The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-06-28
COLUMBIA AND DEFENDER.
THEY HAD SOME BRUSHES
YESTERDAY.
Mr.. Isehn Expresses Himself q
Satisfied With His New
Boat.


men who saw the brushes between the
new sloop yacht Columbia and the De-
fender, the champion of 1893, to-day,
are not SO enthusiastic tonight over the
speed of the new boat as they were
after the short slxirmish off jamestown
on Sunday forenoon.
To-day the two great racers met
under different conditions from those
which prevailed in their first trying out.
Instead of a light air which scarcely
heeled the two boats, the wind to-day
was a good WHOLESALE breeze from the
southwest which compelled the crews of
the racers to lie out to windward in real
racing fashion and under these condi-
tons the Defender made a most ex-
cellent showing and her performance
this afternoon somewhat depressed the
owners and admirers of the Columbia.
This morning both boats sailed dead to
the windward for ten minutes from
Brenton's Reef lightship, allowing for
the lead which the Columbia had for
one and one-half minutes in fully one
and quarter hours of steady sailing
under equal conditions.
During the mornings brush the De-
fender held her own in the short races
toward Point Judith with booms a third
out. This afternoon the try out re-
vealed the fact that the Columbia, in
her present condition, is not going to
have an easy time with the old boat
when they get together on the meas
ured course and with a stiff breeze
blowing.
The yachtsmen and others, however,
need not worry about the Columbia 8
speed, for she is very fast craft and
the tuning that she will get between
now and October will certainly make
her a fit boat to meet the British chal-
lenger Shamrock under any circum-
stances.
This afternoons skirmish was started
on equal terms with a strong breeze
blowing from the southwest, a fairly
either boat. The racers started side
windward about hundre. yards
and after putting out to sea
for about four miles in a direct line
from Brentons Reef lightship, or six
mile tack and tack, the Columbia
gained about 20 seconds, not enough to
prevent the Defender from forcing her
about, had Captain Rhodes desired to
claim that right. The Defender had the
right Of way on the Columbia and had
she not relinquished this to serve as an
illustration of how close the two boats
were to each other, Captain Rhodes
yacht would have met the Columbia
just about amidships. A few seconds
before, however, the Columbia parted
her topsail sheet and seeing this the
Defender eased up and the race was
over. The parting of the topsail sheet
On the Columbia caused a tear in the
canvas, but the hole was not a very
large one and can be quickly repaired.
Both the Columbia and the Defender
will start for New London tomorrow
morning and will undoubtedly race all
the way. After the race to-day Mr..
Iselin expressed himself as fully salts
fed with the Columbia and said he
would be content if she could beat De-
fender five minutes in thirty mile
course.
The new American yacht Columbia
went out for her first trial trip to-day,
accompanied by the Defender. The
Navahoe, Royal Phelps Carrolls big
sloop followed in about half an hour.
The Columbia and the Defender got
away soon after 1920 o'clock In a light
but refreshening southerly wind and on
a flood tide.
In a good sail breeze the new cup
defender Columbia and the Defender,
champion of the 1895 race, had a sec
ond and more thorough test of their
relative speed than in the light air of
Sunday, and again the new boat proved
that in windward work she could both
outpoint and outfoot the older craft.
Both boats carried mainsail, forestry
sail, jib and working topsails and for an
equal length of time the two used small
jib topsails. The steady southwest
breeze was just strong enough to heel
the boats prettily. The racers beat to
windward in a general southwesterly
direction for almost two hours and
Travelled ten miles toward Block Island
from Blenton's Reef, and when she was
eased off for the run back the Column
bia was between two and three minutes.
in the Lead.
AT 1890 o'clock the Defender jibbed
the boom over to starboard. The wind
began to die down about this time and
at l O'Clock the helm was put amid
ship and the Columbia's great white
spinnaker was sent aloft. When every
thing was ready a pull on the tackle
brought out couple of stocks and the
wind catching in the canvas spread the
enormous sails for the first time De-
spite the fact that the breeze had fallen
off considerably, the Columbia took a
jump and Travelled along at ten knots.
an hour under the greater speed. The
spinnaker was used but a few minutes
when orders were given to take it in
and it was down and the boom on deck
in three minutes and ten seconds from
the time the order was given.
The Defender did not run back to
Newport with the Columbia, but re-
manned outside cruising up and down.
STREET DUEL IN GALVESTON.