ENTERPRISE WINS CUP

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1081, 19 September 1930, Page 1

ENTERPRISE WINS CUP

Shamrock V. Outclassed LED EARLY BUT FELL BACK Bad Behaviour in Choppy Sea L nitc<l P .A. — By " Telegraph — Copyright Received 10.20 a.m. NEW YORK, Thursday. IK the fourth race for the America's Cup, which was sailed at Newport, Rhode Island, today, Enterprise, the American defender, had a clear margin of smin 50sec over Shamrock V., Sir Thomas Lipton’s challenger. Shamrock V. led at the start, but a freshening breeze and choppy sea lost her the advantage early in the race.

The yachts got away at 10.40 a.m., Shamrock securing the weather berth and crossing the line to starboard, nith Enterprise footing faster in a neadv ten-knot breeze. There was little sea, favouring the challenger, which port tacked. A few minutes later •she was followed hy Enterprise. The smallest spectator fleet so fails the series was present. Shanyock. driving into the freshening breeze of 14 knots and into .the choppy sea, overcame the slight lead secured by Enterprise after the start, and opened up a 2SO-yard gap over thi defender, which carried her mainsail, jib and jib-topsail, while Shamrock was under her mainsail and jib. Although Enterprise had worked the weather, Shamrock outfooted her and opened up the lead in the lirst 20 minutes iu the choppy sea, which was believed to be unsuitable to her. Half an hour after the start Shamrock doused her baby jib-topsail, which was evidently hauling her off the wind.

Sir. Harold Vanderbilt, skipper of Enterprise, then seemed half a' mile to windward. Enterprise was picking up speed, and at 11.35 she went ahead, cpntinning to open up a lead estimated at a mile. Shamrock sailed a course shoreward across the wind, evidently seeking smoother water and apparently realising she was losing valuable

Blie came about at 11.30, followed by Enterprise, which held a straight course to windward.

Shamrock’s crew appeared to be making desperate efforts to work her to windward by shifting her jib-top-sails. But Enterprise continued to gain, and it was estimated at 11.45 that she was a mile and a-half ahead. Enterprise rounded the first marker in 1 hour 23 minutes 15 seconds, Shamrock following in 1 hour 32 minutes 14 seconds. The second leg was covered at a close reach. The breeze freshened to 18 knots. Enterprise rounded the second mark in 51 minutes 51 seconds, Shamrock pulling up somewhat and rounding the mark seven minutes later.

Both boats turned nicely and set homeward with the wind on the beam. On the reach both boats logged around 12 knots, with Enterprise holding a lead of approximately a mile and a-quarter. The 20-mile mark was passed at 1.30. With the finishing line five miles away, Enterprise broke out her ballooner, Shamrock having carried her ballooner from the turn. Shamrock appeared to be gaining slightly. Enterprise completed the 30-mile course in 2 hours 50 minutes 5 seconds, retaining the America’s Cup, and Shamrock completed the course in 2 hours 55 minutes 55 seconds.