The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-07
SHAMROCKS DOOM SOUNDED.
COLUMBIA HAD NO TROUBLE IN
beating DEFENDER.

Won the Race Over Triangular
Course of Thirty Miles by Mar
gin of Nearly Four MInutes-ShOw-
ed Her Superiority in Windward
WOrI<-Gained on Every Tack-Be-
ieVed Sir Thomas viii Have TO
Leave the Silver Mug Behind.
New York, July Cover a <ringular
course Of thirty miles in comparatively
light winds the new se.in-Morgan yacht
Columbia to-day vanqushed the Wander
bilt yacht Defender and convinced the
yachtsmen who saw the royal struggle
that she is worthy of defending the prec-
ious trophy which Sir Thomas Upton and
his merry tars hope to take back with
them in the Shamrock next fall.
Based uDon the showing she made as a
better boat than the Defender under ad-
verse conditions, the nautical sharps are
strongly convinced that Sir Thomas will
sail home without the silver mug, the
possession of which has given US the
yachting supremacy of the world since
1851.
To-day's race plainly demonstrated that,
no matter how skillfully constructed a
yacht may be, her sailing and ability 10
go to windward may be killed by imper-
fectly setting sails
The Columbia won the race by a margin
of minutes 50 seconds (unoficlal time)
There is no doubt she would have won
by. a larger margin if her sails had fitted
as well as the Defenders.
But to-day's race was an unsatisfactory
one. Shifting, battling winds and a bad,
lumpy sea, with dirty rain squalls. made
the conditions anything but ideal for
yacht racing.
The Defenders Superior.
In windward work the Columbia, with
sails drawing badly demonstrated her SUI
periority, and in long reach with sheets
eased, she outfooted the Vanderbilt boat.
Sudden shifting of the wind prevented a
trial at running with spinnakers. In light
weather. close hauled, therefore. it can
De said that she is undoubtedly the De-
tenders superior, but what she can do in
a piping breeze remains to be seen.
Through a blunder or by design, Capt
Barr. of the Columbia, gave the Defender
start equal to her time allowance. about
two minutes. The beat TO windward made
beautiful race. The interest was intense
The Columbia seemed more tender than the
Defender-more tender, but perhaps more
stately as she lay down to her work Min
iature cataracts poured from her glisten-
ing decks when the water spurted twenty
feet high from her bows but as she lifted
beautifully she looked like huge gull rls-
ing from the water Then the talent began
to get nervous. Gradually, but surely the
Defender was drawing ahead. 1t did moi
take the yachtsmen long to discover the
cause. The Defenders sails fit TO perfec-
10
loose and cracked in the ten-knot breeze.
Began to Make Gains.
Half an hour later the wind sank to
about five knots, and Immediately the
sails of the Columbia began to draw and
she began to gain upon her adversary.
The Columbia continued to gain on every
taCa, and a few minutes before the first
mark was reached she crossed the De-
tenders bow on the starboard tack Then
the nautical sharps breathed easier She
rounded the stake exactly one minute
ahead of the Defender
On the long reach for the second mark
with the wind abeam the Columbia gained
hfty-eighC seconds 1t was now only a
question OF how much the Columbia would
beat the Defender and many of the steam
ers and tugs headed back for the finish.
Gracefully and nQiselessy The Columbia
swept over the invisible finish lire and
when she crossed she was given a royal
salute.
As the Defender erased the line she also
was greeted with demonstration quite
as enthusiastic and prolonged.
Herbert Leeds, on behalf Of Mr.. Iselln,
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.
The race to-day was an informal trial
for cup offered by the New York Yacht
Club