The San Francisco call., 1899-10-20

L NJ
whether either boat would ever
reach the outer mark. Both man
aged to get back TO the finish be-
fore the time limit had expired The
Columbia was ahead in the drift around
the stake boat, and she was still further
in the lead when that much overworked
signal of "No race" was made
If Sir Thomas Upton got any consola-
ton out of the days doings the reason
for it was not apparent to any one who
followed the fortunes of the yachts. The
extra ballast which had been placed In
the Shamrock to alter the trim Of that
vessel did not bring about the desired re-
suit. So far from any Improvement be
ing shown in the Shamrocks speed, 1t
seemed that the contrary effect had been
produced. The Columbia gained the ad-
vantage at the start and steadily IN
creased her lead, despite all efforts OF the
Shamrock to outfoot her. So long as the
wind held the Shamrock continued to drop
astern. and when the two fioated into a
zone of calm the Shamrock showed that
she could drift no faster than could the
Columbia
So 1t must be counted as failure, this
experiment with ballast, failure at least
in such winds or lack of them, as were
about to-day Outfooted in the run, the
Shamrock was also distanced In the peat
back toward the finish line Even the
most ardent of her admirers are now
forced TO admit that the shamrock IS no
match for the Columbia in light weather.
The two are yet to have fair trial IN
stiff breeze, the test OF Tuesday being
inconclusive and unsatisfactory because
of the accident which crippled the chal-
lenger when the race had barely begun
There was a bit of maneuVerlng be
fore the start, and In IT neither EesSei Sc.
other Both were in good positions when
the starting signal was given. Inc
course was fifteen mile run 10 south
ward before north breeze ana pack 10
the finish line. The wind at the time was
from the north and was blowing ABOUT
eight miles an hour. The he C2lHm0ld faIin12ad
showed the way over the line, followed
at a close interval by the ShamrocS the
cup defender going over 1t at II: :oI 90 the
challenger at 1:O2:OO. Inc Snamrock was
handicapped by two SECONDS IN StdrlIiS
as she tailed TO start within the two
minutes allowed.
Both Yachts took in jib and staysail as
they headed across the line, ana as lhe
Shamrock went over 1t she set her pal
loon lib and dropped her spinnaker Doom
TO starbOard. The Columbia set ner Ddl-
loon jib one minute after the irish CUT
ter had sent hers bellying to the wind,
and setting her spinnaker boom 10 star
board sent up her spinnaker IN stops
Then followed a Iuf1ng matcn, lne oIialt- ~
rock heading TO the WESTWARD IN an eI-
fort TO blanket the Columbia, ana the
cup defender sheering over in the same
direction to prevent the Shamrock get
ing the position dead. astern, which she
niss tws 'ete sTriling to gain. Such of the eX
cursiOn feet as were to the westward OF
the course were forced to SWING sun o dut. +.
ther inshore, half a dozen torpedo poatS
guarding that side OF the hne' driving
pleasure craft before them.
The Shamrock was persistent, put M M"nen
at last she found herself directly astern
of the Columbia, the position Whlch sile
had coveted and tried so long 10 gam tle
defender was so far ahead that no aQ-
vantage accrued from II. The two were
then nearing the belt of calm into whlch
they soon found their way, and all the
rest was drifting-a slanins OF san 10 lole
airs or lstless swelling of the canvas.
The approach to the outer mark was
made with that prodigality of leisure
which distinguishes the now 9L mo mo
dipping sunlight in and out of her droop-
ing sails, seemed in no hurry 70 get
around the mark The Shamroek was
inertia personified. Sne slowly drtfted to-
ward the quiet buoy which marked the
end of the ffteen-mile run. the excur-
sion fleet patiently awaiting the outcome
of the effort TO turn the stake.
Almost imperceptibly the Columbia les
sened the distance between herself and
tho mark, and taking in her dropping
buoy. That was at 2:24:15. Six minutes
and fifteen seconds later the Shamrock
followed her around the mark.
After that the only element Of interest
which remained hung about the problem
! as TO by what margin the Columbia would
win. so badly had she beaten the chal-
] lenger in the run DOWN ana so rapidly
/ was she drawing away from her on the
beat back to the finish. Later on 1t be-
/ came apparent that there was to be no
race at all. as the wind remained light
and there was no hope of either yacht
! finishing within the time limit allowed.
So it was the same old ending. Two
/ miles away from the finish line the time
( limit expired at 4:30, and the race was
declared off. The Columbia was then a
( full mile in the lead. The yachts will try
! It again tomorrow over the same course
] of T1oilaG m iOd yTa rd or tO ri
and return. An unusually large excursion
| fleet was out to view this effort of the
| yachts to race. All the boats were excep-
! tionally well patroniZed, the Grand Ouch
/ esse of the Plant line carrying fully 1900
| guests.
! Sir Thomas Upton was greatly disap-
pointed at the failure of the wind, and as
/ he shook hands with his departing guests
! on board the Erin he seemed for once to
/ have lost some of the buoyant confidence
which until this had been superior to
| Gains and accidents.
4 am very sorry the wind failed" said
! he. What we want is a good stiff breeze.
! This seems TO be the only country in the
world where there Is no wind. l received
! a telegram the other day from a gentle
! man who suggested that If I had come
! during a Presidential campaign there
would have been plenty of it"
| In answer to a question, Sir Thomas
said he though 1t would be an excellent
/ idea to have extra races to give the mer-
/ its of the yachts a more thorough test
/ than they have had.
/ When asked if he thought the Shamrock
had shown herself a more dangerous rival
/ since remeasurement. Mr.. Iseln said:
I NO, | do not think so. We led her by
Z two miles"
Mr.. Iselin was told Of a reported offer
/ of cup for another series Of races be-
tween the Columbia and Shamrock. and
asked If his yacht would compete 81
want to end the present series before I
think of another, he replied 1--WE want
to have it over by Christmas"
Mr.. Iselin said that for the same reason
he would not at present consider any
suggestion to complete the five races If
the Columbia should win the next and de-
Gliding contest.
TECHNICAL STORY OF
LAST UNFINISHED RACE