The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-11-14
RACES FOR AMERICAS cup;
Long Continued Supremacy of Yam
kee Yachts Over the English
-. BOats.

.s-.rD ....,...-i =----.534 ...rI
Fifty years ago the schooner yacht
America sailed to England and in
race especially arranged to accommo.
date the visitor defeated feet of op
ponents so easily as to set new stand
ards in water racing. She bore home
with her a silver cup offered as prize
and since then that trophy has beer
an object of the most ardent desire OF
the part of English yachtsmen. But
to no avail, says the Chicago Chronicle.
Half century after the victory of old
America, Columbia, latest and best OF
a long line of cup defenders, defeated
the latest and best of challengers by
winning the third straight race in the
series and thereby closing the contest
for the season. American pride in
American yacht builders and sailors
was never higher than to-day, for this
last victory is the best of all, won from
the smartest candidate for the cup
that was ever brought here, and with
a boat which had already served its
turn in the defense of the cup.
The three races won from Shamrock
ii. constituted the closest series of all
between the cup yachts. The first and
the third were sailed on especially
narrow margins, while the last, the
deciding one, was the closest ever
known in this great competition. The
hrst race was won by Columbia by 81
seconds actual time and one minute
and 20 seconds corrected time. In that
race Shamrock beat Columbia to wind
ward by 80 seconds, but the American
yacht more than made up the differ
ence in the run home before the wind.
In the third race the conditions were
reversed, Shamrock beating Columbia
in the run before the wind by 40 sec
onds in the official records and nearly
one minute and ten seconds actually,
Columbia having crossed the line
about 20 seconds ahead of Shamrock.
but both yachts, being behind the
handicap gun, were scored as on even
terms. In the windward work Column
bia pulled up to within two seconds of
her rivals time and thus regained her
lost ground and won out, with slight
aid from the time allowance, taking
the heat by Al seconds corrected time,
Those two races, however close.
were not as satisfactory from all
points of view as the second. which
put the yachts through their PAGES
over triangular course and gave
them ample opportunity with a smart
breeze to show off in all kinds of work
save clear running. In this race Co.
lumbia emphatically proved herself
the better boat, overhauling Shamrock
steadily on all three legs. and though
starting considerably later, crossing
the finish line ahead and winning bv
minutes SO seconds actual time and
minutes 35 seconds corrected.
That one race was enough to convince
yachtsmen on both sides that England
has not yet mastered the sport to the
point of successful competition with
American designers, shippers and
sailors.
The paramount question now is
whether there will soon be another
race for the cup. The fact that Iipton
could not win a single race serves to
discourage the British sportsmen. but
that he came so near to winning in a IL
three is reassuring. The two sides are
closer together than ever before in
the matter of models and rigging. 1t
may be that the cup is held here now
mainly because of the requirement
that the challenger must be brought
over under her own sail, thus perhaps
handicapping her through the need
Of greater care for strength than for.
hghtness and. ease of line in her con-
suuctIon. With so narrow margin
remaining between England and the
coveted cup it may confidently be as
sumed that it will not be many sea-
sons before some enterprfsing Briton
VIII challenge. 1t is'not characteristic
OF the Anglo-Saxon toyield to defeat.