First Race in the America’s Cup Series

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 September 1934, Page 7

First Race in the America’s Cup Series

DECLARED NO CONTEST.

CALM ROBS AMERICAN

YACHT OF VICTORY

(By Telegraph-Press Assn. —Copyright) Received Sunday, 7 p.m. NEWPORT (Rhode Island), Sept. .15.

After 5J hours’ splendid sailing by Mr. Vanderbilt’s Rainbow, half-a-mile from the finish line and a mile ahead of the Endeavour, a calm prevented the finishing of the race in the prescribed time and the race was declared no contest. The defender and the challenger will meet again on Monday.

At the start of the contest there was a seven-mile south-east breeze,*but the sea was remarkably smooth.

Handling the American yacht as if it was a toy in his hand, Mr. Vanderbilt boat the Endeavour by a minute at the start, but Mr. Sopwith came in hot pursuit and it was cither’s race for a time. Then came a lacking duel with Genoa jibs on and large single headsails, carried to windward. The Endeavour’s crew could not sheet their Genoa jib as fast as the Rainbow’s, with its great “coffee-grinder” winch to raise the Genoa sheet in a hurry. The Rainbow gained an additional minute and 40 seconds’ load in the last four miles. In a calm the craft drifted a little.

Mrs. Sopwilh sailed as timekeeper. She is the first woman ever listed as a member of a crew in the America's Cup races. She later acted as observer of the Rainbow and did her job well. A great flotilla, including the Nourmahal, carrying President Roosevelt, watched the contest over a 30-mile windward and leeward course, which was patrolled by coastguard cutters and naval destroyers.