The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-08-16
COLUMBIA WINS in A DRIFT
DEFENDER NO MATCH FOR HER
IN LIGHT WEATHER..
The Start Made by tho Big SlOops the
Finest Known-A Wonderful Per.
fOrmance-OnIy two Seconds Separa-
tes Them Crossing the Starting Line
Wind Dies Outa n Drifting Match
Results.
Results.


Newport, r. l., Aug. 15.-Under the
clearest of skies and in as fine top
sail breeze as could be desired the CO.
lumbia put the finishing touch on her
series Of trial races against the Def-n l.
er in the presence of the New York
Yacht club fleet to-day, winning the
twenty y-one-mile race by eight minutes
fifty-two seconds The weather was
the finest imaginable which greeted the
throngs Of yachtsmen on board the big
fleet in this harbor. For once, however,
the spectators We're disappointed the
fickleness of the breeze being the cause
of it all, and the contest, which looked
at the start as if it was going to be a
splendid one, developed into a lazy
drifting match, and for hours the pleas
ure craft floated about, while those on
board watched the two big sloops, the
Columbia and Defender, creep along at
a snail's pace.
There were just three redeeming feat
ures in to-day's race-the wonderful
start that both big sloops made, the
hotly fought luffing match between the
prising speed which the Columbia show
cd when there was scarcely a capful of
wi ha civ 1,xr lIa
York Yacht club as wind-up of the
annual cruise, so far as racing is con-
cerned, and cups which We're designat-
ed as windup cups were offered as
prizes for the competing yachts
The start made by the Columbia and
Defender has never been equalled by
such large boats in any race. A bare
two seconds separated them when they
tore o"er the line, carrying cl onds of
canvas aloft, and they were only twen-
ty-seven seconds later than gun fire in
crossing. Ten minutes before the time
to start both shippers began jockeying
for the better position, and Charlie Barr
proved once more what a great head he
has by placing the Columbia Just to
of the Defender, less than fifty
feet away. 1t is no discredit to Captain
Rhodes, however, that he was under
the new boats lee, for one of the two
had to be there in such start as to-
days and it fell to him to be the un-
lucky one. Time was getting short
when Captain Barr gibed the Colum-
bias mainsail to starboard and swung
Defender was already steering that way
md down they both came for 1t, break
ng out jb topsails and hosting balloon
;taysails as they did so. For few sec
)nds they held along on exactly even
.erms, but the Columbia having the
weather berth, cut off the Defenders
wind just enough to check her a little,
and as they both crossed about one
luarter of the Columbias hull was
showing by the Defenders bow. In a
minute more the Defender was astern
Ind the Columbia was heading for the
lag mark off Point Judith with a lead
If a good length. From there on it was
simply a steady gain for the new boat.
except when the wind died out almost |
Entirely after she rounded the second
mark and was coming for home under |
pinnaker and balloon jib. The De- |
ender seemed to hold the breeze after |
HE rounded, closing UP the long gap a |
,it, but it was only for a few minutes.
rhen she got into the soft spot too, and |
lnder equal conditions the Columbia |