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The '''1903 America's Cup''' was the 12th [[America's Cup]] race to be held, and was won by the American defender, ''[[Reliance (yacht)|Reliance]]'', who won all three races against the Irish challenger, ''[[Shamrock III (yacht)|Shamrock III]]''. It was the fourth Cup win for [[Naval architecture|designer]] [[Nathanael Herreshoff]] and the third for [[skipper]] [[Charlie Barr]]. The 12th America's Cup was the last to be raced under the controversial [[Seawanhaka Rule]], which was held responsible for what was described at the time as the "freakish" nature of the 1903 Cup challengers.
2013 America's Cup


The Cup was defended by the New York Yacht Club, and all races took place along the [[New Jersey]] coast from [[Sandy Hook]]. In total 8 races were held between August 20 and September 3, but unfavourable weather conditions prevented 5 of the races being completed within the time allowed. It was the last America's Cup race to be held from the [[New York Harbor]].
==Links/teams==


''Shamrock III'' was entered by Scottish selfmade millionaire [[Thomas Lipton|Sir Thomas Lipton]], founder of the [[Lipton|Lipton tea company]].<ref>[http://www.glasgowguide.co.uk/info-fame_Sir_Thomas_Lipton%20.html Glasgow Guide ''Famous Glaswegians, Sir Thomas Lipton'']</ref> The 12th America's Cup was the third consecutive Cup to be unsuccessfully challenged by Lipton - first in 1899 with ''[[Shamrock (yacht)|Shamrock]]'', and again in 1901 with ''Shamrock II''. The third ''Shamrock'', as well as the first, was designed by [[William Fife]]. Lipton made two more unsuccessful challenges on the Cup, in 1920 with ''Shamrock IV'', and again in 1930 with ''Shamrock V''
===Defender===
*[http://www.americascup.com/en/Teams/ORACLE-Racing/Latest/ Oracle Racing], [http://www.ggyc.com/ Golden Gate Yacht Club], [[United States of America]]


''Reliance'' was entered by a syndicate of wealthy New York Yacht Club members, headed by [[C. Oliver Iselin]] and secured her right to defend the Cup after winning a series of trial races against previous America's Cup winner ''[[Columbia (yacht)|Columbia]]'' and the yacht ''[[Constitution (yacht)|Constitution]]'', both designed by Nathanael Herreshoff. After winning the 12th America's Cup ''Reliance'' enjoyed a brief but successful career, ending in 1913 when she was broken up.
===Challengers===
 
*[http://www.americascup.com/en/Teams/Aleph-Equipe-De-France/Latest/ Aleph], [http://www.a-y-c.fr/ Aleph Yacht Club], [[France]]
==History==
*[http://www.americascup.com/en/Teams/Artemis-Racing/Latest/ Artemis Racing], [http://www.ksss.se/en/ Royal Swedish Yacht Club], [[Sweden]]
{{main|America's Cup}}
*[http://www.americascup.com/en/Teams/China-Team/Latest/ China Team], Mei Fan Yacht Club, [[China]]
The America's Cup was originally the Royal Yacht Squadron Cup but was renamed after the yacht ''[[America (yacht)|America]]'', the first to win it. The owners of the ''America'' donated the trophy as a “Perpetual Challenge Cup for friendly competition between foreign countries” to the NYCC under a [[Deed of Gift]] which established the conditions for those wishing to challenge for the trophy. This deed was quite broad, describing only the minimum and maximum allowable waterline lengths for different types of vessel and the basic conditions for how the races would be run, with all specifics being left to mutual agreement between challenger and defender. Should the parties fail to reach an agreement the deed contained a default set of instructions for how the races should be conducted.
*[http://www.americascup.com/en/Teams/Emirates-Team-New-Zealand/Latest/ Emirates Team New Zealand], [http://www.rnzys.org.nz/ Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron], [[New Zealand]] ([http://www.emiratesteamnz.com/ official blog])
 
*[http://www.americascup.com/en/Teams/Energy-Team/Latest/ Energy Team], [http://www.ycf-club.fr/ Yacht Club de France], [[France]]
An important rule from the Deed of Gift was that any challenging vessel should sail from her port of origin to the race course, wherever that may be. According to Lewis Cass Ledyard, Commodore of the NYYC at the time of the 1903 America's Cup, this condition imparted "all that the framers deemed wise to insert by way of limitation upon the type of vessel - viz., her actual and demonstrated ability to make the passage under sail".<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1902-10-17/ed-1/seq-5/;words=cups+cup+reliance+Lipton+Cup New-York Tribune October 17, 1902 ''The Challenge Accepted'']</ref> (this clause was removed from the Deed of Gift in 1956)
*[http://www.americascup.com/en/Teams/Green-Comm-Racing/Latest/ Green Comm Racing], [http://www.rcnv.es/ Real Club Nautico de Valencia], [[Spain]]
 
*[http://www.americascup.com/en/Teams/Luna-Rossa-Challenge-2013/About/ Luna Rossa Challenge 2013], [http://www.circolodellavela.it/ Circolo della Vela Sicilia], [[Italy]]
The first challenge came from the [[Royal Thames Yacht Club]] and in 1870 the first America's Cup race took place with victory going to the NYYC defending yacht, ''[[Magic (yacht)|Magic]]'', in a fleet race rather than the match races that would later become the accepted America's Cup format. The tenth America's Cup, the last of the century in 1899, was the first challenged by Sir Thomas Lipton through the Royal Ulster Yacht Club in his yacht ''Shamrock''. Despite his defeat Lipton returned in 1901 to challenge for the Cup a second time in ''Shamrock II'', again unsuccessfuly.
*[http://www.americascup.com/en/Teams/Team-Korea/Latest/ Team Korea], Sail Korea Yacht Club, [[South Korea]]
 
==The competitors==
 
 
===The challenge===
 
On August 7 1902 the RUYC signed a challenge on behalf of Sir Thomas Lipton for the America's Cup.<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1902-10-08/ed-1/seq-4/;words=cup+Lipton+Reliance The San Francisco call. October 08, 1902 ''Lipton's Challenge on the Way'']</ref> The challenge was immediately posted and departed the following day for New York on board the [[White Star Line]] ship ''[[Oceanic]]''. In an accompanying letter to the secretary of the NYYC Lipton asked for "no change what-ever in the condition which governed the last contest entered into by me.". The challenge provided the name of the challenger, ''Shamrock III'', the waterline length of 90 feet and the rigging configuration, cutter.<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1902-10-17/ed-1/seq-5/;words=cups+cup+reliance+Lipton+Cup New-York Tribune October 17, 1902 ''The Challenge Accepted'']</ref>
 
In the letter accompanying his third challenge for the Cup Lipton asked that he "not be deemed importunate or unduly covetous of the precious trophy so long and so securely held in trust by the New York Yacht Club."<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1902-10-17/ed-1/seq-5/;words=cups+cup+reliance+Lipton+Cup New-York Tribune October 17, 1902 ''The Challenge Accepted'']</ref>
 
On 16 October 1902 a committee to oversee the 1903 Cup was appointed by the Commodore from NYCC members, including Vice-Commodore [[Frederick Gilbert Bourne|Bourne]], [[J. P. Morgan]], [[John Malcolm Forbes]] and [[William Butler Duncan]]. That evening the committee, on behalf of the New York Yacht Club, unanymously accepted Liptons challenge and a cable was sent immediately to the RUYC with the simple message ''"Club accepts. Same conditions last races."'' .<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1902-10-17/ed-1/seq-5/;words=cups+cup+reliance+Lipton+Cup New-York Tribune October 17, 1902 ''The Challenge Accepted'']</ref>
 
The Washington Evening Times remarked that "Sir Thomas Lipton's latest challenge for the America's Cup is doubtless based on the old superstition that 'the third time's the charm'."<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024441/1902-10-09/ed-1/seq-4/;words=cup+LIptons+reliance+Cup Washington Evening Times October 09 1902]</ref>
 
===Race regulations===
 
The Cup was to be decided over multiple races, each beginning from a line between the race committee boat and the Sandy Hook lightship. Each race was to be held over 30 miles, beginning as soon as possible after 11am and not later than 1pm. For each race the time allowed was 5.5 hours, and in the event that neither boat could complete the course within that time "no race" would be declared. The races would continue until one of the yachts had won three. Boats from the [[United States Revenue Cutter Service]] would ensure clear passage for the entrants.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uL8hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=p5wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4513,3065122&dq=reliance+shamrock&hl=en Reading Eagle Aug 16 1903 ''Great Yacht Event Of This Week'']</ref>
 
The boats were to be rated under the Seawanhaka rule, with a maximum waterline length of 90 feet. The rating, or sailing length, would determine if either boat would receive a time penalty.
 
<math>Rating=\frac{Load\ Waterline\ Length+\sqrt{Sail\ Area}}2</math>
 
The rating system was based on the waterline length and the sailplan. The beam was not accounted for, nor the overall length, and this allowed designers to exploit the rule to create narrow boats with long overhangs at both ends.<ref>[http://www.universalrule.com/index.php?page=3 universalrule.com ''History of the Universal Rule of Measurement'']</ref>
 
There had been much discussion as to the suitability of the Seawanhaka rule for the America's Cup prompting Sir Thomas Lipton to write to Commodore Ledyard of the NYYC in May 1902 to confirm that, in the event of a challenge on the Cup in 1903, the conditions be known in advance. Commodore Ledyard, in an official reply on behalf of the New York Yacht Club, stated that although the NYYC were examining the possibility of using a different system for Cup races, that any such rule change would not take effect until at least the end of 1903, long after the time limit would have expired to set conditions for a challenge during the 1903 season.<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1902-10-17/ed-1/seq-5/;words=cups+cup+reliance+Lipton+Cup New-York Tribune October 17, 1902 ''The Challenge Accepted'']</ref>
 
===''Reliance''===
{{main|Reliance (yacht)}}
''Reliance'' was owned by a syndicate of 8 wealthy members of the New York Yacht Club, including [[William Rockefeller]], [[Cornelius Vanderbilt III|Cornelius Vanderbilt]], [[Elbert Henry Gary|Elbert Gary]], [[Clement Griscom]], [[Peter Arrell Brown Widener|Peter Widener]] and [[James Jerome Hill|James Hill]].<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1903-08-20/ed-1/seq-1/ The Saint Paul globe. August 20, 1903 ''Big Sloops Are Ready'']</ref> The syndicate was managed by C. Oliver Iselin, who had previously managed Cup defenders in 1893, 1895 and 1899.<ref>[http://www.herreshoff.org/achof/c_oliver_iselin.html America's Cup Hall Of Fame]</ref> On hearing of the list of millionaires who were sponsoring the American defence of the Cup Sir Thomas Lipton, himself a millionaire, joked that the "first thing I do to-day will be to see how my balance stands at the bank."<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1903-08-20/ed-1/seq-1/ The Saint Paul globe. August 20, 1903 ''Big Sloops Are Ready'']</ref>
 
''Reliance'' was to be one of the most advanced yachts of her day and employed many technological innovations. She was the first yacht to employ winches to assist in controlling the sails<ref>[http://multimedia.americascup.com/en/acclopaedia/circlinggalaxy/bateau.php?idContent=4570&idRubr=74 Website of the 32nd America's Cup ''Reliance'']</ref>, the two-speed winches being stored in the hull so as to maintain a flush, unencumbered deck. ''Reliance'' had a hollow mast made of welded steel with a top section that could be extended upwards from inside the mast to hold the topsail.<ref>[http://multimedia.americascup.com/en/acclopaedia/circlinggalaxy/bateau.php?idContent=4570&idRubr=74 Website of the 32nd America's Cup ''Reliance'']</ref> She also had a hollow rudder that could be adjusted by the helmsman to include more or less water ballast, affecting the balance and handling of the vessel.
 
''"Call the boat a freak, anything you like, but we cannot handicap ourselves, even if our boat is only fit for the junk heap the day after the race."'' said Cornelius Vanderbilt,<ref>[http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19070930.2.57 Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 79, 30 September 1907 ''Split the Difference'']</ref> a design principle emphasised in the construction of ''Reliance''. It had long been felt that the Deed of Gift requirement that a challenger for the cup should sail "on her own bottom" from her home port to the race venue put any European challenger, who must necessarily traverse the Atlantic ocean, at a disadvantage compared to an American defender who need not construct his vessel with rough seas in mind. ''Reliance'' would exploit this to the fullest with a lightweight, almost flimsy construction whose life, whilst outperforming Vanderbilts expectations of longevity, would be short.
 
''Reliance'' was launched on April 12 1903.<ref>[http://multimedia.americascup.com/en/acclopaedia/circlinggalaxy/bateau.php?idContent=4570&idRubr=74 Website of the 32nd America's Cup ''Reliance'']</ref>
 
Many of the crew of ''Reliance'' were Norwegian.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=6-NPljqhZbkC&pg=PA105&lpg=PA105&dq=reliance+shamrock+lipton&source=bl&ots=fWyR6dPkIF&sig=XuC_JMZub9ZbTfTpU6ZrVUdgc1c&hl=en&ei=svITTJyZDo6gOOjk0JcM&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=46&ved=0COYBEOgBMC0#v=onepage&q=reliance%20shamrock%20lipton&f=false ''Norwegian Sailors in American Waters'']</ref>
 
===''Shamrock III''===
Preparations for the third of Sir Thomas Liptons ''Shamrocks'' were set in motion in January 1902, long before the challenge for the Cup was announced, when William Fife, the designer of the first ''Shamrock'', accepted an order for ''Shamrock III''. Fife was reportedly reluctant at first to accept the order, whose completion would require more than a year of constant supervision, but these objections were overcome when [[George L. Watson]] agreed to assist with the design. Watson had designed ''Shamrock II'' and furnished Fife with the designs of the second ''Shamrock'' as well as the results of water tank experiments made on different hull shapes at [[William Denny and Brothers|Denny's]] shipbuilders.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E0CE7D61430E733A25756C1A9679C946397D6CF&scp=3&sq=%22sir+thomas+lipton%22&st=p NY Times January 15 1902 ''Shamrock III To Be Built'']</ref>
 
For the 1903 America's Cup Lipton engaged [[Robert Wringe]] as captain. Wringe was the captain of the original ''Shamrock'' during trials for the 1901 America's Cup against ''Shamrock II'', the eventual challenger, and was also the reserve captain for ''Shamrock II'' during the 1901 Cup, although his services in that capacity were ultimately unrequired. Wringe was described as aggressive, but with a cool head, and a thorough understanding of the rules of racing, having raced in Britain and America for several years.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F01E6DF1530E733A25753C2A9679C946397D6CF&scp=7&sq=%22sir+thomas+lipton%22&st=p NY Times January 20 1902 ''Concerning Cup Yachts'']</ref>
 
Lipton said that he would not consider commissioning a light framed vessel with a very large sail plan such as ''Reliance'', believing it to be too great a risk to it's sailors to sail across the Atlantic to America where the Cup challenge would be held.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9TQqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yUgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4337,6803079&dq=reliance+freak&hl=en The Pittsburgh Press - Sep 29, 1907 ''No One But Lipton Is Anxious To Lift Cup'']</ref> The necessity of such a voyage was seen as a handicap for the challenger who would have to build a heavier boat to withstand the rough seas.
 
===Trials===
 
Both ''Reliance'' and ''Shamrock III'' were chosen to participate in the Cup after trial races with other potential challengers confirmed them as the most suitable boats.
 
''Reliance'' competed in trials against ''Constitution'' and ''Columbia'', all three having been designed by Herreshoff. ''Columbia'' had successfully defended the Cup in [[1899 America's Cup|1899]] and [[1901 America's Cup|1901]], both times with Captain Barr at the helm. ''Constitution'' was intended by Herreshoff to replace ''Columbia'' for the 1901 America's Cup and was thought to have been the better boat, but during trials for that race Barr secured victory for ''Columbia'' and the right to defend the Cup for a second time.<ref>[http://33rd.americascup.com/en/contexte/que-sont-ils-devenus/1899-columbia-ii-25-661 Website of the 33rd America's Cup, ''Where are they now? 1901 Columbia'']</ref>
 
There were 20 trials held in 1903 to establish which boat would defend the 12th America's Cup,<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1903-08-20/ed-1/seq-1/ The Saint Paul globe. August 20, 1903 ''Big Sloops Are Ready'']</ref> with ''Reliance'' crossing the finishing line first in all races. ''Reliance'' was chosen as defender by the New York Yacht Club on July 28, 1903.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19030728&id=NSIuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xn4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=6809,1857746 The Montreal Gazette - Jul 28, 1903, ''Reliance Chosen'']</ref>
 
==The race==
 
Sir Thomas Lipton, in a statement issued on the day of the first race, said "''I am eating, drinking and sleeping with the hope of lifting the America's Cup, and I have put away all business until I either win it or lose it''".<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1903-08-21/ed-1/seq-1/ New-York tribune August 21, 1903 ''Reliance Ahead In A Fluke'']</ref>
 
===Measurement===
 
On Sunday August 16 1903 onlookers had an opportunity to inspect the competitors side by side as ''Reliance'' and ''Shamrock III'' occupied adjacent [[Drydock|dry docks]] in the [[Lake Erie Basin|Erie Basin]] to prepare for official measurement the following Wednesday.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uL8hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=p5wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4513,3065122&dq=reliance+shamrock&hl=en Reading Eagle Aug 16 1903 ''Great Yacht Event Of This Week'']</ref> This was carried out by the New York Yacht Clubs measurer, Charles Mower.<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90059523/1903-08-19/ed-1/seq-5/;words=Shamrock+Reliance The Saint Paul globe. August 19, 1903 ''Challenger Given Time Allowance Of More Than Minute'']</ref> A large crowd was in attendance to watch the proceedings, and both designers watched from a small boat alongside. Sir Thomas Lipton observed the measuring from the deck of ''Shamrock III''.<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1903-08-19/ed-1/seq-1/ New-York tribune. August 19, 1903 ''Measurer Watched'']</ref>
 
The official measurements were as follows.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bo0wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=34oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5925,3888262&dq=reliance+shamrock&hl=en The Daily Star Aug 19 1903 ''The Yachts Measured'']</ref>
 
The sailing length is ''text''
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!
! [[Waterline length|Waterline length]] in feet
! [[Length overall]] in feet
! [[Sail-plan|Sail area]] in square feet
! Sailing length in feet
! [[Crew]]
! [[Handicapping|Handicap]] in seconds
|-
| ''Reliance''
| align="center" |89.66
| align="center" |201.75
| align="center" |16,169.92
| align="center" |108.41
| align="center" |64
| align="center" |105
|-
| ''Shamrock III''
| align="center" |89.81
| align="center" |187.54
| align="center" |14,337.45
| align="center" |104.77
| align="center" |56
|
|-
|}
 
Although ''Shamrock III'' had a slightly longer waterline length, ''Reliance'' had almost 2,000 square feet more sail. According to the rating system this gave ''Reliance'' a time penalty of 1 minute 45 seconds over a 30 mile course. According to the racing rules the distance from the mast to the end of the spinnaker boom could not exceed the distance from the mast to the tip of the bowsprit, and as a result of the official measuring ''Shamrocks'' boom was found to be eight inches too long. At Mowers direction the excess was sawed off to comply with the regulations.<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90059523/1903-08-19/ed-1/seq-5/;words=Shamrock+Reliance The Saint Paul globe. August 19, 1903 ''Challenger Given Time Allowance Of More Than Minute'']</ref>
 
Following a last minute change of sailplan, Sir Thomas Lipton asked that ''Shamrock'' be remeasured, the result of which was another 12 seconds advantage gained over ''Reliance'', making the total handicap over 30 miles of 1 minute 57 seconds in favour of ''Shamrock''.<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1903-08-20/ed-1/seq-1/ The Saint Paul globe. August 20, 1903 ''Big Sloops Are Ready'']</ref> However ''Shamrock III'' had some difficulty with exceeding the maximum waterline length permitted under the rules, which necessitated exchanging several heavier crewmembers for lighter ones in order to decrease the displacement of the yacht.<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1903-08-23/ed-1/seq-3/ New-York tribune August 23 1903 ''Lipton not cast down'']</ref>
 
==="No race"===
The first meeting took place on August 20 and consisted of a 15 mile race south west along the Jersey coast from Sandy Hook and back. The race commenced shortly after 11am in 5 knots of wind and heavy sea swells, but within 30 minutes a storm broke with torrential rain and winds rising to 12 knots. Despite conditions that had been thought favourable to the challenger,<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1903-08-21/ed-1/seq-1/ New-York tribune August 21, 1903 ''Reliance Ahead In A Fluke'']</ref> ''Reliance'' maintained a lead throughout the race, excepting 2 minutes at the start<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19030821&id=gvwaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nkgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4014,1590673 The Pittsburgh Press - Aug 21, 1903, ''Reliance Outsailed her Rival'']</ref>. By afternoon winds had dropped to as little as 2 knots and progress slowed. Reliance rounded the 15 mile mark first, at 1537. 8 minutes later ''Reliance'' and ''Shamrock III'' passed going in opposite directions. The regatta committee made the decision that the race could not be finished in the 5.5 hours allowed, and as the two boats passed each other the race was declared "no race" and postponed until August 22.<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1903-08-21/ed-1/seq-3/;words=resolutions+resolution+Reliance The San Francisco call - August 21, 1903 ''Shamrock Outfooted In Wind To Her Liking'']</ref> During the race ''Reliance'' sailed about 20 miles, with ''Shamrock III'' sailing about 17.5 miles.<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1903-08-21/ed-1/seq-1/ New-York tribune August 21, 1903 ''Reliance Ahead In A Fluke'']</ref>
 
===The first race===
As ''Reliance'' crossed the finish line Sir Thomas Lipton, watching from aboard the ''Erin'', led his companions in three cheers for the victor, which Captain Barr and his crew duly returned, a display of sportsmanship which earned the appreciation of the attending crowds. "Reliance deserved victory." said Lipton, still hopeful as he addressed his companions aboard the ''Erin'' soon after the first race was decided, "But I expect ''Shamrock'' to do better under different conditions. I shall start in Tuesday morning just as confident as I did to-day".<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1903-08-23/ed-1/seq-3/ New-York tribune August 23 1903 ''Lipton not cast down'']</ref>
 
===The second race===
 
===The third race===
In total five attempts were made to hold the third race, but light winds and fog prevented the first four attempts from being completed during the allowed time.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9P8HAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9zUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4242,5127413&dq=reliance+shamrock&hl=en St. John Daily Sun Sep 4, 1903 ''Reliance Won!'']</ref> On August 29, for the first time in America's Cup history, the race was postponed not due to insufficient wind but due to high winds, with gales blowing up to 50mph.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2kYxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mSAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3176,4652383&dq=reliance+shamrock&hl=en The Milwaukee Journal Aug 29 1903 ''Can't Race In Gale'']</ref>
 
The third and final race eventually took place on September 3 in light winds and heavy fog.<ref>[http://33rd.americascup.com/en/contexte/que-sont-ils-devenus/index.php?idIndex=25&idContent=682 Website of the 33nd Americas Cup ''Where are they now? 1903 Reliance'']</ref><ref>[http://32nd.americascup.com/en/acmag/features/tech_design/index.php?idIndex=0&idContent=5826 Website of the 32nd America's Cup ''When The Fog Muddles Up The America's Cup...'']</ref> Once again Captain Barr was dominant in the 15 minute period leading up to the start and crossed the line first, at 1301:56, leaving Captain Wringe aboard the ''Shamrock'' to incur a penalty for crossing the start line three seconds too late at 1302:03.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9P8HAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9zUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4242,5127413&dq=reliance+shamrock&hl=en St. John Daily Sun Sep 4 1903 ''Reliance won!'']</ref>
 
Spectator numbers, having been in the tens of thousands for the first two races, amounted to less than 30 attending vessels for the third.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9P8HAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9zUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4242,5127413&dq=reliance+shamrock&hl=en St. John Daily Sun Sep 4 1903 ''Reliance won!'']</ref>
 
''Reliance'' finished the race in spectacular fashion, appearing through the thick fog just before the finish line to the delight of the spectators.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9P8HAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9zUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4242,5127413&dq=reliance+shamrock&hl=en St. John Daily Sun Sep 4 1903 ''Reliance won!'']</ref>
 
===''Reliance'' wins===
After the failure of his challenger, Sir Thomas Lipton said "''They tell me I have a beautiful boat. I don't want a beautiful boat. What I want is a boat to lift the Cup – a Reliance. Give me a homely boat, the homeliest boat that was ever designed, if she is as fast as Reliance, I want a Reliance.''".<ref>[http://33rd.americascup.com/en/contexte/que-sont-ils-devenus/index.php?idIndex=25&idContent=682 Website of the 33nd Americas Cup ''Where are they now? 1903 Reliance'']</ref>
 
==Reception==
The 1903 America's Cup drew much interest in America and Britain. In [[Belfast]] and [[Glasgow]] there was such interest that streets were blocked by crowds looking at race bulletins. In many places systems were set up to inform the surrounding country of the results, including a coloured searchlight service,<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1903-08-21/ed-1/seq-3/;words=resolutions+resolution+Reliance The San Francisco call - August 21, 1903 ''Shamrock Outfooted In Wind To Her Liking'']</ref> bombs, rockets and balloons.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gPwaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nkgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3940,1314835&dq=reliance+shamrock&hl=en The Pittsburgh Press Aug 19 1903 ''The Yachts Out For The Trial Spin'']</ref><ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1903-08-23/ed-1/seq-3/ New-York tribune August 23 1903 ''London shuns the news'']</ref>
 
An estimated 20,000 people turned up to watch the first of the races in New York City, many paying to travel aboard passenger boats that had been temporarily withdrawn from their regular work of servicing Coney Island. Hotels in New York were overflowing, some having to set up cots to accomodate all those wishing to stay.<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1903-08-21/ed-1/seq-1/ New-York tribune August 21, 1903 ''Reliance Ahead In A Fluke'']</ref> To ensure the safety of the spectators seven members of the [[Steamboat Inspection Service|Steamboat Inspection Squad]], which eventually became the [[United States Coast Guard]], were present. They were responsible for general safety and regulating the number of passengers aboard each vessel.<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1903-08-20/ed-1/seq-1/ The Saint Paul globe. August 20, 1903 ''To Stop Overcrowding'']</ref> Relatively few vessels made any attempt to cross the perimeter of the course, and any that did were swiftly discouraged by the Cutters, first by sounding horns and, if necessary, firing blank warning shots from their 6 pound guns.<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1903-08-23/ed-1/seq-3/ New-York tribune August 23 1903 ''Blank shots on course'']</ref>
 
There was much speculation as to whether ''Reliances'' victory was due to the design of the yacht or the skill of Charlie Barr in sailing her. Lipton himself proposed to allow the two boats to swap crew after the race to decide the matter, but the offer was refused by the owners of ''Reliance''.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2048&dat=19030904&id=M1cjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-CgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6254,2119292 The Dawson Record - Sep 4, 1903 ''Reliance Wins The Cup'']</ref> Barr was considered to be the most skilled seaman of the day, and is now thought of as one of the best yachtsmen in history.
 
[[Mark Twain]] wrote a humourous account of the 1903 America's Cup for the ''[[New York Herald]]'' entitled "Mark Twain, Able Yachtsman, on Why Lipton Failed to Lift the Cup". Twain, a former steamboat pilot, observed several of the races from onboard the ''[[Kanawha]]'' steam yacht together with his friend and owner of the ''Kanawha'' [[Henry Huttleston Rogers]].<ref>[http://www.twainquotes.com/interviews/AbleYachtsman.html Twainquotes.com ''Mark Twain, Able Yachtsman, on Why Lipton Failed to Lift the Cup'']</ref>
 
==Universal rule==
 
The boats used to contend the 1903 America's Cup were described by some as "freaks".<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19030728&id=NSIuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xn4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=6809,1857746 The Montreal Gazette - Jul 28, 1903, ''Reliance Chosen'']</ref><ref>[http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TH19040517.2.33 Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12556, 17 May 1904, Page 5 ''The America Cup'']</ref><ref>Yachting World, January 2010 ''A Cup Boat Like No Other''</ref> In a letter to Sir Thomas Lipton in May 1902, Commodore Ledyard of the NYYC confirmed that the club had, some months previously, set up a committee charged with obtaining leading yacht designers views on using a new rule of measurement designed "to evolve a more satisfactory and wholesome type of vessel" than had been produced under the Seawanhaka rule.<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1902-10-17/ed-1/seq-5/;words=cups+cup+reliance+Lipton+Cup New-York Tribune October 17, 1902 ''The Challenge Accepted'']</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}
==Sources==
[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19030902&id=3jYzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iyAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5685,191270] The Milwaukee Journal - Sep 3, 1903, ''Reliance has Long Lead''
[http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1996/reliance-0522.html] MIT, model of ''Reliance'' on display at MIT
[http://www.universalrule.com/index.php?page=3] Universal Rule, enacted after 1903 AC
[http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/2000/1/2000_1_68.shtml] American Heritage history of AC
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/sailing/americas_cup/history/2218925.stm] BBC guide to AC
==Related Articles==
==External Links==
[http://www.jsjohnston.org/index.html] The Yacht Photography of J.S.Johnston, including pictures from the 1903 America's Cup
[http://loc.gov/pictures/search?q=america%27s%20cup%201903] list of materials held by Library of Congress regarding 1903 America's Cup
==Timeline==
*August 7 1902 Challenge signed by the RUYC
*October 16 1902 Challenge accepted by the NYYC
*March 17 1903 ''Shamrock III'' launched
*April 12, 1903 ''Reliance'' launched
*August 16 1903 Official measurement of the entrants by the NYYC
*August 20 1903 First attempt declared "no race" with ''Reliance'' in the lead
*August 22 1903 First race, ''Reliance'' wins by 7 minutes 3 seconds
*August 25 1903 Second race, ''Reliance'' wins by 1 minute 19 seconds
*August 27 1903 "No race", ''Reliance'' crossing finish first
*August 29 1903 For first time in America's Cup history race postponed due to high winds
*August 31 1903 "No race", time expires with ''Reliance'' in lead
*September 3 1903 Final race, ''Reliance'' declared victor, ''Shamrock III'' fails to cross line
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Revision as of 16:43, 9 December 2011

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