The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-07-04
BY NARROW MARGIN.
Yacht Columbia Defeats constitu-
ton, New Cup Defender.

Newport, r. l., July 2.--The Consti-
tuition was defeated by the Columbia
by the small margin Of As seconds in
the first real race in which the new
Herreshoff yacht has participated.
Although the contest from start to
finish was close and at times exciting,
in the opinion of q majority of yachts
men in Newport, the Constitution lost
through misfortune. However, the re-
suit of the contest Is far from conclu-
sive, and there is still much to be de-
cided 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 jib of the new boat was
carried away, and for some ten min
utes she was without the use of that
sail. This accident set the Constitu-
tion back practically mile, but in
spite of it she was able to get within
two minutes of the Columbia at the
turn, and cut this lead down more
than half on the run home. Some of
of this gain, however, was undoubted-
ly due to the fact that she came up in
the better wind. The Columbia did
not escape without accident, 300, 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. It will be
necessary to sling a new spar before
the Columbia can race again, but it is
expected it win be in place for race
Wednesday.
Fine Start.
The event was the first of series
of special races arranged by the New
York Yacht club for the purpose of
bringing the two yachts together.
The course was cleared for the racers
when the time approached for the fir
ing of the signal gun, and the breeze
came up from the southwest Just
when it was wanted. Fifteen miles
dead to windward and back again was
the course signaled by the flags hoist
ed on the flagship Colonia. The start
ing signal sent Columbia off at
11:40:34, well to windward, and three
ton, with rare burst of speed, came |
on with a rush and ran through the |
Columbia's lee, pointing for a much |
higher position than was expected of |
her. This did not last long, however. |
Both yachts, with big club topsails |
set and small jib topsails hunting for |
whatever wind there might be, were |
making the best of the breeze. The |
Constitution by large margin footed |
faster than the Columbia. But while |
the new boat was going along swift |
as the wind, she had not the grip on |
the water the other craft had. Along |
on the starboard tack the two yachts
sailed, both jogging at an eight-knot
gait. The Constitution would not
stand up as wen as her rival by at
least three degrees. When the time
came for the Constitution to tack it |
was a mooted question whether she
could or could not cross the Column
bias bow. In the Judgment of the
sharps, however, there was too large
a gap to leeward to allow of this. But
just at the moment when the Consti-
tution's helm was put down, the Co.
lumbia also came about, and both
went over on the port tack for few
minutes.
The Accident.
Suddenly the huff of the Constitu-
tion's big jib began to shake. The
pennant or the sheet itself had evil
IDENTIFY carried away. Down came the
jib halyards by the run, while dozen
men climbed out on the bowsprit to
gather in the slack at the foot of the
sail so as to smother the flowing duck.
For over ten minutes the Constitution,
on that close-hauled stretch was with
out the benefit of her jib. Columbia
all the time was pointing higher and
footing faster. When the sail was in
place again the Constitution rapidly
forged ahead, making up much of her
leeway. 1t was, however, too big a
gap to fill. The outward mark was
now in sight, and Columbia got hold
of its true bearings and made judi
cious hitch to starboard. The Consti.
tuition, a few seconds later, also
tackled, but what she did was a
stretch too far.
The Time.
The time at the outer mark was:
Columbia, 1:24:25; Constitution,
1865. Thus on the beat to wind
ward the Columbia defeated her op-
Ponent nearly two minutes. In set.
ting spinnakers the Columbia was a
trifie smarter than the Constitution.
In the run before the wind the Con.
stitution gained. With sheets eased |
Off she is faster than Columbia. The
times at the finish were: Columbia,
2:32:3s; Constitution, 2:33:29.
Thus, over the course of Is miles to |