The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-06
A DRIFTING MATCH ONLY
THIS CONTINUED -FOUR AND A
HALF HOURS.
THEN THE REGATTA COMMITTEE GAVE UP
While the Wind Was Astern the Columbia
Showed the Shamrock her Feels, but
in the Shifting Winds the
Shamrock Gained.

New York, October 5.--Again today
the sea refused the Shamrock and Co
lumbia a field of conflict; again today
the multitude which went out to watch
the contestants for the yachting cham
pionship of the world returned disap-
pointed and not a little dlsgrsted. The
question of supremacy of the two great
yachts is still as much an open ques-
ton as before they first met, as the
contest today was in some respects more
of a fuke than that of Tuesday. 1t
was a drifting match almost from start
to finish. The yachts crossed the line
with a breeze of five knots and the
wind never blew more than six knots,
most of the time less than three, and
part of the time not a breath of air
was stirring. After sailing four hours
and forty-three minutes the yachts hav-
ing covered only twelve miles Of the
course to the outer mark, the Regatta
committe declared the race off, as it was
manifestly impossible with the breeze
then blowing, for the boats to round
the stake before the time limit ex-
pifed, much less to get back home again,
During the time in which the yachts
were at it the wind, which carried them
dead before it over the line had hauled
around until at the finish they were
beating into its teeth While the wind
held astern, the Columbia steadily ont
footed her rival until she was fully
half mile ahead, but in the shifting,
battling winds that followed during the
last three hours, with the great single
stickers tacling and beating and gvhing
to catch every streak OF wind. with
fortune helping one abour as much as
the other, the Shamrock gradually
worked her way up until, when the
race was declared off the two boats
We're about on even terms, the Shamrock
perhaps half a length anead, but so
close was the Columbia that Captain
Barr could have thrown a biscuit to the
foreigner. The only lesson learned by
the nautical sharps from today's trial
of the abilities of the two boats is
that in light weather conditions the Co
lumbia is the superior in running and
reaching, and the Shamrock slightly bet
ter in beating. There has vet been no
indication of what either boat can do
III piping whole sail breeze.
SO gentle were the creStless. pulSat'ng
seas that any sort of harbor on. river
craft, from a steamer to a row boat.
cculd venture oat with impumity, and
yost colony of excursion boats. ocean,
going steamers, yachts, tugs, sidewheel-
ers and sailing vessels, gathered around
the red hulk of the Sandy Hook Light.
ship, seven miles from the entrance 10
the lower bay, to watch the start. A
heavy haze hung over the sea and land,
and shut off the view of the thousands
waiting ON the Highlands of tNavesink
and the Long lsland shore The torpedo
boats, guarding the course, threaded
their way in and out through the acres
OF boats like neeues, their wakes a
thread of foam, warming the excursion
shippers to keep their distance. But
little difficulty was experienced today.
as Captain Evans Interviews threatening
lire consequence to the offending shippers
had had wholesome effect. Already the
crowd was disappointed. Each ONE had |
come down praying for stiff breeze and |
had found instead that there was hardly |
wind enough TO keep the flags
huttering. What there was came
from the northwest by north |
from over the land Preparations We're |
made aboard both yachts for the hight |
est airs before the start The Columbia |
discarded her heavy steel topsail yard |
for lighter and longer pine ONE and |
the Irish boat sent aloft the largest |
club topsail ever seen ON her, large |
by yards than any used in her trials ON
This side.
Mrs. Iselin, wife of the managing /
owner of the Yankee boat and who never
fails to be aboard during a race, was
snugly ensconced i'm the companionway |
OF the Columbia, attired in jaunty /
white flannel yachttng costume, with Il
red streamer around her hat. As soon
rs the committee boat had hoisted the
signal letters ID @ L." making the
course 10 miles southeast by south, dead
before the wind and return, putting tug
steamed straight out to sea to plant
lhe outer mark, which neither of tho
'acers was destined to round today.
There was some pretty manoelvering 7
DeIlind the line before the start, each
breaking out her balloon jb and lower
mig her spinnalser boom as they jock
syed for position. Both got across n
he smoke of the last gum, the white
Deanty length ahead and in the wind
ward berth.
The official time of the start was: Col
imhia 11:00:53: Shamrock 11:01:05.
The wind was blowing hardly 5 knots.