Endeavour Wins Again

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 220, 20 September 1934, Page 7

Endeavour Wins Again

Mr Sopwith Has All the Hard Luck

SLOW START AND TORN SAIL

United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. NEWPORT, Sept. 18.

‘ The second of the series of races for the America's Cup was won by the British challenger, Mr. T. O. it. Sopwith's yacht Endeavour, which also won the first race yesterday against the defender, Mr. George Vanderbilt’s yacht Rainbow. Yesterday’s race was over a leeway and windward course, but to-day's contest was over a 30-nvile triangular course. Tho Endeavour established an early lead and was ahead at all marks, winning eventually by 51 seconds. ’ Although tho Endeavour wou by a smaller margin to-day, her victory was even more impressive than yesterday’s. She set a new Cup record for the 30mile triangular course and overcame the handicap of a torn sail and slow start, in which tho Rainbow crossed the line ahead. Tho defender was unable to maintain her lead, and the British yacht was ahead on each leg, 15 seconds on the first leg, sailed in a breeze freshening from nine knots at tho start, and S 9 seconds at the second leg. Vanderbilt managed to cut down this lead on the 10-milc run home, but his craft was not fast enough to overhaul his opponent. The Endeavour had all the hard luck. Apart from a torn jib and late start, she lost control of her reaching jib as sho rounded the first mark, and once more lost precious soconds at the 20mile mark, sheeting in the jib again. Tho race during its middle course was sailed in a' 14-knot breeze, but the wind dropped down again to nine at the finish. Despite a torn sail, the rent in which grew more noticeable as the race progressed, Sopwith apparently gambled on the canvas holding out for the duration of tho contest. Another rent soon appeared, but Sopwith hold on, only sending up a quadrilateral jib in stops ready to break it out if tho other gave way entirely. Tho Endeavour established a triangular course record of 3 hours 9 minutes 1 second.

Fuller Description of the First Race

A MASTERLY DUEL (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Sept. IS. The close finish and a masterly duel •between rival helmsmen in -the first of the seven yacht races for the America’s Gup in a jumpy sea off Rhode Island yesterday, which resulted in a win for tho British challenger, Air. Sopwith’s Endeavour over the American defender, Mr. Vanderbilt’s Rainbow, by, 2 minutes 10 seconds, have caused enthusiasm ou both sides of tho Atlantic, and oxciting contests in the remaining races are expected. The Endeavour experienced difficulty in setting her mainsail before- the race, and a member of tho crew was temporarily injured, the committee sportingly consenting to postpone the start. The Rainbow, leading the Endeavour by ten seconds, rounded the mark in 2 hours 4 minutes 9 seconds, thus breaking the record set by the American Vigilant in 1893, but the challenger drew away on the homeward run down the wind.

The general opinion is that the Endeavour has a slight advantage in fresh breezes and the Rainbow in lighter winds. The success of tho Endeavour was greeted with great rejoicing by the workmen who built her at Gosport.