The record-union., 1899-10-02
THE COLUMBIA
AND SHAMROCK.
They viii Meet in Their First Race
Tomorrow.
Experts Expect a Very Interesting
Contest.

Forty-Eight transformations
Agreed on Under Which the
Yachts Will Enter the Contest.
NEW YORK. Oct 1.-The Columbia
and Shamrock will meet in their first
race for the Americas cup at about Ii
o'clock Tuesday morning. Experts eX
pect that the race will prove contest
as earnest and as interesting as any
that have preceded it for the interna-
tional yachting trophy, where skill ana
judgment will play as important part
as the speed of the respective boats.
With the coming of the Shamrock
new chapter was begun in the Amer
ica's cup history. 1t showed that an
international challenge could be ar
ranged without much correspondence
or months of planning, When business
like officials were behind it. The VISIT
of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club Conn
mittee to this city more than one year
ago was diplomatic in nature and far
reaching in results. Members of this
committee were found to be goo0
yachtsmen and genial men-a race for
the Americas cup their only aim
Hardly letter passed for more than
a year between the committees or the
Royal Ulster and New York CLUBS
The agreement necessary was signed
by both on the occasion of the visit
of the Ulster Yachtsmen, and nothing
more was needed. Permission for the
Shamrock to be towed in calms on her
| 1o was
the only supplementary matter of I'M
portance that subsequently received at
tention-
Since the arrival of the Shamrock
here followed by her owner SIR
Thomas Upton, and his assistants, the
good fellowship so pleasantly estab-
lished when the challenge was accept
ed has been so thoroughly cordial there
is no likelihood that anything can hap
pen abruptly to terminate It. Inc
challengers have not been unreason-
able in their demands, and the New
York Yacht Club has not bothered
them with any unjust or annoying re-
strictions. So the latest chapter in
the Americas cup history bids fair to
have an ending quite as pleasant as its
beginning.
Sir Thomas Upton used the best ma
terials at hand to produce boat
worthy in every way to be chai-
lenger for the cup. He and his friends,
together with William Fife, Jr., the
designer of the Shamrock, seem fuh
of confidence regarding her ability 10
win the old trophy, now in possession
of its holders for more than forty
eight years The secrecy observed III
the construction of the yachts is Worlo-
wide history. Following the example
of the Americans in building the vigil
liant and Defender, successful defeno-
ers of the cup, Mr.. Fife built metal
boat which is extraordinarily hght,
and gave a marvelously big rig to her.
He has taken the additional precautlon
of putting her in the hands of the very
best officers and crew that could be
found in Great Britain. That his boat
has much speed has repeatedly been
shown in her trials in the last lew
weeks.
j. Pierpont Morgan, Commodore OIL
the New York Yacht Club, and Z. OH
yer Iselin of the n. Y. Y. c., are own
ers of the Columbia, which Will ue-
fend the cup against the shamrock.
The same genius that designed the
Vigilant and the Defender had the task
of planning and building her. Captain
Nat Herreschoff and the company
which he ably represents nave done
their best. The new boat is OF Topln
bronze built as staunchly as such
craft can be put together. Neither
time nor money has been spared IN
producing her. She has been well trleo
with the old favorite, the Defender,
and demonstrated her ability to beat
her on every point of sailing az Wen as
i'm all kinds of weather. The Columbia
stands to-day worthy the reputation
of her designers and builders, and OF
the New York Yacht Club.
Such are the vessels that VIII meet
on Tuesday over course or thlrty
miles, starting from Sandy HOOK
I,ightship to windward and leeward.
according to the direction of the breeze.
The second race will be triangular, ten
miles to q leg, and will be sailed on
Thursday if no serious accident nap
pens to the yachts Tuesday.
And, So the contests will alternate
in the matter of courses every other
day until one of the yachts has won
three races.
Both boats have been we'll tried out
and they have not been found want
ing. The Britisher had an inslgn1h-
cant brush or two with the old timer
Britannia on the other side and beat
her by many minutes without an ef-
fort, an inadequate test of her speed
On this side she has been out on the
lower bay a number of times during
the past six weeks and on occasions
showed marvellous speed and wonderful
capabilities. She has shown herself
to be essentially rough weather boat,
standing up stiffiy in the strongest kind
of breeze and cutting through the wat
er in marvelously smooth manner. In
lighter weather the Shamrock has not
made much testing, beyond the ord.-
nary trials which permitted Designer
Fife and Sailmalxer Ratzey to study
her weaknesses and improve her rig.
Since her first trials the Shamrock has
been fitted with a new set of sails,
much larger in area than the first and
suiting her better.