The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-10
COLUMBIA IS A BIRD
Gives Defender the Worst Beat
ing in Her History.
OVER FIVE MILES ASTERN
The New Boat Is Wonder-Made all
Average OF 13 Knots-A Lively
Brush Between Vigilant and
the Schooner Colonia.

Newport, r. l., Aug. 9.-The New
York Yacht clubs cruise from Gardin-
er's Bay to this port to-day, a distance
of 43 miles, was full of interesting
brushes. While the yachts ran the last
half of the 4S miles in constantly in
creasing southwest breeze the first half
of the day was fuky.
The new boat showed herself very
able in broad reach with constant
ly increasing breeze, and 1t is not too
much to say that she made an aver
age of fully 13 knots in the run along
shore from Watch Hill to Point Ju-
dith. so rapidly dropping the Defender
that when she gybed around the whal-
ing buoy of Point Judith her rival was
hull down to the westward, over five
miles astern. On the run up from Point
Judith dead before the wind, Columbia
gained a minute or two more, so that
at the finish the Defender had receiv-
ed the worst beating in her history
There was never a moment during the
day when there was not wind enough
TO MI the sails, while the last Is miles
were sailed in grand breeze from the
southeast that gave each boat a great
move. The day itself was perfect for
the sky was cloudless and the air
was full of life and vigor A huge fleet
or steam yachts watched the sailing
crafts start and accompanied them
over most of the course. and all New
port saw the finish at Brenton's light
ship. the cup defender of 1893, Vigi-
liant, leading the fleet over the line after
warm contest with the schooner CO.
n r mi
there were 50 seconds between the boats
but as the Nigilant started six min
uteS ahead, the Colonia beat her easily
on the run, although, of course, the
boats sailed in different classes.
The yachts started at half past 10
in fairly strong westerly breeze all
breaking out spinnakers on crossing
the line. The first three or four miles
| We're quickly sailed, but half an hour
| after the start the wind began to slack
| en- and soon some were almost becalm-
| ed.
All during the soft spell of two hours
Columbia seemed specially favored for
| she carried a breeze right along and
| gained rapidly on Defender.
The latter, too, made a mistake in
| getting too near the Fisher island
| shore; when the wind came around
| Columbia caught it half an hour ahead
| 1t was at this time, as the boats pass
Columbia made the gain that gave her
such lead. From Watch Hill to Point
judith she fairly flew over the water
with her boom well off to port and her
big balloon jib top-sail drawing like
a steam engine. All the boats went well
on this reach along shore, and looking
back every yacht seemed fairly buried
in canvas. The home stretch of seven
miles from Point Judith to Brenton's
lightship was made dead before the
wind in a freshening breeze, and the
way the boats jumped along was
caution The race was a grand one
from 2:45 o'clock on. At the time De-
fender took in her spinnaker Columbia
soon followed suit.
Away ahead, more than five miles in
the lead. were Vigilant and Colonia
and the sloop and schooner We're MAX
ing the hottest fight of their career for
the honor of finishing first For several
| miles they sailed close together, beam
to beam. Both rounded the whstlng
buoy off Point Judith at 3:34, leading
the fleet. Arctic came next al 3:43:
Columbia swept grandly around the
buoy at 3:4S:04 and Navahoe at the
same time. Columbia could not over
haul and pass the Vigilant in the seven
mile run to the finish. Even Colonia
was unable to do it. The latter yacht
gybed to starboard off Narragansett
and dropped astern just as they both
passed the old cup defender, Volunteer,
which, with Hank Hoff at the wheel
had come out to meet the fleet
Smartly the crew of the Vigilant took
in her spinnaker just before reaching
the lightship. Then they gybed her and
like an arrow she shot around Colonias
bow, crossing the finish line just 80
seconds ahead of the schooner, and
finished first of the fleet. Columbia
swept across the finish line at +:42:20,
taking in her spinnakers a few seconds
before reaching it, She was just u
minutes. seconds ahead of Defender
According to the Official figures the
Columbia won by % minutes % Sec
onds.