The record-union., 1899-10-18
there had been contest between the


of the racing yachts when they turned
TO this morning. An early start was
the order, and both yachts We're tow
ing out past the point of the Hook at
o'clock. The Shamrock's mainsail
was hoisted soon after, and at 9:20 she
cast off her tow line, broke out her jib
and filled away to starboard at a point
midway between Scotland and Sandy
Hook lightships. The Columbia con-
tinued in tow until we'll UP the Sandy
Hook hghtship, and at 9:25 her crew
set the mainsail in eight minutes. AS
soon as the sail was up she cast off
her tow line, and set what appeared to
be her No. , club topsail, not the larg-
est one she has.
The club topsail which the SIitlre
began to set at $40 was appar emily her
largest one, the same one which was
bent on Monday to aluminium spars.
To-day wooden ones were used.
With freshening breeze from the
eastward and an ugly swell rolling in
from the same quarter, it seemed a
rather risky proceeding to swing such
large topsail aloft. Subsequent events
proved that with smaller club top
the race.
The same persons were on board the
Columbia and Shamrock as on previous
race days, and when the committee
! beat arrived and anchored northeast
OF she lightship at 10:20, the yachts
were ready for the start.
The signals for a triangular course
were set at 10:30, and one Of the COM
Insttee boats was sent at once to log
oft the first ten-mile leg and place the
hrSt mark. The course for the trrst
leg was east by south, for the SECOND
southwest half south. and for TIE third
leg, northwest. The first ten miles
was to be windward work, the
second ten miles a reach with boom to
starboard and the third a reach with
boom to port, thirty miles in all.
AT l0:45, when the preparatory sig
nal was given, the yachts were man
euvering for position, while the torpedo
boats and revenue cutters were driving
out few excursion boats and yachts
away from the starting line. At the
warning signal, given at 1855, the
breeze had increased perceptibly, and
there was promise of a good start in
a few minutes. The skipper of each
yacht saw to it that the main sheets
were kept well aft, so that he could
quickly gybe or tack his boat.
AT one minute before the starting gun
/ the Shamrock, which had been manau-
yering southeast of the lightship. stood
! to the northwest, closing in toward it.
! Her boom was to port, and we'll in
/ board. Coming up from the northwest
also with boom to port and wind abeam,
! the Columbia met the Shamrock just
! as Hogarth was getting ready to Iuff
/ his yacht sharp around the lightship's s
I stern. The situation at the gum fire
/ was almost exactly the same as that
/ between the Defender and Valkyrie III
as they approached the line on the
day when the Valkyrie fouled the De-
/ fender
When the Shamrock, moment after
4 The gun fire, rounded the lightshfp's
stern and luffed sharp up on the wind.
/ the Columbia having been unable to
! gain the weather berth, had now an
overlap of half her length on the lee
side of the Shamrock, and so close were
/ they that the Shamrock's main boom as
she luffed to her course came danger
ously near the Columbias weather
/ shrouds and masthead runner. Both
yachts were close hauled on the star
! board tack, crossing the line on a
| diagonal course.
| The Shamrock had certainly the bet
ter of the start, and the Columbia was
! placed in a position that few yachts
would be able to extricate themselves
/ from without either keeping broad off
or fouling. 1t was with intense interest.
then, that those on the ACCOMMODATING
yachts and excursion boats watched the
outcome of this battle royal between
the single stickers
One minute had not elapsed before
the Columbias bowsprit began to show
out ahead of the Shamrock's. At 11:02
when the handicap gun was fired, the
! Columbia was half a length out from
under the lee of her rival. and thirty
seconds later when the Shamrock tack
ed to port to get clear of the Columbia's 8
back wind, the latter yacht, by tacking
five seconds later, placed herself in a
commanding position on the Sham
rocks weather quarter.
The official time of the start was:
Shamrock 11:00:15, Columbia 11:OO:17.
The wind was east by south. and
freshening by degrees as the yachts
stood along on a northeast by east
course. They were taking the easterly
sWeIls rather hard at times, plunging
thelr bowsprits clear under, and doubt
less putting to a severe test all their
spars and rigging. With half an eve
any sailorman could see looking at he
yachts end from astern that the
Columbia was lying, say from half TO
three-quarters of a point higher than
the Shamrock, both apparently having
their sheets trimmed alike on this mort
tack. The fact that the Shamrock car
rled no baby jib topsail was excellent
evidence that her Captains were afraid
that if set it would pull her head off
more yet, so it was kept down. while
the Columbia s. setting perfectly on IFS
stay must have helped that yacht in
stead of retarding her in the windward
work.
Fifteen minutes after the start the
Columbia's position was fully 200 yards
dead to windward of the Shamrock, the
latter being at that time slightly for
ward of the Columbia's lee beam.
captain Barr evidently meant to con-
tinue on the port tack to Liverpool. if
necessary, until the Shamrock came
about. That never, happened. however
for as the breeze freshened and both
yachts began to put their lee rails down
harder it seemed, looking at the Sham
rocks topmast from astern, as if il
were sprung.
AT 1l:24, with a crash that could be
heard far off to leeward, the Sham
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