The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-10-01
WIND FAILS
And NO RACE
Columbia and Shamrock in a
y Drifting Match.
BRITISH BOAT LEADS
Half a Mile Ahead When the Race
Is Called Off.
WIND AN OUT-AND-oUT FIASCo
Strong Breeze of EARLY Morning
Promptly Dies Away When
Most Wanted

New York, Oct. 1.-S:4O D. m-The race
is Off
Shamrock was half mile ahead when
the race was declared off.
New York, Oct 1.--2:4O D. m.-shamrock
seems to be drawing away from Columbia
with favoring breeze, which the latter
has not caught. They are near the first
mark.
2:42:3o p. m.-shamrock turned first
mark
2:45 p. m.-The boats have sailed three
hours and forty-five minutes and have one
hour and forty-fve minutes in which to
sail the remaining twenty miles of the
race. 1t seems impossible that they can
finish within the time limit
S:05 p. m.-Shamrock is ahead The
wind is still light oficial time Of turn
ing first mark:
Shamrock 2:41:S6.
Columbia 2:44:44
$3.50 p. m.-Shamrock is still in the lead
but the wind is light and ftful and the
boats are sailing very slowly.
Mile by Mile.
New York, Oct. II There was
! the usual jockeying for the wind
ward berth. Hard luck was with the
British ship for she stood in too near the
line and went over before the starting
gun was fired. Columbia, on the other
hand. was in beautiful position and
poked her bow across the line a few sec
onds after the report Shamrock had to
wear to recross the line, this mistake
badly handicapping her at the outset, The
wind was not more than four knots and
both yachts headed for the Long Island
shore on the -starboard tack Columbia
was far to the windward, but the yachts
We're apparently on equal terms as far as
footing was concerned.
At 11:34l Shamrock went around on the
starboard tack and stood across Column
bias wake, but less than a minute after
ward Captain Barr swung Columbia
around on the starboard tack, still hold
| ing her IN a nice berth to the windward
of his rival.
Wind DiscOuragingly Light.
At this time the wind was discourage
ingly light, and it seemed an impossibil-
tty that the yachts would finish within
the time limit.
The yachts held this tack for about
six minutes, when Shamrock, taking the
lead in tacking, again went on the port
tack. Barr waited nearly two minutes
before following suit, and the wind was
so light that both yachts were more than
thirty seconds swinging in stays
For nearly an hour Columbia and Sham
rock both held the port tack, the wind
being so light at times that they alter
nately fell off with the sea and then
luffed up. Shortly after y O'Clock they
were for a little time practically be-
calmed, but through it all Columbia main
tanned the lead which she had secured
at the start. About half-past twelve there
were signs down the Jersey coast that
the wind was increasing and both skip
pers, evidently catching scent of this fact,
went about on the starboard tack What
wind there was had hauled around a lit
tie to the south of east and it looked as
If there would be no more windward work
in the race if 1t held from that quarter.
Far out at sea there was at this time a
dark streak, showing that there was at
least some wind. In shore toward the
mouth of the harbor fine eight-knot
breeze was blowing, sending the small
sailboats about. at lively rate; but up
off the Long Island shore, where the big
racers. were. there was no wind, and they
made but slow progress toward the first
mark.
Tedious Work.
1t was slow work for the next twenty
minutes, but then the tickle wind which
had been blowing everywhere but on the
yachts caught them at last Shamrock
got it first and with her canvass filling
out darted ahead and rapidly cut down
the distance between her and Columbia.
Captain Sycamore took every possible ad-
vantage of the favorable slant and before
it had reached the Columbia he was all
most on even terms.