THE AMERICAN CUP.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 27 September 1901, Page 3

THE AMERICAN CUP.

The Shamrock in Perfect Condition

[per PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.] Eeceived this day, at 8 56 a.m. London, September 26. Sir Thomas Lipton states the Shamrock is in perfect condition. The owner’s hadees are profusely worn in London by drivers of omnibuses, crbs and tram cars.

New York, September 26. Thirty passenger steamers will follow the race.

A twenty-five mile wind is blowing at Sandy Hook. The weather is clear with a moderate sea.

A Retrospect of Past Races.

Yesterday Shamrock 11. made the eleventh attempt to carry off the. American Cup from the United States, but

the result so far is not to hand. This trophy has now boon fifty years in the possession of the Is ew York Yacht Club, one yacht after another having failed against the Americans. The first race was held in connection with the Crystal Paris Exhibition, and was arranged by the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes, which offered the prize to he competed for amongst all national ties. The only foreign competitors came from' America, which at that time was the greatest shipbuilding country in the world. The yacht America came in eighteen minutes before the fastest of the fifteen English schooners and cutters. The prize cup was then presented by the winners of the New York Yacht Club as a perpetual challenge cup for friendly competition between foreign countries. So far only England, Canada, and Scotland have disputed American pre-emin-ence. In 1870 the Cambria, one of the finest English schooners of her time challenged, and sailed against a licet of twenty-four yachts, but came in only eight." Next year the Sironia competed in five races, each time against a single yacht- The defenders, however, had the privilege each day of choosing which ever one of their boats best suited the weather, so that it is not surprising the Sironia was defeated four times out of five. Canada mads two attempts, first with the Countess of Dufterin and afterwards with the Atlanta, both of which were badly beaten. Then in 1885 the English again tried their luck, but their deep, narrow cutter, Generta, had to yield to the broad and shallow Puritan, which led from start to finish, and came in sixteen minutes ahead. Next year Galatea was defeated by Mayflower. A more exciting race took place between the Scotch Thistle and the Volunteer, but again Americans held their own, Valkyrie 11. made only a slightly better record, and lost one chance through an accident to her spinnaker. The contest with Valkrie 111. was very unsatisfactory, as she withdrew in the third race. The last attempt up to date will, be fresh in the minds of all yachting enthusiasts. It was another disappointing affair. Very high hopes had been placed on Shamrock 1., but in the first race she was beaten, and in the second she broke her topmast and gave up. Shamrock 11. now enters under the inauspicious omen of her recent accident.