The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-02
AN UNFORTUNATE YACHT
CLEw OF THE CONSTITUTIONS JIB
CARRIED AWAY WHILE RACING.
Put Back AbOut Mile and Was De-
feated by Columbia by Forty
Eight Seconds.

NEWPORT. r. l., July 1.-The Constitu-
ton was defeated by the Columbia to-day
by the small margin of forty-eight sec
onds in the first real race in which the
new Herreshoff yacht has participated AL
though the contest from start to finish
was close and at times exciting. in the
opinion OF a majority of yachtmen in New
port tonight the Constitution lost through
misfortune However. the result of to-
days contest is far from conclusive. and
there is still much to be decided as TO the
relative merits of the two racers.
The mishap to the new boat came about
an hour after the start. While the boats
were on the second long tack to windward
the clew of the jb of the new boat was
was without the use of that sail This ac-
cident set the Constitution back practical
ly mile. but in spite of it she was able
to get within two minutes of the Column
bia at the turn and cut this lead down
more than half on the run home. Some
Of this gain. however, was undoubtedly
due to the fact that she came up in the
better wind The Columbia did not escape
without accident. too. for Immediately
after crossing the finish line in gybing
over the big mainsail her main boom
buckled and she had to be towed to the
city. 1t will be necessary to sling a new
spar before the Columbia can race again,
but IL is expected IL will be in place for a
race Wednesday.
The event to-day was the first of series
of special races arranged by the New
York Yacht Club for the purpose of bring
ing the two yachts together. The course
was cleared for the races when the time
approached for the firing of the signal
breeze In -
southwest just when IL was wanted. Fiji
teen miles dead TO windward and back
again the course signaled by the
flagship Colonia. The starting signal sent
Columbia of at 1l4O:34. well to windward
and three seconds in advance. The Con-
stitution, with rare burst of speed, came
on with a rush and ran through the Co.
iumbia's lee, pointing for much higher
position than was expected of her. This
did not last long. however. Both yachts.
with big club sails set and small jib top
sails hunting for whatever wind there
might be. were making the best of the
breeze. The Constitution, by large mar
gin, footed faster than the Columbia But
while the new boat was going along as
swift the wind she had not the grip on
the water that the other craft had. Along
on the starboard tack the two yachts
sailed, both jogging at an eght-knot gait
The Constitution would not stand Up as
well as her rival by at least three degrees
When the time came for the Constitution
to tack. it was mooted question whether
she could or could not cross the Columbia s
bow. In the judgment of the sharps how
ever. there was too large a gap 20 lee
ward TO allow OF this. But just at the
moment when the Constitutions helm was
put down, the Columbia also came about.
and both went over on the port tack for a
few minutes.
Suddenly the luff of the Constitution 5
big jib began 10 shake. The pennant or the
sheet itself had evidently carried away.
Down came the jib halyards by the run,
while dozen men climbed out on the bow
spirit 10 gather in the slack at the foot of
the sail so as 10 smother the flowing duck.
For over ten minutes the Constitution on
that close-hauled stretch, was without the
benefit OF her jib. Columbia all that time
was pointing higher and footing faster.
When the sail was In place again the Con-
stitution rapidly forged ahead making UP
much OF her leeway. IL was. however too
big a gap 10 fill The outward mark was
now in sight and Columbia got hold of its
true bearings and made judicious hitch 10
starboa.d The Constitution n few seconds
later. also tackled. but what she did was a
stretch too far.
The time ar the outermark was: Column
bia. 1:24:55; Constitution. 1855 Thus on
the beat 10 windward the Columbia de-
feated her opponent nearly two minutes In
setting spinnakers the Columbia was a trifie
smarter than the Constitution.
In the run before the wind the Constitu-
tion gained. With sheets eased off she Is
faster than Columbia. The times at the
finish were: Columbia. 232.3S. Constitution
2:33.29. Thus. over the course Of fifteen
miles 10 windward and back the elapsed
time OF Columbia was 2:52:0f, while that of
the Constitution was 2:55:62.