The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-06
TECHNICAL STORY OF THE RACE.
The Various Movements Of the Yachts
Described I'm Detail.

NEW 1ORk, Oct. o.-Tne weather condi-
tons during the early morning hours were
decidedly more favorable for a race than
those of Tuesday morning. The wind was
light from the west southwest and the
sky was cloudy when the Columbia and the
Shamrock. towed by the tugs Wallace Flint
and James Lawrence, respectively, left their
moorings in Sandy Hook bay. about 9
o'clock. and proceeded direct to Sandy Hook
lightship, hosting their mainsails and club
topsails on the way out and getting every
thing in readiness for a prompt start.
The Columbia cast off from her tug at $3.50,
the Shamrock five minutes later. Soon after
the Columbia changed club topsails, setting
the largest one on board and throwing
overheard the steel backyard which had
been used on the first topsail set. This
backyard was supported in The water by
about twenty-five life preservers. 1t vas
picked UP by the Lawrence and Iashed on
her starboard side. A wooden club topssil
spar was also thrown overheard from the
Columbia and two from the Shamrock,
which were picked up by her tender.
The Columbia's sails seemed to set better
than on Tuesday. She carried. as then, a
cross-cut mainsail, and her club topsail
seemed to be the largest one she has We,
4 1nClO WClO AO0l pdtNCilS az tiC
leach of the mainsail. Just before the star,
she substituted a balloon forestaysail for
the small one which she set on her way out.
Besides Managing Owner c. Oliver Iselin
and Mrs. Iselin. who wore a dainty white
lannel yachting costume, trimmed with
navy blue, and a white straw hat with
red ribbon band, there were on board Butler
Duncan, jr., Capt. Woodbury. Kane, New
bury Thorne. Capt. Nat H~erreshon, Her
bert Leeds. sailmaker Hathaway and Hugn
Club. Capt. Charlie Barr steered. the yacht,
and the crew wore white working suits,
"1 ON Board the uaps shamrock. besides her skip
pers, Hogarth and Wringe, were Navigator
Hamilton. SALTWATER Ratsey. Capt: Ben.
'yHla fsfAs Yacht Meteor. Messrs. Nc.
Gildowney, Sherman Crawford and Henry
f. Lippitt, the last named representing the
New York Yacht Club. Her crew was car
rying Sir Thomas Lipton's colors In is
watch caps, and 1t wore white WORKING
suits.
MANEUvERED FOR A START.
The committee tug, Walter L~uckenbach,
established the starting line at 10:4O O'Clock
by anchoring a cables length southwest oil
the lightship. The course signal was imme'
diately hoisted. 1t was southeast by east
the wind being very light from the opposite
quarter, northwest by north. Under main
sail, club topsail and jb and with balloon
lib topsails and staysails in stops on the
respective stays. the two yachts played for
places for a good start during the interva
between the preparatory and starting sig
nails. The former was given at l0:45.
Shippers Barr and Hogarth made the bes'
of what little wind they had, to test theiI
boats turning capacity in the light. air
Five minutes before the starting signal the
/ Columbia, with boom 10 starboard. passed
north of the lightship, heading to the east
ward, and Shamrock, approaching from the
southwark, met the Bristol boat about or
the line. She luffed out across the Column
bias wake after having to pass
her to leeward, both having their booms tc
starboard.
At two minutes before the gun fire the
set her staysail and dropped heI
spinnaker boom to port. She was then abou,
80 yards northwest of the committee boa
and heading to the south. Columbia, com
ing from the southeast, had passed the
Sandy Hook lightship. leaving it on her port
side. at about one minute before the signal
When thirty seconds were left Captain Barr
rolled his wheel over to port, gybed the
Columbia, broke out her balloon jib topsai
and headed for the line. The Shamrock
balloon jib topsail blossomed out at the
same moment as the Columbia's. She wa:
en- the ~latter's starboard side and nearly Z
length astern when the starting signal was
given. Her spinnaker was broke out while
men rugged out her spinnaker boom while
they were approaching the line. hoisted the
sail and broke Ii out in just forty-five sec
onds. The Columbia had the better of the
start. The official time of the start was
Snamrock ll.Vl.u
ANXIOUS MINUTES.