New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-20
FURTHER TESTS NECESSARY.
wINDwARD WORK OF THE COLUMBIA NOT
SATISFACTORY IN AN EXPERTS EYES.


wINDwARD WORK OF THE COLUMBIA NOT
SATISFACTORY IN AN EXPERTS EYES
The future movements of the Columbia al
together undecided. She will, It is announced TAKE
on her repaired hollow mast. but what trials she
will make OF this have not been decided by the
management There will have 10 be many trials
but they may he kept private.
To the satisfaction OF every one the Columbia mas
shown that in light weather and smooth water she
is somewhat better than the Defender on every
point Of sailing. and light weather generally pre-
walls at New-York the Cup Committee has no other
choice open but TO accept the Columbia as the rep
resentativA boat The committee Is as much bound
as a court of Law find It's verdict according 70
the evidence and. far. the evidence has nearly
all pointed one way. The committee has 10 Judge
the boats in the condition in which they are raced
II has no power 10 command that the heavy IN
ternal cabin fixtures for the comfort o. the De-
tenders crew be first taken out, and that the boat
be raced IN the racing trim in which she met the
Valkvrie As fact the Defender has never been
canvased for light weather to anything like the tull
extent OF her ability. and there are many who
think that II she had the light weather sail plan
which she Is amply able to carry she would peat
the Columbia even in the drifts. In me sailing on
Point Judrh the other day the Defender was unanl-
nously reported be the better Of the two IN the
seaway and hard breeze. In the July race on
Sandy Hook there nor much wind nor sea. but
what there was bothered the Columbia, and in the
first part Of that beat and until the wind nghtened.
she was a defeated boat. From the way she wal
lowed and begged for big full TO drive her, she
suggested that she would do still worse II the wind
blew harder and the sea rose higher.
There are some experienced sailors on the Cup
Committee which has the selection Of a defender.
and II men a. practical Mr.. Duryea and Mr. Lip
pitt examined this performance closely II seems
probable that they would require severe windward
going to be made before they made their fnal
selection.
For the defence Of the Americas Cup which some
people allege be now in considerable peril the
trouble OF making such further tests s to be ex-
pected. II is undertaken by all selecting commit
tees. Last week. before the defender OF the Cana
da's Cup was chosen. the committee even required
that skipprs the TWO leading boats should. before
the final race. be changed. thinking that seaman
ship might be doing much for the winner. Il
therefore seems within the power Of this committee
10 order both the Columbia and the Defender 20
Sandy Hook bay wait there until they can be
The situation is this: The light weather Column
bia which lies down her rail the first appear
able 10 cope with the Old Defender under the con
ditions here referred to What then. she expect
powerful vessel now anchored OF Tompkinsville? II
these conditions, ana II her llEht weather salIns
be improved. is It not a fair request from the
people OF AMERICA that the better boat snail be de-
There are many who think that the Defender
could easily ne maze 70 nOld the SHAMROCK ssIt III
drifting races and what the yachtsmen Of America
really want TO he sure OF is that the country Will
be represented by a yacht that can do first class
work IN going TO Wind ward in a good seaway and a
hard wind. No forget the feeling Of dis
may that prevailed when. such day. the Val
kyrie II beat the Nigant four minutes 10 the wind
ward stake boat. and there is no more crushing
defeat than that which comes I'm upand-dOW
thrash wind ward. which leaves the loser no eX-
cuses.
II the Columbia can beat the Defender under
these conditions the rejoicing will he universal All
hopes and affections centre on the Columbia, be-
tho fs req q WI
a machine but the fastest boat is now wanted,
yet been apnlied.