Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-03
N Eek AND N Eek
Shamrock and Columbia in Close
Race Homeward.
CHALLENGER had BEST OF START
Defender Overhaul ed Her Before
Reaching Stake Boat.
THE RACE IN d E I \ / L

NEW YORK, October 3.-On board the
yacht Shamrock. which Will sail today the
first of the series Of races fOr the America :
cup. preparations for the great internal
tfonal event were begun with tie dawn.
The boats spent the night at anchor off
Tompkinsyile and early in the morning
were towed II positions off SANDY Hook.
At S o'clock the day was faiTlv clear and
with a crisp north TO uorth-no-t beast wind
blowing 10 ia IL knots hour, with pros
poets of a lighter breeze as the day Wore
on. The horizon to tie south and east was
comparatively clear, observation in that di-
rection extending over fifteen miles. \
heavy haze reached over the ong Island
shore and up the harbor cu-tinS off the
range in thai direction to about seven miles.
The upper bay presented an ;nimated APP
pearance with craft hurIying out to the
scene of the yacht race.
The observation and other craft that
passed out % the course before 1890 in
cluded twenty-eisht steam yachts. twenty
three tugs. five revenue cutters and police
boats, the United States dispatch boat Dol
phin, six torpedo boats and forty excursion
steamers
Guests the Dolphin.
The dispatch boat Dolphin had on board
the Earl of Minto. governor general of
Canada. and Lacy Mimic; Mr.. ana Mrs.
Douglas Robinson, Col Treadweii and wife,
August Belmont and others. When they
came aboard a salute of thirteen guns was
fired in honor Of the governor general and
the flag of Canada was r9ised to the mast
head. The breeze, from about north north
east. was freshing, and it look I'd as if the
big sloops would have all the wind the"
wanted. Ten minutes after arriving a The
lightship the Shamrock began setting her
big club topsail and a few minutes later thu
big sail was well uD.
The Columbia followed suit a few min
utes later but she had conSiderab BILE diff
Guilty in getting her club tppSal to set just
right.
In setting these sails both yachts stood
away from the liShtship toward The Long
Island shore on the starboard tack, but as
soon as the Shamrock had got into position
she stood for the starting line.
The Columbia headed back to the light
ship about 1915 a m. and the crew worked
hard trying to get the big club topsafl set
The Columbia arrived back at the light
ship at 1910 and found the Shamrock stand
off her under mainsail. club topsail and jib
The Columbia's mainsai apparently peak
ed up higher than the Shamrock's. The
Shamrock's club topSail did not seem t.
fit well as the Columbias and appeared
to be slack in the 1eech. This and her
green hull made quite distinguishing fca-
ture.
The starting gun was fired al HIS right
on time. and the Shamrock close to The,
line. went over first. The Shamrock in
crossing the line broke out her baby jill
topsail and fore-staysaiI which to those
on shore seemed rather strange as the
course was dead before the wind
The Columbia, the other hand, broke
out her big balloon topsail, and. a minute
after crossing, her spnnaker was also cot
The Shamrock crossed at 11:I5:2o unoffi-
cial, and the Columbia about - seconds
later
In the first ten minutes of the race thu.
Shamrock changed her head sails fire.
quently.
Five minutes after the start she took in
her baby jib topsail and set her spinnakel
to port, then she set a big balloon forestay-
sail. A minute or two afteryard her big
balloon jib sail was swung to the wind.
During this time the Columbia seemed to
draw up gradually on her rival, due, as il
afterward proved, to these frequent
changes of canvas on the part of the Sham
rock.
For the first three miles Of the run down
the Jersey shore the Columbia seemed to
gain on her rival and al time was not
more than a hundred yards aster1
The Shamrock. however, got her sails set
TO the satisfaction Of those on board and
began to draw away rom the American
boat In the next two miles of the race the
Shamrock pulled out until she was almost
half mile ahead and seemed to be going
very rapidly. while the Columbia acted as
II lifeless
bulletins From The Race
1905 a.m.-The Columbia is standing ont
toward the Hghtship The Shamrock has
let go the tug and, with maiusau. staysail
and jib set, is standing off toward the
lightship.
1888 a.m.-The torpedo boat noriIla and
guard boats are preparing TO clear the
present
The preliminary gun was fired at 1u:59ls.
lilo am-The torpedo boats are work
ing to keep the course clear. There is a
big excursion boat close Up to the line
which appears to be taking the wind from
the yachts
Shamrock Crosses First
HIGHLANDS. October ), 11:15la ain
Starting signals given. The Shamrock first
over. the Columbia few seconds later
Yachts about south on the port tack.
n:17 a-m.-The Columbia has both spin
maker and balloon jb topsail set.
LONG BEACH. October 3. I1:19 am
The Columbia appears to oe gaining slight
ly on the Shamrock.
HIGHLANDS. October g. 11:2e a m.-The
Shamrock appears to be increasing her
lead.
HIGHLANDS OF NAVESINK, October
y. HIP a. NAT IL IL the starting gun was
III ed.
The Shamrock apparently crossed the line
~ lllo:3O and the Columbia at IL 100
The Shamrock went over the line with
baby jibtopsail foreStaysail set breaking
them out as she crossed, while the Column
bia broke her big balloon topsail and spin
maker.
u.2D-The course is fifteen miles to lee
ward and turn down the Jersey shore The
Shamrock did not set her splnnaker until
hve minutes after crossing the line during
which time the Columbia pulled I'D some
what on her.
Columbia Draws Closer
AT 11:2l the Shamrock led the Columbia
by about 200 yards.
The Shamrock has set her big balloon
forestaysail. The spinnaker Is drawing
poorly, while the Columbia's big balloon lib
tcrsail appears to be drawing her up on the
challenger.
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