The record-union., 1899-10-06
still as Much an Open Question as Before
the Yachts First Met.
For the Second Time the Racers
Are Becalmed and Fail to Sail
Over the Course Within the
Specified Five and a Half Hours
"A Drifting Match Almost
From Start to Finish.

NEW YORK, Oct. 5.-Again to-day
the sea refused the Shamrock and Co
lumbia a field of conflict: again to-day
the multitude which went out to watch
the contestants for the yachting cham
pionship of the world returned disap-
pointed and not a little disguised. The
question of supremacy between the two
yachts is still as much an open ques-
ton as before they first met, as the
contest to-day was in some respects
more of fiuke than that of Tuesday.
1t was a drifting match almost from
start to finish.
The yachts crossed the line with
breeze of five knots, and the wind never
blew more than six knots, most of the
time less than three and part of the
time not a breath of air was stirring.
After sailing four hours and forty two
minutes, the yachts having covered
only twelve miles of the course to the
outer mark, the regatta committee de-
clared the race off as it was manifest
ly impossible with the breeze then
blowing for the boats to round the stake
before the limit expired, much less to
get back home again. During the time
in which the yachts were at 1t the
wind, which carried them dead before
it before the line, had hauled around
until at the finish they were beating
into its teeth.
While the wind held astern the CO.
lumbia steadily outfooted her rival, un-
til she was fully half a mile ahead but
in the shifting, battling winds that fol-
lowed during the last three hours, with
the great single stickers tacking and
beating and gybing to catch every
streak of wind, with fortune helping
one about as much as the other, the
Shamrock gradually worked her way
up until, when the race was declared
off, the two boats were about on even
terms. the Shamrock perhaps half a
length ahead, but so close was the CO.
lumbia that Captain Barr could have
thrown biscuit to the foreigner.
The lesson learned by the nautical
sha9ps from to-day's trial Of the apfIf-
ties Of the two boats is that in light
weather conditions, the Columbia is the
superior in running and reaching and
the Shamrock is slightly better in beat
ing.
The torpedo boats guarding the
course treaded their way in and out
through the boats like needles, their
wakes a tread of foam, warning the ex-
cursion shippers to keep their distance
But little difficulty was experienced to-
day, as Captain Evans interview
threatening dire punishment to offend
ing shippers had a good effect.
Already the crowd was disappointed.
Each one had come down praying for
a stiff breeze, and had found instead
that there was hardly wind enough to
keep the flags fluttering What there
was was from northwest by north from
over the land
Outside of the ruck OF the steamers
the old cup defender Vigilant made a
beautiful picture leaning away through
the mist and the old schooner America,
which had brought the blue ribbon OF
the sea across the western ocean fifty
years ago, attracted universal atten-
ton as she sailed about to see how
her latest champion would defend it.
Preparations were made aboard both
yachts for the lightest airs before the
start. The Columbia discarded her
heavy steel topsail yard for lighter
and longer pine one, and the Irish boat
sent aloft the largest club topsail ever
seen on her, larger by yards than any
used in her trials on this side.
Mrs. Iselin, wife of the managins
owner of the Yankee boat, and whC
never fails to be aboard during a race
was snugly ensconsed in the compan
ionway of the Columbia, attired in 1
jaunty white flannel yachting costum,
with a red ribbon around her hat.
AS soon as the committee boat hat
hoisted the signal letters D. c. L., max
ing the course fifteen miles southeas
by south dead before the wine
and return, a putting tug steame'
straight out to sea to plant the QUITE
mark, which neither of the racers wa
destined to round to-day.
There was some pretty maneuverin;
behind the line before the start, eacl
breaking out her balloon jib and lower
ing her spinnaker boom as they jock
eyed for position. Both got across il
the smoke of the last gun, the whit
beauty length ahead and in the wind
ward berth. The wind was BLOWN;
hardly five knots. AS she crossed th
green boat broke out her spinnakeI
which was in stops. 1t is an Englis
fashion TO hoist this sail from the boom
and the Shamrock in her trials cluni
TO the English way but since her ar
rival she has learned many American
tricks, and breaking out her spinnake
is one of them.
The cup defender was a little slow il
getting her big bellying sail out, an'
this somewhat dampened the ardor o
the patriotic throng of Americans VIII
love nothing more than forehandednes
and snap, but sixty seconds later bot
boats were on even terms, fleeing befor
the gentle breeze wing and wing
spinnaker balancing mainsail and bulg
ing balloon jib drawing forward.
The bells in the engine rooms of tn
excursion fleet changed, and the careen
ing hulls started forward in pursuit.
But they slowed down almost immedi
ately. and then stopped. The laz
breeze was carrying the big yacht
down the wind at a snail's pace. The
drifted along like two lazy clouds G
smoke upon the surface of the water
their frail hulls slipping through tn