Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-24
In The FIELD OF SPORT
Columbia is the Favorite in Forthcoming
International Yacht Race.
NATIONAL PRIDE ARoUsEs MUCH INTEREST
Americans Hope Americas Cup May
Continue to Remain or This 1 d
of P~ond-Revicw of Past Week
in sporting Circles.

Interest in the forthcoming race for the
Americas cup between the defender, Colum-
bla, and the challenger, Shamrock, is not
alone confined TO those who are experts in
nautical affairs. In fact, we're this the case,
the celebrated contest would create nothing
more than a ripple in sporting circles. On
the contrary, however, the large majority
of people on this side OF the pond eagerly
devour everything that is printed relative
10 the race, the two giant sloops which are
70 wage battle for the Americas cup, or the
personality OF the famous s%portsmen, G.
oliver Iselin and Sir Thomas Upton, owners
of the sloops. National excitement, alike
to which there stands none other for COM
parison, is at a high pitch now and Will
continue so until the celebrated races shall
be completed.
This interest is not unnatural. either, for
every American has a consuming IRE OF
patriotism which leads him to demand that
America shall be first In everything. And
especially Is this true regarding the yacht
races. Great Britain has for years claimed
the autocracy of the seas, yet in forty years
time, with trials reasonably frequent, she
has been unable to wrest from America the
much-coveted cup. Americans are proud
OF the distinction arising from the long
years possession of this cup and the at
tempt to regain 1t by the Britons is viewed
not necessarily with the fear of Impending
danger, but with the overwhelming desire
that the challenger may this year be even
more thoroughly defeated than ever before.
The races next month promise to be sensa-
tional because of the recognized evenness
in nearly all respects Of the contesting
yachts. From published statements gen.
orally recognized to be authentic the rela-
tive dimensions of the two crafts are:
Shamrock-Length over all, 1872 feet, 2
inches; length on the water line, SO feet, 6
inches; beam, "a feet, 6 inches; draft, 20
feet; sail area, approximately, Abs square
feet. Columbia-Length over all, 131 feet;
length on the water line, SO feet, 6 inches;
beam, "a feet, 2 inches; draft, 10 feet, 10
inches; sail area, approximately 1890
square feet. From this it will be seen that
the vessels in design and construction are
practically the same, but there is one thing
about the Shamrock which expert nautical
men look obviously upon, and that is her
Immense area of sail, which it will be
noticed by consulting the figures quoted
above, is considerably larger than the
Columbia's.
This is considered by many to be the
Surprise or two which Sir Thomas had
in store for the American people, as per his
promise. When the Shamrock appeared for
the first time in her racing clothes Sir
Thomas could very easily have perceived
that the Americans were really surprised,
for never before had a single sticker been
seen with such an area of sail. Her boom
Is variously estimated at ITO to 112 feet,
and her gaff at 70 to II feet. Her club top
sail is proportionately large, and in every
detail the sails of the Irish yacht are larger
than the Columbia's. The surprise was that
the sloop could stand up at all. even in a
light breeze, with such an immense spread.
In the first trial Of speed OF the Sham
rock Sir Thomas Upton was himself sur
prised and chagrined when the jaws Of the
gaff and the gait itself broke in a breeze
which didn't reach ten miles an hour
strong. 1t happened on a broad reach, too.
which is not considered a trying point OF
sailing. Designer Fife of the Shamrock Is
said to be somewhat worried over this acct
dent and 1t Is limited that Mr.. Fife fell a
victim to the temptation so frequent among
designers and took some chances to save
weight, with the result that the fimsy
underbody Is a trifle lacking in ability to
carry the heavy spread Of sails; at any rate
sufficiently, so that there is a possibility of
accident when the big race comes off. This
being the case-and IL so, it Is sure to be
proven conclusively during the trials be-
, tween now ana Ine COnIeSu-lC is asserted
that Designer Fife will either
the carrying of a smaller rig or countenance
tho risk of accident, in either case giving
an advantage to the defender. For this
reason odds in the betting have gone up a
notch in favor of the Columbia aud con-
siderable money has been placed at s to s.
The Columbia has arrived in Bristol,
where 1t has been put through minute ex-
perimental trials during the last few days
by Mr.. Iselin and its sailing master, Cap
tain Barr, for many years recognized as
one OF the smartest sailors of large yachts.
One of the experiments which proved most
satisfactory was telescoping the topmast
while the yacht was under way and the
mainmast was bent before the wind, which
has dispelled all doubts OF the Availability
of using the steel mainmast. AS the crew
all from Dee Isle, Maine, reputed for pro-
ducing the best sailors in the land-let out
the cable which is fastened to the heel Of
the topmast 1t sank smoothly into the hol-
low mainmast and was soon snugly housed.
Then 1t was raised again into position with
out lessening the speed Of the boat. The
clubtopsail is so large that nearly the entire
crew OF forty men is required to hoist 1t
from the deck. The club and yards to
which 1t Is made fast are forty and fifty
feet long. The Columbia has been fitted
out with a new suit and the canvas cost no
fess than $4,000, Some OF the sails have
cost as high as s1.32 a yard.
Speaking OF the outlay for the canvass
reminds one of the endless amount OF money
necessary to provide sufficient funds for a
single struggle for the Americas cup. 1t is
estimated at no less than a half million
dollars and indicates that II would be more
appropriate to call yacht racing the sport