Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-10-02
THE WIND FAILS.
Columbia and Shamrock Again
Unable to Finish.
Challenger Leads, by FIuke, When
Race Is Called Off.
Lipton's Boat Proves Fast in Light Air, but She
Cannot Win.

New York. Oct 1.-Today's attempt
to sail the second Of the present series
of international yacht races for the
blue ribbon of the sea, proved a dis
NAL failure. Between $4,000 and 10000
people who crowded the pleasure fleet
OIL Sandy Hook lightship in the hope
of seeing n repetition of the thrilling
sport of last Saturday. witnessed. in
stead. more of a drifting match than
a race. The wind was exceedingly
light and variable at times falling SO
low that the gossamer pennants which
are as light as thistle down, hung limp
against the masts of the big single
stickers. The wind with the yachts
crews lined up on the lee rails, was not
sufficient at any time to make the
racing machines heel to their lines. At
the end of AZ hours the two yachts
had covered less than one-half Of the
prescribed course of 80 miles and as
there was no possibility of their finish
ing within it's time limit, the regatta
committee declared the race off. When
the gun was fired announcing this de-
cisiOn the challenger was about half
a mile ahead of the defender and to
that extent today's trial was victory
for Shamrock II.
But the fluke today, demonstrated
little as to the question of supremacy
between the two boats except perhaps
that Sir Thomas new champion Is
more dangerous in light airs than was
supposed after her two former meet
ings with the white flyer. to which the
patriots are pinning their faith. In
nuky winds of variable strength shift
ing as they did. today. through six
points of the compass. luck cuts almost
as much figure as model and seaman
ship and, today. fortune was unmis-
takably with the foreigner.
The course was an equilateral trian-
Sular 10 miles to the leg. the first leg
being a beat due east into the wind.
The Yankee skipper at the start out
generated his adversary in splendid
piece of jockeying. crossing the line in
the wndward berth II seconds ahead
Of the Englishman. This advantage
Columbia held for two hours while
both yachts steered far off their course
to the southwark looking for a streak
Of wind that would profit them. Fin
ally Barr declined longer to continue
the vain quest. He put his helm down
and headed in shore on the starbOard
tack The Shamrock at this time after
both had been sailing in the same airs
was a beaten boat and her skipper
could afford to take a gamblers chance
with fortune. He held doggedly on.
And fortune smiled upon him. Within
five minutes he got a breeze out of the
south which ruffled the crestless seas
and waited him like n ghost through
the Columbia's weather.
Eut this was not his best piece of
good fortune. After this reverse the
Columbias slipping through the seas at
an astonishing pace considering the
lishtness of the breeze, had worked
out ahead of the Shamrock but to lee
ward. When the two yachts were in
this position about two miles from the
first turn q cant of the wind threat
ened to blanket Columbia and to
avoid such possibility Barr went un-
der Shamrock's stern. Just as he did
so the wind hauled around more to the
south knocking the Columbia's head
off until to the astonished spectators
she seemed headed almost back for the
Iich.ship at the starting line. The
golden boat favored by the same breeze
was fltducu III eN3cIly tue OppOSltc Ill
recton. When the shifting wind
backed again and Barr got the Column
bia Strengthened out he was a third of
a mile astern. In this position the two
boats rounded the first mark. the
Shamrock 3 minutes and seconds be-
fore Columbia, or a gain for Shamrock
in the beat to windward, adding the II
Continued on page 2.)