The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-07-07
In Windward Work De-
fender Had Best OF 1t.
Columbia Owners Said To BE
Satisfied.

s..New York, July Clover a triangular
course Of 30 miles in comparatively light
winds, the new Iselin-Morgan yacht Co
lumbia today vanquished the Vanderbilt
yacht Defender and convinced the yachts.
men who saw the royal struggle, that
she is worthy Of defending the trophy
which Sir Thomas Upton and the mer-
~ tars OF England hope to take back with
them In the Shamrock next fall The
Columbia's forestaysail and club topsail
are anything but perfect and cracked in
the wind today like Transfers whip,
demonstrating that in general way she
will need a good deal of tuning up. Yet,
based upon the showing she made as / .
better boat, than the Defender under ad-
verse conditions, the nautical sharps are
strongly convinced that Sir Thomas win
sail home without the silver mug, the
possession of which has given us the
yachting supremacy of the world since
1851. But today's race was az unsatis-
factory one. Shifting, battling winds
and bad lumpy sea with dirty rain
squalls, made the conditions anything
but ideal for zach ting.
In the windward work, the Columbia,
with sails drawing badly, demonstrated
her superiority, and in long reach,
with sheets eased, she outfooted the
Vanderbilt boat. The sudden shifting of
the wind prevented trial at running
with spinnakers. In light weather, close.
hauled, therefore, 1t can be said that she
is undoubtedly the Defenders superior,
but what she can do in q piping breeze
remains to be seen. ~
There was considerable delay at the
start. The breeze had freshened as the
yachts got outside and lumpy sea was
running. After the racers had cast off
their lines sharp rain squall killed the
breeze. But the squAll was brief and half
an hour later steady 12.knot breeze was
blowing from the southwest. The
Coasair signalled the first leg from the
windward down the Jersey coast and the
yachts began to locky for positions. Capt.
Barr had the tiller of the Colum bia.
Capt. Rhodes had the helm of the Defen.
der Defender crossed on the port tack
The Columbia crossed two minutes after.
Both yachts carried forestay sails, jibs,
bay jib topsails and club topsails.
The beat to windward made a beautiful
race. The Defender had the weather
guage by 100 yards and was several
lengths in the lead. AT first the Colum-
bia seemed TO outfoot her rival and there
seemed to be no difference in their abili.
ty to hug the wind. The Colum bia
seemed more tender than the Defender as
she lay down to her work. Some times
when she smashed a big wave she shipped
some water forward. Then the talent be-
gan TO get nervous. Gradually, but sure
ly, the Defender was drawing ahead and
10 was also apparent that she WAS point
Ing higher than the Columbia.
The Defenders sails fitted perfectly
and every inch of canvass drew. The
breeze was then blowing about ten knots
an hour and while it continued the De-
fender continued to gain. Half an hour
later the wind sank to about five knots
and Immediately tha sails of the Coiun.-
bia began to draw and she began to gain.
A few minutes before the first mark
was reached, she crossed the Defenders
bow on the starboard tack. She rounded
the stake exactly one minute ahead. On
the log reach for the second mark, with
the wind abeam, the Columbia gained
i've seconds. As the Columbia crossed
the finish line, she received u royal sa-
lutte. For several minutes whistles
shrieked. AS the Defender crossed one
minute and AZ seconds later she was also
greeted with demonstration quite as en-
thusiastic and prolonged. The yachts
were Immediately taken in tow and
brought up the bay.
My. Herbert Leeds, on behalf Of MIR.
Iselin, said after the race that the friends
Of the Columbia were very well satisfied
and hoped to do better when their sails
were made more trim. He said that the
yacht would leave for New Rochelle to-
morrow. MIR. Bulter Duncan said he
had nothing to say for the Defender.
Everything had been satisfactory.
The race today was an informal trial
for cup offered by the New York Yacht
club. The official trials viii occur in Sep
tember.