The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-11
SAIL SIDE BY SIDE.
Defender With Time
Allowance Beats
Columbia.
MAKES up FOR BAD DEFEAT.
New Yacht Makes Noble
Showing for Squally
Weather.
MAKES UP FOR BAD DEFEAT.

Vineyard Haven, Mass, Aug. 10.-The
old yacht champion, Defender practt-
cally won a race against Columbia to-
day, if time allowance was given, IN
the dirtiest sort of weather for yacht
club cruise. But the victory, it must
be admitted, was more than well
earned, and the yachtsmen of the New
York club and their guests, never saw
before, and may not see again for
years, such a sailing event.
The margin between the two famous
(. sloops was four seconds over a minute
in the 37-mile run from Brenton's Rect
lightship, off Newport, to the West
Chop buoy in Vineyard sound, with
change in course at Vineyard Sound
lightship, II IA miles from the start
Taking out of consideration the mag
nificent spectacle of the great fleet o.
craft sailing under heavy canvas, only
some of the smaller ones with reefs
taken in their mainsails, the race be-
tween Columbia and Defender, was
fairly soul-stirring.
After both got away over the starting
line it was nip and tuck, with eased
Sheets for almost an hour, Defender
d
speaking. in the lead, with Columbia
abeam. Even after Columbia made
gain, so that Defender could cross UNI
der her stern Columbia did not walk
away, as the heavy breeze hove the
latter down and made her lose distance
on repeated tufts.
4 The fleet got away from Newport
+. with miserable weather prospects, and
rain fell through the entire day, AMI
=, IL IND
a wringing wet mist from seward
The run out to the lightship was quick
ly made, and all the boats got by the
flagship, Corsair. between 1045 and IL
o'clock, ana all finished off West Chop
shortly after 8 o'clock.
The two big sloops were held back
Defender crossing the line at 11.20:1t
and Columbia at 11.20:40 Columbia al
once bore down on Defenders weather
quarter, but could not get by her, ano
for Is miles the boats sailed side by
side. Just before reaching Vineyard
Sound lightship, II quarter miles from
the start, Columbia managed to pass
Defender. Just before reaching the
lightshipi both boats set No. / jib-tor
sails, and thre4 strong puffs knocked
both boats well down, and Columbia
was forced to huff each time. From the
lightship to the finish. nearlys20 miles
SAfN
wind, and Columbia drew away from
Defender, finishing l minute and foui
seconds ahead of her.
Today's race and the performance OF
Columbia was satisfactory on the score
of heavy weather She took all that
came, and while eased up several times
that was no evidence that she would
have had too much of a good thing, If
a stake was pending on the outcome
of the race. All the other boats found
that the weather was boisterous
enough for the time being, and some
of the schooners fairly few through
the water, carrying some frislzy look
ing "bones in their teeth"
The sloop Vigilant which headed the
fleet, finished first, with Navahoe sec
ond, and then came the two big racers
All the craft finished in a nasty squat
Tomorrow most of the boats will sail
over to New Bedford, but Columbia
and Defender viii probably pass by
Buzzards Boy and continue to New
port.