The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-21


had ever seen n spinnus nr set 10 this manner.
and when the patriots were not suffering from
CONSERVATION over the probability OF the sal
carrying away, they wondered at the marvel
lous picture.
Tho white yacht was indisputably drawing
up on the green one This was apparent when
IL was seen that the Shamrock found It neces-
sary to substitute q balloon staysail for
smaller staysal. Apparently. she was not
making speed enough to suit her trio oil
skirpera.
Just then the patriots received q shock. tho
like OF which has never been recorded In any
other yacht race. The Columbia's spinnaker
suddenly collapsed probably because she was
beading q little too lnr to the westward. II fell
over the jib-stay to port. bringing the big spin-
maker pole. giant spar. bang against tho stay.
Then there was a great hustling aboard the
Yankee flyer. Down came the pole again within
half minute after II had been dragged sky
ward and again tho Columb ia bounded down
the wind There was great hurrah and a good
deal OF silent thankfulness among the fearful
Yankees but the sail buged so far forward
and stood 80 far above even the truck OF the
Columbia's topmast that there was little hope
among the most hopeful that the precious
sheet OF duck would be saved.
1t was now blowing between twenty and
twenty Ave knots and that was another reason
for thinking that the gorgeous spinnaRer
would soon be torn to tatters. Again the white
yacht seemed to luf up a little. and again tho
big sail collapsed. falling over the stay to port.
There was more fright on the feet. Then the
Yankee saiormen got the great piece OF canvas
under control again. and pulses beat in some
what more natural fashion. The Columbia ap.
parently had made an effort to blanket her
rival and this. 1t was assumed was one OF the
reasons why she had headed into the westward
instead Of keeping on her course. Later she
got on the port quarter OF the Shamrock and
stayed there for fifteen minutes or more.
The wind decreased bit and this enabled
the Deer Isle sailors TO get the spinnaker pole
down in is proper place, The weight OF the
pole helping them. An Old Dominion stenm
ship away inshore southwark bound. headed
out to take in the unusual spectacle. 1T was
not until fifteen minutes after the start
that the spinnaker Of the Shamrock was
released from the tight stops fifteen feet from
the head. Twelve minutes after the start the
Colum bia had set her gaff topsail. 1t set much
better than the shamrock's. and did good
deal more for her than the similar sail OF the
British boat. A general impression OF observ-
ers on the boats OF the attending fleet was that
the Shamrock was more than her original lead
ahead. but she was not. The boats were on
almost even terms when they had gone over
about seven e ghths OF the course. and the Co.
lum bia was then several hundred feet to the
eastward. or to port OF tho green racer. 1t was
q pretty even contest down the wind but run
ming does not count much in a real yacht race.
The speed OF tho yachts down the wind was
40 great that only the swiftest OF the excursion
steamers and none OF the tugs. not even tho
best OF the ocean -Goers. could keep pace with
them. Even the committee boat. Walter A.
Luck en- BACH accounted ono OF the apeediest
tugs in the country. was unable to get to the
turning point ahead OF the yachts. and the OK
psrts aboard OF her took the yachts time
nearly mile from the stake boat. All the little
tugs and some OF the side wheelers were too
slow to get back to the finish line In time to
see the triumph Of the Yankee boat.
The men on the Columbia were undoubtedly
more familiar with their ship and with the
weather hereabouts. They judiciously doussd
their working topsail when within six minutes
OF the outer mark divning that It would do
them little good In the heavy weather work
before them. 1t was thought that the hauling
down OF this hit OF canvas so soon would ma
terially help tho British boat. which held on to
hers more than twenty minutes after rounding
the mark. The wisdom OF this seamanship ON
the part Of the Columbia was demonstrated
when she got on the wind.
All doubt as to who was ahead was dspelled
at about 1913 O'Clock. when the Columbia was
seen to pass to port OF the green boat and head
for the mark. which she luffed around. her
men having quickly gathered In her spinnake r
at 1919. The Shamrock was In her wake,
rounding only seventeen seconds later.
The trained Deer Islanders were mighty
quick In getting their ship into the
wind. They trimmed sheets fiat aft and headed
northwest toward the Jersey beach on the
starboard tack. The Shamrock's men were
not quite so nimble. Her big mainsall seemed
TO get away from Thorn. In order to trim 1t in
they luffed up Just after rounding. lost way
somewhat. and while they were fumblIng the
Yankee craft with a bulldog grip on the wind.
dashed across their course. apparently within
three hundred feet OF them, and bounded out
on their weather bow.
The rollicking breeze was tearing the orests
Off the seas. and the bows OF both boats were
sometimes seen only dlmly through the spray
that often pushed hall as high as the middle
OF their jibs, Never did Cup hunter and de-
fender tear 40 wildly through the sens. Tho
yellow coated mon Of tho Columbia were
massed on the weather rail. and her lee rail
was hidden under tho rushing brine. Atttmes
when tho wind came in squalls. the yachts
showed big segments OF their bronze under
bodies.
The Columbia was beating steadily to wind
ward Of the green yacht. which was the FIRST to
20 about. She stood to tho northeast on the
port tack at II 40. the Columbia initiating her
example minute later. Ten minutes before
the Shamrock went about she took In her
working topsail. which she had been Juggling
since she rounded the mark. 1t had been all
iutter. and neither added to her comeliness
nor her speed The seas were somewhat heav-
Ter of shore. and the racers plunged into them
4 good deal more. smashing the spray in foun-
tains from their bows. while Kissing cataracts
ran along lee rails.
Sir Thomas was getting breeze, and. as no
viewed the contest from the Erin. he dou btess
realized that It was little more than his noble
craft could stand and be a winner. Tho Sham
rock took the lead in lacking. Her shippers
were evidently an xious to break away from the
Yankee deerhound. Whenever the Colum bia
went on a tack the Shamrock would split with
her. At l:26 when they had covered proba-
bly, about half Of the wndward leg tho
breeze had decreased a BIT. and the Column
bia made preparations to set her working
topsail, man was sent aloft TO help In tho