CUP RETAINED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21916, 27 September 1934, Page 11

CUP RETAINED

AMERICAN YACHT RAINBOW'S FOURTH WIN THE DECIDING CONTEST PROTESTS WITHDRAWN By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received September 26, 6.5 p.m.) NEW YORK. Sept. 25 The American defender, Rainbow, won the sixth race of the America's Cup series from the British challenger, Endeavour, torday by 55 seconds. Having won four races to two America therefore retains the trophy. Both yachts flew protest flags when crossing the starting line. Mr. Sopwith later withdrew his protest, saying: "My protest concerned a breach of the rules at the start, but, inasmuch as I won the start and lost the race fairly, I feel I should not press the protest." Thus ended the great international sporting contest. It was not without disappointment for almost everyone concerned. Observers are convinced that Endeavour is the better craft, but that the American boat was better manned and better manoeuvred. Mr. Sopwith on His Treatment The deciding race of the series was one of protests. Hardly had the boats crossed the line when Mr. Vanderbilt ordered a red protest flag to be set in the starboard rigging. His protest was based on manoeuvres just before the start. So quickly was it set and answered by a protest flag on Endeavour that observers cynically remarked that the flags must have been in the stops. When Mr. Vanderbilt was informed that Mr. Sopwith had withdrawn his protest he did likewise and the incident was considered closed, but Mr. Sopwith subsequently announced that he would never challenge for the cup again. Mr. Sopwith explained that his statement yesterday that he was bitterly disappointed with the treatment he has received here referred only to the manner in which the race committee had handled his protest of Saturday, and not to the way he had been received in America. Endeavour's Lead at the Start Endeavour to-day, as every day, proved she is the better boat, but she might have had her sea anchor trailing over her stern for all the chance she had against the smart seamanship on board Rainbow. When she could sail her own race she crept up on the defender like a thundercloud, carrying through the water with tremendous impetus. Rainbow was 50 seconds behind Endeavour over the starting line, having had to luff to avoid colliding with the challenger, thus losing headway. As Endeavour approached the line she was going at full speed and so perfectly timed that she went over a moment before the starting signal. Out in front she hauled steadily ahead. Mr. Sopwith succeeded in back winding Rainbow and the British boat drew further ahead. When the second mark was rounded Rainbow had dropped back until she was 1 minute 10 seconds behind. How Endeavour Lost the Race Once the challenger was around the second mark it was obvious that the men on board her were not getting the most from their big sloop. Mr. Sopwith kept his big Genoa set and split tacks with Rainbow.

The Genoa, which is considered to be the sail best known to American yachtsmen, and is not familiar in British yachting, did not give Endeavour what she needed to maintain her lead. Endeavour's winches, moreover, are not considered adequate for the handling of this large sail. Rainbow now pointed high, and steadily drew out to windward, tacking smartly and using her small head sails with much economy of movement. Endeavour had to luff to get her huge foresail sheeted home, and then went off on a long starboard tack, which took her some distance from the course. That marked the end of the race for her. ..Great Last-Minute Effort

The American sloop, with its white hull, drew far ahead of the blue-hulled British boat. Her lead was increased until at the second buoy Rainbow was ahead by 3 minute? 50 seconds, so much the more expertly had she been handled on the windward leg.

Then, once again, Endeavour, left to her own devices, showed she could sail, even though her spinnaker fouled when it was broken out for the run home. It was several moments before it broke loose and bellied out, but then it pulled magnificently. The breeze was fresh and the challenger tried hard to overtake the defender. Endeavour pulled up steadily in the rising seas, easily closing up the gap, until it seemed she might pass the defender in the last two or three miles. She gained 1 minute 45 seconds on the last leg, but it was not enough.

The success of Rainbow in the sixth race for the America's Cup marks the conclusion of what must go down in the annals of yachting as the most determined attempt to wrest the trophy that America has held for 83 years. The Queen's Cup was won at Cowes in 1851 by the America, and was then named the America's Cup. The races for the trophy to date have resulted as follows: — Year Winner Challenger 1851 America Aurora 1870 Magic Cambria 1871 Columbia Livonia 1876 Madeleine Countess Dufferin 1881 Mischief Atalanta 1885 Puritan Genesta 1886 MayfloVer Galatea 1887 Volunteer Thistle 1893 Vigilant Valkyrie 2 1895 Defender Valkyrie 3 1899 Columbia Shamrock 1 1901 Columbia Shamrock 2 1903 Reliance Shamrock 3 1920 Resolute Shamrock 4 1930 Enterprise Shamrock 5 1934 Rainbow Endeavour