New-York tribune., 1901-07-07
EBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BuxE.l

for the Constitution, an overwhelming defeat for
the independence, most commendable showing
for the old champion. the Columbia, is the record
of the first days contest of the big sloops in the
Newport Yacht Racing Association series of
races From the firing of the starting gun which
sent the yachts off to windward In a light east
erly breeze the Constitution held her rivals At
the turning buoy she was little more than two
minutes in advance of the Columbia while the
independence hull down to leeward On
The home the Herreshoff yacht showed
her greatest strength, beating the Columbia over
eight minutes in the fifteen miles down the wind
and when the last boat built to defend the Amer
ica's Cup swept across the line the Boston yacht
was seven miles astern
THE INDEPENDENCEs DEFEAT.
II a day OF surprises for ALL but things
happened which served to explain in small
part the defeat of the Independence In the first
place, Hank Half gave the yacht start that
looked poorer than it was, the whole of the two
minutes Of the time start being taken, besides
the fifteen seconds handicap, and after the
yachts had gone we'll their way to the outer
mark the Independence was practically be-
calmed while the others were going under a
breeze Of some power At no time during the
contest TO windward, however did she show good
weather qualities She did not point so high
as her opponents. nor did she. even for a brief
interval, demonstrate that she possessed that
speed which she seemed formerly to show.
When she got fairly out into the open sea she
pounded heavily In the southwest swell.
The morning broke lowering after the heavy
rain Of the previous night and as the yachts
went out to the nghtship the northeasterly sky
was smudged with a heavy leaden bank of cloud
that hung low and threatening Overhead there
were small puffballs of leaden haze scurrying
across the sky. and no one seemed to know
whether 10 expect northeast gale or a calm.
THE START OF THE YACHTS.
The Columbia left her moorings first at 10
a. m. and went Immediately out OF the harbor
the Constitution following five minutes later and
the independence at 1O:12 O'Clock The press
yacht Wanda went out OF the harbor alongside
the Independence. which was moving slowly and
with little sign Of life. Once, when passing
Agassiz Point. she bore UP on the wind a BIT
and showed some sign of speed, though not of
life, and on the way the Brenton Reef Light
ship she moved heavily. The other yachts were
curveting about in the vicinity and in the sub
sequent waiting they both came near the Wanda.
moving briskly in the ocean seaway But the
independence showed none of this and the
longer one looked at her in this first cruising the
more il seemed probable that she would prove
large gathering of vessels appeared Ia. see
the sport. among them the Aphrodite. owned by
Colonel Oliver H. Payne. and the Narida owned
by Henry Walters; the big schooner Constela-
ton, Commodore Van Rensselaer's steam yacht
May, and the steam yachts Parthena Hanniel
and Duquesne- The smart scout owned by
August Belmont. was diving into the roll and
Mr.. Drexers big three-master Sultana was toss
ing her yards about The gunboat Hist came
H.
the Fedalma and Eugenia were showing their
bright brasses. The auxiIiaries Elsa Satanella.
and the steam yacht Endron were all in the
ruck, as the committee on the steam yacht
Electra decided to start the yachts five miles
further from the land
This because, with the wind due east a
windward course could not be laid clear Of the
land All, therefore, proceeded five miles due
south, while the three led the procession.
The angle of keel on the Boston boat and the
Constitution was here found to be the same and
with wind abeam the Lawson craft seemed to
hold her own and something better.
MANGUvRING FOR THE START.
About II 30 o'clock the mark tug the Unique.
anchored the catboat which was to mark one
end of the line and then the course sig
nailed in the letters D. C b., which meant ff-
teen mics to windward and return. There was
a sudden change from the announcement Of
the previous night. which was that the course
would be triangular The first gun was fired at
u o'clock the next at 1905, and the third at
l2:10 was for the start At 1906 all three be-
gan 10 choose their positions. the Columbia go
ing out TO windward, the Constitution being
next. and the Independence to Ieeward. All
headed southerly the port tack, the two
Eerreshoff craft sending up jbtopsails in stops.
At l2 07 % the Constitution tackled back toward
the line and the Independence evidently wanted
to do so, but the two others rather in her
road. This may have given to the Boston boat
the idea that the two white boats were laying
for" her, to smother her the start. Any
way, she made unnecessary move in gybing.
which she did with clumsy sloth.
The 12:10 gun fired and Barr got the best of
the start, crossing 10 the windward Of the Con-
stitution and slightly behind. but tapping up on
the leaders mainboom The Independence looked
as IL she would never get out. and the gun to
Show the expiration Of, the two minutes was
fired fifteen seconds before she got to the line.
The cfficial time OF starting Constitution.
l2:l0:02; Columbia. 12:10:17: Independence.
12:l2
The Boston boat stood straight along In the
sfarboard tack for a long distance. her crew
being all TO eeward to give. the ship cant on
her fat floor. She hitting the water pretty
hard. but moving at a fair speed considering
'he slackness Of the wind The others took a
couple of short tacks. and at 12:17. the Columbia
Delhg on the starboard tack, the Constitution
was put about The Independence kept along on
Def hrst tack. evidently wishing to avoid close
Continued Ninth Page.
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