One to America

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1077, 15 September 1930, Page 9

One to America

SHAMROCK V. DEFEATED First Race for Cup WIND DROPS NEAR FINISH LINE United I*.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright mr C r l i IP a £ uu . NEW YORK, Saturday. T hrst of Hie series of races for the America’s Cup, held °fi- L°us Island, today, was won by the defending yacht Enterprise, which defeated Sir Thomas Tipton’s Shamrock V. by 2m 40s. llierc was an almost universal expression of sentimental support for the Shamrock and popular hopes were with tho challenger. Enterprise, however, was a two to one favourite in the betting.

Heavy fog and a light wind delayed the start until 11.55 a.m. Heavilvloaded excursion steamers and an array of pleasure craft were kept clear of the course by a cordon of destroyers and coast patrol vessels. The course was 15 miles to windward and then to leeward. Enterprise crossed the line first under mainsail, balloon and jib topsail. Shamrock was the first to break out her spinnaker and began to foot faster. Enterprise broke out a spinnaker a minute later. Both yachts bore away rapidly in a light wind, with Enterprise maintaining a slight lead. In spite of trouble with her spinnaker, which rippled and wrinkled, and although her foot, dipped into the sea occasionally, Shamrock, taking advantage of a favourable slant wind, pulled up to the defender near the end of the first hour’s sailing. DEFENDER TAKES LEAD After about eight miles had been cornered in tho first hour on the starboard tack. Enterprise regained her slight lead. She lowered her spinnaker, went over on the port tack and then immediately reset the spinnaker. Captain Heard held Shamrock on the starboard tack, but a shift in the wind forced him to drop the spinnaker and follow Enterprise, which under the freshening breeze went well and rounded the halfway mark at 2.3 p.m. Shamrock followed two minutes later.

Enterprise was leading by 950yds., with about seven miles to go. Her captain. Mr. Harold Vanderbilt, held a strategic position, as Enterprise was far enough ahead to cross Shamrock's bow if another tack was necessary to fetch the finishing line. The headsails on Shamrock were fluttering, indicating an attempt to sail too close to the wind. BREEZE DROPS In the constantly freshening breeze Enterprise continued to improve her position. She was estimated to be making 10 knots. Shamrock held the weather position near the finish, but she was outpaced. At the end the breeze failed rapidly and Enterprise finished in an almost lifeless air. Her captain cruised up and down the line before finally putting his bow across, evidently as a sporting gesture to make the defeat seem less. Shamrock slipped across before the welcome to Enterprise had died away and she was given perhaps a greater reception than the winner. Enterprise completed the course in 4h 2m 50s. FOUR WINS NEEDED RACES SAILED DAILY THE BOATS COMPARED RUGBY, Sunday. The ownership of the America’s Cup will be decided by the winning of four races out of seven. If conditions permit these will be held on following days, with the exception of Sundays, but each skipper can claim a day’s rest between the races. The starting line is nin,e miles south-east of the Brenton Reef lightship off Newport. This course was chosen in the hope of obtaining more constant winds than off Sandy Hook, where the previous contests were held. Each boat carries a crew of about 20 and their proportions are exceptionally close despite the differences of design. , Tr , The displacement of Shamrock V. is

133 tons. Her overall length is 110 feet 10 inches, her mast 162 feet and her sail spread 7,524 square feet. Enterprise had 12S£ tons displacement. She is 16S feet high and her sail spread 7,540 square feet. In outfit and gear, Shamrock V. follows conventional lines and her sails are man-handled except for one winch for the main halyard. Enterprise, however, is called the “clockwork” boat, by reason of the innumerable mechanical contrivances she contains. All ropes and wires are taken below deck, and gauges record the exact strains on all the wires and her duralumin mast, which is only IS inches in diameter at the thickest part, is nearly a ton lighter than that of Shamrock V., which is of hollow wood. UPTON’S CHANCES A syndicate of millionaires which owns Enterprise has equipped her regardless of expense, and her mast alone is stated to have cost £S,OOo. The friendliest feeling exists between the contestants, and on this occasion for the first time in the history of the race, the designers of the two yachts have not kept secret their drawings and plans, but have examined and discussed them together. Sir Thomas Eipton is SO years old. He feels that he has now a better chance of success under the revised rules than ever before. He is on liis steam yacht Erin at Newport, Rhode Island. Sir Thomas is one of the most popular men in America, where his sportsmanship and perseverance have earned him affectionate regard. REBROADCAST FAILS CONDITIONS TOO BAD LISTENERS DISAPPOINTED Aucklanders did not hear the broadcast description of the first race for the America’s Cup. Atmospheric conditions were poor in the early morning when the receiving station at Devonport began to search the air for the first transmission from the United States, and there was no improvement before the station closed down shortly after eight o’clock. Yachting enthusiasts were early astir —indeed, it is on record that one man who had been celebrating some event of which he has no clear recollection returned home only when the broadcast was timed to begin at 3.30 a.m. Elaborate arrangements had been made for the following of the race from vantage points in airplanes and launches and for the broadcasting over the whole American continent of a f.ill description. The four New Zealand stations were to pick up the description from a short-wave station and to rebroadcast the transmission for the benefit of listeners here. Several stations were picked up and put over the air, but only scattered words stood out from among the jumbled noises which spoiled reception. Finally, at 8.30 a.m., without any description of the race or even the bare announcement of the result. IYA and other stations were forced to close down. Even enthusiasts with short-wave sets who were able to listen direct could not report better reception. There were many weary and disillusioned radio listeners in Auckland yesterday.