CUP WITHIN GRASP

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16796, 21 July 1920, Page 3

CUP WITHIN GRASP

SHAMROCK WINS SECOND RACE. HAS ONE MORE TO WIN. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received Jnly 21, 9.53 a.m.) NEW YORK, July 20. Shamrock won the second lace.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SHAMROCK STARTS BADLY. SAIL-SETTING BUNGLED. TAKES LEAD WITHIN ’HOUR. " (Received July 21,,9.40 a.m.) NEW YORK, July 20 The course was 1 pn. the reach to south-south-oast, then beat to west by north, then on roach to north-east by north. ■ . Shamrock started at 12lirs. lomiU, 48scc., and Resolute at 12hr. 16mm. ,2osec. Shamrock had difficulty with her balloon sail, and the Resolute passed to leeward at 12.22.

Tho wind was soft and sail-settmg on the Shamrock was bungled. The Resolute sailed along smoothly. The Shamrock's head sail did not fill. At 12.51) the Resolute’s balloon sail wan going splendidly. At, 1'2.00 the Shamrock was half-a-milc astornTo weather. At 1 o’clock tho Resolute lost the wind and at 1.10 the Shamrock passed to windward. At 1.25 , she led by a quarter of a mile. The breezo was hauling to the south. At 1.15 tho Shamrock caught the first break of the south-wester and led by half-a-ml!c. .At 2 o’clock the Resolute regained a quarter of a mile and took the starboard tack for tho mark three miles a,way. At 2.2 tho Shamjoek did likewise and turned at 2brs. 28min. 28scc. Tho Resolute turned at 2hrs. 32miu. 41sec. Tho Shamrock s little triangular forcstny sail was won-, dotful, being always full. At 3.15 the Shamrock yas leading by nearly a mile. Tho Shamrock reached tho second mark at 4hr. 26rain. 29seC. and the Resolute 4hr. 43min. 4Csec. When tho Shamrock turned, the Resolute was a mile astern, but sailed fast to the mark and was gaining. A close race was then probable. Nearing the finishing lino a big hole appeared in the Shamrock’s balloon jib. The Shamrock finished at shr. 37min. 63sec.

SHAMROCK’S GOOD CHANGE, HISTORY OF RACES.

Tho Shamrock now has an excellent chance of winning tho America Cup, as tho defending yacht, the Resolute, will have to wia. three' successive races in order to retain it. The contest is decided by the best performance in five races, or until one yacht has won three races. It will bo surprising if Shamrock IV. fails to secure cne nio[■) win out of three chances. Sir Thomas Lipton appears to bo on the evo of securing the reward of over twenty years of perseverance. This is tho fourth attempt hehas made to bring tiie cup back to Britain. . , Tho first was made in 1899 with tho Shamrock. A now. American boat, Columbia 11., was selected as defender, and sho defeated the visiting sloop throe straight. Tho first race took place October 16, 1899, and Shamrock was beaten bv lOmin. Bsec. coircctod time. Tho next day Columbia II:' won again, finishing alone, as Shamrock withdrew after carrying away her topsail. Th,e third and decisive race took place on October 20, and tho American yacht outsailed her rival by 6mln. Slsoc. corrected time.

Sir Tiionifts built, another challenger, Shamrock 11. for tho 100] series, in which the Americans a"ahi pinned their faith to Columbia. Three races were sailed, and once more Sir Thomas Lipton was a. triple loser. On. September ‘2B the Irish yacht lost by Imin. 20sec. Tho other two races were sailed oh October 3 and 4, Columbia winning both by margins of 3min. 3550 c., and 41sec. respect! rely. Two years later, in August and September, 1903, Sir Thomas Lipton brought over Shamrock 111. with great hopes of beating Reliance, but once more he was disappointed, ns tho American boat outsailed tho Irish yacht in three successive races. Shamrock IV. crossed tho Atlantic in 1914, but tho race was abandoned owing t 6 tho outbreak of war. Her length overall is 110 feet, and her water-line length is 75 fret, her beam amidships being 23 feet. Her mast, from deck to truck, is 162 feet, and her topsail sets ?0 feet higher. Her main boom is 90 feet, and her gaff 65 feet in length, and her sail area is more than 10,000 square feet, or 2000 feet more than that or the Eesoluto;