The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-04
TURNS THE FIRST STAKE HALF A MILE
AHEAD OF THE COLUMBIA
ANOTHER UNSUCCESSFUL TRIAL
The Race Called OR-Could Not be
Finished I'm Time Limit Because or
Light Wind - Shamrock Shows Her
Good Qualities Under Such Condi-
tions-Barr's successful Jockeying at
the Start-Not Halt the Distance
Sailed.

New York. October 1.-Today's at
tempt TO sail the second of the present
series of international yacht races for
the blue ribbon of the sea proved dis
NAL failure. Between $4,000 to 10000
people who crowded the pleasure fleet
off Sandy Hook lightship in the hope
of seeing a 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 wind pennants which are
as light as thistle down, hung limp
against the masts of the big single
stickers The wind, with crews lined
UP on the lee rails, was not sufficient
at any time to make the racing ma
chimes heel to their lines.
At the end of four and a half hours
the two yachts had covered less than
one-half of the prescribed course OF
thirty miles, and as there was no pos
sibiIity of their finishing within me
time limit. the regatta committee de-
clared the race off.
When the gun was fired announcing
this decision the challenger was about
half a mile ahead of the defender and
to that extent today'S trial was a VIC
tory for Shamrock II; but the f1uke to-
day demonstrated little as to the ques-
ton 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 meetings with white flyer,
mir mir
faith In fiuky winds of variable
strength shifting as they did today,
through six points of the compass, luck
cuts almost as much figure as model
and seamanship and today fortune was
Enthusiastically with the foreigner.
The course was an equilateral trian-
gle. ten miles to the leg, the first leg
being beat due east into the wind. The
Yankee at the start Out-generaled his
adversary in a splendid piece of jock
eying, crossing the line in the windward
berth twelve seconds ahead of the
BritiSher.
This advantage the Columbia held for
two hours, while both yachts steered
far off their course to the southward
looking for a streak of wind that would
profit them.
Finally Barr declined longer to con-
tinue the vianless quest. He put his
helm down and headed in shore on the
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 ana
fortune smiled upon him. Within tive
minutes he got a breeze out Of the
south which ruffled the crestless seas
and waited him like a grost through
the COlumbia's weather; but this was
not his best piece of good fortune.
After this reverse the Columbia, Slip
ping through the stays at an astoniSh-
ing pace considering the lightness OF
the breeze. had worked out ahead Of
the Shamrock. but to leeward.
When the two yachts were in this
position about two miles from the first
turn a cant of wind threatened to
blanket the Columbia, and to avoid
such a possibility Bar went under the
Shamrock's stern. Just as he did 60
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
lighship at the starting line. The gold
en- boat, favored by the same breeze,
was headed in exactly the opposite di-
rection. Then the shifting wind back
ed again and Barr got the Columbia
strengthened out. He was a third of
a mile astern.
This position the two boats held,
rounding the first mark, Shamrock 8
minutes and seconds before the Co.
lumbia or a gain for the Shamrock N
the beat to windward, adding the
twelve seconds which Columbia beat
her oyer the line. of minutes and 20
seconds.
During the next hour in a close reach
for the second mark the yachts were
able to cover about four or four and a
half miles Of the remaining twenty and
ny11x
before the expiration Of the time limit
the race was declared off.
After turning the mark the experts
thought the Shamr<A increased her
lead slightly This gain may, however.
be accounted for by the fact that she
carried large reaching jib topsail,
while the Columbia was working close
to the wind with a small baby jib top
sail. a mere handkerchief compared to
the Shamrock's large sail.
When the excursion fleet headed back
for home the only real race of the day
occurred.
1t was the race for New York. To-
night both the Yankees and the foreign
ers are praying for good stiff breeze
on Thursday when today's race will re
re-sailed.
When the string of signals was hoist
ed on the committee boat indicating the
course the rival racers were circling
about the lightship performing nearly
every kind of variety of marine ma
neuvers. The Shamrock was clothed
in a brand new sheet of light weather
sails. admirably cut and of marvellous
fit The Columbia, however was OBJ
liged to content herself with the same
old suit that carried her to victory on
Saturday. Before the start the Sham
rock hoisted a tiny jib topsail, perhaps
the smallest ever carried by a cup CON-
tender 1t answered its purpose capt.
italy as a steering sail and proved of
great advantage in day so prolific Of
dukes and calms