The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-03
VICTORY WAS DECISIVE
Superiority of the Columbia Con-
clusively Shown.
IT WAS A STIFF BRUSH
New Steel Mast Improved Her Wonder
fully-Sailed All Around the Old
Boat-Conf1dent Of Sham
rocks Defeat.

Newport, r. l., Sept. 1.-The first of
the trial races between Columbia and
Defender for the purpose of selecting
yacht to sail against the Shamrock
resulted in so decisive victory for the
new boat that were it not for the fact
that it is desirable to have her race as
much as possible, other contests would
seem almost useless. The yachts sailed
one of the regulation Is miles windward
in an eight-knot breeze that increased
on the beat out and fiattened out at
the finish, and 1t took the Columbia
just minutes and 40 seconds less time
to cover the distance than it did the
Defender.
ned with the result of the race, es-
pecially the owners of the new boat
for the steel mast, which was carried
through race for the first time, GER
tainly improved her wonderfully, en-
aiding her to stand straighter than the
Defender, and, therefore, to outpoint
her In fact. Columbia sailed all
around the old boat, and but for the
softening of the wind as she neared
the line and the subsequent freshening
when her rival came up to the finish
the difference between the two boats
would have been at least two, if not
three minutes, greater. 1t was stiff
brush while it lasted, and the result
was no discredit to the Defender At
the start Captain Rhodes sent his boat
over the line Is seconds ahead of Co
lumbia, which was coming up rapidly
on his windward quarter. Defender
held herself, unable to get by, for every
time she tackled to port the new boat
would force her around, yet neverthe
less winding the new boat, so that
she could not draw from under De
fender, and the latter was forced to
swing off under the formers stern so
as not to be blanketed. After that the
race was mere question of how much
Columbia would win by.
Those who watched her saw Co.
lumbia stand up to the breeze as never
before, besides footing faster and point
ing higher. For few moments the
baby jib topsail was taken off to see
how she would hold the old boat, but
while it made little difference, it was
replaced, only to be removed again
when the wind increased to nearly %
knots.
The yachts made good time to the
outer mark and would have sailed fas-
ter coming in had they not been delayed
considerably in setting their spinnakers.
Still, 30-mile race in over three and
three-quarter hours is well up to the
average. Undoubtedly there will be
few changes in some of the new sails,
for, as compared with the Defenders
which are now well-nigh perfect, they
seem drawn and puckered in many
places. The main sail had a
fullness near the leach. which
three long battens failed to
fiatten out, and closer to the mast. at
the hoist, the canvas was far too fiat
to drive the boat well to windward. The
club topsail certainly set better than
the old one, but the stiff breeze soon
stretched the canvas. The pole and
tOpsail were fine-looking sticks. AS for
the head sails, they were far better
than the old ones and a touching up
here and there is all that will be re-
quired.
Nearly all eyes were turned, at least
part of the time, on the steel mast that
proved so treacherous when first it was
tried. To-day it stood up straighter
than any pine mast could have done,
with not the slightest sign of buckle,
leaving little doubt that this mast or
similar affair will go through the cup
races successfully and aid Columbia
materially in defeating the Shamrock.
With new sails, new mast and few
more races for the crews benefit, the
yachtsmen are of the opinion that the
only point to be decided in the great
event will be as to how much Columbia
will lead Shamrock at the finish.