The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-26
HQuHC1ES.
TRIAL Of COLUMBIA
New americas" Cup Defender a
Great Success.
BEATS OLD DEFENDER
SAILS AWAY FROM HER IN A
BRUSH OF A MILE.
Boat Which Will Meet the English
Yacht Shamrock Makes Spleen
did Record In Her First Trip Off
Newport-Is a Very Fast Boat
Details of the Trial.

|
fender Columbia, which took place in
Narragansett bay today, was more
successful than either her builders or
her owners had reason to hope. Not
only did the new boat show herself to
be able in every particular, but she
met the old racer, Defender in a
friendly brush of a mile to windward
and vanquished her with the greatest
ease.
The race between the flyers, which
was over in five minutes, was sailed in
an eiSht-knot breeze under the same
conditions, each boat carrying three
lower sails with sheet we'll flattened.
1t took the Columbia about three min
utes, sailing from the Defenders
weather quarter, to blanket her. and
in five minutes she was 100 yards
ahead, going past the old cup defender
as if the latter was anchored. Under
these circumstances it would seem as
if the Columbia were from fifteen to
twenty seconds mile faster than the
Defender, and if she can make the
same gain in a hard blow, the safety
of the Americas cup will be consider
ably allayed.
The trip today was the builders
trial, and although the managing own
er. c. Oliver Iselin, and a number of
y
still the Columbia's designer, Nat Her.
reshoff, was in charge. and after the
sail down the bay the boat was towed
back to Bristol for few minor re-
pairs. 1t is expected that the boat will
have another trial Thursday, and by
the end of the week she will be for
mally turned over to Mr.. Iselin. In
the meantime her interior fittings will
be finished and her bowsprit, which
apparently started in the socket during
today's brush with the Defender, prob
ably will need some attention. Before
the Columbia left for Bristol this af-
ternoon, Mr.. Iselin expressed himself
as being more than satisfied with her,
and it was a happy lot of yachtsmen
that watched her performance and
went to Bristol with her tonight
Preparing For Trial.
The Columbia lay off the Herreshof
wharf all last night, being moored well
out in the channel in order to avoid a
grounding. The crew were up early
and by o'clock this morning her
decks were washed down and the big
No. l jib sent up its stops. After an
hours interval for breakfast on the
tender ST. Michael, the crew began the
work of getting up the mainsail. 1t
was a difficult task for twenty-five
well into the air. Such huge sail
had never been hoisted before, and it
was over an hour before it was set up
to Captain Bars satisfaction. Just
before O'Clock Nat Herreshom pulled
off from the shore, and shortly after
the naptha launch brought Mr. and
Mrs. Iselin and three yachting friends
from the tender.
The weather at this time was threat
ening, and the southwest breeze of the
early morning had flattened out to
calm At 9:15 the anchor broke ground
and the Columbia was off on her mi
tial trial, beating slowly down the bay
with Nat Herreshoff at the wheel. AS
the yacht stood off the jib was broken
out and her Staysail went up, but the
wind was so light that. after standing
over on the port tack in order to put
her about, the naptha launch had to
be called upon for assistance. The
launch. after getting her around, towed !
her well over toward Hog island. at |
the entrance to the harbor. and then
the wind freshening the tow line was
cast off The boat rapidly gained head |
way as the wind increased, and after !
a number of short tacks, stood out into |
the bay between Hog island and Bris |
toll Point. The breeze was scarcely |
over three knots an hour, yet the Co |
lumbia slipped along. making hardly /
a ripple. and with all the east of a rae |
ing shell.
Faster Than Old Defender.
Even in the light wind, Mr.. HERES |
hoff was able to throw her around on |
an average of thirty-five seconds, and |
later, when Captain Barr took the |
wheel, he tackled in 80, %, % and even |
in 90 seconds, showing the new boat to |
be between ten TO fifteen seconds !
faster in stays than the Defender In |
the freshening wind the boat made |
very little fuss as she glided through |
the water, and there was no perceptible |
wave on her quarter, but a small wake
astern. AS the wind caught the big
it filed out and set beauti-
fully, with scarcely wrinkle within it's
entire surface, or even waver. On the
other hand. the head sails were dis
The fore stay sail seemed |
to be cut very straight along the foot,
while the head of the sail, which vas
90 full. tapped badly in the wind
Later the huff on this sail was hauled
Town hard and the sail set much bet
-er but the jib kept splitting out wind
nto it so that it shook nearly all day
rhe jib was fairly steady, but had a
big bak along the huff. which shows
hat il could stand but little stretch
ng.
Standing out of the harbor, the Co
umbia was headed across the bay to
he shore of Shore island, and just be-
ore 10 o'clock she went about. and
With constantly freshening breeze
rom the southwest, stood over toward
Prudence island on the west coast of
he bay. AS she passed the Hog island
ightship the latter'S crew saluted her
With three strikes on the fog bell.
which salute was answered by the
ender st. Michael, steaming along be-
lind with the press tug. 1t took lust
IN hour to beat from Hog island light
hip at the entrance of Bristol har-
,or. to Rowe island. off Newport, dis
ance of about nine miles. with a ia
-erable tide.
The Columbia made five bitches on
he way down Nara gansett bay, a long
eg to the north of Prudence mot
orince) island. and to the south of
sandy Point light, about half way
lown the island. third to the south
# Halfway rock, fourth to Gould
sland. and fifth to Conanicut island
hore, just north of jamestown.
AS the Columbia came out after the
after tack she met the Defender and
lavahoe coming out of Newport har-
,or. accompanied by a fleet of steam
'achts and sailing craft. The Navahoe
lauled up to the windward. but the
Defender came down the wind. passing
lnder the stern of the Columbia. In
tead of keeping on, the Columbia was
leaded after the Defender and the two
'os-s sailed three miles up the bay be-
ore the wind.
Meets the Denfender.
Just as the Defender came out, the
top sail was set on the