Shamrock were fluttering, indicating _an at-, tempt to; eail'too close to the wind. In the constantly freshening breeze Enterprise continued to improve her position. She was estimated to be making 10 knots. Shamrock held the weather .'position near the finish, but she was outpaced. At the end the breeze failed rapidly and Enterprise finished in an almost lifeless air. • Her captain cruised .iip and down the line before finally putting his bow across, evidently as a sporting gesture to'make tho defeat seem less. Shamrock slipped across before the welcome to- Enterprise had died away, and she was given perhaps a greater receptibn than the winner. Enterprise completed the course in 4h 2m 50s. ~~~~" i