CONTEST FOR AMERICA’S COP

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1078, 16 September 1930, Page 1

CONTEST FOR AMERICA’S COP

RACE OVER TRIANGULAR COURSE CHALLENGER’S SLUGGISH BEHAVIOUR WIND FRESH AT THE START, FALLING AWAY United I*.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Received 9.5 a.m. NEW YORK, Monday. rE yacht Enterprise, the United States defender of the America’s Cup, held off the British challenger, Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock V., in the second race of the series, which was sailed at Newport, Rhode Island, today. Beginning in a fresh 10-mile breeze, the boats finished in a light wind, Enterprise crossing the finishing line 9min 49sec ahead of Shamrock V.

The yachts started at 10.40 a.m. on me 50-mile triangular course. Enterprise led across the line, Shamrock V. holding the windward berth. Both used their mainsail, staysail, jibs and large jig topsails in a 10-mile breeze. Enterprise, sailing closer to the wind, drew away in the first few minutes and crossed Shamrock’s bow and at 10.55 she was leaving the challenger five lengths behind. As soon as Enterprise was well to weather, she went back on the starboard tack, a few minutes later both going over on to the port tack. L'sing every means to gain an advantage. Captain Heard immediately put Shamrock on the starboard tack, and Enterprise quickly followed. Within ten minutes, Shamrock port lacked, Enterprise again following taptain Heard's manoeuvre. Mr. Harold Vanderbilt, skipper of Enterprise, was taking no chance of ibe challenger slipping away and regaining the advantage. With the turning mark almost within striking distance at 11.45 a.m., Shamrock went over to starboard, Enterprise following, and Captain Heard then shot back to the port tack. Shortly after noon Shamrock tacked again, and Enterprise, holding on. rounded the first mark at 12.21, Sbam■ock following six minutes later. As Enterprise bo.omed away on the ong reach for the second mark, she did easily through a gentle swell. Shamrock was almost a mile behind, and seemed to experience harder joing, plunging her nose, and behavng sluggishly. Both boats broke out their balooners in rounding the turn, and licked up speed.

Enterprise rounded the 20-mile mark it 1.22. two miles or more ahead of

Shamrock, which rounded Dmin lOsec later. Both carried staysails in addition to their ballooners. Enterprise came down on the mark with the bone in her teeth, swinging round with little lost motion. Fog began to settle down shortly after the boats turned the 20-mile mark. Mr. Vanderbilt set his spinnaker shortly before two o’clock —apparently not taking a chance with the race so nearly ended—but this appeared unnecessary, as Shamrock continued with only her mainsail and ballooner drawing, apparently saving her canvas for a better day. Fifteen minutes later Shamrock broke out her spinnaker. Enterprise completed the course in 4hrs lmin 31sec. Shamrock covered the course in lhrs llmins 20sec, finishing in a light wind. Shamrock’s best showing was made on the third leg of the triangular course, when Enterprise only beat her by a margin of SDsecs, although Captain Heard doused his spinnaker two miles away from the finish line. SIR THOMAS DISAPPOINTED Sir Thomas Lipton, owner of Shamrock V.. has announced that approximately 2,0001 b of lead ballast were removed from Shamrock V. prior to today's race and further changes will be made overnight, with the object of lightening the sloop forward and to permit the yacht to point higher in the predominating light winds. Although the designer, Mr. Nicholson, said no substantial changes had been made, Sir Thomas Lipton is deeply disappointed, and declared something more must be done to speed up the Shamrock V