The record-union., 1899-10-05
THE AMERICAS
CUP DEFENDER.
Columbia Goes for a Short Spin
Outside Sandy Hoek
Principally to Try Out New TopsaII She
viii Carry In the Next Race.
Sir Thomas Upton Confident That
the Shamrock Will Give a Good
Account Of Herself, no Matter
What Kind Of a Breeze Pre-
walls.

What Kind of a Breeze Pre-
walls.
NEW YORK, Oct. 4.-The off racing
day was a busy one, after all, for the
sailor men on the two cup racers. Mr.
ever, employed their hours in different
ways.
The Columbia went out for a short
trial spin outside Sandy Hook short
ly after noon to-day, principally to try
out new club topsail. Under main
sail and jib the yacht filled away from
her mornings, and under the influence
of fresh southwest breeze she was
soon passing the point of Sandy Hook
Captain Barr brought the yacht around
to wind when the new topsail was
ready to hoist, and in a few moments
the big sky-reaching sail was mast
headed. 1t is one of Hathaways latest
and best productions, and when laced
to the topmast gait it set like a tailor
made gown on a pretty woman.
After tacking several times to get
the sail we'll stretched, the Columbia
was headed back for her mooring buoy
in Sandy Hook Bay, where she arrived
at p. m The mainsan was slowed,
and all hands went to supper on board
the tender ST. Michaels.
c. Oliver Iselin, who with Mrs. Iselin
and their guests, Woodbury. Kane,
Herbert Leeds and Newbury Thorne.
is quartered on the st. Michaels, said
to an Associated Press representative
this afternoon: II am satisfied with
the Columbia's work during yester-
days race, but not with the weather
conditions. None of US could tell where
the wind was coming from, not even
the sailing master. In all my yacht
ing I do not remember when I've seen
a f1unkier day than yesterday. With
all that, however, we had overhauled
the Shamrock for the third time when
the race was called off. She could not
have crossed our bow if she had gone
about at that time. Our crew worked
well from start to finish.''
Asked what he thought the weather
would be for to-morrow's race, Mr..
Ise1in said: II think we shall have a
good breeze from the southwest !
hope SO, any way, for should like to
get one race off off my hands, and
know where we stand
Regarding the criticism that the
leach of the Columbia's mainsail was
bias manager said: ''That has been
fixed 1t was a little slack, but not
enough to affect the yachts sailing.
1t has been understood in some quar-
ters that Captain Rhodes of the De-
fender would be on board the Colum-
bia in her races to look after the trim
ming of the sails and in an advisory
capacity.
On board the ST. Michaels a member
of the crew said: Captain Rhodes has
not been with us as yet, but we all
wish he was along. He may come
vet. and if he does he will be welcome. .
Sandy the Colunbia's mascot, is
the same yellow dog that helped to
pilot the Defender to victory. He is
we'll fed. sleek-1ooking and carefully
guarded by the steward. The crew,
to a man, feel that Sandy is indis-
pensable to the success of the yacht.
Skipper Charlie Barr is not worried
a bit about the result of the races.
He sticks to his original assertion that
the Columbia is the fastest single stick
yacht afoat, and that in windward or
any other work she is more than a
match for the Shamrock.
Sir Thomas Upton is not worrying
over to-morrow's race one bit On the
contrary, when seen to-day on the
Erin, he felt confident that his craft
would give a good account OF herself,
no matter what kind of a breeze there
is. He wants good, fresh breeze,
however, so that the relative speed OF
the defender and the challenger can
be thoroughly demonstrated. He had
lust returned from a. visit to the Sham
rock late this afternoon when seen by
the Associated Press representative
After taking a cup of tea and little
toast, Sir Thomas spoke about his sail
on the grand old schooner yacht Amer :
lea. "the boat that caused all the
trouble" to quote Sir Thomas. He
said he had splendid sail around the
bay for about two hours, and that
from the speed the old boat made in
the stiff southwest breeze he did not
wonder that she had lifted" the CUP
ON the other side nearly fifty years ago.
Sir Thomas did not care to make any
about to-morrow's race, ex-
cent that the Shamrock would carry
exactly the same sails as she did in
contest, and that her crew
would do their best to cross the finish
line first.
The English challenger is in the best
of condition. Not a piece of wire in her
rigging nor an inch of canvas was
found to be damaged in the least de-
gree when her crew looked her over
this morning. The members of the
crew are quite as confident as the
owner that she will prove
a winner, and some of them are ready
to Law a few guineas if they get the
chance.
Sir Thomas received number of
cablegrams to-day. Some of the
cablegrams are from persons l do not
know personally but that goes to show
what an interest is being taken in these
races" said Sir Thomas.
lone of them read: Tommy, don't
make room for your uncle =
In speaking about the manner in
which the course was kept clear, Sir
Thomas said: II can't get over the
great organization that has been here
to keep the course clear. Yesterdays
course was the clearest we ever had,