The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-09
IS. The official summary follows:
DEFENDERS MISTAKE.

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The only unfortunate part of to-day's
event was the fact both of the yachts sailed
the wrong course. 1t was, in fact, the fea-
ture of the day, and the strange actions Of
those in charge of the yachts kept everyone
guessing as to the ultimate result. The
first leg of the course was to be eight miles
long, the turning point being off Stamford,
Conn. The yachtsmen Of the Riverside
Club were having race on the sound. They
set their turning point right on the course
the Columbia and Defender were to sail
over, but only four miles from their start
ing point. When, after an exciting luffing
match, Captain Rhodes saw this mark, he
promptly kept the Defender off and round
ed 1t, and for a while no one knew whether
1t was a real race or not. c. Oliver Iselin
explained matters after the race. He said:
1.-The Defender made the mistake and we
simply followed her to make race. 1t has
turned out a good one. We are very well
satisfied with it all around. We both
made a mistake but 1t has been the best all
around race we have yet had. 1 am salts
fed the Columbia Is the better boat, but
she will go to Bristol to have her sails re-
cut before she races again."
The regatta committee say the event will
be considered as a race and Commodore
Postley will probably award the cup to Co.
lumbia.
The starting signal was at 12:40 and the
yachts were allowed two minutes to cross
the line. The official start was: Defender.
12:4o:n; Columbia. 12:4O:5s So the Column
bia started twelve seconds after the Defend
er From the moment of the start 1t was
battle between the shippers. and it was
one of the finest exhibitions Of luffing that
has ever been seen between cup defenders.
Barr, with the Columbia, three minutes after
the start, was astern and to leeward OF De-
fender. where Captain Rhodes had put her.
and where he meant to keep her If possible
The excitement was intense. For five min
utes Barr by luffing, tried to get on the De-
lenders weather quarter. Rhodes Just as
often luffed out and stopped him until they
were miles out of their course Finally
Barr squared the Columbia off and Rhodes
followed suit without being able to pass his
rival. A second luffing match was then be-
gun, and Ii only ended when both yachts
found themselves prevented from luffing any
more by a tow Of barges With their lee
rails we'll down and each turning I'D a big
bow wave, they fairly tore along with the
wind abeam, the Defender CARRYING a baby
jib topsail, and Columbia one a size larger.
No sooner had Defenders bowsprit passed
the tug which was towing the barges east
than Rhodes gave her another sharp luff,
making IL impossible for the Columbia 10
get on his weather.
MISSED THE RIGHT MARK
Soon after both shippers sighted the Riv-
erside Yacht Clubs markboat. dory an
chored in the middle Of the sound, and.
without taking their bearings, they kept
off for IT, The mark was off Captains island
Its ball at the top of pole did not bear
the "Larchmont cclors," and IL was a good
four miles west OF the real mark, but
Rhodes sent the Defender straight for 1t,
and no amount of whistling on the par. Of
the commodore's boat could make him
change his course. Just before reaching this
mark the wind shifted from south to east
by south. giving the Defender an even bet
ter chance. She reached the mark first and
after being luffed around 1t at 1:ls, the Co.
lumbia following nineteen seconds later.
The Columbia now tried to go through De-
tenders lee. and she was succeeding pretty