DESCRIPTION OF FOURTH RACE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15276, 26 July 1920, Page 7

DESCRIPTION OF FOURTH RACE.

NEW YORK, July 23. Resolute won the fourth race. Fog caused delay at the start. The course was a beat to windward from Abrose Channel lightship south-south-west down the New Jersey shore, and a reach east by north out to sea and another reach back to the lightship. A light, variable five knot wind was blowing. Resolute crossed at lhr. lmin. 31sec. and Shamrock at lhr. lmin. 56sec. At 1.11 Resolute led by a quarter of a mile. Shamrock crossed four seconds before the expiration of the two minutes allowed after the signal. Resolute was steadily drawing ahead the first hour. Heading inshore at 1.10, Resolute's sharp bow lifted better through the rolling sea. The first turn was : Resolute 2hi*. 34min. 47sec, Shamrock 2hr. 36min. 58sec. At 1.20 Resolute was pinching out to the weather. Shamrock with a fore-reaching wind hauled south, putting Resolute a quarter of a mile to windward, where she was almost able to lay for the first mark. At 1.30 the wi,nd was eight knots south-south-west. Resolute half a mile to windward was going faster. Shamrock seemed "saggy." Both were standing inshore to gain the advantage of the tide. Shamrock tried to pinch out along the edge of the wind, doing better. At 1.50 a small baby jib topsail was helping Shamrock. The wind was six knots. At 2.5 Shamrock came about, heading off shore. At 2.7 Resolute' crossed Shamrock's bow, came about on the starboard tack, and planted squarely on Slhamrock's quarter. At 2.20 three miles from the mark Resolute was leading by a quarter of a mile. At 2.45, three miles out on the second lee. Resolute was leading by half a mile. The wind was 12 knots. At 3.10, when two-thirds of the second leg had been covered. Resolute was leading. Resolute turned the second mark at 3hr. 25min. 49sec. and Shamrock at 3hr. 27 min. 16sec. At 3.50 there was a squall. The yachts were then four miles from the lightship. Shamrock passed Resolute three miles from the finish. Resolute again, led for half a mile from the finish. On the second leg the wind was 15 knots and drove the boats through a shower of spray. Shamrock very slowly gained. The speed was remarkable, averaging close on 12 knots. On the third leg the wind was 18 knots and the boais tore along. Shamrock was unable to cany her big reaching jib topsail, which was not replaced. At 3.41 a black squall, made Shamrock haul down her topsail. Resolute hauled down her jib topsail, and won bv 9 minutes 58 seconds. Resolute finished at 4hr. 39min. 25sec, Shamrock 4hr„ 43min. 6sec. ( , At 3.51 the squall passed. The wind was north-west. Resolute was leading hy a quarter of a mile. Four" miles from the finish Resolute tacked, forcing Shamrock about. At 4 p.m. both yachts were 'becalmed and their relative positions were unchanged. At 4.15 Shamrock caught the south-west breeze first and set her working topsail and big jib. At 4.20 both were holding fair speed topsails, Shamrock to weather slightly ahead. Resolute closed up within a mile of the finish, taking the lead. The elapsed time was: Resolute 3hr. 37min.. 52sec, Shamrock 3hr, 41min. lOsec. It is understood that in the event of the Shamrock winning the America Cup the New York Yacht Club is prepared to challenge the Roy|al Ulster Yacht Club for a series of races with 115- foot schooners. The New York Times' New Jersey correspondent interviewecl Skipper Burton, who said that the after-deck of the •Shamrock was torn from its fastenings 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 sterft. The mainsail was too closely hauled. Tlia deck had been repaired. Yachting circles in New York are agitating for new rules for future races, whereunder there, will be no time allowance, no matter 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 be enhanced. Interest in the America Cup races reached its highest point here to-night. Experts agree that both vessels have made a good showing and do not wish to prophesy the result of the final race. S-'r Thomas Lipton states : "If we don't win this fill-important race to-morrow it- won't be because we did not bring the best talent from Brtain. My crew did its very best. I want to see the ■best boat win, and I am verv hopeful. -A. and N.Z.O.A, *