The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-30
ANXIOUS YACHTSMEN
SHAMROCK's WORK ON SATURDAY.
FRIGHTENs THEM.
FEAR T0-M0RROW'S RACE.
CONDITIONS OF TRIANGLE ARE
DIFFICULT.

Famous Cup Returning Home
Barr's Nerve and skill Are Relied
on to Prevent This-Sir Thomas
Upton Says He and Capt. Walker
Are Old Friends and Will Remain
So, Despite Saturdays Accident.
He Declines to Discuss the Report
That His Captain Sold Him Out
Two Years Ago.
New York. Sept. 29.-An anxious but
determined lot of yachtsmen gathered
at the New York Yacht Club tonight
for another talk over yesterdays ex-
citing race: the chances of the CO.
lumbia in her next contest with the
Shamrock II on Tuesday, but above
all that dreaded question of the pros
poets of the famous cup at last return
ing from whence it came after being in
American hands a brief month over
half century.
The anxious members seemed to be
in the majority. although the grim de-
termination not to give up the cup was
quite prevalent. Every member
frankly admitted that he had expert
enced something like a scare, and no
one wanted to have the Columbia win
another race by so close a margin. The
bulletin board. on which was tackled
the committees brief summary of yes
terday's race, was the chief attraction
at the club, and before it all the even
ing was group of more or less ex-
pert amateur shippers, debating the
question of what the Columbia would
be able to accomplish in the triangular
race on Tuesday. Everyone hoped for
the best, and many recalled that during
stitution and independence the Nor
gan boat had shown much speed when
sailing with started sheets.
Conditions of Next Race.
In the race on Tuesday, if the wind
holds true, two of the legs of the tri-
angle will be sailed under these con-
ditions. One of the legs, probably the
first, will be beat of ten miles to
the windward, the next will be broad
reach under large jib topsails or ball
loon jibs. while the third leg will be
close fetch to the finish line. On these
two reaches all the racers have shown
great speed and the Columbia has
frequently made one of the ten-mile
sides of the triangular races in time
around three quarters of an hour. 1t
is said that the Shamrock II has shown
a good 14-knot gait in a reach which
is a trifie better than has the Colum-
bia has done. but such timing cannot
be considered absolutely reliable. At
any rate with a good breeze the race
on Tuesday should be a fast one. Much
will depend on the position of the
boats at the start but at the yacht
club tonight there seemed to be the
utmost confidence in Capt. Barr of
the Columbia, despite the fact that he
was outgeneraled yesterday by the
skipper of the Shamrock II. With the
Columbia holding the weather position
at the start it seemed to be the gen.
eral opinion that she would keep it to
the first turn. But here came the
question of the American boats abil-
ity to hold the Irishman in the next
two legs. With her long line there
were many who seemed to
think that the challenger might
outfoot the defender and that
Capt. Barr's only resource would be
in a hot luffing match. That there will
be an attempt by one or the other skip
pers to luff out to windward in the two
reaching legs on Tuesdays race seems
almost certaiR, provided, of course, the
yachts are any way close at the first
mark or end of the beat to windward.
Much Depends ON Capt. Barr.
Capt. Barr has been singularly sue
cessful all the season in his luffing
matches with the exception of that
with the Constitution in the run from
New Haven to New London during the
celebrated cruise last month. He GER
tainly won the last race with the Con-
stitution by sharp sailing, and there
were sevral occasions where he OBJ
tanned advantage by such tactics,
while it may be said they are perfect
ly fair and honorable. It is on this
that the members of the New York
Yacht Club are relying to win Tues
days race on the ability of Capt. Barr
to berth his boat to windward at the
start, his skilfulness in holding her
there to the windward mark, the speed
of the Columbia on a reach and finally,
If lacking slightly in those, speed on
the run home. Again Capt Barr's
cleverness in a stiff luffing match is
taken into account.
II Capt Barr can win Tuesdays
race, the club men will heave a long
sigh of relief, but until that triangular
course contest is decided in favor of
the Columbia, the cup will be consider
ed, If not in actual danger of return
ing, at least as rocking in its case in
IanAcffnrU