The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-03

New York, Oct. 2.--The first race of the
international series between the Ameri-
can yacht Columbia and the British
challenger Shamrock, will be sailed to-
morrow, weather permitting, over a
course Is miles to windward or leeward
and return off Sandy Hook The start
is to be made at II o'clock from Sandy
Hook lightship, unless a postponement
is ordered. But no race of the series is
to be started later than 1890 p. m.
One of the greatest surprises for
yachtsmen since the arrival of the
Shamrock in these waters was the an
nouncement, officially made at the New
York Yacht club tonight, that the Col
umbia would have to allow the Sham
rock 6 and 31-100 seconds on a 30-nile
course.
1t was generally supposed by yachts
men who have seen the boats under sail
and in dry dock that the Shamrock, by
reason of her greater sail spread and
apparently larger hull, would have to
give the Columbia something like a
minute time allowance over the 30-mile
course which they are to sail. 1t ap-
pears, however, that Designer Fife,
while giving the Shamrock the larger
sail plant than the Columbia, has at the
same time so constructed her hull as
toysive her great freeboard, less dis
placement and consequently shorter
water line by almost two feet.
At Z o'clock tonight the regulation
measurer's figures showing the Column
bias and Shamrock's measurements
were posted on the bulletin board on
the New York Yacht clubs house They
were both signed by the clubs official
lows:
Length on water line, Columbia 1886
feet; Shamrock $3.50 feet.
From after end of main boom to for
ward point Of measurement, Columbia
1892 feet: Shamrock 1913 feet.
From foresde of foremost to forward
point of measurement, Columbia 1885
feet; Shamrock 1916 feet.
Extreme of spinnaker boom, Column
bia 1885 feet; Shamrock 79.46 feet,
Main gaff, Columbia $40 feet; Sham
rock 6764 feet.
Topmast, Columbia "a .50 Is off $3.50
feet); Shamrock (5S.06 is off As feet
Upper side of main boom to topsail
halyard block, Columbia 13475 feet;
Shamrock 1928 feet
Square feet of sail, area as per rule
Columbia 11461 feet; Shamrock 116.15
feet
Sailing length as per rule, Columbia
1902 1876 feet; Shamrock 1919 feet.
r.
all the Shamrock's spars except the top
mast are longer than those Of the Col
umbia For instance, the Columbia s
main boom measures 10S.27, the Sham
rock 109.67, making the later spar LAO
longer than Columbias.
II was half past one today before the
Shamrock was warped into the dry
dock where the Columbia had been
measured and the caisson closed, max
49, ba
ments. Just before going on board his
yacht, Sir Thomas Upton said
Il am extremely sorry that Mr.. Fife
is not present 1t is very unfortunate
thing at this time. He is unable to
leave the hotel but I hope he can be
with us tomorrow during the race. We
have done the best we can without him
today
The Columbia was the first boat of
the two to be measured. Shortly after
G o'clock the valves in the caisson at
the entrance to No. dry dock at the
navy yard, were opened and the dock
filed with water When the tell-tale
en- the caisson showed that there was
about 81 feet of water in the lock, the
Columbia foated but in order to be
sure that the ship was off the blocks
the water was allowed to flow In until
there was about four inches short of
Il
fetal measurer of the New York Yacht
Club, arrived at the navy yard shortly
before S O'Clock and at once commence
ed getting the length of the boom, gait,
mast and spinnaker pole. The crew
rendered all the assistance they could,
and a man was hoisted in boatswain' S
chair to the top to measure the top
mast The length of the splnnaker
boon. 1t was found was about 3 inches
longer that the restrictions allowed
that is, from the centre of the bow
spirit between the jibs and jib topsail
stays to the mast, was one-quarter of
a foot TOO long.
Cant. Charley Barr with a saw cut
two inches from one end and one inch
from the other OF the spinnaker pole.
Then plans were made to measure the
water line and overall lengths of the
boat The crew and Messrs. G. Oliver
Iseiin, Capt. Woodbury. Kane, Herbert
c. Leeds, w. Butler Duncan, Jr., of
the Defender, Harry Lippett of the
Americas cup committee, Hugh Kelly,
secretary of the Royal Ulster Yacht
club. who will sail on the Columbia as
Sir Thomas Lipton's representative in
the cup races, Mr.. j. OConnell, also of
the Royal Ulster Yacht Club. Capt.
Herreshoff and Mrs. c. Oliver Iselin
were aboard the American boat when
the hull was measured
Mrs. Iselin, Mr.. Duncan and the Sec
rotary we're in the cabin conversine
while all the others were on deck.
The forward overhang was first
measured A plumb line was suspend
ed from the very tip and getting into
g boat, Mr.. Hyslop, by means of q
long measuring rod, got the length from
the plumb line to the water line on the
how. The after-overhang was obtain.