CALM ROBS THE RAINBOW

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1934, Page 5

CALM ROBS THE RAINBOW

FIRST AMERICA CUP RACE

RACE UNFINISHED IN TIME SEVEN RACES TO BE SAILED TROPHY HELD FOR 64 YEARS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 7.30 p.m. Newport, Sept. 15. After five and a-half hours’ splendid sailing by Mr. Vanderbilt’s yacht Rainbow, which put it half a mile from the finishing line and n mile ahead of the Endeavour, a calm prevented the finishing of the first America Cup race in the prescribed time. The race was declared no contest. The defender and challenger will meet again on Monday. A series of seven races will be sailed alternatively over two courses of 30 nautical miles. The maximum time allowed for the completion of the course in each race is 5} hours. Mr. T. O. M. Sopwith’s challenge with the Endeavour is Great Britain’s fifteenth attempt in 64 years to regain the cup. At the start of to-day’s race there was a seven-mile south-east breeze, but the sea was remarkably smooth. Handling the American yacht as if it were a toy in his hand, Mr. Vanderbilt beat the Endeavour by one minute at the start. Mr. Sop with was soon in hot pursuit, but it was either’s race for a time. Then came a tacking duel with Genoa jibs on. Large single head sails were carried to the windward. The Endeavour’s crew could not sheet the Genoa as fast as the Rainbow’s. With its great “coffee grinder” winch to raise the Genoa sheet in a hurry the Rainbow gained an additional minute and 46 seconds’ lead. In the last four miles in the calm the craft drifted a little. The wind at no time exceeded nine knots.

Mrs. Sopwith sailed as a time-keeper. She is the first woman ever listed as a member of a crew in an America Cup race. Later she acted as observer of the Rainbow and did her job well. A great flotilla, including the Nourmahal carrying President Roosevelt, watched the contest. The 30-mile windward and leeward course was patrolled by coast guard cutters and naval destroyers.