This was the race in which Endeavour II established a new record in that she was the first cup yacht on record to have crossed the starting line ahead of the gun and was recalled to start over again. For seven or eight minutes before the start, there was a regular dog fight around the starting line between the two big yachts which were being sailed more like Frostbite dinghies. Each gibed, tacked and spun around for all the world like two small class boats. At the start, both were on the starboard tack with Endeavour II ahead and slightly to leeward. However, she was early and her nine second lead at this point cost her one minute and fifteen seconds as she had to swing hack around the buoy and again cross the line. The remarkable thing was that she did not lose more time.

While Endeavour ll was going through this maneuver, Ranger had crossed, stood out a short distance and then come about on the port tack so that she could cover Endeavour.