The San Francisco call., 1899-10-17
TECHNICAL STORY
OF COLUMBIA'S
GREAT VICTORY

NEW YORK. Oct. 16.-The crews of both
yachts had breakfast early and when they
turned to- soon after o'clock it was
with will, for. in spite of the rather
hazy weather there was a good breeze
from the eastward, which promised to in
crease and give the yachts a good race at
last. Jibs and staysails were sent up in
stops on the stays, racing matches put
on, boats lashed and everything made
snug before clock. At 9:15 the Co
lumbia cast off from her moorings and
was taken in tow by a tug. The Sham
rock started in tow a few minutes later.
Covers were on the mainsails and club
topsails to keep them dry until the last
moment, as there was just enough fine
rain to dampen them.
At 10 O'Clock both yachts had reached
the east end of Gedney's channel and at
1910 the Columbia's crew began hosting
the mainsail. 1t was set in five minutes.
The Shamrock's mainsail began to go up
at the same time, but it was fully fifteen
minutes before the sail was set.
AT 1925 both yachts cast off their tow
lines, broke out their jibs and mastheaded
their No. club topsail. The Columbia
also sent up her baby jib topsail on the
stay. At the same time the committee
boat Walter Luckenbach anchored due
south of the Sandy Hook lightship and
sent up the course signal. 1t was east,
making it a beat dead TO windward of
/ fifteen miles and a run back if the wind
held from the same quarter.
The regatta committee meant business
this morning, for a few minutes later
| they started the tug to log off the course
ana at 10:45 the preparatory signal was
made. Both yachts then began maneuVer-
ing for positions, and at 1855, when the
warning signal was given, they were
playing for a weather berth to the north
ward of the line, the Shamrock breaking
cut IT.. her staysail at this time.
When two minutes were left before the
starting signal both yachts were head
ing, couple of lengths apart, to the
westward, with booms to port. the Co
gan to head for the committee boat
which was lying at the south end of the
line, Captain Fogarth's intention ap-
parently being to stop the Columbia, then
a length or so astern, from getting the
weather berth. When the starting gun
was fired the Shamrock had run parallel
with the line to nearly the center OF north
She still held her course until nearly over
( to the lightship before she began to lufr
TO cross the line. Captain Barr, on the
columbia. held his yacht we'll in hand,
with sheets fiat aft. He began to huff the
moment Hogarth did and, shooting the
Columbia across the. Shamrock's wake.
ne, ne sent her across the line more than
lenger, and with such a good overlap on
her that, according to the official time
sAS was only tnree seconds aStern.
The official time of the start was.
Shamrock, l1:0l:03; Columbia, 1I:0l :O6.
Both yachts now were close hauled on
the Starboard tack and We're carrying
exactly the same sail-mainsail, club ton
sail, jib, foresail and baby jib topsail As
soon as the sheets were trimmed all
hands except the men stationed at the
head sheets jumped for the weather
side and huddled close down to the star
board rail- while the shippers watched
each other like hawks
There were not many yachts or excur-
sion steamers out In time to see the start.
Those on board the small fleet had a
splendid view of the start. The first ten
minutes We're anxious ones for the friends
Of both Yachts. After that time it was
al oyer but the shouting. In five minutes
windward between herself and the sham
rock fully length. She heeled more
than the latter boat, but her sails were
all full and she was pointing higher from
the moment she started. Captain Ho-
garth, thinking that his boat would be