The Worcester spy., 1899-09-06
IDEAL SAILING.
Columbia Beats Out
Defender in Close
Fought Race.
RIVALRY OF CAPTAINS.
Capt. Rhodes Showed More
Skill Than Capt.
Barr.
RIVALRY OF CAPTAINS.

Newport, R. L, Sept 5-In the finest
kind of a sailing breeze today, the cupI
defender Columbia defeated the older
one Defender, by minutes and Ill
seconds over a 20-mile course-10 miles
to windward and return. She round
ed the windward mark 2 minutes. 33I
seconds ahead of the Defender, besides
making up handicap at the start Of
81 seconds. On the run home, with
spinnakers set, she gained 3S seconds
over her rival.
The wind was about 8 knots from
southeast by south at the start, and
freshened steadily as the afternoon
wore on, SO that the boats finished in
12-knot breeze. There were only two
or three yachts outside to witness the
race. The new boat had the worst of
the start, but was a grand exhibition
OF the sailing qualities in the Column
bia.
For Is minutes the two yachts were
side by side, their clouds of white caps
ghsten1ng in the sun and rails well
awash, presenting an unrivaled marine
picture. Then followed two or three
quick maneuvres, and presto!-the rela-
tive positions of the two contestants
were changed and the new boat took
the lead
The race was for cup offered by C.
oliver Iselin's father-in-law, Col. VIII
liam Goddard, of Providence and was
managed by the New York Yacht CIub
regatta committee, using Mr.. Harri-
son IS. Moore's steam yacht Marietta
1or flagship. 1t was given out last
hlght that the race was to be over a.
course 10 miles to windward or leeward
ana return, but owing to the lateness
u the hour at which the boats would
necessarily finish if so long a course
was sailed, the committee shortened it
10 ~ miles. The Columbia this morn
ing bent on a new mainsail Of Iiqhtar
weight canvas than any she has nre-
Viously used, and it was to test the new
cloth that the race was sailed. Sbe
also mad new forestaysail of the same
weight duck as the rnainsaiI. IT NAV
pc said that the new mainsail was the
hnest nttlng one that the Columbia has
ever had 'i'Di'' ii'' .
A close inspection gave the Impress
ION that 1t was a little longer at +ba
hoist than the one used Monday r. is
not any longer on the boom or gaff thar
the other, but comes well out on the
Two steel spars and will not admit Of
much hauling out should it stretch anv
more. On the windward work the can
vas set like board. There were four
wooden battens in the leach and there
are rows of point lines for a half and
single reefs only.
| The new staysail stood the test thor
oughly also and seemed a little larger
than the old one The topsail and lib
| topSail were the same as used in Mon
day S race, but there was a noticeable
! Improvement in the set of the former.
The Defender had the only accident of
the day, the splitting of her lib topsail
when half over the windward leg. The
fact that Defender got the better of the
start was due to the clever work of
Capt. Rhodes and all over the course
he handled his ship in better shape than
did Capt. Barr of the Columbia. Barr
was inciaed to pinch his boat a little
too much, and he made several more
tackS than there was need of and over
stood the turning mark quite little.
AS regards handling of sails, honors
we're about even, both crews setting
spinnakers in exactly the same length
of time, but Rhodes had the Defend
ers ballooners drawing more down the
wind
The Columbia will go to New Rochelle
tomorrow where Mr. Iselin's summer
residence is, and will be given practice
spins on the sound for few days. Plans
for her movements just previous to the
cup races have not been made. Follow
ing is official time of start and finish:
Elapsed
start Finish. time.
Columbia ...221:5O 455:O6 00.5426
nafaudar o . 91.19 45S17 co. So :04