The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-03
COLUMBIA EASILY WINS.
nrClslvB vICTO0Y o. TnB NEW
poAr OVEN TEE DETENDEn.
Cevers the CSusss g WlnAwasa sDA
Resusn II . Miasses ana - See
oaas Less Thaa Her Ce0Detitor-
New Mass % % Expectations.

NEWPORT. Sept. 2-The nrst Of the
formal trial races between the Columo'a
and the Defender today for the purpose
OF selecting q yacht to sail against the
Shamrock N defense OF the Americas cup,
resulted N 40 decisive q victory for tie
new boat that were IL not for the fact that
II 10 desirable to have her race az much
a. possible. other contests would seem
almost useless. The yachts sailed one OF
the regulation i5-mile windward and lee
ward courses In an s-knot breese that IT,
creased on the beat out and nattened out
ut the nnish. and II took the Columbia
Just minutes and - seconds less time 10
cover tho distance than - did the De-
fender.
Nearly everyone seemed fully satisfied
with the result OF the race. especially the
owners OF the new boat. for the steel mas.
which was carried through q race for the
first time. certainly improved her wonder
fully. enabling her 10 stand stra.ghter tnan
the Defender and therefore to ou,point her.
In fact. the Columbia sailed all around the
old boat, and but for the softening Of the
wind as she neared the line and the subse-
Quent frsshening as her rival came up to
the fn.sn. the difference between the two
boats would have been 1t least two. II
not three. minutes greater. II was . s;iR
brush while II lasted, and the result was
the start Capt. Rhodes berthed his boat In
excellent style and shot her over the line
IL seconds ahead Of the Columbia. which
was coming up rapidly on his windward
quarter. The Defender held her. unable
herself TO get by. for every time she tack
ed TO port the new boat would force her
around. yet. nevertheless back-windiag
the new boat 80 that she could not draw
from under the Defender and the latter
was forced to swing OF under the formers
stern. SO as not to be blanketcd. After
that tho race was q mere question OF how
much the Columbia would WIN by.
Those who watched her saw the Colam-
hia stand up to the breeze az never before.
besides shooting faster and pointing high
er. For a few moments the baby 1ib top
sail was taken OF to see how she would
hold the old boat. but while II made little
difference. Il was replaced. only to be Ie-
moved again when the wind increased to
nearly twelve knots.
mark and would have sailed faster coming
In. had they not been delayed consider
ably in setting their spinnakers. Still. a
S0-mile race In over " hours II well up to
the average.
Undoubtedly there will be few
changes In some Of the new sails. for, AZ
compared with the Defender. which are
INV well UI8u p0IIeCt, tney seem Drawn
and puckered In many places. The main
sail had fullness near the leach. which
three long battens failed to natten out,
and closer to the mast at the hoist the
canvas was far too nat to drive the boat
well to windward. The club topsail Ger.
tainly set better than the old one. but the
stin breeze soon stretched the canvas so
much that the leach loosened up and nut
tered all the way out to the mark The
pole and topsail were fne blocking pine
sticks. and steel could not have held bet
ter than those spars. As for the head
sails. they were far better than the old
ones, and touching up here and there IL
all that will be required
Nearly all eyes were turned. at least
part OF tho time. on the steel mast that
proved 30 treacherous when hrst II was
tried. Today It stood up straighter than
any pine mast could have done. with not
the slightest sign Of a buckle. leaving
little doubt that this mast or q similar
affair will 90 through the cup races sue
cessfully and aid the Columbia materially
In defeating the Shamrock.
With new sails. q new mast and . few
more races for the crews benefit. the
yachtsmsn hereabouts are Of the opinion
that the only point TO be decided In the
great event Will be a. 10 how much the
Columbia will lead the Shamrock at the
finish.