New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-11
DEFENDER BEAT COLUMBIA
OLD CHAMPION SCORES A VICTORY ON
TIME ALLOWANCE.
RACE SAILED IN WORST SORT OF WEATHER.
COLUMBIA STOOD THE ROUGH
WEATHER IN FINE FORM.

RACE SAILED IN WORST SORT OF WEATHER.
COLUMBIA STOOD THE ROUGH
WEATHER IN FINE FORM.
Vineyard Haven, Mass. Aug. lo-Ihe oid
Yacht champion. the Defender practcaiiy won
a race against the Columbia to-day II ume al
,owance WAS given in the worst sort Of weather
for a yacht club cruise. But the VICTORY IL
must be admitted was more than well earned
ond the vachtsmen of the New-York Yacht
Club and their guests never saw before and
may not see again for years, such sailing con-
,o.t Tho margin between the Janus sloops was
fourteen seconds over a minute. In the thirty
eeven-ro,le run from Brenton's Reef bigntshp'
off Newport to the West Chop Buoy IN Nine-
ward Sound with change In course al WING
ward Sound Iightship. seventeen ana one
quarter miles from the start
TAXING ont OF consideration the magnificent
spectacle Of the large feet OF craft sailing under
heavy canvas only some of the smaller ones
with reefs taken In their mansails, the race
between the Columbia and the Defender was
fairly soul-stirring.
After both got away over the starting line II
was nip and tuck with eased sheets for almost
an hour the Defender Just a hairs breadth
comparatively speaking In the Lead with the
Columbia abeam. Even after the Columbia
m m,
under her stern. the Columbia did not walk
away. as the heavy breeze held the latter down
and made her lose distance on repeated lufs.
The fleet got away from Newport with m'sera-
ble weather prospects and rain fell through the
entire day and the southerly ffteer knot wind
brought in a wringing wet mist from seward
The run out to the lghtshp was successfully
made and all the boats got by the flagship
Corsa,r between 1915 and II o'clock. and all
finished off West Chop shortly after o'clock
The two big sloops were held back, the De-
fender crossing the line at 11:2o:lo and the
Columbia at II 20:4O The Columbia at once
bore down on the Defenders weather quarter
but could not get by her, and for fifteen miles
the boats sailed side by side. Just before reach
ing Vineyard Lightshp. seventeen and quar-
ter miles from the start, the Columbia managed
TO pass the Defender.
Just before reaching the lightship both boats
set No | jb topsails, and three strong puf1s
knocked both boats well down, and the Column
bia was forced to luff each time. from tne
lghtship to the finish nearly twenty miles the
boats ran somewhat more off the wind. and the
Columbia drew away from the Defender, finish
ing one minute and four SECONDS aheaa Oh n mI
To-day's race and the performance Of the Co.
lumbia were satisfactory on the score OF heavy
weather.
COLUMBIA IN HEAVY WEATHER.
She took all that came. and while eased up
several times. there 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 flew through the water,
| carrying some risky looking boots IN their
teeth" The sloop Vigilant, which headed the
fleet. finished first, with the Navahoe second
and then came the two big racers. All the cratt
finished in a nasty squat, which made the turn
at the West Chop Buoy particularly exhilarat-
ing for all hands
Tonight the feet rides at anchor In vineyard
Haven, with turbulent waters underneath ana
| plenty Of wind whstlnS through the rigging
overhead. Tomorrow most Of the boats Will SAIL
/ over TO New Bedford but the Columbia and the
Defender will probably pass by Buzzards Bay
/ and continue to Newport.