The San Francisco call., 1901-10-04
SHAMROCK OFF IN LEAD.
But the Columbia Outsails the Chal-
len ger in the Great Race.

NEW YORK, Oct 3.-The tow-out of the
racers from their anchorage to the starting line
was devoid of interest. There was no heavy
swell to cause shippers anxiety about their ooo-
stays. Thus it was that the Shamrock set
the largest of her club topsails and nothing
daunted the Columbia followed suit. When
the preparatory gun was fired it was clearly
evident that the Columbia cared little for the
reach the triangular course Offering no pene-
fit to the craft first away. There was no
true battle for position.
in her usual place south of the lightship at
1880, and at that time both yachts, in tow
under bare poles. headed up in the Wlnd anu
hoisted their mainsais. Their headsails were
already in stops. The Shamrock was first 10
cast loose from her tug and an moment 4at Ifo9 IateF
and she made clean run for the lightship.
The Columbia, which had been huggIng the
easterly end of the line eased off sheets and
stood for the mark. Signals were hoisted from
the committee boat that the course would be
triangular. which meant that there would pc
two close reaches and one dead beat to wind
ward for home
The yachts heeled to a scupper breeze when
fn9 a % b gnn aed at stood downs
fore the wind for the line; meanwhile the
Shamrock was circling around the lightship.
Before the warning gun was hred, ten min
was ahead and, not wanting to cross the line
ing until she almost stood still. This put the
Shamrock in the better position, and wearing
close around she crossed the line almost at the
gun while the Columbia elected to cross con-
slderably more than one minute behind. Many
experts thought that the Columbia would be
handicapped but Barr was on the alert and
sent her across the line in time to save him
self
With the wind forward on the port beam and
and a much larger and better pulling sail on
the Columbia, the boats started out on the
first leg of the triangle. During the first few
minutes it was impossible to say whether the
Columbia was gaining or not. In the gusts
of wind she seemed to heel over less than the
challenger and also appeared to steer a slight
ly higher course. The wind, though headlnS
true from north-northwest, varied in violence.
Occasionally a heavy squall would strike one
of the racers. causing her to heel. but taking
the of the puffS, neither could be said
to have been favored. 1t soon became appar-
ent that the race was to be sailed in very
quick time. The gain of the Columbia. which
the turn of the first mark proved she had
made was almost imperceptible Toward the
mark the wind had changed. The Columba.
with a lesser sail spread seemed to stand
stiffer than her rival, but there little to
choose between them. They smothered along
toward the mark and when they rounded it the
Columbia had gained only twenty-five seconds
The gybe on both craft well done Under
the same sail as they started, they both stood
for the second mark The wind piped stronger
and in the strongest of the puffs the Shamrock
had to luff a little to ease her to the force of
the breeze. The Columbia, on the contrary,
squall. never being eased, and it was this that
helped her ahead In spite of the larger sail
spread of her antagonist she was never left
behind, but kept up with the challenger; 1t
bia had sailed over one-half of the second leg
that she had saved her time and was, barring
accidents, q winner.
Her skipper, instead of nursing her through
the squalls, let her feel the strength of them.
while the Shamrock's larger spread of sail
caused her to make imperative luffs or else
carry away something In a reaching breeze
closer and finer sailing perhaps was never seen.
There were frequent occasions when the col