The Indianapolis journal., 1899-10-20
COLUMBIA BETTER HANDLED.
Shamrock Not i'm the Race at Any
Stage OF the Contest.

Shamrock Not i'm the Race at Any
Stage OF the Contest.
NEW YORK. Oct. 1e.--Clear weather and
a fine breeze from the northwest greeted
the shippers and crews of the Columbia and
Shamrock at sunrise this morning and the
occasional puffs that made little whitecaps
on Sandy Hook bay gave promise Of plenty
of wind for the third OF the international
series.
After an early breakfast decks were
cleared for action, moorings cast Off and
both boats taken in tow before o'clock.
Eager to try his large club topsail on his
new topmast, Captain Hogarth made sail
on the Shamrock on the way out to the
lightship and by 9:15 the tow line had been
cast off and she was under way with every
thing on her. including the baby jib top
sail.
1t was 10 o'clock when the Columbia cast
off from her tug, broke out the jib and be-
gan to sail about with mainsail and. jib
set Fifteen minutes later her largest club
topsail was set and soon after the staysail
was broken out.
AT 1880 the course was signaled from
the committee boat which had anchored
to the westward Of the lightship. 1t was
southeast by south, showing that the wind
was northwest by north. and the probs-
bilities were that it would be spinnaker
start.
About the time the tug started to log
off the course of fifteen miles to leeward
the patrol fleet of five revenue cutters, five
torpedo boats and the steam yacht Erin
arrived of the ightship. The Shamrock
took in her baby jib topsail and sent up
her balloon jib topsail on the stay in steps
at 10:4o, the Columbia having done the
same a few minutes before. The prepara-
tory signal was given at 10:45. the warn
ing at 1855. the start at II, the handicap
gun at 1:02.
The maneuvering before the start was
remarkably interesting work. Excursion
boats and yachts gave the racing craft
plenty of room and Barr and Hogarth had
their little game all to themselves. At the
warning signal both yachts, with booms
to starboard and sheets fiattened well in,
were sailing to the northwest, parallel to
the line, but about quarter Of mile
north Of 1t, with the wind little abaft
the beam. The Columbia was to windward,
with Shamrock on her lee beam a couple
of lengths away. 1t being necessary to use
up the five minutes between the warning
ard starting signals. both yachts stood far
over to the northwest, gradually luffing to
the northward.
COLUMBIA CROSSES FIRST.
When three minutes were left the Column
bia luffed into the wind. then coming about.
headed for the line. Hogarth, instead of
tacking like Columbia, wore the Shamrock
sharp around on her heel, bringing her close
up under the Columbia's lee, both having
booms to port. Hogarth lost both time end
headway by wearing instead of tacking. so
that when Shamrock hauled up nearly on
the wind the Columbia, under better head
way, was pointed straight for the line a
couple of lengths to the good As soon as
Hogarth realized this he broke out Sham
rocks balloon jib topsail, her crew trim
ming the sheets smartly just as the gun
was fired. The Columbia's crew broke out
her balloon sail while the smoke from the
gun was blowing away. The Columbia
crossed the line twenty-seven seconds in the
lead without the handicap, which meant
fully two lengths distance. She crossed
about the center Of the line, and Hogarth
after a vain attempt to luff out across her
wake and obtain the weather position. kept
off and gave the Shamrock good full. The
official time of the start:
Columbia IL :O1 q;
shamrock ...........--............ -l:UzW
The Shamrock's actual time OF crossing
the line was il:02:02. She was handicapped
two seconds because the yachts are allowed
seven minutes from the starting signal In
which 20 cross the line and she exceeded
that time by two seconds. Jibs and fore
staysails were taken in at once on both
yachts TO give the balloon sails a chance
to fill. While the yachts were crossing the
lire spinnaker booms were cropped TO star
board and the sails hoisted In stops ready
to break out. but in the game Of luff and
bluff which followed neither yacht had a
chance to set the sails for fifty minutes.
Hogarth. not being able TO try his yacht
on reach on triangular course, seemed
determined to make a portion Of the race a
reach at all hazards. So they went at IT,
Instead of following the guide boat on the
southeast-by-south course, on which they
might have carried spinnakers. they sailed
between four and five points to the east
ward of their course in order to make every
sail draw 10 the best advantage, thereby
covering at least five miles more ground
than was necessary. The excursion feet
gave them miles of room. keeping 80 Far
away that the yachts were "hull down
most OF the time.
SHAMROCK GAINED.
During the first fifteen minutes of this
reaching work the Columbia seemed to In
crease her lead. After that. for the next
half hour. the Shamrock apparently was
gaining on Columbia. and at 1i:5o when
both decided tn abandon the luffing game
ana set spnnakers 10 starboard. sham
rock had certainly gained some on her an
tagonist. Having the wind dead aft now,
Shamrock had decidedly the best position.
II. with the assistance of some friendly
puffs she could succeed In closing In on the
Columbia. her chances Of blanketing the
Continues on Sixth Psge)