The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-02

with her, and the Defender has been
in charge of a crew that drove her to
the last inch of speed. The trials
through which these two yachts passed
were genuine races. The Columbia and
her crew form a thoroughly well tried
racing outfit and Captain Charley Barr,
who will be at the wheel, is an expert
The ShamrOck'S crew number more
than that of the American boat and are
well tried men every one of them. Cap
tainS Archie HOgarth and Wringe will
have the handling of the Britisher.
Comparing the merits of the boats,
as they have been estimated since the
trials, it is reasonably certain that the
Shamrock can stand up better in a
strong blow than the Columbia. Many
believe that she would prove the better
boat in a gale, but could not be certain
that a gale will prevail on any of the
racing days According to the judgment
of those who have followed the two
yachts in such trials as they have had,
the Columbia has shown much greater
speed in winds of u knots an hour
than under and even the warmest sup
pOrters of the Shamrock confess that
should light winds prevail, their faVorite
will have but little chance of winning
They cOncede this by saying that they
hope for stiff breezes-
In addition to her fine qualities in
light winds, the Columbia has shown
herself most satisfactory in her wind
ward work, and it is worth noting that
she was designed especially for this
kind of work
According to the agreement under
which these races are to be sailed the
winner Of three out OF the series of
hVe is to keep or take the cup, as the
case may be. The dates fixed are Oc-
tober 3, October and October z, and
II It IS necessary to sail five races, the
following Tuesday and Thursday are
the extra days named for the contest.
The conditions which govern the races
are that the first race shall be to wind
ward or to leeWard and return; second
race an equatorial triangle; third race
similar to the second: fourth similar
to the second; fifth similar to the first
The courses shall be as nearly as posi-
BILE thirty nautical miles.
Because of the lay of the land-the
position of the coasts of Long Island
and New Jersey-the starting point for
each race is likely to be the Sandy
Hook hghtship-the red hulk that is
anchored about seven miles to the east
ward Of the point of the Hook But
at times the wind comes so that the
Scotland hghtship, a yellow hulk AS
miles nearer Sandy Hook, is more con-
venient and it might easily happen that
1t would be used, especially in the tri-
angular course.
The starting line is to be formed nv
the flagship of the New York Yacht
club, anchoring near one of the light
ships mentioned. The usual distance
Is two hundred yards but there is no
specified distance in the agreement. A
preparatory gun on the flagship will
be fired fifteen minutes before the
crossing time. Ten minutes later a
warning gun will be fired and in five
minutes the third gun, which is the
starting signal The racers have two
minutes left in which they may cross,
and fourth gun will announce the
end of that limit. Each will be timed
on the second it crosses. Each race is
to be started at IL o'clock, if possible
but a dead calm or fog or a heavy
gale-a real storm-wouId necessarily
postpone the race. and it is agreed that
no race shall be started after 1890
o'clock Further than that, to avoid q
drifting match, wherein a boat may
win rather by luck than by the qualities
of the yachts or crews, it is agreed if
one of the yachts is not at the home
line within five hours and 80 minutes
after the start the race shall be de-
cared off, and the same course will
then be laid out on next race day
Another very important agreement
relates to accident If a yacht is ser
iously crippled by accident before the
race IS started time for repairs will be
allowed, but if anything carries away
after the signal, the sufferer must do
its best with its repairs as it sails the
course and takes the consequences. For
this is to be the test of construction as
well as design and seamanship