THE FOURTH HEAT

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 22, 26 July 1920, Page 7

THE FOURTH HEAT

AN EXCITING CONTEST.

NEW YORK, 23rd July.

Fog delayed the start of the fourth heat for the America Cup. The course was a beat to windward", south-south-west down the New Jersey shore, a reach east by north out to sea, and another reach back. A light and variable fiveknot wind was blowing. The Resolute crossed the line at 1.1.31 p.m., and the Shamrock at 1.1.56 p.m. At 1.11 p.m. the Resolute led by a quarter of a mile. At 1.20 the Shamrock hauled to the south., putting the Resolute a quarter of a mile to windward, where she was almost able to lay for the first mark. At 1.30 the wind was eight knots from the south-south-; west. The Resolute was half a mile to windwaid, and going faster than the Shamrock, which seemed soggy. Both yachts were standing inshore to gain the of the tide. The Shamrock tried to pinch out along the edge of the wind, and was doing better. At 1.50 a small baby-jib topsail was helping the Shamrock. The wind was six knots. At 2.5 the Shamrock came about and headed oH-shore.. At''2.7 the Resolute crossed the Shamrock's bow, came about on the starboard tack, and planted squarely on the Shamrock's quarter. At 2.20, when three miles from the mark, the Resolute was leading by a quarter of a mile. The first turn was made by the Re solute at 2.34.47 p.m., and by the Shamrock at 2.36.58' p.m. At 2.45, when three miles out on the second leg, the Resolute ■was leading by half a mile. The wind was twelve knote. At 3.10, with twothirds of the second leg covered, .the Resolute was leading. The Resolute turned the second mark at 3.25.49 p.m., and; the Shamrock at 3.27.16 p.m. Shortly afterwards there was a squall. The wind ivas fifteen knots, and drove the boats through a shower of spray. The speed of the boats was remarkable, averaging close on twelve knots on the third leg. The wind was eighteen knots, and the yachts -tore along. The Shamrock was unable to carry the big reaching jib topsail, and it was not replaced. At 3.41 the squall" made the Shamrock haul down her topsail, and the Resolute hauled down hei'jib topsail. .At 3.51 the squall had passed. The wind was north-west. The Resolute was leading by a quarter of'a mile four miles from the finish. The Resolute tacked, forcing the Shamrock. At about 4 p.m. both were becalmed, their relative position being unchanged. ,At 4.15 p.m. the Shamrock caught the south-west breeze first, and set her working topsail and big jib, and began to reach by the Resolute. At 4.16,' three miles out, both were reaching for the finish on the port tack. At 4.20 both were holding at fair speed with topsails set. The Shamrock was slightly ahead. .The Resolute closed up, within a mile of the finish, taking the lead. The Resolute finished ( at 4.39.25 p.m., and the Shamrock at 4.43.6 p.m. The elapsed times were: Resolute, 3hr. 37min. 52sec.; Shamrock, 3hr. 41 mm. lOsec. The Resolute won by tain 58sec. .■

According to her akipj^i', Mr. Burton, the afterfleck of the Shamrock was torn from its fastening during the third race, but it had nothing to do with the result. It was due to the strain of the mainsail on the blocks at the stem. The mainsail was too closely hauled. The deck has been repaired.

, _ NEW YORK, 23rd July. Yachting oircles in New York are agitating for new rules for future races, whereunder theve will be no time allowance, no matter what the size of the % vessels, provided both are built within certain limits. It is pointed out that ■the sporting value of the races would thus ba enhanced. . .

It is understood that in the event of the Shamrock winning the Cup, the New York Yacht Club is prepared to chalilenge_ the Royal Ulster Yacht Club for a series of raoes with 115-ft schooners.