20 SEPTEMBER 1930, Page 3

On Wednesday Shamrock' made an excellent start and led 'Enterprise'

across the line, but after about three quarters of an hour her main halyard broke and her mainsail collapsed. Most of the reports say that she was ahead at the time, but Major Heckstall-Smith, the Special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, says confidently that 'Enterprise' had worked her way well to windward of 'Shamrock' When yachts are tacking appearances are deceptive. The real test is the windward position and if Major Heckstall-Smith is right Enterprise' was winning as easily as before. He ascribes 'Enter- prise's' success to her very light duralumin mast and the perfect team work of her crew, the chief members of which are amateurs. The average of liclmsmanship is higher among professionals than among amateurs, but the exceptional helmsman is usually an amateur because he has the intellectual ability to bring all the intelligence and imagination he may have to bear upon his art.

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