The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-07-07
COLUMBIA ONCE AGAIN.
The New Yacht Defeats Defender
by Nearly Four Minutes
UNDER ADVERSE CONDITIONS.


wind whilc Those OF Defender We're
Trim and WIN BE ROM
edicd Before the Formal Trial Races.
New York. July by the race be-
tween the new cup defender Columbia
and the old Defender, sailed yesterday
over a triangular course Of 30 miles-lO
miles to a leg-it has been plainly
demonstrated that. no matter how
skillfully constructed a yacht may be,
her sailing and ability to go to wind
ward may be killed by imperfectly
setting sails. The Defenders set to
perfection.
The Columbia won the race by a
margin of 3 minutes and SO seconds
(unohicial time). There is no doubt
she would have won by a larger margin
If her sails had fitted as we'll as the
Defenders.
In the windward work, while the
wind was strong, Columbia was unable
either to outfoot or outpoint the De-
fender, chiefly on account of the bad
set of her club topsail, jib topsail and
fore staysail. She covered the first leg
of ten miles to windward three min
utes faster than the Defender, but one
minute of that gain was made when
the wind became light, and less than
two miles from the turning point.
On the second leg the Columbia gain
ed So seconds. II was reach, both
yachts carrying large, not balloon, but
jib topsails. On the last leg-close
hauled work In a light breeze-she lost
five seconds to the sefender, probably
by reason of a shift in the wind which
favored the Defender.
The race, however convinced the
yachtsmen who saw the royal struggle
that Columbia is worthy of defending
the precious trophy which Sir Thomas
Upton and his merry tars hope to take
back with them in the Shamrock next
fall. The Columbia's forestay sail and
club topsail are anything but perfect,
and cracked in the wind yesterday like
a teamster's whip, demonstrating that
in a general way she will need a good
deal of tuning up. Yet, based upon the
showing she made as a better boat
than the Defender under adverse con-
ditions the nautical sharps are strongly
convinced that Sir Thomas will sail
home without the silver mug, the pos
session of which has given us the
| yachting supremacy of the world since
1851.
But yesterdays race was an un-
satisfactory one. Shifting, battling
| winds and a bad, lumpy sea, with dirty
rain squalls, made the conditions any
thing but ideal for yacht racing. The
| billows of mist which enshrouded the
Jersey shore prevented the crowd Oh
the highlands of Navesink and Sand!
| q
enveloping haze only added pictures
queness to the contest for those whC
went outside in fancy craft TO see 1t.
In windward work the Columbia
with sails drawing badly, demonstrated
her superiority and in a long reach
with sheets eased, she outfooted tn
Vanderbilt boat The sudden shifting
of the wind prevented a trial at run
ming with spinnakers. In light weather
close hauled, therefore, it can be sal
that she is undoubtedly the Defender
superior, but what she can do in
piping breeze remains to be seen.
Captain Barr had the tiller of tn
Columbia, and aboard with him wer
c. Oliver Iselin. Mrs. Iselin, Newberr
Thorne, William E. Iselin, Herbert "
Leeds and Woodbury. Kane. The GREY
| wore the lSellu COlOIS. NdpIdl
Rhodes had the helm of the Defender
William Butler Duncan and Mrs Dun
can, clad in a becoming yachting cos
tune, and John G., 3eresford wer
aboard her. The white clad sailor
wore caps of red and black stripes.
When the yachts were within abou
a fourth of a mile of the finish tn
feet gathered about the lightship an
Commodore Morgau's flagship. Grace
fully and noiselessly the Columbi
swept over the invisible line betwee
them, and as she crossed she receive
a royal salute. Whistles shrieked an
sirens walled. For several minutes tn
din continued. The Columbia made n
response to this thunderous demon
stration. AS the Defender crossed tn
line she also was greeted with a den
onstration quite as enthusiastic an
prolonged.
Herbert Leeds, on behalf Of M
Iselin, said after the race that II
: friends of the Columbia were vel
we'll satisfied and hoped to do bett,
when their sails were made more triI
Butler Duncan said he had nothing
say for the Defender. Everything ht
been satisfactory.
The race yesterday was an inform
trial for a cup offered by the Ne
York Yacht club. The official tris
will occur in September.