The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-04
THE FIRST RACE
IS DECLARED OFF

means the height OF an ordinary twelve
story building, and that the frail hulls
were bowling along under the pressure
OF fourteen thousand feet OF canvass.
THE SHAMROCK GAINS.
The twin balloons, with their Following
wind lifted the Columbia along great
gull in the ten-knot breeze. and carried
her i'm ten minutes past tho shamrock.
But when the wind died TO six knots, as
Il did within a few minutes, the Sham
rock forged steadily ahead until at the
end Of forty-fve minutes she led by 200
Yards Then a sudden haul OF the wind
10 the nor.h-northwest reached the Co
lumbia first. The big-bellied spinnaker
was taken in her malnsai was smartly
gybed. and she passed the Shamrock as
II the latter had been moored TO her
wharf. Instead of a run the canting OF
the wind now made 1t a reach for the
outer mark, but the Columbia gradually
edged over toward the Jersey coast with
the intention Of getting the wind astern
and running straight before Il. The
manoeuvre was successfully accomplish
ed. after crossing the ShamrOck's bow,
but just as the spinnaker was set aboard
the Columbia the wind canted back TO
the north northwest and left her with
cloud Of canvas shverng like collapsed
balloon.
Tho Shamrock had started TO follow the
Columbia's tactics. Twice she lowered
her spinnakcr boom as If 90 break ont
the big sail but as the wind held from
the new quarter she gybed her main
boom instead and reached straight for
the mark. Although the manoeuvre Of
the Columbia had been successful 10 was
a costly one and she lost sovcra. min
utcs by holding on TO her immense cam
vas iu the vain hope that the wind would
shift back again. But when she dii
change her sails she made up for lost time
by outfOotiug her antagonist She seemed
to skim over the water scarcely making
a ripple where she entered il and leaving
a wake OF foam behind her.
The Shamrock made more fuss forward
and dragged "a wave after, The Column
bia was the first 20 the mark and as she
reached the stake boat the excursion
feet gathered there 10 greet her unbot-
tied their enthusiasm and gave her an
ovation from a thousand whistles The
fleet also c0urteOusiy saluted the sham
rock as she swept around two minutes
and one second later ON the beat nome
against a head wind the Columbia showed
her heels TO the Irish boat unmisiakably
while the wind held. Time after time the
Shamrock tried for the weather gauge,
luning squeezing and pinchng until her
head sails tremblcd without avail. The
Columbia not only held as high, but out
footed her tack after tack. The yachts
made q beautiful spectacle as they beat
to wiudward hccling over 90 the breeze.
the water sliding swiftly back from their
shark-like bows Whenever they smashed
into am unusually large sea the spray
ep,,rfed from either side twenty feet into
the air. .,..,-,..,
THE BREEZE LEAVES.
After the Columbia had gotten mile
ahead and the yachts were way over on
the Jersey shore. the breeze again hat
failed and the Shamrock drew gradually
ahead. Il was marvellous that 80 so lieht
q breeze a boat could slip so sWiiy
through the sea. After that, the sham
rock was never headed but from that
time TO the finish the Columbia had Moth
ing but bad luck In addition TO her fas-
ter footing power I'm the extremely light
air every puff Of the capricious "nd
seemed 20 strike the Shamrock and leave
the Yankee boat practically beo1'med.
Edge as she would toward every streak
Of wind she seemed unable 10 find 20. The
Shamrock gained foot by foot until she
overhaued the Yankee. crossed her bows,
and when the time limit was mp was fully
a quarter of q mile ahead.
Taken an together there could not have
been a more unsatisfactory race. and yet
as result of it. the friends of the cup
defender seem proud Of the showing she
made and confident that the cup is safe.
The official time of the start was.
Shamrock. 11.l5:31. Columbia. 1860. The
Shamrock had he best OF the start by
80 seconds.