SHAMROCK OUTSAILED

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 15 September 1930, Page 5

SHAMROCK OUTSAILED

AMERICA CUP CONTEST

FIRST RACE TO ENTERPRISE

ENORMOUS PUBLIC? INTEREST

Unit**) ere** Association —B) Electric l«inrn|)n <X>pyrigtit.i t NEW YORK, Sept. 12.

When a message from Newport yesterday stated that the indications were for a good blow for the first race between Shamrock V and Enterprise for the America Ciao race, there was an almost universal expression of sentimental support for Sir Thomas Tipton’s shamrock V r and popular hopes were with the challenger. Conviction, however, still favoured the defender, .enterprise, which was a two to one favourite in the betting. To-day Heavy .eg and a light wind at Newport delayed the start until 11.55 a.m. Heavily loaded excursion steamers aim an array or pleasure craft were held clear of the course by a cordon or destroyers and coast patrol vessels, 'liie course was 15 nn.es to windward and to leeward.

ltiiteiprise ciossed the line first under .mainsail, balloon and jib-topsoil, .■sffitairock was first to b reals out her

spinnaker and began to loot it taster 1 tiuui tne Enterprise, whicdi broke out uer spinnaker a minute later. Rotli bore away rapidly on the light wind, with Enterprise maintaining a slight iead despite trouble with the spin-j naker, which ripped and wrinkled, the loot dipping into the sea occasionally. Shamrock, taking advantage of a favourable. slant or wind, pulled up equal near the end or the first hour. Approximately eight miles was coveied in the first hour on the starboard tack. Then Enterprise, regaining a slight lead, doused her spinnaker and went over on the port tack, immediately resetting her spinnaker. ■Captain Heard field Shamrock on the starboard tack, but a shift m trie wind forced him to drop the spinnaker and follow Enterprise, which under a freshening breeze footed along, rounding the halfway mark at 2.3 p.m. Shamrock followed two minutes later. With a freshening wind; veering eastward both dropped their badoons, breaking out baby jib-topsails and staysails nearing the turn, when Enteipri.se had an actual advantage of 2mm /sec, Enterprise leadhig by 9-50 yards with approximately seven miles uncompleted. Captain 'Vanderbilt held the stategic position as Enterprise was far enough ahead to cross Shamrock’s bows ll another hitch became necessary to reach the finish line. The bead sails of the Shamrock were fluttering, indicating an attempt to sail too close on the wind. IV ith a constantly freshening breeze Enterprise continued to improve her position. It was estimated she wins making j.O knots. Shamrock held the weather position near the finish, but was outrooted. The ba-eeeze failed rapidly, Enterprise finishing in an almost lifeless al Captain Vanderbilt cruised up and down the finish line before finally putting his bow across, evidently as a sporting gesture to make the defeat >eem less harsh. Shamrock slipped across beforo the welcome to Enterprise had died away, and if anything .Shamrock received the greater reception. <-• Enterprise completed the course in 2mm 50sec and Shamrock 2mm tjjikeo behind.

SIR THOMAS’ SIXTH ATTEMPT

CONDITIONS FOR RACES

{British Official Wirelesr) RUGBY, Sept. 12. Enormous interest is being taken on lK>th sides of the Atlantic in the first of- the series of races for the America Chip between Sir Thomas Tipton's , aent Shamrock V, and Enterprise, the, .yacht selected by America to defend' the trophy. Sir Thomas is now SO years old, and this is the sixth atb.m’pt lie has made in the last 30 years t > regain lor England the cup, which went to America 79 years ago. The runes under which, previous \conteste have taken place in American waters somewhat handicapped the earlier challengers, which crossed the Atlantic, hut” those governing the present series of races have been revised in a tihorjnghlv sporting spirit, and Sir Thomas feels "he has now a better chance of success than ever before. Sir Thomas, now on his steam yacht Erin at Newport, Rhode Island, is one of the mast popular men in America, where his sportsmanship and perserveranoe have earned him affectionate regard. , . . The conditions of the series of races provide that they take place, over a 30-mile course. On the first, thud, fifth and seventh days the yachts sail 13 miles to either windward or leeward and return, the direction being according to the, wind. On the intervening .daws the yachts will race over a triangular course. The yachts will start level, and there is a 5* hours’ time limit. ■ , . Captain Heard is at Shamrock a wheel and Captain Harold Vanderbilt, rone of a syndicate of American sportsmen who own Enterprise, is the. defender’s helmsman.

A FAMOUS TROPHY

HISTORY OF THE CONTESTS

Britain may have been unsuccessful in her attempts to lift the America Cup but nothing else has shown so olenrlv the dogged determination, which is a proverbial characteristic of the British people. . , J For the past sixty years Britain has sought, time after time, to take the tiophv back to its native land. Awav hack in 1851. a silver cup was ,riven bv the Roval Yacht Squadron at f owes Isle of Wight, for a race m which there was to be no allowance of nnv kind, and which was to he open to -,li* yachts. The course was ‘ round the Isle of Wight", inside No Man s Ruov and .Sand Head Buoy, and outside the Nab.” Fifteen competitors faced tine , tarter on that- August morning, and th,, first of them to complete the course sailed home 10 hours 37 minutes later and was IS minutes before the next i ompetitor. . , iiurinf the progress of the lace it was found that there had been an error in some of the sailing instructions, int-li the result that the America., with sonic others, \va«f> unaware that tftev had to i ra.ss outside the. Nab. This shortenec the course considerahly for them, while . another yacht ran aground when well X in the lead A protest against tin.- race V hrtng awarded to the America on account, of her not having sail eel round the Nab. was not- persisted in, anci the trophy went across the Atlantic. Had the nrotest been pushed, and. uV-!-eld. Sir Thomas. Tipton may not have been .sailing in America to-day. Six rears later the cup was turned over to. the New York Yacht Club by the syndicate which built the America, tr;, b? put no for “perpetual challenge r ( -j - .friendly rivalry between foreign co-’ntrieis.” The old schooner America is now permanently docked in the Tlewey Basin. Aiuiopolis, and is being ipreserv-