The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-08
WILL RACE OFF LARCHMONT
COLUMBIA AND DEFENDER WILL MEET
TO-DAY ON THE SOUND.


Both Yachts Were lowed to New Rochelle
Early Yesterday Morning and Received n
Thorough OverhRuling-Courso VIII He
Nineteen-Mile Triangle. Sailed Twice.
iachtsmen generally were talking yesterday
OF tho race between the Coum bia and the De-
fender which was sailed on Thursday of the
Hook, and all agreed that 1t was not u brilliant
success. The fuky, shifting wind made the
contest ANYTHING but n fair test. The fact that
the Defender finished so close to the Columbia
was rather n surprise to many, as IL was cx-
pected from the few informal brushes between
the two boats that the Columbia would walk
away from the old champion very quickly. The
Defender showed that abe Is still in the race
with the bost single stckers and many good
races are looked for between the two yachts.
One great question that Is troubling yachts
men Is whether the Defender is as fast this
year as she was in 1895. II she IL. then the new
yacht is an improvement. and it Is reasonably
safe to assume that tho Americas Cup Is safe
There are many persons. however. who declare
that the old boat Is not going as fast. and that
to put her In the same shape would necessitate
big outlay OF money and lots of work. 1t has
been reported that her underbody is not as
smooth as 1t was when she raced against the
Nalkyric. The yacht has been in the water for
action OF the water. but steel and bronze to-
Rether cause corrosion. and the bronze plates
are said to have become pittod around the
rivets.
When the Defender raced in 1895 she was
stripped Of everything and was only q she'll
This year she is fitted with hunks for the men
and In the after part there are quarters for Mr.
Duncan and his friends. When the yacht was
at Bristol the water plate. which was OF
aluminium, was taken or and another plate OF
steel substituted. Then the yacht has been
strengthened forward with additional braces
All these have added weight. and although she
has more sail spread than she had in the last
cup races this is not thought to be sufficient to
offset the additional weight The yacht is we'll
handled and the crew 80 far have shown that
they can set sails better and faster than the
crew OF the Columbia.
The two yachts anchored of Tomnknsyle
yesterday morning the Wallace B., Flint, the
tug attending the Columbia, passed q line. to
chelle. The tug John A. Bouker did the same
with he Defender. and with the ST. Michaels
bringing up the rear the procession started UP
Yachts came in for lots Of salmting, and it was
quite trumphal parade. The Columbia was
still great favorite. and whistles footed a
welcome TO her, all the way to New 70.
place place. they picked up their moornss and
then The day was spent in oyerhauline
sE e be- on Spad gGnE ready for
the Defender the standing and running rig
gng was carefully examined and the sails
looked over and put in shape. On the Column
ha there was more work TO do. The rigging
had stretched lyland had to be set up.
Mith everything new on board thiT will have
races to get things into racing trim. Some
changes are to be made in the Columbia sails.
About foot will be taken off the luiT and the
head will be cut The sailmakcrs on the yacht
This caused some trouble during the race on
Thursday and il was about the first thing
to be tackled as soon as the yacht reached her
Capt Barr was busy all day Late in the
afternoon he found q few minutes time TO chat
silent man usually, and when he said that the
tti11lum bIa was all right i meant good deal,
rsd ne wSI S tb Th 1hs
ba is Very last ' 's he said and beoe
the racing season S is over she will be much
about the yacht being tender. or about the
speed OF the Defender as compared to that in
The race to- day will be sailed under the aus
pieces Of the Larchmont Yacht Club. The prize
Is valuable cup given by Commodore Clarence
o'clock. and the course will he n triangular one.
When Mr.. IIselin and Mr.; Duncan met the COM
details of this race it was agreed that the long
triangular course, over which the big yachts
This course is from the starting line of the en-
trance to the harbor to n stakeboat in Hemp
stead harbOr. three miles away: then to
u mark six miles to the eastward and then back
to Larchmont. making total distance of fifteen
miles. Mr., Iselin suggested that the eastern
mark should he moved two miles further ca st.
so that the total distance would be nineteen
miles. This course will be sailed twice over.
or thrty-eight miles in all. They NAV GO TO
the Hampstead mark first. or they may 30 to
the eastward. This will be determined by the
direction Of the wind.
Two fast tugs Tor the use of the Regatta
Committee and the members Of the club have
been chartered. 1t Is likely that there will be
will be the gala event on the Sound this year.
The test will in all probability be in smooth
water. and If there is a fair sailing breeze it
should be an interesting one Capt. Barr IL
thoroughly familiar with the waters of tho
Sound He has won number of good races
on them with Commodore Postey's schooner
Colonia. The many turns will give to the men