The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-19


Columbia then running off half a mile
to the southwark. The COlumb bia how
ever swung around to the wind at 10:0S
and began setting her club opsail. The
wind which in shore was strong and
puffy seemed to increase near the light
ship so that the Columbia's topsaiI
Tapped and Slated quite lively before it
was fully set in position. Both racers
were fitted with smaller club topsails
indicating that they anticipated more
wind before afternoon.
Those watching the two boats could
not see that the Shamrock stood much
sitter for all her increased load.
The Shamrock under her immense ex-
panse of sail showed to beautiful ad-
vantage and going on a long reach
fairly flew over the water.
At 1922 the judges boat raised the
signal indicating that the course would
be southeast by south.
Official starting time was: Columbia,
II .O1 80: Shamrock, HOP.
Five minutes before the start Sham
rock ran up under the Columbia's lee
and tried to get to the weather of her,
but the white boat held up past the
lightship on the port tack and having
two head sails set, easily outfOOted the
Shamrock. The boats were close to-
gether, however. About two minutes
before the start Shamrock swung off
and the Columbia came about, being
sOmeWhattO the westward of the Sham
rock. Both boats stood for the line at
two minutes before gun fire. Just
across to the westward on the star
board tack. but the Columbia Iuffed up
to the westward so that the green boat
could not catch her. Just before the
start she managed to run in astern of
Columbia and the latter crossed the line
first. The jockeying was sharp and
from Navesink it looked as if Captain
HOgarth had the better of it. Shamrock
succeeded in getting up on the Colum-
bias weather and both boats went over
the line with bOomS to port. The
Shamrock broke out her balloon jib as
she crossed and Columbia did not set
hers until a minute or two later. For
five minutes after the start the boats
had a little luffing, but Shamrock did
not seem able to get by the Columbia.
AT IL :07 Columbia had a lead of about
100 yards. Both boats were sailing
along with mainsails, club topsaiIs and
balloon jibs.
The run down before the wind by the
yachts to the half way mark was made
in good time. the yachts accomplishing
it in about forty minutes. The breeze
served them well but it was more to
the westward than at the Hghtship, so
that they kept their balloon JibS set to
port and did not set their spinnakers.
The excursion fleet kept fully a mile
away to windward and did not inter
fere with the yachts in any way. The
Shamrock was unable to overhaul Co
lumbia on this ~ mile run.
1t was evident as the boats crossed
the line that Captain HOgarth of the
ing powers of his boat, was trying to
indulge her in that line. Captain Barr
on the Columbia seemed nothing 10th
to try it out and so began the reach off
for the course. The Columbia led about
four lengths over the line and her po-
sitiOn under the reaching tactics had
but one disadvantage that she was to
leeward. Still there was small fear of
being blanketed. The first ten minutes
We're monotonous ones. The lead was
so certain that all that was left was to
watch the boats to see them square
away.
At the end of fifteen minues the boats
were under the same canvas mainsails
and club topsails with big baIIooners
that bellied out before them. Captain
dogarth apparently had done well to
work the reaching end. He held his
own by it but at 20 it looked as if his
belief in his boats reaching powers was /
as it has been in its point
ing and running.
The change was a slow one, but Co
lumbia was drawing ahead of Sham
rock, whose big bluff bow was fussing !
even in the comparatively smooth wa
ter
At 11:4O the lead had been increased
to eight boat lengths and the two boats !
were over two miles off the course down
on the Jersey shore.
dispatch from the Highlands at ?: Is |
p. m. said Columbia rounded the lee
ward mark about 2:24:30 unofficial
A dispatch from the Highlands at 2:31 |
D. m. said the Shamrock turned lee
ward mark about 2:30:35.
New York 3:06 p. m--Long Branch |
said there was very light breeze from I
the south and that a fleet of so vessels |
was becalmed off the coast.
At 3:l5 Long Branch reported one of !
the yachts, apparently Columbia. could |
be made out through the haze. She was
then about 10 miles from the lightship |
and wind very light.