The Portland daily press., 1899-08-11
No Such Sailing Event Will Be Seen
For Years.
Two Yachts Nip and
Tuck Most of Way.
Time Allowance Would Give
Defender the Race.

Vineyard Haven, Mass, August 1o.--
The old yacht champion Defender praoti-
cally won a race against Columbia today,
II time allowance was given. In the dirti-
est sort Of weather for yacht club
cruise. But the victory, 1t must be ad-
mitted, was more than well earned and
the yachtsmen of the New York club and
the guests never saw. tefore. and may
not see Hgain for years such sailing
event. The margins between the two
famous sloops was IA seconds over n min
ute In the 37-mile run from Brenton's e
Reef lightship, OF Newport, to the West
Chop bouy in Vineyard sound, with a
change In course at Vineyard sound
lightship, 17i.4 miles from the start
Taking out Of consideration the ,nagniti-
cent spectacle Of the great fisst Of craft
sailing under heavy canvass, 3nly some
Of the smaller ones with reefs taken in
their mainsails the RAGS between Colum-
bia and Defender was actually soul-stir-
ring. After both got away over the start
ing line, IL was nip and tuck, with eased
sheets. for almost an hoar. Defender just
a hairs breath In the lead. Even aftsr
Columbia made gain SO that Defender
could cross under her stern, Columbia
did not walk away as the heavy breezs
hove the latter down and made her lose
distance on repeated luifs. g9he feet got
away from Newport with miserable
weather prospects, and rain fell through
the entire day and the southerly i5.knot
wind brought in wripging wet mist
from ssawazd. Ths run out 10 the light
ship was quickly made, and all the boats
got by the fiagship Corsair between 1915
and II o'clock, and all finished of West
Chop shortly after o'clock. The two
big sloops were held back, Defender cross
Ing the line at II 2o.i0 and Columbia at
II. 20. 40. Columbia at unss bore down
on Defenders weather quarter, bur could
not get by her nnd for 10 miles the hoats
sailed side by side. Just before reaching
Vineyard so1nd lizhtship. II IA miles
from the start, Columbia ged to
pass Defender. just tefote reaching the
llghtship both boats ses No. / jlb topsails
and thfes strong puffs knocked beth
boats we'll down and Columbia was forced
w iuA tshJu EEOiu tuc ll1Dt5ufp
to the finish, nearly 20 miles, the boats
ran somewhat more OF the wind and CO.
lumbla drew away Tom Defender, but
finished l minute and IA seconds ahead
Of her. Today's race and the performance
of Columbia was satisfactory on the score
OF heavy weather. She took all that came
and while eased up several times, that
WAS no evidence that she would have
had too much of a good thing. II a stake
was pending on the outcome of the race.
ALI the other boats found that the
weather was boisterous enough for the
time being and some Of the schooners
fairly few through the water carrying
some frisky looking "bones'' in their
teeth. The sloop vigilant which head cd
the fleet, finished first with Navahoe Sec
ond and then came the two big racers
All the craft finished in nasty squall
which made the turn at the West Chop
buoy particularly exhilirating for all
hands. Tonight the feet rides at anchor
in the haven with turbulent waters un-
derneath and plenty Of wind whistling
through the rigging. Tomorrow, most
of the boats will sail over to New Bed
ford, but Columbia and Defender will
probably pass by Buzzard's Bay aud con-
tinue to Newport