Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-07-01
TO W|NDWARD.
Columbia Beats Defender in
TArN.Eight Mile Beat.
YACHTSMEN ARE JuBILANT.

IHOuu ] SW6V MIL JVOI6HVus
Fakes Such Sailing to Bring Out
Boats Fine Qualities-Old DE.
fender Beaten by More Than Ia
Seconds to the Mile-Duncan Con.
| graduates Iselin-Yale Has Better I
Chance in Coming College Contest.
| New London, Conn.,, June 29.-In 49,
mile beat to windward yesterday the
Columbia beat the Defender eight min
utes, besides giving the old champion a
| two-minute handicap. Yachtsmen are
j1bilant, for a yachts most sterling
qualities must come out In race to
windward. The race was from Brenton' $
reef lightshp, off Newport to New Lon
don. The Defender was given a two
minute start Thirty-twO mics of the
80 was a beat to windward with such a
stiff breeze blowing that neither yacht
cared to carry a working topsail, and it
was in this kind Of work that Columbia
gained such long lead, averag ging more
than a quarter Of a minute faster each
mile than Defender. At this time the
water was very rough, but the new boat
rode very easily and did not buffet the
waves as much as Defender
1t looked like an all-day storm, and
stiff breeze from the southwest kicked
up quite a sea outside. putting white
crests OH the waves in the inner harbor.
The Defender hoisted nchor shortly after
10 o'clock and ran down the east pas
sage under her jib. Her mainsail was
hoisted on the way out, and Captain
Rhodes sailed down as far as Castle Hill
to get a look at the water outside. Then
he knocked about the bay. awaiting the
Columbia.
The crew of the Columbia hauled
anchor at 11:15. and she was towed down
as far as Castle Hill. where the hawser
was cast off. and the yacht beat out to
sea under her three lower sails.
The Defender was inside of Bren-
lib and mainsail. waiting for her rival.
There was a pretty heavy sea. and as
the two yachts plunged along, clouds Of
spray were thrown into the air from
under their bows and fell away to lee
ward. The weather was threatening at
the start. and light rain compelled
the crews to don their .Oilskins. The
showers We're not heavy, but lasted
nearly all day.
The Columbia ran up to the Defender
rapidly and continued on the starboard
tack until the lightship was passed.
The Columbia was at that time 300 yards
to the leeward Of the Defender and half
ner length ahead.
At II O'clock both boats tackled around
the lightship. They continued along
On this hitch for about five minutes, the
Columbia luffing up to take haul on
the jib halyard. At 1920 the De-
lender broke out her staysail, and the
oort heading e toward Point judith dhd
footing very fast. AT first the Defender
gained trifie. but as they continued on
this hitch, the Columbia crawled up
slowly, and, but for shift In the wind
more to the south, would have crossed the
Defenders bow on the next tack. Ihe
shift in the wind helped the Defender
considerably, and when at ! o CLOCK TIE
Columbia tackled to starboard. about a
nile off Point Judith whistling buoy,
she could have almost forced the De-
lender about, but the latter tackled lOO
'eet off the former under her lee bow.
Captain Barr could not stand having
his wind stolen by the Defender long, so
ne fetched about at 1:05 and stood up
along shore on the port tack. Then
he Columbia began to gain slowly on
he Defender, and at the same time got
INTO the wind better. In 70 minutes the
,ew boat had worked across the De-
'ender's bow and was to the windward OF
ler.
With plenty of wind the Columbia and
the Defender held down the shore on
he port tack, the former continuing to
gain, or Noyes' Point. at ego, the
Columbia was over half a mile ahead
and steadily increasing her lead, and
when she finally came about. off the end
| of Fishers island, the distance be-
.ween the two was nearly mile.
At 1888 the Columbia took her final
port hitch, this time fetching we'll by
Race Rock. The Defender held on the
starboard tack and then turned after the
leader. The boats proceeded up the
1arbor, the Columbia coming to an
,hor at 4:2S and the Defender at 4:36.
The yachts made splendid marine pic
lure as they raced up the bay with their
enormous sail bellying out with the
strong breeze from over the quarter. and
With the water curling away from their
sharp bows.
or the Pequot the Columbia dropped
,er lib and forestaysail and let go her
anchor. Well out In the stream the
Defender anchored near by.
Both boats were sailed skilfully. Cap
ain Barr was at the Columbia's s wheel
the entire distance, and Captain Rhodes
,teered the Defender. After the first
O miles the race was uninteresting tc
watch, for the Columbia had in that
short distance worked out into n fine
Hindward position and gained steadily
On the Defender.
While everything was being made
snug aboard the Defender, her managing
owner, Butler Duncan, rowed over tt
The Columbia and congratulated MIR
[selin on the splendid showing the new
boat had made.
Everybody aboard the Columbia was
delighted at the racers great speed
Mr.. Iselin said that he was more thar
ever satisfied with his boat. He sait
he had not figured out how many min
utes she had beaten the Defender. bu
Woodbury. Kane stated that he though
ABOUT elgnt minutes "oS heet'y i'6"'
New London, June 29.-The two grea
American universities are again face
, face with their annual contest 10
| aquatic supremacy. Singular as it ma,
seem, there appears to be perfec
/ unanimity of feeling at the Yale an
? Harvard headquarters as to the probabi
outcome of the three races which tn
c college crews will row today. Bot
' agree that Yale barring accidents. ma
|, the better chance in the great 'varsit
/, race that will be rowed for four mile
down the Thames lust before s'indowI