The evening times., 1899-10-02
COLUMBIA VS.. SHAMROCK
International Yacht Races to Begin
Tomorrow Morning.
T'he Winner of Three Out of Five to
He Awarded the Coveted Cup-Con-
ments for Preventing Interference
With the Boats During the Match.

Cup. Will begin at Sandy Hook Lightshil
outside of New York harbor, between the
two white-winged flyers the Columbia, de-
Tending the trophy, for this country, and
the Shamrock, Sir Thomas Lipton's chaI-
lenger, from Great Britain.
Universal interest attaches to this great
event, which is TO decide the respective
merits Of American and British yacht
building. and American and British ability
in speeding wind-propelled craft over a
given course.
The winning yacht must take three races
out OF five, but one race TO be sailed each
day and day TO intervene between each
contest. IL nothing occurs to cause post
ponement, the first three races will be
sailed tomorrow, Thursday, and Saturday.
OCher races may possibly be sailed on Oc-
tober 10 and u 10 determine which yacht
is entitled TO the superb silver trophy and
what is more dear TO the yachtsman's s
heart, the International championship.
AS these races are test of strength as
well as Of sailing qualities of the boats,
there has been a personal agreement be-
tween Sir Thomas Upton and c. Oliver
lselin that each yacht shall stand by the
consequences OF any accident happening
to her, and that the GEinlured vessel shall
sail out the race. This arrangement has
been deemed advisable TO preserve either
party from embarrassment in case where
IL is TO be decided whether one vessel
should retire from q race after her COM
petitor has become damaged through ac
cideut
As result Of the conferences about ro-
licing the courses 10 be sailed Capt. Rob-
ley ID. Evans, Of the Navy, has been ap
pointed TO assume general direction of the
arrangements and he is fully empowered
TO exclude any vessel from the line He
viii be assisted by Lieutenant Commander
Fremont, supervisor of the haFbor. The
boats employed for this police duty will
be re-enforced by as many torpedo boats
as can be made ready.
The United States statute under which
Captain Evans viii act was passed by Con-
gress and approved May 10, 1896, 10 meet
the complaints set in motion by Lord Dun
raven. Ii follows in part:
That in oder l. provide for the safety Of pas
sCtgers on eNc.rsiou steamers. yachts. oar.Iuca,
ard al cf@ft- whether Observers participants
taxing pElt n reeatt2s amateur, or professional,
that may hereafter he held on nayi-ahc waters,
the SECRETARY Of the Treasury be and he is hereby
suthuilL,A aud empowered IL his discretion 10
dttaI revenue cutters 10 enforce such rules
may he adopted 10 insure the safety Of passengers
on said excursion steamers, yachts, oarsIuen. and
ali craft, whether as Observers or participants in
euch regatias
ranged 10 have the transport Mcpherson
attend the races for the benefit Of army
officers and their families.
In case either contestant shall complain
TO the committee on challenge that his
vessel has been interfered with by excursion
steamers OF any other vessels while the
race Was in progress, the committee will
take the complaint into consideration, and
il it finds il wen founded, Will seek con-
ference with The committee representing the
Royal Ulster Yacht Club. which is the club
that forwarded Sir Thomas Lipton's chal-
longe, with a view to arrange for the sail
ing OF subsequent races without public no.
tice.
IL is now thoroughly well understood
among all the captains OF vessels chartered
Tor the race days that their licenses will
be revoked or suspended in case of any
infractiOn OF the rules laid down for keep
ing the course clear. Captain Evans has
received instruction from Washington to
confer with the committee of the New
York Yacht Club and settle the courses
10 be sailed. The fact Of the matter is
that the courses cannot be prearranged
and the task laid out for those who are
20 keep the course clear is much more diff
hcult Ihan most people think. The rea-
sen for this is that no one can know till
just before Inc race how the boats will he
start OF. They may go northeast or
southwest, or in any ether direction. ac-
cofGing 10 the direction of the wind at
the time. The first leg of triangular
course must be laid out dead TO windward.
as the wind at the time happens to be. so
as to secure some beating in the race. The
winGward and leeward races must also he
started either dead To windward or directIy
to Ieeward. II not started In this yay
these races are spoiled. Consequently IN
III the last half hour before the start not
even The members Of the regatta commit
lee themselves know what courses the
yachts viii be started on.
14s conditions that We're agreed to AT
Rev Hork last September between the
c-,h committee and the challenger rep-
IeseniatiNes VIII now be followed excent
so far as they have been altered nv tur-
ther agreement arrived a. on "Wednesday.
The start Is to b. at Sandy Hook light
Ship and the cr- -rse from the starting line
VII De laid 20 the windward The first
race VIII be fifteen knots to windward or
IeeWard, and return. The second race will
De an equilateral triangle, ten miles to a
leg the frs lag TO windward.
TIE third and fifth races will be tha
same as the first. The fourth race will he
the same as the second. Every course 10
De ia4d down viii be as nearly as possible
an even tAirfy knots The prenarstorv 1
signal shall b gwen fifteen minutes before
the starting sigma and - case of a CHANGE
In time q star 2 preliminary signal will
be given T. -sGH 4ninueS before the pre-
paratoTy.
An assurance of having the races sailed
IN fairly good bTeeZes comes in rnder tho
rule about the time limit II one of the
boat doee aot finish before the expiration
CT fve hours and half. exclusive OF time
allowances. suca race shall not count and I
must be resaiied. The start will be at as
near TO IL a m. as practicable.
The following notifications were agreed 1
upon on Wednesday: First-A prepara- |
tary sienal shall be given fifteen minutes |
before the starting signal, and a warning
signal FIVE minutes before the starting sig
nal In case OF change in the time of |
starting the same signal shall be used.
The change is in the addition Of the warn
Ing gun. and the provision that In case Of
change IN the time OF starting the same
signals TO be used.
Second-The provision that IL a race Is
not started by l:30 p m. the regatta COM
mlttee shall have the right to declare the
race postponed for the day, and that no
race shall be started after D. IN was
changed 10 provide that no race shall be
started after 1890 .. m
Third-The provision for the presence on
board during the races of a representative
named by competitor was changed by
adding that representative of thu COM
petlns yachts should be present during all
measurements
THE COLUMBIA THE FAVORITE