The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-06-29
COLUMBIA BEATS DEFENDER.
SHE GAINS TEN MINUTES IN A
THIRTY-MILE RACE.
Showed Her Sterling Qualities in
the Race to Wind
ward.

NEW LONDON (Conn.), June d.
In thirty-mile beat to windward to-
day the new yacht Columbia beat the
old cup champion Defender eight min
utes, besides giving the old champion
a two-minute handicap. Yachtsmen
from New York and hereabouts are
jubilant, for the yachts sterling quail
ties must come out in a race to wind
ward. The race was from Brenton's
Reef Lightship, off Newport, to New
London, a good thirty eight miles: The
Defender was given a two-minute
start. Thirty-two miles of the long
stretch of water was beat to wind
ward, with such a stiff breeze blowing,
that neither yacht cared to carry a
working topsail, and it was in this
kind of work that the Columbia gained
such a long lead, averaging more than
a quarter Of minute faster each mile
than the Defender. The water was
| very rough, but the new boat rode
very easily and did not buffet the
waves as much as the Defender.
A stiff breeze from the southwest
kicked UP quite a squall outside this
morning, and put white crests on the
waves in the inner harbor The De-
fender hoisted anchor shortly after 10
O'Clock, and ran down the last passage
/ under her jib. Her mainsail was
hoisted on the way out, and Captain
Rhodes sawed down as far as Castle
/ Hill to get a look at the weather out
side, and knocked about the bay while
waiting for the Columbia.
The crew of the Columbia hauled an
Choir at 11:15, and she was towed
down as far as Castle Hill, where the
hawser was cast off, and the yacht
beat out to sea under three lower sails.
! The Defender was inside Brenton's
Reef Lightship loaing along under jib
and mainsail, waiting for her rival.
! There was a pretty heavy sea, and as
the two yachts plunged along clouds
of spray We're thrown into the air from
under their bows and fell away to lee
ward The weather was rather threat
ening at the start, and a light rain
compelled the crews of the two yachts
/ to don their oilskins. The showers
We're not heavy, but lasted nearly all
, day. The Columbia ran up to the De-
fender rapidly, and continued ON the
starboard tack until the nghtship was
passed. The Columbia was at that
time 800 yards to eeward of the De-
fender and half her length ahead At
II O'Clock both boats tackled around
the lightship. They continued along
in this stretch for about five minutes,
the Columbia luffing up to take a haul
| on the jib halyards. At 1920 the De-
! fender broke out her staysail, and the
| race was on, with the Defender to the
windward. At 1890 both ships tackled
to port, heading toward Point Judith,
and footing very fast. At first the De-
| fender gained trifie, but as they con-
! tinued on this hitch the Columbia
crawled up slowly, and but for shift
of wind more to the south would have
crossed the Defenders bow on the next
! tack. The shift in the wind helped the
Defender considerably, and when at l
O'Clock the Columbia tackled to star
board, about mile off the Point Judith
whistling buoy she could have almost
forced the Defender about, but the lat
ter tackled within hundred feet Of
the former. Captain Barr could not
stand having his wind taken by the
Defender long, so he fetched about at
les and stood up along shore on port
tack. Then the Columbia began to
| gain slowly on the Defender, and at
the same time got into the wind bet
ter. In twenty-five minutes the new
boat had worked across the Defenders
bow and was to the windward of her
With plenty of wind the Columbia and
Defender held down the shore on the
/ port tack, the former continuing to
/ gain. Off Moves Point at 2:2O the
Columbia was over half a mile ahead
and steadily increased her lead, and
when she finally came about off the
end of Fishers Island, the distance be-
tween the two was nearly a mile. At
1928 the Columbia took her final port
hitch this time fetching we'll by Race
Rock The Defender held on the STAR
board tack, and then turned in after
the leader. The boats proceeded up
the harbor and anchored.