New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-06
rat sam the shamrncl, anal NOT set her foresall.

Tribune said. the English shippers do not KNOW
when TO set the right sails.
At 1907 80 the Columbia took in her foresail
and lowered down her spinnaker boom to port
again, IN the hope Of being able to use It, but
the sail did not 60 up. The Shamrock did the
same At 1918 the Shamrock gaining on
the Columbia both of the boats now carrying
the same sails. They were both lying up three
points above their course, that is to say they
were running about due east. and they had their
spinnaker booms lowered down the port side.
in the hope OF being able to set their spinnakers
The old Cup defender the Vigilant, the victor
OF 1898. was over beside the Perseus and the
Erin. and up 10 1928 ahead Of both the
racers and making fast sailing for the amount
Of wind She was only carrying working gan-
topsai.
SPINNAKERS NOT USED.
At 1910 the Shamrock hoisted up her spin
maker boom the Columbia doing the same thing.
At 10: II the Columbia sybed followed ten sec
onds later by the Shamrock. They now had
their main booms on the port side, and were
running slowly before the wind Neither Of the
boats lowered its spinnaker boom for about
two minutes after rounding. then the booms
were lowered but the snnnakers were not run
out. Both boats seemed to be dead before the
wind and it was not understood why they did
not carry their spinuakers az their main hooms
Seemed to be squared away right off At 12:9o
the lead Of the Columbia was something IKE
half a mile. This lead had been gained so
gradually in the last twenty-five minutes that
Il was not made perceptibly, but at the end or
that time the increased space between the TWO
boats could not be mistaken. Both yachts were
still carrying the same head sail. merely the
balloon jib forward
81 rod no vim
700 far forward to carry spnnakers. From 1:15
20 $50 the boats were lying I'm a fat calm.
They were then about FIVE miles from the outer
stakeboat At 2.l5 they had gone little through
the water. and there was no wind percepuble
on the steamer Perseus. but tho Shamrock had
gradually closed I'm the distance between her
self and the Columbia. and was now on even
terms
TURNED TOWARD HOME
Then the feeble airs that We're close to a dead
calm shifted to sOutherly. and the Columbia got
turned around until she was pointed toward
home She was stil carrying her balloon jib.
and apparently she had entirely lost Storage
way This did not happen on the Shamrock.
which seemed 10 take advantage first Of the new
wind which came in from about southwest. The
change left the Shamrock pointing to windward,
but behind.
Both boats continued II carry their balloon
tbs. and at 2.31 they were both apparently as
near the wind as they could get. but still point
ed off about northeast. A good many people on
the excursion steamers thought they had given
up the race and were heading for home. but
that was not the case. Until 30 1t was true
that they were beating to windward under their
balloon jibs. these large sails not being lowered
as both boats were hoping for another shift that
oil ber I be NSed. Iut :, - the
big sails were taken in, and working jibtopsails
were hoisted AS soon as the shift of wind ar
rived the Shamrock was pointing to windward
but behind and soon afterward seemed TO have
lead Of about a hundred yards over the Co
lumbia and right between her and the
outer mark. This account was dictated at a
distance Of two or three miles from the racers.
The new wind seemed to be coming toward
them straight from the outer mark. At 2:3s
the Shamrock went about into the port tack.
and one minute later the Columbia followed,
and it was now seen that the respective places
Of the two boats on the new wind had been
slightly misjudged. the Columbia being in a
better position than supposed.
The Shamrock for this Windward work, had
set a small jibtopsail and not the long jibtopsail
which she showed in one Of her trial tests off
Sandy Hook The Columbia set her long jb-
topsan for these light airs, which was the sail
the Shamrock apparently wanted. In the fol-
lowing sailing It seemed probable that the long
jibtopsail Of the Shamrock not set because
1T could not sit as well as the small one by
the wind The wind increased until it got to a
fair sailing nreeze or at least enough 10 make
the boats move fairly well. and they stayed over
toward the Jersey coast on the port tack until
300, when the Columbia went about ana TOOK
a starboard tack for seven minutes eastward
while the Shamrock continued on her port tack
FOLLOWING THE sIAMROCK's LEAD.
When the Columbia went about at this time
she lowered her larger jibtopsail. and set up a
small working one. following the Shamrock
lead in this She had evidently found that the
larger jibtopsail did not sit as well by the wind
and pulled her off TO leeward. This splitting Of
tacks brought the boats a considerable dis
lance apart FOR awhile. and at 1903 the Columbia
again stood on the port tack pointing up 10
windward Of the Shamrock's course. Al about
3:O7 both boats stood TO the eastward on the
starboard tack for about Ave minutes. when
they went about and stayed sOuthwesterly AS
far as could be told from the Ptrseus' uls-
lance Of about three miles the SHAMROCK was
the leading boat. She was certainly ahead, pu'
she may not have been TO the wind%aI ar a
couple Of tacks were made between ~ aI,u
$50 but the Columbia did not seem TO he point
ing I'D on either Of the tacks as well as the
English boat and so we'll could be seen IN
the distance the Shamrock had a good lead
INTERESTING TO YACHTsMEN.
To numbers Of the yachtsmen present who
were ardently in search Of pointers in regard
10 the relative merits OF the two boats this
windward work in light airs was as interesting
as II the race had chance OF being completed
but when the clock went around TO 0|3O every
one knew that the race could not be completed
as there was still beat Of two or three miles
10 the outer mark. and with fifteen knots or
the homeward course still to be run OF course
This distance could not be covered In one houl
ard the time limit Of Ave and half hours TO The
race was 10 expire at 43O, the yachts havine
been sent off at II o'clock.
After $3.50 the Columbia tackled 10 the east
rvard for about ten minutes, while the ShaIn
49, continued on the port tack. Then botf
- aho,,t % ,neef the Shamrock The star