The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-07
COLUMBIA ONCE AGAIN.
The New Yacht Defeats Defender
by Nearly Four Minutes
UNDER ADVERSE CONDITIONS.


Trim and Taut-DefectsWill BE REM
edied Before the Formal Trial Races.
New York, July by the race be-
tween the new cup defender Columbia
and the old Defender sailed yesterday
over triangular course of 80 miles-10
miles to a leg-it has been. plainly
demonstrated that, no matter how
skillfully constructed yacht may be,
her sailing and ability to go to wind
ward may be killed by imperfectly
setting sails. The Defenders set to
perfection.
The Columbia won the race by a
margin OF minutes and SO seconds
unofficial time). There is no doubt
she would have won by larger margin
If her sails had fitted as well as the
Defenders.
In the windward work, while the
wind was strong, Columbia was unable
either to Outfoot Or outpoint the De-
fender, chiefly on account of the bad
set OF her club topsail, jib topsail and
fore staysail She covered the first leg
of ten miles to windward three min
utes faster than the Defender, but one
minute of that gain was made when
the wind became light, and less than
two miles from the turning point.
On the second leg the Columbia gain
ed IS seconds. 1t was reach, both
yachts carrying large not balloon, but
jib topsails. On the last leg-close
hauled work in a light breeze-she lost
five seconds to the Defender, probably
ht-r ,f hi In, hn Nd rx,b In,
favored the Defender.
The race, however, convinced the
yachtsmen who saw the royal struggle
that Columbia is worthy of defending
the precious trophy which Sir Thomas
Upton and his merry tars hope to take
back with them in the Shamrock next
fall. The Columbia forestry sail AMI
club topsail are anything but perfect,
and cracked III the wind yesterday like
Transfers whip, demonstrating that
in a general way she will need good
deal of tuning up. Yet, based upon the
showing she made as a better boat
than the Defender under adverse con-
ditions the nautical sharps are strongly
convinced that Sir Thomas will sail
home without the silver mug, the pos
yachting supremacy of the world since
1851.
But yesterdays race was an I'M
satisfactory one. Shifting, battling
winds and bad, lumpy sea, with dirty
rain squalls, made the conditions any.
thing but ideal for yacht racing. The
pillows of mist which enshrouded the
Jersey shore prevented the crowd on
the highlands of Navesink and Sandy
Hook from seeing the race, but the
enveloping haze only added pictures
queness to the contest for those who
went outside in fancy craft to see it.
In windward work the Columbia,
with sails drawing badly, demonstrated
her superiority, and in a long reach,
with sheets eased, she outfooted the
Vanderbilt boat. The sudden shifting
of the wind prevented trial at run
ming with spinnakers. In light weather,
close hauled, therefore, it can be said
that she is undoubtedly the Defenders
superior, but what she can do in
piping breeze remains to be seen.
Captain Barr had the tiller of the
Columbia, and aboard with him were
c. Oliver Iselin, Mrs Iselin, Newberry
ThUrne. William Z. lselin, Herbert w.
Leeds and Woodbury. Kane. The crew
wore the Iseiin colors. Captain
Rhodes had the helm of the Defender.
William Butler Duncan and Mrs. Dun.
can, clad in becoming yachting cos
tune, and John G. Beresford were
aboard her. The white clad sailors
wore caps of red and black stripes.
When the yachts were within about
a fourth Of Ii mile of the finish the
feet gathered about the lightship and
Commodore Morgan's flasehip. Grace
fully and noiselessly the Columbia
swept over the Invisible line between
them, and as she crossed she received
royal salute. Whistles shrieked and
sirens walled. For several minutes the
din continued. The Columbia made no
response to this thunderous demon
stratiOn. As the Defender crossed the
line she also was greeted with a dem
onstration quite as enthusiastic and
prolonged.
Herbert Leeds, on behalf of Mr..
lsein, 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
Butler Duncan said he had nothing to
say for the Defender. Everything had
been satisfactory.
The race yesterday was an informal
trial for a cup offered by the New
York Yacht club. The official trials
will occur in September.