Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-17

GOWN nef private signals ana set OId
Glory at each masthead and gan and
taffrai The crew Of the Columbia gath
cred aft ard hurrahed.
After the Columbia had lowered her
headsails and taken the tow line from her
tender. the crowd waited over 10 minute.
until the Shamrock had crossed and the
fleet had given her a stentoran greeting
II good will.
Then the steamers scampered after the
Columbia, crOwding about her and cheer.
ing her again ana again while the bands
played patriotic airs. They escorted her
All the way To hcr anchorage inside the
Hook
Tie race, tomorrow, will be over the
triangular course, ~ miles to the leg. and
the Shamrock viii have an opportunity
t1 show what she can do at her favorite
point Of sailing.
The crews Of both yachts mad break
fast early and when Jney turned tor
soon after s il was with a Will. for. in
spite If the rather hazy weather, there
was good breeze from the eastward
which promised to increase ana at last
give the yachts good race. Jibs and
ataysails were sent up III stops on the
stays racing matches put on. boats
ldshed ana everything made snug be
fore 2 o'clock. At 915. the Columbia
east of from her mooring buoys and
Was taken in tow by the Wallace s.
Flint. The Shamrock. a few minutes
later started in TOW Of tie Lawrence.
Covers We're Kept on the mainsaiIs and
the last moment as there was just
enough fine rain 10 dampen them.
~ % o'clock, 10th yachts had reach
ed the east end If Gcdney's channel
ana, at 1910, The Columbia's crew be-
gan hosting the mainsail 1t was set
in five minutes. The Shamrock's main
sail began t. 50 up at the same time
but it was fully il minutes before the
sail was set. When the yachts passed
The telegraph schooner Lizzie carr.
which was lying head 10 wind with a
single rcefed mainsaiI set. the wind
Was fairly steady from the eastward
blowing ABOUT 10 miles an hour, the wa
ter smooth and the sky cloudy. Two
miles was about the limit Of observa-
ton owing to heavy mist.
At los. both yachts cast off THEN.
towines broke out their jibs and mast
= 1
Columbia also sent up her baby lib
topsail on the stay. At the same time
the committee boat Walter Luckcnbach
anchored due south of the Sandy Hook
and sent up the course sig
nails. 1t was east. making it beat
dead to windward for the yachts Of Il
miles and a run back if the wind held
from the same quarter.
The regatta committee meant business.
this morning. for few minutes later
they started the tug to log off the
course, and, at 1915, the preparatory
signal was made. Both yachts then
began maneuvering for positions. and.
at 1885. when the warning signal was
given. they We're playing for weather
berth to the northWard Of the line.
Shamrock breaking out her staysail at
his time.
When two minutes We're left before
he starting signal. both yachts were
heading a couple Of lengths apart-to
he westward. with booms to port. the
Columbia to windward. At one minute
he Shamrock began to keep off for the
Committee boat. which was lying at the
south end Of the line. Capt. Hogarth's
Intention apparently being to stop the
Columbia, then a length astern, from
getting the weather berth.
When the starting gun was fired. the
Shamrock had run parallel with the
inc to nearly the center of it. She
still held her course until nearly over
o the lightship before she began to huff |
Q cross the line.
Capt. Barr, on the Columbia held |
his yacht well in hand. being at this |
line good length astern. With sheets |
lat aft. he began to huff the moment !
1ogarth did. and. shooting the Co |
umbia across the Shamrock's wake. |
lie sent her across the line more than
0 yards to windWard Of the challenger |
nd with such a good overlap on her,
hat. according to the official time, she
vas only three seconds astern.
The official time Of the start was:
shamrock, 11.01.o3; Columbia, 11.o1.O6
Both yachts We're now close hauled
n the starboard tack and We're carry
ng exactly the same sail. AS soon as
heets We're trimmed all hands. except
he men stationed at the head sheets.
umped to the weather sides and hud-
led close to the starboard rail, while
he shippers watched each other like
aWks.
There We're not many yachts or eX-
ursion steamers out in time to see the
tart The principal ones were the
team yachts Corsair. Erin and Niaga-
d. the excursion boats, Republic
irand Republic. Monmouth and An
Ter: the revenue cutters Manning and
torpedo boats Porter and
,wyn. Those on board the small fleet
ad a splendid view Of the start, and
he first 10 minutes after it We're anxi-
US ones for the friends Of both yachts.
Continued on page o.