The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-04
NOT A BAD SHOWING
INDEPENDENCE SAILS COLUMBIA
CLOSE RACE.
BETTER THAN CONSTITUTION,
ONE OF THE FASTEST RACES ON
RECORD.

Over Triangular Course of Thirty
Miles LawsOn's Boat Was Beaten
Only Thirty Seconds - In Heavy
Squalls independence Steered
Wild, While Columbia Attended
Strictly to Business-She Was
Handicapped by n Working Gafi
TOpsniI, Also FOuled Her Jib Sheet.
Newport, r. l., Aug. 3.-The Inde
pendence to-day sailed the greatest race
of her career. In a stiff Southwestern,
which raised a rather heavy sea, she
was beaten forty seconds over a tri-
angular course of thirty miles, boat for
boat, by the Columbia. AS she allow
ed the Columbia thirty-one seconds
over that distance, she was defeated
one minute and eleven seconds, COR
rected time. This is better showing
than the Constitution has made
against the Columbia under similar
conditions of wind and weather. In
the first leg of the triangle, which was
a beat to windward, the Columbia
gained more than three minutes. No
official time was taken at either the
are only approximately correct.
The Regatta Committee estimate
that on the second leg of the course,
which was a broad reach with the
wind abaft the starboard beam, the
Independence gained one minute and
fifteen seconds on her opponent, while
on the last leg of the course. which
was sailed with the wind on the port
hoo -I,o hn CT
leg was the most exciting. The breeze
was puffy and at times had great
weight in it. Being about abeam the
yachts felt its full strength. Sometimes
the lee rail of the independence was
completely submerged and the water
on deck rushed off in a torrent over
the taffrail. Never before had she
heeled to such a pronounced
extent in a public performance. 1t was
noticed that when the squalls were the
heaviest the Independence steered very
wild and that two men at the wheel
could not keep her steady on her
course. This was of course a great
detriment to successful achievement.
While the Independence was perform
ing this zigzag work the Columbia was
going through the water straight, at
tending strictly to business and head
ing for Brentons reef lightship. SO
far as sails were concerned the Inde-
pendence had the worst of it. She was
handicapped by a working gaff topsail,
which in the ten-mile stretch to wind
ward was more or less of a backset.
Another sail that prevented her from
making a better record was the me-
dunn sized jib topsail, which she set
after passing the first mark. This sail
contributed largely to her wild steer
ing and when it was taken in she felt
the benefit of its balance.
With regard to the performance of
the Columbia she was sailed admirably.
The only mishap that befell her was
the fouling of the jib sheet when off
Point Judith in the windWard leg. This
necessitated a short tack so that it
might be cleared, but she lost little by
it. While the Independence was en-
countering the series of squalls on the
home leg, the Columbia by no means
escaped free. The masts of both buck
led badly and the Columbia heeled over
at times as much as the Boston boat
Also she steered on two or three occa-
sions almost as wildly as the Inde-
pendence, but she was got under con-
troll and steadied on her course far
more quickly.
The thirty course, ten miles of
which were in the winds eye, was COW
cred in hours, 81 minutes and 4S Sec
onds by the Columbia, making it one
of the fastest races on record.