The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-07-09
CONSTITUTION A WONDER IN
LIGHT WINDS.
INDEPENDENCE is HOPELESS
Boston Cra1> finishes Almost an
Hour Behind New Her
reshoff Creation.

Newport, July s-If the victory of
Constitution over Columbia and In
dependence in the first of the three
cornered races, last Saturday, was
significant and definite, her winning
today may well be characterized as
overwhelming and the defeat of indie
pendence as positive and almost
hopeless.
Approach Of evening again found
the committee boat anchored far out
in Narragansett bay, along with a cat
boat, which marked the other end of
the finish line, %tediously waiting for
the Boston boat to cross, while her
rivals were well up the harbor on
the way to their mornings. The new
Herreshoff boat had beaten Column
bia by nearly half an hour owe a
thirty mile course, while the record
against independence al almost
fully an hour. She came near travel
ing around the triangle while the
CIOW1llSIl6lu CISdtlCA wax SOfSlllS
two lengths o fit.
Today's ace established the new
Bristol sloop as a record breaker in
light airs. She has accomplished what
yacht men considered impossible in
thus beating Columbia, while her per-
Torrance has put Independence en-
+s,o1,, 1,,+ oG ,,,,op;,r -; oo.5;t;o-,
like those of today. What her show
ing may be in heavy water is still a
matter of conjecture. as it was with
Independence, but experts are now
almost ready to accept any achieve
ment of Constitution without ques.
ton.
Constitution has proved herself the
best light weather craft of the gen
GRAFTON. Highland, Volunteer, De,
fender and Columbia have in the
past achieved wonderful things in re-
tanning the cup, but Constitution caps
the climax. The wind was light from
the southwest when the start was
made. There was considerable swell
in the harbor.
The start was made about three
miles off Brenton light ship. The
first leg of the triangular course of
70 nautical miles was a deadbeat to
vindward. The start of Constitution
was notable. She did not seem to
want to take the windward position
but being in a hurry to cross started
from pretty nearly the leeward end
of the line and luffed up to cross Just
as the gun sounded. This would
have been cause for a berth further
down to leeward but a minute after
ward as Columbia was about to cross
Constitution, the latter showed her
naughty disregard of the other two
and proceeded to leewaYd, and then
luffing crossed the bows of her op-
ponents and when satisfied with the
lead she had obtained, lacking and
seeking a berth to windward, a gain
which she maintined to the end. It
was not an encouraging outlook gen
orally, but Constitution overcame
every obstacle in the way of fukes
and doldrums and sailing with tact
and skill won out at first mark by
10 minutes and 35 seconds over Co.
lumbia. That great yacht never be.
fore had such a humiliating exper.
fence. At the next leg, a reach OF
10 miles with only gentle zephers
blowing on starboard beam with every
sail set to catch whatever breeze
might Come her way, she sailed fast
er than the wind and by rare skill and
ability, worked her way through what
seemed to be inextricable group O
humanity. through lazy ground swells
and temporary calm to another bril-
liant achievement. She rounded the
leeward mark s minutes and AZ sec
onds ahead Of Columbia. And, ther
SQUIRTING faster than the wind, which
v during the race today exceed
d a force of six knots an hour, sh.
made the GROWING record of her his
tory by sailing over 10 knots in 4!
minutes and as seconds. Then cam
cheering and salutes of acclaim from
whistles and sirens in honor of tn,
greatest boat that ever sailed.
sSEaAe aaaVe- evnsAsAs