The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-09


board for minute and headed for the Long
island shore. Columbia followed suit. Then
both went about TO port again, Columbia
was now on Defenders lee quarter. Both
had their baby jib topsails set now, and the
breeze was making them so through the
water at a ten-knot clip.
The next time Rhodes put the Defender
about for a hitch inshore Barr declined to
follow and split tacks'' with his opponent.
1t was ebb tide and Barr was confident of
being able to fetch the next mark of
Hampstead harbor. He was right, and from
that moment the race was his. The De-
fender was hopelessly astern when she
came about again, although 10 windward.
They kept away around the mark as fol-
lows: Columbia. 1:53:29; Defender, 1852.
Here the new boat was two minutes and
three seconds In the lead
Easing sheets broad of to starboard and
setting spinnaker TO port, the yachts soon
covered the three-mile run to the home
mark. 1t was nearly three minutes after
the Columbia had rounded the Hampstead
mark before her spinnaker was broken out,
and soon after the boom topped up and
got over the headstays. Defenders was set
in less than q minute after rounding. 1t
was generally remarked during the race
that the Defenders sails were handled more
smartly. 1t was not certain yet whether
the committee would stop the race at this
end of the round or let them go. 1t was
soon settled, however. Spinnakers came in
lively a couple Of minutes before the mark
was reached. Hauling in sheets smartly,
both boats had good-byes and rounded as
follows: Columbia. 2:o5:O6; Defender. 2:o7:O3.
ELAPSED time: Columbia, O0:11:37; Defender,
O0:11:31.
ROUNDED THE WRONG MARK.
Howard Coates, OF the regatta committee,
had left the tug in a launch and stationed
himself on the windward stake boat. AS a
yacht passed he shouted: You rounded
the wrong mark. Your mark is eight miles
east. Go there this time"
C. Oliver Iselin, on the Columbia, held up
his hand to signify that he understood.
but Mr.. Duncan did not reply when the De-
fender passed. Away they went this time
for what every one supposed would be the
right mark off Stamford, but Mr.. Iselin and
Captain Barr had no idea Of losing such a
fine lead as they had gained, and he simply
pointed her for the same old mark boat.
Defenders people being satisfied apparently
with that arrangement, followed In her
wake, both going at fully eleven knots now,
for the breeze had much more weight in 1t
now. They luffed around the Riverside
boat again in this order: Columbia, 2:SS:o0;
Defender, 2:36:0S. Elapsed time: Columbia,
"a; Defender. 00:29:05.
After a short tack to starboard both came
about to port and stood for the Hampstead
mark the second time. At 2:49 Columbia
was passing Marticock point Defender
passed in at 1853. She was then a quarter
of mile astern and about half that dis
lance to leeward OF the Columbia. The lat
ter, though carrying jib topsail, was hold
ing her own without any difficulty. The
wind was breezing up. covering the sound
with whitecaps. Vicious puffs came out Of
Hampstead bay and across the hills In that
vicinity. Lying over until her lee rail was
scooping up the water and her broad yell
low deck shining in the sunlight. the CO.
lumbia was an inspiring picture. The De-
tenders deck was drier to leeward and she
stood up trife better. 1t was thought De-
fender would have to make tack to fetch
the Hampstead mark. but by close and
careful sailing and lufhng in the puffs
Rhodes sent her up to 1t without losing a
second of time 1t was rounded as follows:
Columbia, 3:0S:11: Defender, 3:l1:55.
Now for the last three-mile leg. 1t was
to be the race on its merits, as 1t stood,
and not soul wanted to scold the shippers
after witnessing such a grand contest from
start to finish. Spinnakers were set again
for about ten minutes, as they came bowl
ing across the sound to the finish, and this
time they crossed with them set amid a
wild chorus of steam whistles and cheers
on all sides. The Columbia had won by
three minutes thirteen seconds. That was
all the spectators wanted to know They did
not care whether she had sailed twenty-six
or twenty-nine miles, as she should have
done. The victory was hers, as they be-
lieved it would be when the Shamrock
meets her.