The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-07

New York, July Cover triangular
course OF thirty miles, in comparatively
light winds, the new Iselin-M Morgan
yacht Columbia today vanquished the
Vanderbilt yacht Defender and con-
WINGED the yachtsmen who saw the
royal struggle that she is worthy Of
defending the precious trophy which
Sir Thomas Upton and his merry tars
hope to take back with them in the
Shamrock next fall.
The Columbia's forestry and club
topslt are anything but perfect, and
in a general way she will need a good
deal of tuning up. Yet, based upon
the showing she made as a better boat
than the Defender under adverse con-
ditions. the nautical sharpers are
strongly convinced that Sir Thomas
will sail home without the silver mug,
the possession of which has given US
the yachting supremacy of the world
since 1851.
Race Unsatisfactory.
But toGay's race was an unSatisfac-
tory one. Shifting, battling winds and
a bad, lumpy sea, with dirty rain
squalls, made the conditions anything
but ideal for yacht racing. The bill
Jersey shore prevented the crowd on
the highlands OF Navesink and Sandy
Hook from seeing the race, but the
enVeloping haze only added pictur
esqueness to the contest for those who
went outside in fancy crafts to see 1t.
For them the world was blOtted out,
and over the dim gray sea, under the
dull sky. the yachts raced. with moth
ing but themselves and the attendant
train of following boats to witness the
contest.
In windward work the Columbia.
with sails drawing badly, demonstrated
her superiority, and in d long reach,
with sheets eased, she outfooted the
Vanderbilt boat. The sudden shifting
of the wind prevented d trial at run
ming with spinnakers. In light weather
close hauled it can be said that she is
undoubtedly the Defenders superior.
but what she can do on piping breeze
remains TO be seen.
Gives Defender Handicap.
AS the warning gun was fired, the
Columbia. without waiting for the
starting gun, rounded Sandy Hook
lightship and headed across the line.
Either it was bad blunder on the part
of Captain Barr or it was designedly
done to give the Defender start equal
10 her time allowance. which is figured
at about two minutes. Just as the
starting gun doomed the Defender
crossed on the port tack. Meantime
the Columbia jibed, and, returning,
cana about and headed for the line.
crossing at exactly two minutes after
the Defender.
The interest was intense for the first
few minutes as the big racers, with
everything close hauled. entered upon
their test of speed. The Defender had
the weather gauge by 100 yards and
was several lengths ahead. At hrst
the Columbia seemed to outfoot her
rival and there seemed to be no per
ceptible difference in their ability to
hug the wind. Nautical experts were
fubilant. Then both yachts went over
on the starbOard tack for long leg
They heeled until yards of their bronze
bodies were exposed
Beats Defender to First Stake.
The Columbia gained on every tack.
and a few minutes before the first
mark was reached she crossed the De-
tenders bow on the StarboaTd tack.
Then the nautical sharps breathed cas-
Ter She rounded the stake exactly one
minute ahead of the Defender AS she
eased her sheets and turned the mark
all the steam craft signaled their con-
gratulations. on the long reach for the
second mark with the wind abeam, the
Columbia gained fifty-eight seconds.
About half way down q black scuall
which had been threatening to the
southwark. broke sharply and COM !
pletely swallowed up the big yachts and |
their trains. When the rainfall ceased |
the wind hauled to the west, and in |
stead of running home before the wind /
with spinnakers set, the yachts made /
the last leg with the wind on the port |
bow This was grave disappointment |
TO the spectators. The wind gradually |
died down. and when the yachts were 4
within about fourth of a mile OF the /
finish. the feet gathered about the /
lightship and Commodore Morgan's |
flagship.
Ovation at Finish Line.
Gracefully and noiselessly the Column |
hia sv-eDt over the invisible line be- |
tween them. and as she crossed she re- |
ceived a royal salute. Whistles shrek /
ed and sirens walled. Five minutes the |
ain continued. The Columbia made no /
response to this thunderous demonstra- |
ton. As the Defender crossed the line |
zhe also was greeted with Demon
stration quite as enthusiastic and pro /
longed The yachts were Immediately /
taken in tow by their tugs and brought /
up the bay.
Herbert Leeds. on behalf of Mr.. Ise-
lin. said after the race that the friends !
Of the Columbia were very well salts
fed. and hoped 10 do better when their
sails were made more trim. He said
there were no accidents of any kind.
and the yacht would leave for New
Rochelle tomorrow. Butler Duncan
said ne had nothing TO say for the De-
fender Everything had been satisfac-
tory. The race today was an informal
trial for cup offered by the New
York Yacht club. The official trials Will
occur in September.