The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-08-09
COLUMBIA IN A HARD BLOW
A Good, Square Test of tho Nj ertts OF the
Old and New Boats-Neither Held
Back n Partic1e-Had All the Wind
They Could stasger Under-Columbtn
Had TO shorten Sail.

Greenport, L. l., Aug. S.-The first
run of the New York Yacht club to-day
from New London out into the sound as
far as Watch Hill and back to Gardi-
ner's bay, to the finish, must be set
down as one of the most successful in
the clubs history. The club watched
with pride the magnificent run of the
queen of the fleet, Columbia, which fair
ly distanced every other yacht with the
exception of the Defender and she also
was defeated by four minutes and one
second in a thirty mile race. The old
cup defender Vigilant was beaten by
the two flyers nearly an hour but much
of this was no doubt due to the fortu-
nate run of the Columbia and Defender
along the Fishers Island shore, while
the rest of the fleet kept over on the
other side of the sound. The Amorta
also held in under Fishers Island and
beat out all the schooners with ease,
winning in her class by a number of
minutes.
Over fifty yachts crossed the line at
New London and nearly all finished in
GARDENERS bay, although some of them
did not get in until towards night. The
reach to Race Rock Of three and one
half miles, a fine run before the wind TO
Watch Hill of eight and one-half miles
and grand beat of eighteen. and one
quarter miles in constantly increasing
breeze to the finish, an ideal course, all
around.
There were many interesting and ex-
citing moments from the time that the
great bunch of sloops followed by the
schOoners swept over the starting line
until the last of the racers finished, but
by far the greatest event was the mag
nificent en-mile run of the Column
bia from Fishers Island to Great Gull
Island, during which she averaged close
up to thirteen knot gait. 1t was on
this leg, made very close to the wind,
that the Columbia pulled out so far on
the Defender, for where the boats were
but short eighth of mile apart under
Fishers Island there was nearly mile
and a half of water between them At
Gull Island. Both yachts had all the
wind they could stagger under and the
Columbia hauled down her jibtopsail
during a ten minute interval when it
blew the hardest. She set it up again,
however when the Defender began to
pick up and held her advantage to the
line, Neither boat was held back par
ticle. 1t was good square test of the
merits of the old and new boats. and the
latter may be put down as good four
minutes faster under favorable condi-
tions and with her steel mast in place a
couple of minutes more.
Once during the day, just after the
start, the Columbia seemed inactive and
lifeless and the Defender almost got by
her. Just before they reached Race
Rock the new boat seemed to find her
self again and from there she was never
in danger while her great liftout on
the last leg will never be forgotten by
those fortunate enough to witness it.
Summary of Columbia Defender race:
Columbia-Start, 11:21:22; finish. |
2:59:59; lapsed time, 3:3S37.
Defender-Start. 1121:40; finish 3:04:-
l6; lapsed time, 3:423S.
The Columbia defeated the Defender.
four minutes and one second