Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-06-29
SHE IS A FLYER.
Columbia Beats Defender 10
Minutes in 38 Miles.
Handsome Work to Windward, for
81 of 38-MiIe Course.
A Fresh Breeze and Heavy Sea Brings Out Her
Good Qualities.

New London, Ct, June 28.-In a So
mile beat to windward, today, the new
| yacht Columbia beat the old cup
| champion Defender eight minutes
besides giving the old champion a g
! minute handicap. Yachtsmen from
| New York and whereabouts are jubi-
liant for yachts most sterling quail
ties must come out in a race to wind
| ward.
The race was from Brenton's reef
lightship, off Newport, to New Lon
don. good 50 miles, and the Defender
was given a 2-minute start. Thirty
two miles of the IS was a beat to wind
ward, with such a stiff breeze blowing
that neither yacht cared to carry a
working topSail and it was in this kind
| OF work that Columbia gained such a
long lead, averaging more than a quar-
ter OF a minute faster each mile than
Defender At this time the water was
very rough, but the new boat rode very
easily and did not buffet the waves as
much as Defender.
When Newport awoke. this morning.
it looked like an all day storm and a
stiff breeze from the southwest kicked
crests on the waves in the inner har-
Dor. Defender hoisted anchor, short
ly after 10 o'clock. and ran down the
east passage under her jib. Her main
sail was hoisted on the way but.
The crew of Columbia Hauled an
Choir, at Ills, and she was towed down
as far as Castle Hill. where the haw-
ser was cast off and the yacht beat out
m. L.. H..
On board Columbia were Mr.. c.
Oliver Iselin. managing owner:
Woodbury. Kane. Newbury d. Thorne
and Herbert G. Leeds. On Defender
were Mr.. w. Butler Duncan. Jr.
Harry Havemeyer and F.. G. Potter.
Mrs. Iselin was on board the new
boat during the trip from Newport
This is the first time she has been out
since her illness Of Sunday and she
very much enjoyed the sail.
The sloop yacht Navahoe, having on
board Mr.. and Mrs. Royal Phelps Car
roll, Miss WctmOrc and Mr. Richard Me
Cready, started out from Newport. an
hour before the other boats, bound for
New London. The weather was rainy all
day.
Columbia rapidly ran up to Defender
ana continued On the starboard tack IN
I'll the lightship was passed. Columbia
was at that time 200 Yards to leeward Of
Defender and half her length ahead At
II o'clock. both boats tackled around the
lishtship. They continued along on this
hitch for about five minutes, Columbia
lufiing UP TO take a haul on the lib hall
yard.
At 12-20. Defender broke out her staysail
ana the race was on with Defender 10
windward. At l2.31. both ships tackled to
port. heading toward Point Judith foot
ing Very fast.
At first Defender gained trifle, but az
they continued on this hitch Columbia
slowly crawled up and but for a shift in
the wind more to the south, would have
crossed Defenders bow on the next tack
The Shift IN the wind helped Defende"
considerably. ana when. 81 o'clock. Co
mmbia tackled 10 star5oard. about mile
oil The Point, Judith whstiing buoy. she
could have almost forced Defender about
but the latter tackled, 100 feet off the for
mer under her lee bow
Capt. Barr could not stand having
his wind stolen by Defender, so he
fetched about at los. and stood up
Columbia began to gain slowly on De-
fender and at the same time worked
into the wind better. In % minutes.
the new boat had worked across De
tenders bow and was TO windward OF
her.
With plenty of wind Columbia and
Defender held down the shore on the
port tack. the former continuing to
gain. Of Noyes' Point. at 2.20. Column
bia was over half a mile ahead and
steadily increasing her lead, and when
she finally came about, off the end of
Fishers island. the distance between
the two boats was nearly mile.
At 3.3S Columbia took her final port
hitch. this time fetching well by Race
rock Defender held in the starboard
tack and then turned in after the lead
er. The boats proceeded up the har-
Dor, Columbia coming to anchor, at
4.2S. and Defender, at 4.36.
The great white yachts made splen
did marine picture as they raced up
the bay with their enormous sails,
bellying out with the strong breeze
Continued on page 60