The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-07

SIR THOMAS WILL GO HOME
SORROWING
COLUMBIA WON BY THREE MIMI UItS
She Would Have Done Much Be t. Had Her
Sails Fitted as Well as Those of the
Defender. An Excilirg and
Beautiful Race.

New 1Ufk, July b.-oNcf Il lining ui"i
course Of thirty miles in comparatively
light winds the new Iselin- Morgan yacht
Columbia to-day vanquished the Wander
lilt yacht Defender and convinced the
yachtsmen who saw the royal struggle
that She is worthy of defending the pre-
cious trophy which Sir Thomas Upton
and his merry tars hope to take Cack
with them in the Shamrock next fall.
Based upon the showing she mace as
better boat than the Defender under
adverse conditions the nautical sharpS
are strongly convinced That Sir Thomas
VIII sail home without the silver mug,
the possession of which has given us the
Yachting supremacy of the world S.ncc
1851.
To-day's race plainly demonstrated
that. no matter how skillfully constructed
Il yacht may be. her sailing and ability
to go to windward may be killed by Inn
perfectly setting sails.
The Columbia won the race by Il mar
gin of three minutes tfty-three seconds
unofficial time.) There is no doubt she
would have won by Il larger margin i
her sal.s had fitted as well as the De-
tenders.
But to-day's race was an unSatiSfac-
tory one Shifting. battling winds and
n hat. liitafaas 4sssth dirty 4sasai squalls
made the conditions anything hut ideai
for yacht racing.
In w;ndward work the Columbia with
sails drawing badly. demonstrated her
superiority and in a long reach with
sheets eas,I. she outfooted the Wander
blt boat. Sudden shifting of the wind
prevented trial at running with
spinnakers. In light weather, close hui
ed therefore, it can be said that she is
undoubtedly the Defenders superior. but
what she cam do in Il piping breeze re-
mains to be seen.
Through a bhlnder or by design Cap
tain Barr of the Columbia, gave the
Defender Il start equal to her time al
lowance. about two minutes. The beat
to windward made a beautiful race. The
interest was intense The Columbia
seemed more tender than the Defender
more tender but perhaps more stately
rs she lay down to work. Miniature
cataracts poured from her glistening
decks when the water spurted twenty
feet high from her bows hut as she
gull rising from the water. Then the
talent began 10 get nervous. Gradually
hut surely. the Defender was drawing
ahead. 1t did not take the yathtsmen
long to discover the cause The Defend
er's sails fit To perfection. while those OF
the Columbia were loose and cracked in
the ten-kn0t breeze.
Half an hour later the wind sank to
al, 4 l,n
sails of the Columbia began to draw
and she began to gain upon her adver-
sary.
The Columbia continued to gain on
every tack, and Il few minutes before th2
first mark was reached, she crossed the
Defenders bow On the starhoard tack
Then the nautical sharps breathed easier.
Sne rounded the stake exactly one min
ute ahead ca the Defender.
On the long reach for the second mark,
with the wind abeam. the Columbia
gained is seconds. 1t was now only
question of how much the Columbia
would beat the Defender and many of
the steamers and tugs headed back for
the finish. Gracefully and noiselessly
the Columbia swept over the Invisible
finish line. and when she crossed she was
given Il royal salute.
As the Defender crossed the line she
also was greeted with a demonstration
quite as enthusiastic and prolonged.
Herbert Leeds. on behalf of Mr.. Iselin.
said after the race that the friends of
the CO!unhha were very we'll satisfied,
and hoped to do better when their sails
were made more trim.
The race to-day was an informal trial
for cup offered by the New York Yacht
Club.