The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-03
YACHTS LACKED WIND
COLUMBIA AND CONSTITUTION
COULD NOT FINISH THEIR RACE.
Latter, However, Would Have Been
IngIOriOusIy Defeated Again
Had the Breeze Not Failed.

NEWPORT, r. l., Sept. 2.-The second
official trial race of the Columbia and the
Constitution to-day practically had no re-
suit. The yachts, for lack of wind. were
unable TO finish within the time limit of
five and one-half hours.
At $50 this evening the contest came TO
al inglorious conclusion two miles to the
eastward of BrentOn's Reef lightshp. At
that time the Columbia led by a good
quarter of mile The course was trisngu-
lar, ten nautical miles TO a leg, the first
being a beat TO windward, east by south;
the second a reach with the wind about
abeam, and the third run before the
wind, which hauled to make it another
stretch, with the wind abeam, until the
race was declared off.
After crossing the line at exactly the
same moment, six seconds after gunfire,
with the Constitution in the windward
berth. the Columbia worked out, and. get
ting her wind free, forged ahead. The Con-
stitution tackled off shore and shortly after
the Columbia followed, going up TO wind
ward and passing her. From then on
TO the windward mark it was nothing
but a lsteady gain for the old boat,
and when both had rounded it was
found that the Columbia had gained
four minutes and fifty-fve seconds, the
worst beating the Constitution has yet re-
ceived. On the second leg the wind fell
very light, and the Constitution bringing
it up with her gained slightly. Rounding
The second mark four minutes and
thirty seconds behind, and starting for
home, the Constitution carried up about
all the wind there was and passed her
rival Then the breeze came up again
and the Columbia once more shot ahead.
Shortly after the race was called on, with
Columbia we'll in the lead. 1t will be re-
sailed tomorrow afternoon, the start being
Sir Thomas Upton, with George I. Wat
son, the designer of the Shamrock IL, VIII
liam JamisOn, the famous English yacht
ing amateur, Ratsey. the sailmaker and
Captain Sycamore, of the Shamrock ii,
watched to-day race with eager interest
from the bridge of the steam yacht Erin.
Nothing noteworthy occurred in the race
until the second mark was rounded by the
Columbia a 450:40 and by the Constitution
4.55:10 the difference between the two
being four minutes thirty seconds. Almost
a fiat calm prevailed for nearly twenty
minutes. the Constitution here show
ing marvellous ability as drifter.
The Columbia set her spinnaker. but the
wind hauling, took it in again after few
minutes The Constitution lowered her
spinnaker pole. but did not set the sail.
Under her balloon jib topsail she crawled
up very slowly, and at 5:3S she passed
Columbia. The wind came a little fresher
and the Constitution increased her lead.
1t freshened still more, then Columbia
luffed out and passed the Constitution
with singular rapidity and was a quarter
Of a mile in the lead when the time limit
was up
Immediately after the race was declared
off the Erin steamed back to the harbor
and Sir Thomas Upton came ashore and
was driven TO the residence of Commodore
Lewis Cass Ledyard. where a dinner was
given in his honor. Besides Sir Thomas and
his party from the Erin, there were pres
ent the challenge committee of the New
York Yacht Club. the regatta committee
and the owners of the Columbia and Con-
stitutiOn. The affair was entirely in
formal and there was no speechmaking.
The first formal welcome to Sir Thomas
by the New York Yacht Club will be
given at the new clubhouse in New York
at some later day. Immediately after the
dinner tonight the Erin with Sir Thomas
and his party on board started for Sandy
Hook.
The race which was not finished to-day
will be resailed tomorrow the start be-
ing made in the early afternoon. The
present series Will end on Wednesday.
Whether or not there will be other races
after that the committee is not yet able to
announce. 1t is said that another entire
new suit of sails have been made for the
Constitution at the Herreshoff's works at
Bristol. They are nearly finished and
some Of them may be tried tomorrow.