THE AMERICAN CUP CONTESTS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 26 October 1901, Page 4

THE AMERICAN CUP CONTESTS.

An account of the First Completed

Race.

An Exciting Fight.

(PerB.M.S. Sierra at Auckland). San Fhancisoo, Oct. 3. la the first completed race for the American Cup the force of the wind was f ally nine knots. Sometimes it was puffy and occasionally it reached the dimensions of a sorupper breeze. Shamrock luffed up to the windward of Columbia, and when the starting gun went she had a ■plendied position, and went over the line two seconds ahead of her rival, well placed in the windward berth. Columbia tried in vain to work out through the lee of her opponent, jammmed under the lee of the Challenger on the port tack, and also tried to oross the bows of Sbamrock in vain. At 11.40 o'clock Shamrock had a good lead of nearly 300yds. On the port tack they encountered a pretty hard sea, but not a tremor could be detected in the luffs of the sails of either. Both boats were handled perfectly. By several sharp tacks the Columbia again tried to work herself out of the leeward position. All her efforts, however, were futile. At 1245 both boats on the port tack, were heading for the outer mark. Shamrock had a lead of at least 400 yards, and as she approached tha mark it was seen that she had beaten the old Defender in the windward work. She turned out in excellent ■tyle, Shamrock in the boat to windward having gained thirty-nine seconds.

There waß considerable delay in setting the spinnaker, Shamrock waiting ap- '■-"■' parently for Columbia luffing out, Slowly the old Columbia crawled up on the Shamrock, and at 2 10 she was abeam. Half a minute later she was leading, and at 2 14 she was all of half a length ahead. From that time on to the finish she kept in the lead. The wind was now dropping, and Shamrock could not prevent the steady, though slow, gain of the Columbia. At 315 the wind freshened slightly, and the Shamrock's captain placed hi 3 boat in such a position as to sj iff'acbually cut off the wind from his rival. f As the breeze increased the English ,; yacht drew up and was only a half length behind. Soon she wa3 on nearly even terms. This was the most exciting mo. ■ ment of the wholerace. Columbia finally got tho wind free again, pulled out, and $% ■ with surprising rapidity opened up on the 'challenger,, and pulled out a lead that left the result no longer in doubt. . Columbia crossed the line a winner, not only o nly on time allowance, but boat for boat atihr Slmin 7aoc, Shamrock crossing at 4ht 31min 449e0,