Evening star., 1901-09-27
RACE ENDED I'M A FlUKE
YACHTS FAILED TO FINISH IN rINs
LIMIT.
When Signal Was Hoisted the Coium.
bta Was About q Mile
fn the Lead.

The race between the Columbia and the
Shamrock yesterday ended In a fiuke. The
big yachts failed to get over the course
within the time limit OF five and one-half
hours. Another race will be sailed tomor-
row.
The Associated Press description OF the
race. continuing after close OF The Evening
Stars report, says:
1t was directly off Long Beach Hotel
with its crowded piazzas. that the sham
rock showed in front for the first and
only time during the race. As the wind
had hauled more to the southwark and
had died down somewhat. Charlie Barr
headed the Columbia OF shore in the
hope OF meeting It. Instead he poked his
nose into a dead calm, and for some min
utes the Columbia lay with her sails flap
ping, while the Shamrock. catching a slant
OF wind nearer shore. drew rapidly ahead.
But the victory was short lived. The cant
OF the wind to the southwark held and
freshened to about six knots. making II
from this point close-hauled reach to the
mark. The Columbia rapidly overlook her
adversary. and Captain Sycamore. IN des-
peration. concluded to press on more can
vas by trying a larger jib topsan. whilo
the sailors were out on the bowsprit taking
In the old and bending on the larger sails,
the Columbia went by the Shamrock as II
she had been moored to the dock, making
two feet to her one.
From that time to the outer mark the
Columbia gained steadily. As she ap-
preached the turning point the excursion
fleet. going at full speed, circled out and
massed beyond the mark to witness the
turn As she came alongside, leaving the
mark on the starboard hand, Barr put
his helm hard down and luffed around IT.
Then she filled away. Her great balloon
Jib broke out like pun of smoke, her
boom was eased of and she was away
for home on broad reach. The bands
Shna tka hss.st. l.
aboard the excursion feet cheered The
fleet courteously waited until Shamrock
rounded, seven minutes and fifteen seconds
later. and gave her cordial reception.
From that time on II was a procession.
not a race. The Englishman tried half q
dozen headsails in the hope OF improving
his position. but the American forged
steadily ahead. Then the wind, which had
been seven knots at the stake boat. grad
ually died down. and an hour before the
time limit expired it was evident that
the yachts could not finish in time. When
the committee boat finally hoisted her sig
nails, declaring No race" the big excur-
sion fleet headed back for New York as fast
as steam and sail could carry them. Only
the steam yacht Erin, with Sir Thomas and
his party aboard. remained alongside the
challenger and escorted her to her anchor
age.
Under the rules the unfinished race will
be resailed on Saturday, and the course
will be again fifteen miles to windward or
leeward and return.
When seen on board the Erin after the
race Sir Thomas Upton said:
1T was not satisfactory race. because
the wind was erratic. / hope we shah
have better luck next time. A race sailed
en- such day, IL IL can be finished at all.
depends upon the lucky chance position.
as to wind, Of one boat or the other. I
was never more hopeful for the Shamrock
than 1 now. 1 am confident I shall
get the cup. I have never seen any moro
skilled handling OF boat than was shown
by Capt. Barr Of the Columbia today.
Shamrock, too, was well managed
Never have 1 received greater kindness
anywhere than at the hands OF the New
York Yacht Club. They have met my
wishes at every point. and have gone out
OF their way to show me courtesy. / can't
express too strongly my appreciation OF
their treatment to me. All the arrange
ments for handling the yachts and steam
ers at the course have been perfectly sat
iSfactory.
"I said early this morning that IT was
not a Shamrock day: the heavy sea and
light wind were not favorable"
Manager Jameson OF the Shamrock.
when he came ON board the Erin after the
race, said:
"I must say / am both surprised and
pleased at the excellent manner in which
be kept as clear through all our races.
OF course. the day was a poor one for
racing on account OF the fiukes."
Designer Watson said: Il am very well
satisfied with what the boat did today.
Whenever she had breeze Of any
strength she did exactly as / expected
her to do"
Capt. Wringe, one of Sir Thomas right
hand men, said: "F1ukes. that's the story
of the day. In a smart clubtopsail breeze
the Shamrock would make much bet
ter showing. Today was one OF the
worst you could have to put the Sham
rock in salt water"
E. ID. Morgan of the Columbia said;
"It was a poor day for racing, but Coium-
bia did very well under the circumstances.
We made a good start but OF course the
other boat may be more fortunate the
next time"
Capt. Charles F. Barr OF the Columbia
was non-committal. When asked what he
thought Of the race he said:
II had no time to think" and when ask
ed II the Columbia did as well as he ex-
pected. replied: Il have nothing to learn
about her."