The record-union., 1899-07-09
COLUMBIA AGAIN IN FRONT.
DEFEATS THE DEFENDER roR A
SECOND TIME.
A Battle Royal Between the Big
sloop Yachts Which Proved
+. Satisfactory to All.

NEW YORK, July Sat last the big
sloop yacht Columbia and Defender
have met in a battle royal that has
been satisfactory to all concerned. In
a strong and fairly steady breeze and
smooth water they sailed over course
Of about twenty-six miles to-day, and
in covering that distance the Columbia
fairly and squarely outsailed the De-
fender by minutes, 13 seconds actual
time.
If the Columbia, after measurement,
is found to allow the Defender two min
utes, she will still have beaten her by
minute and 13 seconds. That means
that she can beat her now over full
thirty mile course by at least two min
utes, corrected time, and that when she
is tuned up. say by the September
races, she will easily beat her five min
utes which is all that is required of
her.
To-day's race was as fine a smooth
water test as the yachts may ever ex-
pect to get.
showing the time of each yacht:
Columbia-Start, 12:40:53 Finish,
3 "a 09. Elapsed time, 2:42:16.
I, Il.
3:27:1O. Elapsed time, 2:4G:29.
On the first leg of the course, a
reach of about four miles with beam
wind, the Defender gained two seconds.
On the second leg of six miles, in which
there was some windward work. the
Columbia gained l minute, 50 seconds.
On the third leg, a three-mile run be-
fore the wind with spinnake1s set, the
Defender gained six seconds.
On the first leg the second time
around the Columbia gained / min
ute, II seconds; in the close hauled
work on the second leg she gained only
36 seconds, and in the run to the fin
ish the Defender gained 43 seconds.
The only unfortunate part of to-day's s
event was the fact that both Of the
yachts sailed the wrong course. It
was, in fact, the feature Of the day,
and the strange action of those in
| charge of the yachts kept every one
guessing as to the ultimate result.
The first leg of the course was to be
eight miles long, the turning point
being off Stamford, Conn The yachts
men of the Riverside Club were hav-
ing a race ON the Sound They set
their turning point on the course the
| Columbia and Defender were to sail
| over, but only four miles from their
starting point. When, after an excit-
| ing luffing match, Captain Rhodes saw
this mark, he promptly kept the De-
| fender OF and rounded it, and for
awhile no one knew whether it was a
real race or not.
c. Oliver Iselin explained matters
when seen after the race by an Asso-
ciated Press representative. He said:
''The Defender made the mistake, and
we simply followed her to make a
race. 1t has turned out a good one.
We are very well satisfied with it all
around. We both made a mistake, but
it has been the best all around race we
have yet had. I am satisfied that the
| will go to Bristol and have her sails
recut before she races again."
! The regatta committee say that the
event will be considered race, and
Commodore Postley will probably
award the cup to the Columbia.
| The Columbia, in running in for her
moorings after to-day's race, fouled
the Defenders boom with her port top
mast shroud, and afterward by the
topmast backstay, bending the De-
tenders. hollow steel spar almost at
right angles. The Columbia was unin-
jured, and Immediately after caught
her own moorings. The Defender will
go to Bristol on Monday, where the
| injured boom will be Strengthened, and
If necessary spliced.