The Portland daily press., 1899-08-16
COLUMBIA WINS AGAIN.
New Boas L. Es.ny Superior OF IN.
ola.

Newport, Il. l., August 1B.-Under the
olearsst skies and In as fine q top-saii
breeze as one could desire, Columbia put
the finishing touches on her series Of
trial races against Defender In the pres
ence Of the New York yacht club fleet to-
day, winning the 21-mile race by min
utes and 80 seconds.
The weather was the finest imaginable
For once, however, the spectators were
breeze caused the contest. which looked
at the start as II 1t was going to be n
splendid one. to develop into lazy,
drifting match. For hours. the pleasure
craft doatsd about. while those on board
took maps in the shaded places or watched
the two big sloops, Columbia and Defen-
der, creep along at q snaiis pace.
There were just three redeeming feat
ures in today's race, the first. being the
wonderful start that both bIg sloops
made, the hotly fought lufiing match
between Quisetta and Amorita and the
surprising speed which Columbia showed
when there was scarcely cap-full Of
wind.
The race was given by the New York
yacEt club as wind-up Of the annual
cruise so far as rnoiHg 10 concerned,
and cups which were designated rs wind
up cups, were offered as prizes for the
competing yachts. In addition TO the
races between the schooners and sleeps,
all the thirty hooters in these waters had
n little match OF their own, the trophy
being handsome silver cup given by
Commodore j. Pierpont Morgan of this
New York Yacht Grub. Then there wns
considerable interest in the schooner
class In which AmoFita and Quisetta com
peted. Each of these fast yachts had
won the same number Of squadron runs
during the cruise and to settle this tie,
their owners decided to call TO-DAY s race
the sail-of also.
OF course, Columbia won from Defen-
uer and Amorita won easily from her
rival Quisstta, but for a time IL looked
like good close match. The 90-footers
had good time by themselves, sailing
a 14-Hile course and it was through the
skillful work of Caroiina's skipper that
she won out
The start made by Columbia and De-
fender has never been equailed by such
large boats in any race. A bare two Sec
onds separated them when they tore ever
the line, carrying clouds Of canvas aloit
and they were only u seconds later than
the gun fire In crossing.
For n few seconds they held nlong on
exactly even terms, but Columbia hav-
ing the weather berth, ont of Defender s
wind just enough to check her little and
As they both crossed about one quarter
of Colum bias hull was showing by de-
tenders bow. In a minute IN ore defender
was Astern and Columbia heading for
the flagmark of Point Judith with n
lead of good length. From there on,
it was simply steady gain for the new
boat.
In the schooner class Quisotta led across
tho line, well up to the weather end and
Amorita crossed third, half minute
later. Amorit2 made up the distance be-
tween her and her rival soon after the
start, but for a long time could not get
through her lee. When Amorita got
the lead, they were able to carry theiu
spinnaksrs down to the first mark when
1t would have very nearly have been a
race. To add to the interest the small
sloops sailed pretty race over the same
course. Syoe winning from kestral by q
comfortable margin.
FUTURE OF COLUMBIA.
Newpors. X. l., August f5.-The I'm
mediate future of the yacht Columbia is a
matter OF great interest here just now,
In view Of the official disbandment Of the
New York Yahct club at noon tomorrow.
10 was stated tonight that the yacht
would remain at her mcorings until Sat
urday when she will go to Bristol for her
steel mast. just when this is to be
stepped is not known. The racing plan
is ret unsettled It is believed that Co,
In VI, hia will taak har steal r,aae