The Portland daily press., 1899-10-06
And Shamrock Going
Against It.
Trial Even More Unsatisfactory
sThan First.

Now York, October 5.-Again today the
iumbia the field of conflict; again today
the multitude which went out to ssa to
watch the contestants for the Information
al yachting championship OF the world,
returned disappointed and not little
disgusted. The question OF SUPREMACY
between the two great yachts Is still as
much an open one as before they first
met, as the contest today was IN some
respects mora of fluke than that of
Tuesday. 1t was a drifting match al.
most from start to finish. Crossing the
line with breeze Of i've knots 1t never
blew more than six, most of the time less
than three and part OF the time not a
breath Of air was stirring. After sailing
four hours and 43 minutes the yachts,
having covered only 12 miles OF the course
to the outermark, the regatta committee
declared the race of as it WAS manifest
ly impossible with the breeze then bic W.
ing. for the racers to round the stake be-
fore the time limit expired, much less to
get back home again. During the time
in which the yachts were at 1t, the wind,
which carried them dead before 1t over
the line. had hauled around until, at the
finish they were beating into its teeth.
While the wind held astern. the Colum bia
steadily outfooted her rival until she was
fully half mile ahead, but in the shift
ing, battling winds that followed during
the last three hours. with the single
stiokers tacking and beating and gyb-
Ing to catch every streak of wind. with
fortune helping one as much as the other,
the Shamrock gradually worked her way
up Intil the race was declared on, the
two boats were about ON even terms,
Shamrock perhaps, half q length ahead.
but SO close was the Yankee that Capt.
barr could have thrown biscuit to the
foreigner.
Tbs only lesson learned by the nautical
eharps from today's trial OF the abilities
Of the two boats is that in light weather
conditions the Columbia Is the super ior
in running and reaching and the Sham
rock slightly better in beating. There
has yet been no indication OF what either
boat can do In piping whols sale breeze.
The weather bureau had promised
good strong wind for today, but the
prophecy was dismal failure. 1t was
just an ideal Indian summer day. heavy
haze hung over the sea and land, and
shut OF the view of the thousands wait
ing on the highlands of Naveslnk and the
Long island shore. The sky was veiled
by a gossamer of clouds through which
the sun shifted, tursing the sea to gold.
A vast colony OF excursion boats, ocean
going steamers, yachts, tugs, side-wheel-
ers ana sailing vessels gathered around
the Sandy Hook iightship to watch the
start. The smoke from their stacks
and the steam from their exhausts min
gled with the hazs and formed thick
veil. The torpedo boats, guarding the
course, threaded their way In and out
through the acres of boats, warning the
excursion sgipperF to keep their distance.
But little difficulty was experienced
eday In keeping the courss clear. There
was hardly wind enough to keep the flags
fiuttsring. What there WAS was from the
northwest by north from over the land.
Outside of the ruok OF the steamers the
old cup defender Vigilant made besuti-
full picture, and the old schooner America,
which won the cup so years ago, attract
ed universal attention,
Preparations were made aboard both
yachts for the lightest airs before the
start. The Columbia discardad her heavy
steel topsail yard for lighter and longer
pins one and the shamrock sent aloft the
largest club topsail ever seen on her. AS
soon as the committee boat had hoiste d
the signal letters I'D. q. L.. :" making the
course 10 miles southeast by south. dead
before the wind and return, tug
steamed straight out to sea to plant
the outermark.
There was soma pretty manoeuvring
behind the line before the start, each
yacht breaking out her balloon jib and
lowering her spinnaker bonn as thsy
jockeyed for position.
Both got across in the smoke Of the last
gun, the Columbia "a length ahead and
In the windward berth. The wind was
blowIng hardly nve knots AS she
crc ssed the Shamrock broke out her spin
maker which was in stops. The Colum.
bia was little slow in getting her big
bellying sail out, but co seconds later
both were on even terms, fleeing before
the gentle breeze, wing and wing. spin
maker balancing mainsail and huiging
balloon jib drawing for ward. The excur-
sion boats started In pursuit, but they
slowed down almosb Immediately and
then stopped. The lazy breeze was car
rying the big yachts down the wind at
snail's pace. For almost an hour the
spectators on the excursion boats watched
them drift. The Columbia STEADILY
gained.
Inch By inch she crept along. At the
| end of fifteen minutes several lengths OF
oiaar vzafsr shoWed betWeon n0r and her