Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-09-27
GREAT YACHT RACES
BEGIN OFF SANDY HOOK
Columbia and Shamrock II
Again Contest For Cup.
FAIR DAY, PIPING BREEZE

Fully 10000 People Left New York
City to Witness Initial Race-SpIen.
did Procession of Beautiful Yachts
and Big Excursion Boats.
NEW YORK. Sept. 26.-With a bril-.
liant autumn sun and a piping breeze
the first day Of the international yacht
races opened with every promise Of per.
fect conditions of wind and weather
After blowing half a gale nearly all
night the northeast breeze subsidized q
| tride at sunrise, but at s o'clock both
Sandy Hook and the highlands of Nave
sink reported that it is still blowing at
l8 knots. 1t had swept away every YES
tige of mist or haze and the shore was
visible from the Jersey coast.
The sea, however, was quite rough
and heavy surf was pounding on the
beach at Sandy Hook
Remembering how the breeze fell yes
terday, however, from a half gale in the
early morning to light knots at 2
o'clock, the weatherwise were inclined
TO place only faint faith i'll the early
morning conditions.
On board the challenger and defender
every one was early astir.
BY $40 o'clock both boats had gotten
their jibs and stay sails in stops and laid
their spinnakers ready to break The
big club top sails also were made ready
and the covers taken off the main sail.
No Change of Sail.
No changes were made in the princi.
pal sails. The Shamrock II has the
same main sail bent that she used in the
squall off Sandy Hook last week and the
Oolumbia's S main sail is the same one
which she tried last Saturday on Long
Island sound.
AT 9:05 the Columbia slipped her
moortngs and was taken In tow by the
tug Flint. A moment later the Sham
rock was taken ia tow by the Lawrence.
Going at full speed the Flint with the
cup defender passed the point of the
Hook at 9:12, heading for Sandy Hook
hghtship.
AT that hour the wind had decreased
slightly and was blowing at 16 knots
from the northeast.
The Victor, with the guests of Sir
Thomas Upton, arrived at the Hook
about 9:40 and the party aboard was
transferred 60 the Erin, which imme-
diately started after the Shamrock.
It had been Sir Thomas LiptOn's in
tenttOn to sail in the races on board the
Shamrock, but this morning he con-
Cluded that his leg, which is still lame
from a recent fall, would prevent his
taking an active part in the manage
ment of the boat, so he remained on the
Erin. On board the Shamrock were
W. Butler Duncan, representing the
New York Yacht CLUB, Mr.. Jameson and
Mr.. Ratzey.
At.1O:I0 the wind still held at 16
knots.
Fully 10000 persons left the city for
the race.
1t was 10 o'clock when the first exour-
sion steamer passed the Hook, and then
began splendid procession of beautiful
yachts and big excursion boats.
The course today was Is miles to the
wtndward and return, starting from the
Sandy Hook lightship and running to q
point off the Long Island shore.
Yachts Cross Starting Line.
The yachts crossed the starting line
at the following official time: Sham.
rock llt14;05, Columbia 11;l4:12.
Shamrock was apparently few hun.
dred yards ahead of the Columbia, but
the latter was some distance to wind
ward.
In the first five minutes of the sailing
the American boat seemed to held the
Shamrock in good shape, but after that
the Shamrock begun to go away and at
ll:20 it looked as If she might be able to
force the Columbia about when she
came round on the starboard tack.
After the two boats went about on the
Btarboard tack it was noted that the
Columbia was pointing higher than the
Shamrock and at 11:34 the American
boat seemed to appear more like her old
self, for she then began to get along
faster.
However, at 11:42 Columbia crossed
Sharnrook's bow and at 12 :03apparently
had lead Of quarter of mile.
The wind continued falling and the
race was slow.
At 1891 p. m. Columbia was about
200 yards on the weather bow of the
Shamrock and still In the lead. Twelve
minutes later Shamrock caught fresh
puff Of wind aud pointed up finely. Co.
lulnbia soon caught the breeze, how
eyer, and outf6oted and outpointed
Shamrock.
At 2 p. N. Columbia apparently
blanksted Shamrock and ranged ahead.
gaining lead of nearly 100 yards.
At SOC p. m. the Columbia turned the
stake beat and setting her balloon lib,
ran for home.
Shamrock was half mile astern.