The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-06

sea refused the Shamrock and Column
bia a field of conflict; again today the
multitude which went out to sea to
watch the contestants for the interna-
tional yachting championship Cf the
world returned disappointed, and not
little Disguised. The question OF SUI
premacy between the two great yachts
they first met, as the contest today was
in some respects more of a fiuke than
that of Tuesday.
1t was drifting match almost from
start to Anish. Crossing the line with
breeze Of five knots, 1t never blew more
than six, most of the time less than
three, and part of the time not a
breath of air was stirring. After sail
ing hours and 43 minutes, the yachts,
having covered only IL miles of the
course to the outward mark the regat-
ia committee declared the race off, as
it was manifestly impossible, with the
breeze then blowing. for the racers to
round the stake before the time limit
expired much less to get back home
again.
During the time in which the yachts
we're at it, the wind, which carried them
dead before it over the line, had hauled
around, until, at the finish, they We're
beating in its teeth. While the wind
held astern the Columbia steadily out
footed her rival until she was fully half
mile ahead, but in the shifting, baf-
fling winds that blew during the last
three hours, with the single-stickers
lacking and beating and gybing to
catch each streak, with fortune helping
one about as much as the other, the
Shamrock gradually worked her way
up, until, when the race was declared
off, the two boats were about on even
terms, the Shamrock, perhaps, half a
length ahead, but so close was the Yam
kee that Capt. Barr could have thrown
biscuit to the foreigner.
SHAMROCK BEATS BETTER.
The only lesson learned by the nauti-
cal sharps from today's trial of the abil-
tiles of the two boats is that III light
weather conditions the Columbia is the
superior in running and reaching, and
the Shamrock slightly better in beat
ing. There has yet been no indication
of what either boat can do in a piping
wholesale breeze.
The weather bureau had promised a
good strong wind for the race, but the
prophecy was a dismal failure. 1t was
just an ideal Indian summer day.
heavy haze hung over sea and land
The sky was yelled by a gossamer of
clouds through which the sun sifted,
turning the sea to gold. A vast colony
of excursion boats, ocean going steam
erS, yachts tugs, side wheelers and
sailing vessels gathered around the
Sandy Hook lightship to watch the
start. The smoke from their stacks
and the steam from their exhausts
mingled with the haze which formed
a thick veil
The boats guarding the course thread
ed their way in and out through the
acres of boats, warming the excursion
shippers to keep their distance. But
little difficulty was experienced today
in keeping the course clear. There was
hardly wind enough to keep the flags
fluttering. What there was was from
the west by north from over the land
Outside of the ruck of the steamers the
old cup defender Vigilant made a beau
tiful picture, and the old schooner
America, which won the cup so years
ago, attracted universal attention.
Preparations were made aboard both
yachts for the lightest airs before the
start. The Columbia discarded her
heavy steel topsail yard for a lighter
and longer pine one and the Shamrock
sent aloft the largest club topsail ever
seen on her AS soon as the committee
boat had hoisted the signal letters D. 4
c. L., meaning the course Is miles
southeast by south, dead before the
wind and return, tug steamed
straight out to sea to plant the outer
mark
PRETTY JOCKEYING.
There was some pretty iockeying be-
hind the line before the start, each
yacht breaking out her balloon Tb and
lowering her spinnaker boom as they
jockeyed for position. Both boats got |
across in the smoke of the last gun, |
the Columbia length ahead and in the |
windward berth. The wind was blow |
ing hardly five knots. AS she crossed, |
which was in stops. The Columbia was
a little slow in getting her big 5eliying |
sail out, but so seconds later both were |
on even terms, fleeing before the gentle |
breezes, wing and wing, spinnaker bal |
ancing mainsail and bullying balloon jib |
bullying forward, The excursion boats |
started in pursuit, but they slowed |
down almost immediately, and then
stopped The breeze was carrying the
big yachts down the wind at a snairs
pace.
For almost an hour the spectators
on the excursion boats watched them
drift The Columbia steadily gained
ground inch by inch she crept along. |
At the end of Is minutes several |
lengths Of clear water showed between
her and her rival. The bands played /
and few whistles footed. On, on shei
moved until she was fully 500 yards
ahead. The immediate spread of can |
vas, including the balloon jib. was