The Portland daily press., 1899-06-28
DEFENDER FAST TOO.
v
Second Trial Between
Cup Defenders.
Old Boat Gives New All 1t Can
Do.
Columbia Folks Not So
Enthusiastic.
Still New Had Slightly Best Of
Still New Had Slightly Best Of
1t On Whole.

Newport, r. l., June a7.-The yachts.
men who saw the brushes between the
new sloop yacht Columbia and the Defen-
der, the champion of 1895, today, are not
SO enthusiastic this evening over the
speed of the new boat as they were after
the short skirmish off Jamestown, on
Sunday forenoon. Today the two great
racers met under different conditions than
thoss which prevailed on the first trying
out. Instead of a light air which SCARE
ly heeled the boats, the wind today was
q good whole sail freeze from the south
west, which compelled the crews of the
racers to lie out windwardiin real racing
fashion, and under these conditions the
Defender made most excellent showing,
and her performance this afternoon some
what depressed the owners and admirers
of the Columbia. This morning both
boats sailed to the windward for tsn
miles from Brenton's reef lightship and
allowing for the lead which the Columbia
had for the start, the new sloop gained
about 1.2 minutes in fully an hour and
der from forcing her about, had Capt.
Rhodes desired TO claim that right. The
Defender had the right of way on the
Columbia and had she not reiinquished
this to serve rs an illustration or how
close the two boats were to each other,
Capt. Rhodes' craft would have met the
Columbia just about am idships. A few
seconds before, however, the Columbia
parted her topsaiI sheet, and seeing this
the Defender eased up and the race was
over. The parting OF the ropsail sheet ON
- Es.fn a.. a..a ~ .~.a
yass. but the hole was not q very large
one and can be quickly repaired. Both
the Colum bia and the Defender will start
for New London tomorrow morning, and
will undoubtedly race. all the way. Mr..
Iselin said, however, that the chances Of
the race depended considerably upon the
weather and whether the topsail could
be repaired in time. otherwise the CoIum.
bia would go over under easy sail.
After the race Mr. Iselin expressed him
self as fully satisfied with the Columbia,
and said he would be content IL she
could beat the Defender five minutes In q
80 mils course.
lhe racers beat to windward in
general southwesterly direction for
almost two hours and during that time
they travelled nearly ten miles toward
Block island from Brenton's reef
and when sheets were eased on
for the run back to Newport,
Columbia was between two and three
minutes in the lead. Az 1890 Defender
tibed the boom over 10 star board and
swinging about, beaded for home. 90
lumbia following suits few seconds later,
started after Defender her position at
that time being to wfndward about an
eight Of a mile away. On the reaohover
toward Point Judith. Defender held her
own very well and 1t was a question for
q few minutes II she was not travelling Q
IA 81 Tho ind .1a -
this time and MIR. Iselin decided that II
Columbia's crew was going to get home
to Newport In time for dinner, he must
square away. At O'Clock the helm was
put amidships and Columbia's crew get
ting the long spinaker boom ready In a
few minutes the pole was ssiling out into
place on the port side. The great white
spinnaker had teen sent aIcft in stops
meantime aud when everything was
ready couple OF stops was broken out
and the wind catching in the canvas
spread the enormous sail for the first
time. Despite the fact that the wind had
fallen off considerably, Columbia took q
jump and stravsled along at fully ten
knots an hour under the great spread OF
canvas. The spinnaker was needed, but
q few minutes and orders were given to
take 1t in and although the crew had
not had any practice the spinnaker was
down and the loom on deck in three
minutes and ten seconds from the time
the order was given.
The Columbia's crew went aboard the
st. Michaels for dinner about o'clock
and the men were back againEon deck
within one hour. The Defender cruised
back and forth outside, coming up into
the east passage about the time to see
WHISTLER her rival was ready.
About o'clock the Columbia hove up
her anchor and stood down the.bay un-
der jio and mainsail. The staysail was
run up shortly after and later the work.
ing torsail was sent up In stops, and
broken out
The Defender loafed along below under
the same sails with jib hauled to wind
ward and when her rival was nearly
abreast, at 4.26, she ran down to the Co.
lumbia and ranged up of the latter's
bow, about 100 yards away.
Inc Columbia was moving very fast on
. starboard tack, when the Defender be-
gan to head up properly and for a while
she gained steadily, inch By inch. under