The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-07
COLUMBIA IS A FLYER
The New Cup Defender Proves to
Be Bird.
HAD A ROYAL STRUGGLE
Little Chance That the Precious Trophv
Will Be Taken to England by Sir
Thomas Lipton-She Needs
Tuning Up.

to leg-it has been plainly demon
constructed a yacht may be, her sailing
and ability to go to windward may be
killed by imperfectly setting sails.
The Columbia won the race by a mar
gin of three minutes, SO seconds u1n-
official time). There is no doubt she
would have won by larger margin If
her sails had fitted as well as the De-
tenders. In the windward work, while
the wind was strong, the Columbia was
unable to either outfoot or outpoint the
Defender, chiefly on account of the had
set of her club top sail jib top sail and
forestay sails. She covered the first len
OF the 10 miles to windward three min
utes faster than the Defender. but one
minute of that gain was made when
the wind became light and less than
two miles from the turning point.
On the second leg, Nhe Columbia gain
ed 53 seconds. 1t was a reach both
yachts carrying large mot balloon) iib
top sails. On the last leg-close hauled
work in light breeze-Sha lost five sec
onds ito the Defender. This probably
was by reason of shift of wind which
favored the Defender.
The Columbias forestry and club
eNp.7oli olt any tIlillS DuI perfect ana IN
a general way she will need a good deal
OF tuning up. Yet, based upon the
showing she made as better boat than
the Defender under adverse conditions,
the nautical sharpers are strongly con-
Ninced that Sir Thomas will sail home
without the silver mug. the possession
OF winch has given us the yachting
supremacy of the world since 1851.
But to-day's race was an unsatfac
tory one Shifting, battling winds and
a bad sea, with dirty rain squalls, made
the conditions anything but ideal for
yacht racing.
In windward a'work. the Columbia,
with sails drawn badly. demonstrated
her superiority, and in a long reach,
with sheets set, she outfooted the Van
derbilt boat. The sudden shifting of
the wind prevented ia trial at running
with Spinakers. IN light weather, close
hauled, it can he said that she is ln-
doubtedly the Defenders superior but
what she can do in a piping breeze re-
mains to be seen.
A thick haze hung over the harbor
this morning when the two superb
yachts left their anchorage off Tomp-
knsvlile, astern of two putting tugs. for
the arena of to-day's battle. AS the
Columbia passed out she was saluted
by every steam craft in the lower bay
SO gentle We're the pulsations of the
many kinds ventured out to witness the
race. the large fleet including side
Wheelers, swift steam pleasure craft
snub-nosed tub boats and sailing craft
of all descriptions. They led, followed
and accompanied the racers.
There was considerable delay at the
start The breeze had freshened as the
yachts got outside and what the old
salts term a "lumpy sea" was run
ming. After Commodore Morgan's flag
ship, the Corsail, with Commodore
Morgan, Chester Griswold. eX-COmmo-
dore Nicholas Kane, Rear Admiral
Francis HigginsOn, Irving Grinnell and
large party of guests aboard had sig
nailed the course and the racers had
cast off their lines a sharp rain Suua!l
killed the breeze. But the squall was
brief and half hour later a steady T.
knot breeze was blowing from the
southwest. The Corsair signalsd the
first leg to windward, down the Jersey
coast and the yachts began to jockey
for position. Captain Barr had the
helm of the Columbia and aboard with
him We're w. c. Oliver Iselin, Mrs. Ise-
lin, Newbury Thorpe, William e. Ise-
lin, Herbert w. Leeds and Woodbury.
Kane. Captain Rhodes had the helm
of the Defender William b. Duncan,
Mrs. Duncan and John G. Beresford
were aboard of her.
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 a bad blunder on the
part of Captain Barr or 1t was de-
signedly done to give the Defender 4
start equal to her time allowance,
which is figured at about two minutes.
Just is the starting gun doomed the
Defender crossed on the port tack.
Meantime the Columbia jibbed and,
returning, came about and headed for
the line, crossing at exactly two min
utes after the Defender.
Both yachts carried four stay sails
jibs, baby jb, top sails and cloth top
sails. The beat to windward made a
beautiful race. The excitement was in
tense as the big racers, with every
thing close hauled, entered upon their
test of speed The Defender had the
weather guard about 100 yards and was
surging ahead. Al first the Columbia
seemed to outfoOt her rival and there
seemed to be no perceptible difference
in their ability to hug the wind. Maui
teal experts We're jubilant.
Then both yachts went over on the
starboard tack for a long leg. They
heeled until parts Of their bronzed bod
seemed more tender than the De-
fender-more tender but perhaps more
stately as she lay down to her work
She heeled enough to let the seas swirl
and bubble along her lee rail and some
times when she smashed a big wave
into tatters she shipped some watar
forward.
Then the talent began to get nervous
Gradually but surely the Defender was
drawing ahead and it was also ap-
parent that she was pointing higher
than the Columbia. 1t did not take the
yachtsrnen long to discover the caus e.
The Defenders sails fit to perfec ton
The club top sail Of the Columbia. on
the other hand. was loose and cracke |
in the wind The forestay sail did not
draw and might as well have bsen
slowed in the locker below.
BY the time tie breeze was blowing
about 10 knots an hour and while it
continued at that clip the Defender