Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-10-05

generated into drifting match Tues
day. 1t had to be declared off because
neither could reach the finish line in
the time allotted by the rules which
provides that if one of the boats does
not finish within 5la hours the race is
declared off. At the end of that time
the yachts were still four miles from
home with the Shamrock leading by
something more than quarter OF a
mile. The yachts were then taken in
tow by their respective tugs and
brought back to anchorage inside
Sandy Hook. Under the rules the first
race is now postponed Tor two days, or
until Thursday. The day promised
we'll at first; the waves were crested
with white caps here and there and
fairly fresh breeze blew, but after the
yachts had crossed the line, the wind
turned iukey and variable and the race
was a tiz2le almost from che start.
Though indecisive in every respect the
race indicates that the Irish boat, with
her English skipper and Scotch crew,
is the ablest sloop ever sent across the
was thrice ahead and twice the Yankee
boat showed the way. For the first
ten minutes the Shamrock led, chen for
five minutes followed, then for three
hours the Columbia led and for the last
hour the Shamrock again led the way,
The breeze blew as high as twelve
knots an hour and as low as three.
, Many of the eXpelss VINO saw the TWO
boats sail are dsincined to believe
there is pin to choose between them,
but when the race is closely analysed,
it is absolutely proven that the Col
umbia showed her superiority az every
point of sailing, beating whenever the
wind freshened, and only in the light
est air could the Shamrock make
Roadway against her. For the first
time this year She government took
hand to prevent the repetition of the
unfortunate occurrence which marred
the last race when the accompanying
excursion boats crowded down upon
the racers and impeded their progress.
| Both the yachts set their club top
sails at 10: 30, the Columbia's men hand
ling their sail smarter than the others.
Promptly at II O'Clock the preparatory
signal was set, During the interval of
fifteen minutes between the prepar
atory and starting signals the
shippers Of both yachts
Unanswered to northward Of starting
line The official time of the start
was: Shamrock-1l;l5:3T Columbia
1l:16:20. The Shamrock had the best
of the start by 43 seconds. AS the Col
umbia crossed the line she broke out
her No. 2 jib topsail. At 11:-17 the
Colunbias spinnaker blossCmed out to
port and she began at once to overhaul
the Shamrock. Captain Hogarth did
not see fit so set the Shamrocks spin
maker until minutes after the Col
mbia had set hers but as soon as it
was set the emerald hued boat began
to hold her own with the Columbia,
! rhe yachts being then not more than
three lengths apart Both yachts were
heading considerably to westward Of
their courses and at II O'Clock the
Shamrock, which had been steadily
gaining, was an eighth Of mile ahead.
! At 12:l5 the wind shifted 10 northwest.
! The Columbia caught ii first, and the
crew took in the spinnaker shortly.
! Captain Barr gybed her to port,
trimmed down the staysaii and bal
| loon jib topsail sheets and in just five
minutes the Columbia had walked past
the Shamrock and was the leading
boat Then followed lufiing match
for half an hour, The Columbia s
crew doused the balloon jib topsail
smartly and as they rounded the mark
all sheets were trimmed fiat on star
| board tack, and the Columbia thus be.
gan her Is miles of w4ndward work.
The time taken at the outer mark when
each yacht luffed around 1t vas Co
| lumbia 1857 Shamrock 1888.
So it will be seen by official figures that
in the run Of fifteen miles from the
start to the mark, the Columbia had
outsailed the Shamrock minutes and
A seconds Her elapsed time at this
point was 2:2l:37 the Shamrock i
2:24:21. The wind was now northeast
! HDTLu anu udu IHGItdSsI " dBDul zen
miles. The Shamrock tackled to star
board at 1856, spinning around on her
heel in fifteen seconds, from fun 70
| full but to the establishment Of the
| thousands who witnessed the Column
bias next execution - seconds later.
She swung around in the almost mere
dibly short space OF ten seconds, timed
| by the stop watch. Captain Hogarth
was apparently feeling confident that
by series OF short lacks he could get
to windward Of the Columbia and put
the Shamrock about four times in 3
minutes and 80 seconds. Cap
tain Barr followed suit: HIS
nimble crew trimmed the sheets just
as fast as those on the Shamrock. When
hey both settled down to steady work
again at 2:l4.50. the Columbia was
still well in the lead arI gaining. The
wind continued filkey uat!l few min
utes before 3 when Ii left the Columbia
for fully FIVE minutes The Shamrock
| Oh shore. held the breeze from the