Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-02
BOTH. YACHTS
IN FINE TRIM
For the First Race to 0c-
cur Tomorrow.
BE NO INTERFERENCE
From Pleasure Crafts or YES
sells During the Three Races
for Americas Cup.
THE CHANCES FIGURED OUT
A Great Deal Will Depend on the
Kind of Weather That Prevails
Thousands of YachtSmen Are Now
in New York City.

new IOIk, OCl l.-clHCe Tue (OluIlDld
was launched on June 10 and the Sham
rock on June 26 a number of mishaps
have befallen these boats. The most Sc
rious of these fell to the Columbia's lot
when in the New York Yacht clubs an
nual cruise off Newport she had her steel
mast broken when far ahead of the old
Defender. The Shamrock has been
aground in these waters. has just escaped
collision twice. and has been the victim
of numerous small accidents, but she is
now in the most perfect condition, as is
her rival the Columbia.
Both are lying at their docks in Brook
lyn, ready for the battle which is to begin
within a few hours. Both boats have
been we'll tried out and they have not
been found wanting. The Britisher had
an insignificant brush or two with the
old-tlmer, Britannia, on the other side
and beat her by many minutes without
an effort, an adequate test of her speed
On this side she has been out in the
lower bay number of times during the
past six weeks, and on occasions has
shown marvellous speed and wonderful
capabilities. She has shown herself to
be essentially rough weather boat,
of a breeze and cutting through the wa ter
in marvelously smooth manner. In
lighter weather the Shamrock has not
had much testing beyond the ordinary
trials which permitted Designer Fife and
Sallmaker Ratzey to study her weak
nesses and improve her rig Since her
first trials the Shamrock has been fitted
with new set of sails, much larger in
area than the first and suitng her better.
The Columbia has had many more
trials than her British rival and prob
ably the trials have been better. They
certainly could not have been more salts
factory. She has been ptted half a score
of times against the old cup defender
and has won in every case. Her trials
took place off Newport and so decisive
were her victories during the annual
cruise OF the New York Yacht club that
1t was deemed unnecessary Immediately
after to further test her qualities. How
ever, in order to give her more thor
ough trial, additional races with the De-
fender we're arranged, and, with some
improvements that had been made won
marked triumphs.
Some of her victories over the Defender
y, .j)
course, light weather, won by 4 minutes.
seconds; August 10, heavy sea, strong
breeze, 30-mle course. won by l minute,
30 seconds; August IL, fair breezee TRAN
gular course, q miles. won by s minutes.
Off Newport. all kinds of weather. 30
mile course, won by minutes. 40 Sec
onds; off Newport, triangular course, 10
miles to the leg. in a whole sail breeze
won by 10 minutes. The Shamrock has
had in all but seven real trials The CO.
lumba has had the Defender constantly
with her, and the Defender has been in
charge Of a crew that drove her to the
last inch of speed. The trials through
which these two yachts passed were
genuine races.
The Columbia and her crew form a
thoroughly we'll tried racing outfit. and
Captain Charley Barr, who will be at the
wheel. is an expert.
The Shamrock's crew number more
than that of the American boat and are
we'll tried men, every one of them. Cap
handling of the Britisher. Comparing
the merits of the boats as they have been
estimated since the trials, it is reason !
'oly eitdiH ,ildt tle shamrock can stand |
up better in a strong blow than the Co |
umbia. Many believe that she would |
prove the better boat in a gale, but il is |
1ot so certain that gale will prevail on |
my of the racing days According to
he judgment of those who have followed |
he two yachts in such trials as they have !
lad, the Columbia has shown much
greater speed in winds of 12 knots an
lour than under, and even the warmest
supporters of the Shamrock confess that
should light winds prevail their fayorite
will have but little chance of winning.