THE AMERICA’S CUP

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 207, 2 August 1937, Page 7

THE AMERICA’S CUP

FIRST RACE OF SERIES. RANGER BEATS ENDEAVOUR 11. BIG MARGIN BETWEEN. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) NEWPORT, July 31. Screaming sirens from boats bearing 50,000 watchers saluted the America’s Cup defender, Ranger, as she crossed the line 17 minutes five seconds ahead of the challenger, Endeavour 11. It was the biggest margin in an America’s Cup race for 50 years. Critics acknowledge that Mr T. 0. M. Sopwith sailed courageously but agree that lie was no match against Mr Vanderbilt’s magnificent seamanship. However, they are reserving .judgment of the Endeavour’s capabilities, which it is agreed are as yet not truly tested The absence of wind necessitated two 15-minute postponements of the start and the light breeze eliminated the possibility of spectacular sailing, and there w'ere doubts as to whether either yacht would finish within the time limit. Ranger took the windward berth from the start and she led after the first few minutes. Endeavour, despite desperate tacking, slipped steadily back. Ranger was a mile ahead at the halfway mark, where Endeavour turned badly. From then on Ranger could have been defeated only by a miracle and the race finished in a dense fog in which Endeavour was invisible, thus eliminating the last possibility of a thrill.

Ranger’s elapsed time was four hours 39 minutes and 30 seconds, the slowest since 1920.

Prior to the race Mr Sopwith, in a statement, said: “I anticipate good racing, and I think it will be fine. I want to be left quietly alone and get through wth the job as soon as possible.”

Each race will be of 30 miles, the first to windward and leeward, with each leg of fifteen miles. The second race will be round an equilateral triangle and the other races alternate The windward and leeward races must be completed in five hours 30 minutes alul the triangular races in five hours. Mesdames Sopwith and Vanderbilt accompany their husbands. The former will be timekeeper and the latter the keeper of the log. It is reported among the British contingent of yachting enthusiasts that Mr Sopwith will probably be knighted if he wins the cup.

BEFORE THE RACE. . ENDEAVOUR I SURPRISES. NEW YORK, July 30. The Times Newport correspondent says that in what might be called the prelude to the America’s Cup race, Endeavour I continued her surprising performance by beating Rainbow by 45 seconds. Excitement is tense for to-morfow’s contest and the harbour is crowded with yachts from all parts of the world. There are a number of battleships and six divisions of coastguard vessels will patrol the course, nqt allowing the spectator fleet to within 1000 yards of the starting point or within 2000 yards astern. Mr Vanderbilt parried questions regarding the race with: “You know more about it than I.” Mr Sopwith expressed confidence that Endeavour II was faster than Endeavour I. and he is anticipating a good match. It is. an open secret that considerable coldness exists between Mr Vanderbilt and Mr Sopwith as a result of last year’s disputes over technical details, and it is expected both will be keyed up to the limit. Each took out his sloop for a final spin to-day and Ranger is continuing to be favourite. The weather forecast is for occasional showers and a moderate south-east wind.

RECORD OF RACES. . The attempt of the Endeavour II is the 17th by Great Britain to recapture the trophy which was won by the schooner America in 1851, and which has remained in American keeping ever since.

It has been estimated that more than £3,000,000 has been spent by yachtsmen on both sides of the Atlantic in challenging for and defending the America’s Cup. When the trophy was first presented, it was stated to be worth £IOO. but if it was put into the melting pot to-day its silver, at current prices, might possibly bring about £2O. It has been described as “the most valueless, but rnwit greatly valued trophy in the world.” Many famous names figure ill the records of sailing races for the America’s Cup. There was Sir Richard Sutton, who challenged unsuccessfully with his Genesta. Then there were the three 'Valkyries of the Earl of Dunraven. The best of these, Valkyrie 11. ’ was beaten by the towering Vigilant, which, in British waters, was subsequently outsailed by the Royal yacht Britannia. After the Valkyries came the long and noble procession of Shamrocks, with which the “world’s best loser,” Sir Thomas Lipton. made valiant but. vain efforts to lift the cup. In 1934, Mr T. 0. M. Sopwitli toot up Sir Thomas Lipton’s quest with Endeavour I

A record of the results is given be low :

1851: America won tlie cup, one race only. . 1870 : Magic beat challenger Cambria, one race only. 1871: Columbia', won first and second races, but was disabled in tne third and challenger Livonia won. Fourth and filth rnces won by American Sappho. 1876: Madeline (American) beat challenger Countess of Duflerin in two straight races. 1881 • American Mischief beat Atalanta in two straight races. 1S85: American Puritan beat Genesta in two straight races. 1886- American Mayflower heat Galatea in two straight races. 1887: American Volunteer beat Thistle in two straight races. 1893: American Vigilant beat Valkyrie 11 in three straight races. 1895: American Defender beat Valkyrie 111 in three straight races. 1599: American Columbia beat Shamrock I in three straight races. 1901 • American Columbia beat Shamrock II in three straight races. 1903: American Reliance beat . Shamrock 111 in three straight races. In the last race Shamrock

was lost in fog. 1920 : In the first race, the American Resolute was disabled and Shamrock IV won. In the second race tlie yachts did not finish in time. Shamrock won the third race by 2 minutes and 26 seconds. Resolute won the fourth and fifth races. The sixth race was void, and Resolute won the seventh. 1930 : American Enterprise beat Shamrock V in four straight races. 1934: Mr T. O. M. Sopwitli, taking up the challenge for Britain fol-

lowing the death of Sir Thomas Lipton, scored the unprecedented success of winning the first • two races with Endeavour: the Americans (represented by Mr Harold Vanderbilt’s Rainbow), however, won all the rest, and. retained the Cup by four races to two.