The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-03
ALL In READINESS
FOR The Big RACE
Shamrock and Columbia Will Fight Tor
the Cup Today.
COMPARISON OF DIMENSIONS
American Yacht to Allow British Chal.
lcnseF s 3i-iOO Seconds Start.
WORTHY ANTAGONIsTF0R DEFENDER
II Favorable Weather Prevails the
Start Will behMadesPromptly at
l2:3O-Sir Thomas Lip
ton Will Sail

New York, October 2.-The first race of
the international series between the Ameri-
can yacht Columbia and the British chal-
lenger Shamrock will be sailed tomorrow,
weather permitting, over course fifteen
miles to windward or leeward and return
off Sandy Hook 1ightship unless a postpone
ment is ordered. But no race of the series
is to be started later than 1890 p. m.
One of the greatest surprises for yachts
men since the arrival of the Shamrock in
these waters was the announcement Of
ficially made at the New York Yacht club
tonight that the Columbia would have to
allow the Shamrock six and thirty-one one
hundredths seconds on thirty mile course
1t was generally supposed by yachtsmen
who have seen both yachts under sail and
in the dry dock that the Shamrock, by rea-
son of her greater said spread and appar-
emily larger hull would have to give the
Columbia something like minutess time
allowance over the thirty mile course
which they are to sail. 1t appears, how
ever, that Designer Fife, while giving the
lumhia has at the same time constructed
her hull as to give her great free board,
less displacement and consequently
shorter water line by almost two feet.
AT o'clock tonight two of the regulation
measurers certificates, one showing the Co.
lumbia's measurement, the other the Sham
rocks were posted on the bulletin
board on the New York Yacht club house.
They were signed by the clubs official
measurer, John Hystop, and read as
follows:
Dimensions
Length OF water line: Columbia s9.66 feet;
Shamrock, $3.50 feet. From after end of
maiii boom to forward point of measure
ment: Columbia, 1852 feet; Shamrock.
1913 feet.
From fore side of foremast to forward
Point OF measurement Columbia, 1886 feet;
shamrock, 79.46 feet. Extreme of spinna-
l.er boom of Columbia, 1885 feet; Shamrock,
1916 feet.
Main gaff: Columbia, 6i.95 feet; Shamrock,
6764 feet. Topmast: Columbia, 57.6O feet;
Shamrock, 4G.45 feet.
Height upper side of main boom to top
sail halyard block: Columbia, 134.75 feet;
Shamrock, 12S.2S feet. Square feet of sail
as per rule: Columbia, 102135 feet: Sham
rock, 1923 feet. The Shamrock's top mast
measures $50 feet, one-fifth off, leaving
4e.45. BY these figures it will be seen that
all the Shamroek's spars except the top
mast are longer than those of the Column
bia. For instance, the Columbia's main
boom measures 10827 feet; the Shamrock's,
10967, making the latters spar 1914 longer
than the Columbias. The measurements
OF the gaff show 2.e9 in favor of the Sham
rock. The Shamrock's spinnaker boom is
Gil longer than the Columbia's, but her
top mast is GA shorter than that of the
American boat. Judging from the stability
of the Shamrock during her recent trial
on spins off Sandy Hook, Designer Fife has
been able to give his boat a greater amount
of lead ballast than at first supposed by the
sharps, WHO have predicted that
the Shamrock would not be able to carry
her sail. The yachtsmen at the club to-
night who heard of the two agree that
the Shamrock will really prove a worthy
antagonist for the tenth defender of the
Americas cup
Shamrock Measured
At 1:3o today the Shamrock was warped
into the dry dock where the Columbia had
been measured. Just before going on board
his yacht Sir Thomas Upton said
II am extremely sorry that Mr.. Fife is
not present. 1t is a very unfortunate thing
at this time. He Is I e to leave the ho-
tel. but hope he car with us tomorrow.
We have done the best we could without
him today"
Crawford and H. McGill Downey, of the
Royal Ulster Yacht club, with Henry F.
Lippitt, of the New York Yacht club, who
will represent the latter on the Shamrock
during the race, then went on board with
Hystop, his assistant and Cap |
tain Nat Herschoff, the designer of the
After the measurer's tape had |
been stretched from the top masts truck |
down the mast to the top of the main
bomb and from the bowsprit end to the |
main boom end, all those who will sail |
in the Shamrock during the race, some |
ffty-three in ALL including Sir Thomas |
Upton, sat down on deck on each side |
amidships while Measurers Histop, Cap |
tain Herschoff and Henry F. Lippitt pro-
cseded to measure the yachts water line.
This work occupied two hours and half.
Gave Final Instructions
Just before leaving the navy yard for
his steam yacht, Sir Thomas Upton called
nis captains, Hograth and Wiring, and gave
hem final instructions about the prepara-
Ions for tomorrow's event, which means so
much to him and TO them. He had evil
lently gathered from what he had seen
md heard while the yacht was being
that she certainly would not
iave to give the Columbia any time al
owance and he was corrsspondinsly oheer-