Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-07
Opinions of Experts.

Following are some expert opinions on
the new yacht and her performance yester-
day:
By John Hyslop, official measurer New
York Yacht Club-'I think on the whole
that the Columbia had very good test
taking the race all through. 1t was a pref
ty race. If the wind had held from the
same quarter all through it would have
been a better contest. In the early part of
the day the wind was south by west, then
1t came out from the northwest. If it had
not been for this change the last log would
have been run before the wind. Then spin
makers could have been used, and we
should have had a somewhat better test
of the Columbias Abilities
BY Howard w. Coates, Larchmont and
New York Yacht Club-"Through a heavy
sea the Defender seems to be better than
the Columbia. but in smooth water the Co.
lumbia easily out-footed and outpointed
What the Columbia can do in a long reach
is too early TO say. The Columbia's sails
for her spars. So is her forestry sail. But
hear that all this is to be remedied and
expect the Columbia to give much better
account of herself. When she sails over
our Larchmont course on Saturday II will
give her better chance to show her differ
ent capabilities"
By J: Frederic Tams, New York Yacht
Club-"I do not think it was a day to bring
out any definite results as to the compare
tive merits of the two boats because of the
shifting wind. On the first leg Defender
like all new boats, will improve as she gets
shaped up. Columbia will be doing Well
however, II she can beat Defender by more
than five minutes. Remember five minutes
nowadays means a very great advantage.
Consequently for Columbia to gain more
than three minutes Defender today
shows her to be very fast boat"
BY Jordan L. Mott, jr., New York Yacht
Ciub-'The Defender had much the better
OF 1t during the early part of the race and
my experience teaches me, after following
a n a obi ID,
the Defender was better sailed and her sails
fit better than the Columbias / think the
most creditable thing that can be said
about the handling of the Columbia Is the
alacrity with which the Columbia's crew
sent up the big jibtOpsail again. Their ran
idity was simply marvellous"
by BY Earnest X Staples, yachting expert New
OF the race L don't think that the Colum-
bias sails are well fitting. AS to the merits
o OF the two . boats; | can hardly form an
opinion, because l don't know the condi-
ton OF the Defenders bottom. l don't
know whether 1t is as smooth now as it
was In 1885 The Columbia is not tuned up
to racing pitch yet. She will 20 much
faster when they get her in good shape.
Looking at her on all sides, l should saw
she was manifestly superior to the Defend
er: her superiority comes out In the lighter
Winds"
Shamrock Draws Over Twenty Feet,
The London Yachting World in yesterdays
issue said: 1.-The fact that the yacht Sham
rock grounded where she did few days
ago shows that the challenger for the
Americas cup draws upward of twenty
feet of water"
The trial races between the Shamrock
and the Britannia will certainly take place
in the Solent, despite reports to the con-
trary.
The Shamrock's main sail Is the largest
cutter main sail ever bent in England, and
presents a beautiful spectacle. The can
vas alone weighs nearly 1850 pounds
A dispatch from Southampton yesterday
said: "The Shamrock is not yet ready to
engage in trial races. Workmen are still
engaged in painting the craft and fixing her
tackle. 1t is hoped that she will be ready
for preliminary spin Saturday, when It is
expected the Prince of Wales will be pres
ent."