The first of the two ships to reach Java after the race had begun was the Thermopylae, but on the Indian Ocean, the Cutty Sark took the lead.

the first, the second, the next, the last,the best, the only…..^{后常跟不定式作定语}

• When he landed near Dover, the first person to greet him was a local policeman.
• The great racing driver, Sir Malcolm Campbell, was the first man to drive at over 300 miles per hour.
• You are the second to ask me that question.
• The next man to approach me was selling expensive pens and watches.
• The last creature to compete with man was the mosquito. ^NCE4-45
• The pie committee decided that the best way to transport the dish would be by canal, so they insured it for the trip.
• The only other ship to match her was the Thermopylae.

the lead ^领先

• take (over) the lead (from ...) ^{获得领先地位}
• lose the lead (to ...) ^{丢失领先地位}
• ..., but on the Indian Ocean, the Cutty Sark took (over) the lead (from. the Thermopylae). ^替换
• ..., but on the Indian Ocean, the Thermopylae lost the lead (to the Cutty Sark).  ^替换
• Because of this, the Cutty Sark lost her lead.

It seemed certain that she would be the first ship home, but during the race she had a lot of bad luck.

It looked / seemed / appeared certain that there would be an exciting race across the Channel, but Latham failed to get up early enough.^{看似肯定会有一场激动人心的穿越海峡的竞速比赛了，但是莱瑟姆未能起得足够早。}
It looked / seemed / appeared as if / as though there would be an exciting race across the Channel, but Latham failed to get up early enough.^{看似好像会有一场激动人心的穿越海峡的竞速比赛了，但是莱瑟姆未能起得足够早。}

In August, she was struck by a very heavy storm during which her rudder was torn away.

strike (struck struck)  ^{v.敲击、重击}

• The big clock which used to strike the hours day and night was damaged many years ago and has been silent ever since. ^打点报时
• It would strike twelve in twenty minutes' time.  ^敲击
• On strike ^罢工
• One of the thieves was struck by a heavy statue, but he was too busy helping himself to diamonds to notice any pain.
• The family was struck by yet another tragedy. ^{这个家庭又遭遇了一场悲剧。}

be caught in ... ^{遭遇...赶上了...}

• We were caught in a heavy storm / a traffic jam.

heavy / severe / violent / devastating / disastrous storm ^{猛烈的/猛烈的/毁灭性的/灾难性的风暴}

• The ship was assailed by a severe storm. ^{船遭到狂风暴雨的袭击。}

In August, she was struck by a very heavy storm and during the storm her rudder was torn away. ^并列结构

• A week before, he had completed a successful overland flight during which he covered twenty-six miles.

tear sth. away / off / up ... ^{把某物撕掉……}

• The flag was torn away from the pole by the strong wind.
• High winds nearly tore the roof off.
• The storm had torn the old tree up by the roots.

The Cutty Sark rolled from side to side and it became impossible to steer her.

roll heavily / violently from side to side / to and fro ^{重重地/猛烈地左右/前后滚动}

• The ship was rolling heavily to and fro.
• The plane rolled violently from side to side in the storm.

from side to side ^{来来回回的（习语）}

• His few material possessions make it possible for him to move from place to place with ease.
• sell sth. from door to door  ^{挨家挨户推销某物}
• read sth. from cover to cover ^{把某物从头读到尾}
• vary from person to person ^{因人而异：指不同的人有不同的看法、经历或反应。}
• improve from day to day ^{每天都在进步(日渐改善)}

A temporary rudder was made on board from spare planks and it was fitted with great difficulty.

on board ^{在船上（或飞机上、火车上）：指在船、飞机或火车内部。}

• Before she had anchored, the men from the boats had climbed on board and ...
• Everybody on board was worried, and we were curious to find out what had happened. ^在飞机上
• There was tremendous excitement on board when a chest was raised from the bottom.

a spare key / battery / tire ... ^{备用钥匙/电池/轮胎……}

• Up to now, Mr. Scott has sent a great many requests for spare parts and ...
• In his twenties Frank used to make spare parts for aeroplanes.

with great difficulty = very difficultly ^{非常困难地}

• The Officer went through the case with great care (= very carefully).^{非常小心地：非常仔细地。}
• With great difficulty, he climbed into the shop window to get the dress.