Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-06
AGAIN NO RACE.
Columbia and Shamrock Have
Unsatisfactory Meeting.
Both Good Drifters With Odds in
Favor Of Our Beat.
Light Winds Make it Impossible to Finish
Course in Time Limit.

New York. oct. 5.-Agan, today, the
weather refused the Shamrock and
Columbia the field Of conflict: again,
today, the multitude which went out to
sea TO watch the contestants for the
international yachting championship Of
the world returned disappointed and not
little Disguised. The question Of
supremacy between the two great
yachts is still as much an open one as
before they first met, as the contest,
today, was in some respects more of
huke than that Of Tuesday. II was a
drifting match almost from start to
finish.
Crossing the line with breeze of )
knots il never blew more than 6. most
of the time less than > and part Of the
time not "a breath of air was stirring.
After sailing hours and AZ minutes
the yachts, having covered only u
miles Of the course to the outer mark.
the regatta committee declared the race
off as il was manifestly impossible.
with the breeze then blowing for the
racers u round the stake before the
time limit expired, much less to get
back home again.
During the time in which the yachts
were at it, the wind which carried them
dead before 1t over the line. had haul
cd around until. At the finish. they were
beating into its teeth. While the wind
held astern the Columbia steadily out
footed her rival until she was fully
half a mile ahead. but in the shifting
battling winds that followed during the
last three hours. with the single stick
ers lacking and beating ana gybing to
catch every streak of wind. With for
tune helping one rs much as the other.
The Shamrock gradually worked her
way up until the race was declared off.
the two boats were about on even
terms. Shamrock. perhaps, half
length ahead. but 50 close was the
Yankee that Capt. Barr could have
thrown q biscuit u the foreigner.
The only lesson learned by the nauti-
cal sharps from today's trial of the
abilities Of the two boats is that in
light weather conditions the Columbia
is the superior in running and reach
ing and the Shamrock slightly better
in beating. There has vet been no in
dication Of what either boat can do in
piping WHOLESALE wind.
The weathes' bureau had promised a
good strong wind for. today. but thu
prophecy was a dismal failure. It was
just an ideal Indian summer day.
heavy haze hung over sea and land,
and shut off the view Of the thousands
waiting on the highlands Of NaVesinl;
and the Long Island shore. The sky
was veilcd by 4 gcssamer Of clouds
through which the sun sifted. turning
: ~. ralpnt nf AK
cursion boats. ocean going steamers
yachts. tugs. side wheeIers and sailing
vessels gathered around the Sandy
Hook lightship To watch the start. The
smoke from their stacks and the steam
from their cyhauSts. mingled with the
haze and formed a thick veil.
The torpedo boats, guarding the
course threaded their way in and out
through the acres of boats. warning
the excursion shippers TO keep their
distance But little difficulty was eX-
perienccd. today in keeping the course
clear. There was hardly wind enough
to keep the flags fiuttering. What
there was was from the northwest by
north from over the land Outside of
the ruck Of the steamers the old cup
defender Nieilant made beautiful PIC
ture and the old schooner America,
which won the cup 80 years ago. at
tracted universal attention. Prepare
tons were made aboard both yachts
for the lighteSt airs before the start.
The Columbia discarded her heavy
steel topsail yard FOR lighter and
longer pine one and the Shamrock sent |
aloft the largest club topsail ever seen
on her. As soon as the committee boat |
had hosted the signal letters I'd. c. |
L." making the course Il miles sOpth- |
east by south. dead before the wind |
and return the tugs steamed straight |
out to sea to plant the outer mark. |
There was some pretty manouevring |
behind the line Before the start, each |
yacht breaking out her balloon jig and |
lowering her spinnaker boom as they |
jockeyed for position.
Roth went across in the smoke Of the |
last gun. the Columbia a length ahead |
and in the windward berth. The wind |
was blowing hardly knots. AS she |
crossed the Shamrock broke out her spin
maker. which was in stops. The Colum
bia a little slow in getting out her
big bellying sail. but 60 seconds later both
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