The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-11
DEFENDER CREEPS AWAY.
UNDER QUEER SAIL THE OLD CHAM
PION LEAVES FOR BRISTOL.

UNDER QUEER SAIL THE OLD CHAM
PION LEAVES FOR BRISTOL.
The Columbia Remains Mt New Rochelle to
lie Tuned Up, but VIII Race Her Rival
Three or Five Times of Newport-Iighter
Sails rf the New Yacht to he Recut.
The Defender. the cup champion OF 1885, has
sailed away to her birthplace at Bristol under
her own canvas. while her consort. the Column
bia, remains at anchor In the harbor of New
Rochelle There will be no moro tests OF skill
between the two noted yachts until tho De-
fender has had her steel boom repaired and
the Columbia has discarded her mast OF Ore
gon pine for one OF steel, which Is waiting for
her Mt the Herreshofr works. When these
repairs and changes are completed tho big
single stickcrs will resume their contests In a
series OF races off Newport These will be con-
tinued until the superiority OF the new yacht
has been thoroughly established.
Shortly before 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon
W. Butler Duncan put Off in a naphtha launch
from q. Oliver Iselin's residence on Premium
Point. and as soon as he had boarded the De-
fender the old boat weighed anchor and started
up the Sound for Bristol. The accident to her
steel boom, which was shattered by the Column
bia as the latter was making her moorngs
after last Saturdays race, precluded OF course.
the possibility Of her moving of under her full
sail. But she was able to send up oil the
necessary forward canvas, and in place
of her regular mainsal had a storm trysail
rugged to the big mast 1t was bent on the
hoops and its head reached nearly to the
spreadcrs. The Glow extended as far as the
extreme stern. There was OF course no BOOM
and the sail belied out In the light breeze like
balloon Jib. When she moved OF up the
sound she carried this trysail. a lib topsail and
a staysai. Shortly afterward she set her lib.
Light rs the wind was she made fine progress
While the new yacht swung lazily at her
moorngs all day there was great activity
aboard. Early In the morning half dozen
painters went out from New Rochelle and
started in to slick things W. The waterways
were gone over. matches were vanished. and
all the blocks received fresh coat During the
afternoon the painters were slung the
port side. and that portion OF her
hull from which the paint was scraped
when tho catboat Elsie rammcd into her
on Sunday was made to look as good as new.
The Columbia suffered no real damage from
the contact. and when the painters had COM
pleted their labors no one would have known
where the catboat struck her. Carpenters were
also busy below deck. Five OF them went
aboard during the morning and made some
alterations and additions to the messroom.
after which they provided new cupboards for
the steward
The crew was busy all day tightening the
rigging and otherwise preparing for the next
move. Owing to the lghtness Of the wind the
Columbia did not move from her moorng. but
it is on the card to give the yacht brush on
tho Sound as often as tho wind permits until
she sails for Bristol To get her steel mast.
Mr.. lselin to- d q reporter Of THE Sun yester-
day the, plans he had prepared for the Colunm
| hia and her trial horse. the Defender. The
boats will not race again. SO Mr. lsclin said.
until they meet at Newport. The programme
Of the Newport Yacht Racing Association. The
% Vii 5 Tng .sd in Aea best Water OVER 6
be deemed best There will be no res,
occurs the next 60. will be on Friday and the
third on saturday i these contests do not
boat she will meet the Dcfende,Er again on tn the
! following Monday and again on Tuesday. The
course will be thirty, miles in each instance
and Mr.. lselin hopes for match much more
| conclusive than the former races between the
two boats have been, as there will be few tugs
1t is expected the first race of the series will
| be sailed over the Block Island course and the
second over the Pig and Sows course. The
leeward and return, while the latter Is Il trian
guIar affair. But, the courses may be ALTERED
! to suit the requirements of the case. Wha
Mr. Iselin wants is a pure busInessIike test o
the two yachts, with a view of making the Co
| sailed as well as she can be sailed before enter
ing tn" International contest with Sir Thomas
| Liptons shamrock
The Columbia will remain for a while where
she now II. After series Of spins on the
| sound for saIl-strctching purposes and also e
! allow her crew 70 get move on" she viii
leave for Bristol on Saturday to be fitted witt
"a steel mast, This is expected to he lighter 10y
| a ton than the Oregon pine stick she now car
ri"s. II will enable her to stand up better in
| stfr breeze. Mr.. lSelin has confidence that the
rev boat will prove minutes faster than she
now Is when her sails get stretched and he
/ crow are able to get about faster.
.BEIeToL, july, io.-The steam tender st
Michaes arrived here this morning. hriugins
! the damaged main boom Of the Defender. on,
half hanging IN sings outside OF the starhoarc
rail. She was laid alongside the head OF the
north pter at tho boat shops to unload III,
! There is n wooden main boom belong
| ing to the Defender at City Island
ana it is thought thar it will be used to replace
the damaged spar temporarily. The forwar?
| Iart OF the steel boom was loaded on a derrick
and then conveyed to the south boatGhop
| whore it will he Joined to the after half Som,
| of tho COlumhia's lighter sails were unloadcc
this morning from the st Michaels and takeI
into the sail loft in burnside street to be rccut
The st. Michaels left here at noon for larch