Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-12
WELLNIGH A F|ZZLE.
Another Unsatisfactory Run by
New York Yacht Club.
Columbia Leaves the Defender Miles
and Miles Behind.
Race Sailed in Dog Day Weather. S!ioht
Breezes and Gains.

New Bedford, Mass, Aug. 1.-THE
run OF the New York Yacht Climb flee,
from Vineyard Haven TO this mort. to-
day. proved the most unsatisfactory Of
the cruise and as far as racing was
concerned was wellnigh a fizzIe. AL
day the yachts wrestled with tvpical
dog day conditions, winds from all
quarters and at all velocities interiors;
ed with Gains, rain. sunshine and fog
and it was the boat that carried a mas
cot that won in her class.
Columbia was one of these and FOR
the second time in the cruise she beat
Defender by many miles because OF
the shifting breeZes and Gains. in fact
50 far ahead was the new boat at the
finish that Defender gave it up entire
~ and did not round one W the marks
the Vineyard Sound light ship.
At one time during the day. about
noon, il looked as if Defender had thu
mascot ana might win, for She got a
fine Shift of wind ana left Columbia
becalmed two miles astern. But this
seemingly fortunate Shift proved De
tenders undoing. the breeze leaving
her entirely whom off Tarpaulin cove
five miles from the start. and she lay
there two hours while her rival. farther
out in the sound, picked up nice
southwest breeze and made the gair
that efectually put Defender out Of the
race.
Columbia was out beyond CuttyhunR
before Defender was moved. over i
miles astern. But Columbia had a hard
time getting out to the lightship. five
miles further off and did not round il
until PIP. Then she floundered about
in another calm for half an hour unit
at last she caught a northeast breezJ
out of Buzzards bay that took her t
the finish line.
She passed one side Of Cuttyhunk is
land as Defender was going by this
other. beating out OF Vineyard sounC
with a southwest breeze while Column
bia. three miles away over the island
was beating against q northeast wind
Columbia crossed the finish line
about o'clock, with Defender off Gut
tyhunk light at the entrance to Buz-
yards bay.
The day gave every promise Of being
a fine one for racing. although there
We're q few rain squalls in the morn
ing. left over from the night before.
Still the wind was strong from the
east and the yachts shortly after they
went over the line off West Chop
broke out their spinnakers.
Half the fleet Rugged the Vineyard
side of the sound, while the other
sought the Naushon shore with Column
hia and Defender fighting it out in the
middle.
The Defender started ahead of CO.
lumbia and it was half an hour before
the latter caught up and passed her to
port The old boat then kept away
for the Naushon shore while Column
bia held along through the center
Then the wind began to fail and the
hukes started their deadly work and
from that time on the boats We're never
within distance that could afford a
good test, SO that the contest dropped
into insignificance.
The other yachts Of the fleet sailed
much shorter course than the two
flyers. running in through Quicks Hole,
half way down to Cutyhunk. and fin
ishing at the flagship, anchored off
Wilkes Ledge in the middle of Buz
yards bay.
Continued on page 80