The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-21
HOW THE RACE WAS SAILED.

HOW THE RACE WAS SAILED.
Great Work in tho Heavy Wind by Both
Victor and vanquished.
It is difflcult to imagine the Joy OF the faith
full yachting enthusiasts. who for three weeks
have gone out almost daily to the Sandy Hook
Lightship with the hope that real stiff wind
would be served up to the Colum ba and sham
rock. to find yesterday morning that at last
their wishes would be gratined. Never was a
stronger wind In evidence at a Cup race. at
least within the experience OF the present gem
GRAFTON Of yachtsmen. The rival yachts sailed
the course in q stronger breeze than that
which fell to the lot ofthe Vigilant and Valkyrie
H. in the last race OF the series OF 1893 when
Lord Dunraven's boat carried away a spinna-
ksr or two. which. as many believe. cost her
the race. 1t was stronger than during that
race between the Puritan and Genesta whom
both boats were forced to house their top
masts. They build boats with greater skill
those days. and employ simpler yet stronger
methods OF construction. Instead OF wood
and manila rope they put In steel and wire.
with the result that what would be a reefng
wind fifteen years ago 10 simply a wholesale
breeze nowadays.
There was nothing approaching a reef In yes
tsrday's grand contest On tho contrary the
Shamrock sailed most OF her homeward Jour
ney with generous club topsail set above her
gan. The handlers OF tho challenger dared
not risk that nam moth sail she was wont to
flash on calm days but the canvas was what
would have been considered a very large sail
before the Shamrock was built. The yachts
were able to show themselves in an entirely
new light thanks to yesterdays wind. and rs
result the greatest race In the history OF the
Cup contests as ybody agrees. was
sailed.
wHITECkPs PLEASE ENTHUSIASTS.
Whitecaps breasted every wave in the harbor
long before the excurslonists were aboard
their boats. Their presence was an unex-
pected pleasure to the enthusiasts because
little promise had been held out for such n
state OF affairs by those In charge OF the
Weather Bureau. At that everybody WAS
sksptcal about tho wind holding strong
throughout the day. The enthusiasts had
been so sorely disappointed on so many &C.
casions during the past three weeks that they
would not believe that the breeze would hold
until the race was completed. But ne the
steam boats moved out through the Narrows
and encountered the rougher waters OF the
lower bay. hope began to revive that at last the
big sloops would be favored with tho weather
they had been pray ing for ever since the match
was inaugurated on Tuesday. Oct.3. The day
head. There were wind clouds Off to the
northeast and they made their presence known
in due time. passing off to the south only to be
replaced by others Of their kind. At 8 O'Clock
the wind showed strength OF fully % miles
an hour. 1t did not hold that hard through
out the day. for once or twice 1t dropped
to about IL miles an hour. but the periods
Of relapse did not last long and it may be said
that the race was sailed In breeze that prac-
tically varied between 20 and % miles hour
During the last quarter OF the contest it was
very squally and more than once the specta-
tors expected something to give way on board
the rival yachts. Aside from the race itself. the
wind was the feature OF the day. 1t cut such
figure in the contest that it must be con-
stantly borne In mind by readers W no were not
fortunate enough to be present when tho Co.
lumbia outsailed tho Shamrock and forged the
asst link which chains the Americas Cup to
these shores. The day was not cold and the
sea was not as rough as 1t would have been had
the wind been blowing from an opposite dirac-
ton. but at that the waves were high enough
and angry enough to scare the timid ones
while they only filled the true yachtsman with
! ecstasy.
SHAMROCK GETS OUT EARLY.
As usual the Sham rock was the first to leave
| her moorinGs She shifted tho breeze and was
anxious to show the world what she could do
with the wind blowing great guns over the
ocean and turning the tip Of every wave into
| flying mass OF spray. Before the hour OF o
O'Clock she hailed her tug the James A. Law
| renee. and taking the line from the steam
| vessel was towed out around the point OF the
| Hook. She set her mainsail on the way out
hauling 1t as stiff as her hearty crew could
make it. Later in the day that sail suffered by
comparison with tho broad canvas OF the Co.
| lumbia. The wind blew so hard it showed up
| every imperfection and instead OF the slightly
rounded surface it was wont TO exhibit in light
| airs. the slashing breeze from the north blew 1t
| into rolls OF corrugated canvas
| The Columbia's mansail. on the o Their hand,
| was as perfect as could be wished for not a
wrinkle roll OF any kind was to be seen
| between boom and RaE 1t held all the wind
| that it was asked to hold without showing an
| uneven surface 1t ia true the leech ratified as
| though it had the ague when tho boats were to
| windward. But only stretch an inch or two
| wide was affected This did not interfere with
| her sailing in the least.
| The Yankee boat. as usual. waited for the
challenger to show the way out OF the Horse
shoe and when tho green boat was fairly
started the Colum bia, too. called for her tug
| boat and was drawn out toward the Sandy
| Hook LiRhtship. She had her ma In sail up as
| high as it would go before the point OF the
Hook WIS passed. Before reaching the Light
ship both boatS dismissed their tugs and for
| an hour or more sailed slowly around the old
mark awaiting tho time for the start OF the
| race.
At 10 O'Clock the Columbia broke out her
lib. and then both sent up q working topsai in
stops. In England they call the sail lib
header" The fact that they were preparing
to utilize their working topsail showed that
they had great respect for the wind and that
they did not propose to risk carrying away n
topmaSt by pressing the club topsai into
service.
EXCURSION BOATS NOT NUMEROUS.
The revenue cutters and torpedo boats we're
as usual. early on the scene, arriving at their
posts before 1880 O'Clock. Tho excursion
boats were not numerous. and when the fleet
had been counted it was found that there were
Just forty eight vessels OF every description on
hand to follow the yachts over the course.
This included patrol boats excursion steam
ers. newspaper tugs and private yachts.