The times., 1899-06-29
IN GALE on A HEAVY SEA.
Superiority of the Columbia Over the
Defender Again Demonstrated.

Defender Again Demonstrated.
New London. June 2S.-In a beat to
windward OF nearly thirty-iiye miles from
Brenton's Reef lightship to Race Rock
light, some FIVE miles away from this port.
the Columbia today beat the Defender
good ten minutes and did it fairly, spien-
didly, and 10 the satisfaction Of everyone
aboard of her. The wind was Blowing from
the southwest sometimes fully twenty-five
miles an hour and there was a sea on
which made the boats bow to it in spite OF
themselves and sent the spray flying high
over them. They were under lower sails
only. a comfortable sailing rig, and made
splendid weather of it. The Defender has
always been noticeably good in this sort of
weather and today she kept her record,
but the Columbia went her just little bit
better
II was the same story as In their other
meetings enough OF an advantage on the
Columbia's part 10 show that she can beat
the Defender on about all points VI sail
ing.
Yesterday the prediction was made that
the Columbia would carry her sail just
as well as the Defender when it breezed up.
Today it "breezed up in good style and
the Columbia not only justified the ex-
pectations about her. but did il so hand
somely as TO make ii certain that the
Shamrock must also be a wonder to beat
her. and tonight she could carry the money
OF any betting man who knew yacht from
a eoasting schooner.
AS for the weather, il was no day for the
yachtsman who prefers sueoth water and
d sunny sky. Heavy cloeds hung low all
around the horizon and were but little
lighter overhead. From the southwest
ward, where the lighthouse on Point Ju-
dith showed dimly in the haze on the hori-
zon, came long and rolling swell that was
magnificent In its strength.
Just to the southwark of the lightship
the Defender broke out her staysail and
bore down on Columbia TO come to close
quarters for a fair trial. For the next
half hour the closest sort Of watch was
kept by the newspaper men on the tug
Hart and very soon the decision was in
the Columbia's favor. Just as in previous
trials she was surely but slowly crawling
ahead
AT 1890 Columbia tackled to port and
stood in toward the Narragansett shore
Defender crossed her bow, of course, and
then tackled a couple of minutes. Then
came one OF those things which make
yacht racing an uncertain sport. The wind
went fully two points TO the southward
and Columbia's gain was nearly wiped out
right here. but she took kindly TO the
freshening of the breeze: as she cleared
the point and came into the open sea and
with a bit more heel proceeded TO win
back what she had lost and a bit more
Columbia's gain in spite of her setback
was so apparent that it was simply a ques-
tion OF the amount of time she would beat
Defender into New London Harbor. In
the long port tack until Fishers Island
was abeam 10 leeward she opened out such
a lead on Defender as to surprise her ad-
mirers.
At i:03 Columbia passed Race Rock light
and eased sheets for the run into New
london Harbor. Defender was more than
five minutes later in passing the light, and
was about a minute farther astern as the
yachts came Up past New London light and
dropped anchor on the Pequot House
After the boat races the Columbia and