The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-05

of the move. it redounded to the credit
of the Columbia's skipper; for the
American boat began to drop the Sham
rock, not by starts but steadily.
By 11:20 the fuller way of Columbia
was noticeable and in ten minutes the
lead was one of three ship lengths.
The club tOpsail was left to sway un-
easily, while the spinnakers We're as
wrinkled as an old wOman's cheek.
It was nothing but a drifting match,
and the sky had no promise of wind.
It was about 11:45 when it began to
seem as though some OF the weather
rumOrs would be kept. Both craft got
puff with a shift and in ten minutes
the spinnakerS were taken in with a
rush. HOgarth and Wringe had a hur-
ried consultation on the Shamrock.
The breeze was now north, northwest,
and the Shamrock's boom came in with
it. They took their Staysail in, sending
in stops again. BY noon when this
move had been ten minutes in action
chance was open to compare the re-
suits of the work on both ships. The
Shamrock had gained. COlumbia's s
mainsail was trimmed too fiat, while
the Shamrock's fell off, caught more
wind and the great green boat was
putting faster Furthermore the Sham
rock had been put in a Windward posi-
ton and was heading it now on what
had changed from a broad run to some
thing very like a reach with sheets
eased off.
At 1905 the sheets were eased off on
both boats, and for five minutes they
SalIeQ OH the course. Inc men walked
away with the sheets and the bOOms
came aboard again, while they swung
back into line in the regular course.
The Columbia was footing away and
making gains. The gains were very
small ones, but yet the fact was ap-
parent that while the Shamrock was
lifted only by occasional spurts the
Columbia was averaging better.
The Shamrock was showing herself to
be wonderful light weather boat, yet
the Columbia was displaying the extra
bit that bore her first reputation.
At 1920 the two yachts were headed
east by south on a broad reach, being
several points over their true course,
with the Columbia at least a quarter of
a mile in the lead. Both were carrying
balloon jibs, mainsails and club top
sails.
At this point of the race both of the
yachts engaged in q. luffing match, the
Shamrock trying to work up to the
windward of the Columbia and thus be
able to fall in directly behind the Amer
lean yacht whenever she should square
away for the marks.
Capt. Barr on the Columbia met the
Shamrocks captain at every move.
At 1922 the Columbia was heading
northeast, or seven points to windward
of her true course, the yacht sailing as
close to the rim as it could without
spilling the breeze out of her sails. The
Columbia found the 1uh1ng very much
to her liking and was plainly increasing
her lead every minute, while the Sham
rock, although she hald worked out to
windward, lost rather than gained by
the play for position.
At 1926 p. m, Capt. Barr eased the
Columbia to within q point or two of
her true course, as it was evident that
the Shamrock was falling behind and
becoming less dangerous.
The Columbia had Increased her lead
well beyond the quarter mile and both
boats We're showing ItoTne life for the
first time in the race q tire breeze was
holding true from thu ssrth and though
light at the best was enough to give
the racers a. fair move and lend some
animation to the feature This made
the Columbia gain steadily all the time
and at 12:35 she was seemingly nearly
a mile in the lead.
At 12:40 the Columbia gybed over to
the starboard tack and the Shamrock
at once followed. AS the yachts filed
away, the Shamrock was again placed
in the weather berth. but she had been
dropped so far behind during the long
luffing match, that it was impossible
for her to take away any of the Column
bias wind and the cup defender still
gained steadily. The Iuffing had taken
the boats so far out of their course,
that they were obliged to sail south by
west to reach the outer mark.
The wind seemed to be increasing
slightly and it drove the Columbia
ahead faster than the Shamrock.
At 12:43 the spinnaker pole on the
Shamrock was shifted over to star
(Cop+iu17ad on sixth pagaN