New-York tribune., 1901-08-26
THE DEFENDERS TIED.
ALTHOUGH COLUMBIA AND CoNsTITU-
TION HAVE WON EIGHT RACES
EACH. THE RECORD IS
SOMEWHAT MIS-
LEADING.
LEADING.

In the records OF the Americas Cup racing there
has been year IN which the contests for the
lection OF defender has been hot It may not
be correct 10 say that the present time the
lection IS difficult 70 make But up 20 the last ten
days the situation open TO doubt, which
Seems 70 have been removed by the last series OF
races between tho Constitution and the Columbia
These boats have had their last meet prior to the
official trial races, which VIII begin AT Newport on
next Saturday and. II 10 make things more
doubtful FOR the lay mind. the number OF races
by each boat IS eight. This out OF nineteen
starts in which there sixteen finishes. These
figures, taken alone. make q suggestion equal
ity which yachtsmeu know 70 be rather mtslead-
ing, and a brief review OF the records shows that
the Constitution has iE light breezes and
smooth only. and latterly not even in them
The Columbia has never been beaten In anything
like a strong wind with exception on Au-
gust TO- of Newport. when her bowsprit rigging
went wrong. she winning handsomely In wind
ward work and in of the freshest breezes
raced in She had TO up into the wind for
five minutes TO repair. and the Constitution came
up from her leeward position and took a long lead
on that night the race committee said privately
that it was satisfied that the Columbia would have
won the except for her five minutes delay.
while disinterested observers said that there was
no reason suppose she could not have continued
70 increase her lead all the way 70 the wtndward
mark which at the rate she was going would have
scored victory and have changed the present
record 70 nine wins for her and seven wins for
the Constitution.
There has been IN directtons-chieay' IL
must be said among outsiders-a tendency TO
blame the CONSTITUTIONS shortcomings on the SKIP
per and crew, This is not fair 10 Captain Rhodes
In nineteen races completed and uneomp4eteo' II
would have been discovered II Rhodes was rauIty
IN his steertng The best amateur talent In the
New-York Yacht, Club has sailed on the Constitu-
tion-men who like Ralph N ElIs, know when
boa "a bein1 sailed for all she is worth-and there
has not been single complaint or whisper OF
connIsint from those who have been nearest 10
the sailing of the boat
The Inference is therefore almost Irresistible that
the rauIts lie with the boat. and not with her
handling More than that. there is a strong in
ference drawn that the fault slight as IL may be,
is IN the model and not sails. In the way OF
good wings the Constitution has had all that the
best brafus could suggest and money buy. In fact,
the boat did better first and more ill-tting
sails than since the so-caIled improvements, or,
ratber alterations, that have been made in mast
The last two races that sailed of Oyster
Bay were with new and apparently perfectly
setting mainsaN which was being kept for the
trial races so that IL should not get bagged and
spoiled bv previous strains. Before the last race
started the critics judged IL to be a canvas which
disappointing. because the race was sailed in the
light airs which undoubtedly the Constitu-
tion.s best help and there was a leading wind all
round the course, with no beating; yet the Column
bia led all round the first fifteen mile triangle
without considering her time allowance
This result which in effect repeated that OF the
previous race. left little hope for the boat be-
cause every thing has been done for her that could
he susges:sd and she had in both races the calm
water in which she has done her previous best
work with the older boat