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Category: 1930 : CHALLENGE N°14
The America's Cup Committee held a meeting on board the flagship Nourmahal on Sunday afternoon, July 6, attended by representatives of each syndicate. The committee announced that the four candidates would race in pairs over the America's Cup course, races to start at fifteen-minute intervals.
This was a wise decision, as it duplicated the conditions, both as to course and match racing, which the Defender would face when racing Shamrock V. The yachts were scheduled to race alternately until six races had been completed; numbers 1, 2 and 3, 15 miles to windward and return; numbers 4, 5 and 6 triangular, 10 miles to a side; the subsequent procedure to be announced at another meeting to be called at that time.
At the request of the New York Yacht Club the Government hadplaced a lighted whistling buoy 9 miles southeast of Brenton Reef Lightship. This buoy, known as the America's Cup buoy, was the starting and finishing point of all Observation, Trial and Cup races.
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At 11:40 Whirlwind and Weetamoe were sent away in the first division on the 15-mile windward leg in a westerly breeze that varied in strength from 12 to 15 miles; Yankee and Enterprise started at 11:55.
POINTS WON DURING THE OBSERVATION RACES | |||||||||||
Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 3 | Race 4 | Race 5 | Race 6 | Race 7 | Race 8 | Race 9 | Race 10 | TOTAL | |
Weetamoe | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | DNF | DNF | 2 | DNF | 2 | 2 | 14 |
Yankee | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | DNF | 2 | DNS | 1 | 3 | 13 |
Enterprise | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | DNF | DNF | 2 | 1 | 13 |
Whirlwind | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | DNF | DNS | 1 | DNS | 8 |
Committee decided to conclude the Observation Series with this race, and to cancel the races scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Les resultats sont serrees.
Toutefois, Weetamoe est peut-etre le plus dangereux candidats. Il termine invaincu dans les courses qu'il a terminees. A l'opposee, Whirlwind ne compte qu'une victoire.
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POINTS WON ON THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB CRUISE | |||||||||||
2 AUG. | 4 AUG. | 5 AUG. | 6 AUG. | 7 AUG. | 8 AUG. | 9 AUG. | TOTAL | ||||
Enterprise | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 21 | |||
Weetamoe | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 16 | |||
Whirlwind | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 15 | |||
Yankee | 0 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
The representatives of the four contenders reported to the America's Cup Committee on board the flagship Nourmahal at 6 P.M. on Tuesday, August 19, and were informed that the yachts would race in pairs, starting at 15-minute intervals, as in the Observation Races, and that the pairings would not be announced until the course signals were set.
Wednesday, August 20, proved to be a fine racing day. An 11-knot E.-by-N. breeze was blowing at the start of the race. The sea was smooth, the visibility good. As the wind was offshore, the committee signaled a 30-mile leeward and windward course and, at the same time, displayed the numbers 1 and 4 — Weetamoe vs. Enterprise — in the first division.
Enterprise started down wind with ballooner and small spinnaker set at 11:40, about a length ahead of and to leeward of Weetamoe, both boats on the starboard tack.
This race will long remain in the memory of the participants. There was not one moment's let-up. It was a race every foot of the way and the outcome was in doubt until both boats tacked for the finish. On the run down wind the two boats sailed on even terms; first one, then the other would benefit by a chance puff.
RACE 1 - AUGUST 20 - 15 miles to windward and return | |||||
1st LEG | RACE | GAP | |||
1st Division start 11:40 |
1 | Enterprise | 2:02:33 | 4:22:14 | |
2 | Weetamoe | 2:03:04 | 4:23:20 | 1' 06" | |
2nd Division start 11:55 |
1 | Yankee | 2:00:57 | 4:21:48 | |
2 | Whirlwind | 2:02:29 | DNF |
The most critical part of this race was the last half mile before rounding the leeward mark. Both boats were running with spinnakers set to port, heading just to windward of the mark and making over 8 knots. Weetamoe was a length to leeward and half a length of open water astern. The mark had to be left to starboard, and before reaching it light sails had to be gotten in, working sails set, sheets trimmed, lee backstays hooked on and set up, the boats jibed and brought on the wind as they turned the mark.
It was imperative to be first boat around that mark. The Enterprise's crew did a very smart job shifting sails and thirty seconds later Weetamoe rounds, tacks as she reaches the mark, and Enterprise tacks with her. From then on it is tack for tack all the way up the weather leg. Enterprise wins by 1' 16" with an average speed of 6.84 knots.
It blew fresh all night after the first Trial Race, and the next morning was overcast with a strong northeast wind. The U. S. Weather Bureau at Block Island reported a 25-mile northeaster and rough sea, with every prospect of freshening before noon. A tropical hurricane from the Caribbean was making its way up the Gulf Stream about 150 miles offshore and we were having a taste of the northeaster which usually accompanies these disturbances on the coast.
The course was a 30-mile triangular race , the first and third legs reaches, the second a beat; the numbers 1 and 4 — Weetamoe vs. Enterprise, in the first division. Enterprise crossed with good headway close to the committee boat at the leeward end of the line right after the gun. Weetamoe was two lengths astern and an equal distance to windward. Both boats carried small jib topsails on the first leg. Enterprise had sailed the first 10 miles at the rate of 13.25 knots, leading by 25 seconds.
Weather conditions were too severe to indulge in much jockeying. "This was the hardest windward leg I have ever sailed. No man aboard Enterprise that day will ever forget it." said Harold S. Vanderbilt. Enterprise crossed Weetamoe by over 2 minutes and Weetamoe continued quite a way before tacking. Both boats came to the mark on the wrong tack, for they had to tack around it and ease sheets. This meant some delay while the backstays were taken forward. Enterprise rounded the mark 3' 47" before Weetamoe who got around the mark in good shape, but Enterprise lost at least a minute after rounding because trouble unhooking her topmast back-stay prevented she from easing the main sheet.
RACE 2 - AUGUST 21 - Course: Triangular, 10 miles to a side | |||||||
1st LEG | 2nd LEG | 3rd LEG | RACE | GAP | |||
1st Division start 11:40 |
1 | Enterprise | 45:15 | 1:17:26 | 46:39 | 2:49:20 | |
2 | Weetamoe | 45:40 | 1:21:13 | 45:35 | 2:52:28 | 3' 08" | |
2nd Division start 11:55 |
1 | Yankee | 44:45 | 1:16:24 | 46:50 | 2:47:59 | |
2 | Whirlwind | 45:05 | 1:22:50 | 46:53 | 2:54:48 | 6' 49" |
It blew harder rounding that weather mark than at any other time. Twenty-five knots was registered by the anemometer on the Race Committee tug. On the broad reach to the finish, Weetamoe carried a small jib topsail, but Enterprise was content with her working sails. Enterprise swept across the finish line after 2 hours 49 minutes and 20 seconds, Weetamoe following 3 minutes and 8 seconds after. Enterprise had broken the all-time record for the 30-mile course. Columbia in 1901 had sailed it in 2 hours 51 minutes 48 seconds. But this record stood for just over 13 minutes when Yankee broke it by 1 minute 21 seconds.
In the 2d Division, Yankee had some troubles too. She lost her jib on the windward leg and tore a small hole in her reefed mainsail. She defeated Whirlwind with ease, however.
Wednesday, August 27, Weetamoe raced Whirlwind in the first division and Enterprise raced Yankee in the second division on a 30-mile leeward and windward course in a very light northerly breeze and smooth sea. At 3 P.M., when we were about three miles short of the leeward mark and a mile ahead of Yankee, the Race Committee, at the suggestion of the Cup Committee, called the race off, as there was no possibility of finishing within the time limit.
On the evening, the America's Cup Committee had a meeting on board the Flagship and decided :
POINTS WON DURING SEASON'S RACING BETWEEN CUP CANDIDATES, JUNE 11-AUGUST 27, 1930 | ||||||
L.I.SOUND RACES |
E.Y.C. RACES |
OBSERVATION RACES |
N.Y.Y.C. CRUISE |
TRIAL RACES |
TOTAL | |
Enterprise | 18 | 17 | 13 | 21 | 4 | 73 |
Weetamoe | 18 | 9 | 14 | 16 | 2 | 59 |
Yankee | 4 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 46 |
Whirlwind | 10 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 1 | 42 |