New-York tribune., 1901-07-30


Senta the Quissetta and the Elmina. About
1915 the wind freshened, and soon II was blow
ing perhaps fourteen miles hour. This was
one Of the things Barr was looking for when ne
took late start. The Columbia came down on
the fresher wind. and in several minutes was al
most on even terms with the Constitution on
seeing her coming the Constitution hauled up
bit to keep the weather berth. and the Columbia
did not provoke any lUffing match. but went Tor
her les The Block Island mark was now near
and there use in having a luffng fight
with the Constitution and thus giving better
chances 70 the smaller cutters.
The Elmina and the Quissetta were now hav-
ing another luffing match, which took them far
of their course toward the land. The Elmina
then gybed her mainboon quickly TO starboard
and hustling for the Block Island mark
setting her spinnaker 10 port as she came The
Quissetta followed, making her gybe slowly and
losing ground. while the Elmina romping
for the mark
The Columbia passing the Constitution
her leeward side when l. 30: 80 the Con-
stitution took in her spnnaker 10 prepare for
her gybe before taking the mark. The Colun1-
bia held 20 hers for perhaps minute longer. in
fact. till the CONSTITUTIONS boom going
across which II did II 12:3745 After showing
just to leeward Of the CONSTITUTIONS course for
the mark. Her boom went over and she spun
up for the mark from q position TO leeward of
the CONSTITUTIONS bow. Barr got his sheets aft
quickly but hung for moment before the wind
TO let the Constitution take the mark first in
order that he might cut IN between the mark
and the Constitution. This he did but he
that as Rhodes had the best way on and would
possess the leeward position he would have
Z rat -Taa
Accordingly,h ,he came close to the mark with
rush. went in stays as he circled round It and
then shot off on the starbcard tack But Rhodes
knew his own advantage and that Barr was try
ing TO escape the terrors Of the leeward berth
and he Immediately spun around TO starboard
and laid his boat fat on Bars weather side.
THE CRUCIAL MOMENT
Here then. was the chance of the Constitu-
ton. This was what all her friends had been
waiting for. Wnen the Columbia beat the Con-
stitution all the way to Newport from New
London Thursday last the CONSTITUTIONS
friends said that their boat got away in the lee
ward berth. and that il was Bars skill in
wind splitting and blanketing that brought the
defeat, and not the superior speed of the Co
lumbia- Here. then. the positions were re-
versed. and the eighteen-mile beat began at this
mark with everything in the CONSTITUTIONS IA
vor. Her club topsail sitting far better
than that Of the Columbia, and she had the
| 1899 boat crushed under her lee II she had the
! legs for IL she could hold her there and per
haps eternally silence the Columbia's claim for
second cup defence. 1t was one OF the most
| exciting moments of the whole season. The
Constitution had the best way and Tapped
up fast the Columbias weather side, but
| Barr got his boat going he gave her hard pull
! 10 pull clear. and then from distance Of
/ perhaps two lengths TO Ieeward. he began the
! struggle that was intended to become instruc-
! tive; and the lesson that he proposed TO teach
this: that the fine drawn Columbia. with
/ her narrower beam. and with her beam in the
right place, not having IL carried too far aft
! in the Constitution. a better modelled
boat for fast windward sailing than the Con-
| stitution.
The passengers and sailors OF over forty
steam yachts were craning their necks TO see
what would happen. and at first the Constitu-
/ tion ecemed to draw up on the smaller boat
! She passed along faster TIL her mast, from the
press yachts point Of view, was just even with
that OF the Columbia, and then the two sailed
even for a little while and hope hung in the
4 balance Presently the mast Of the Columbia
was seen coming out a bit ahead and piece
of the mainsan was seen Then the whole boat
came in front, though to leeward. Then the
| Constitution came about and the Columbia went
IN little and then came about to starboard
also tapping upon the Constitutions weather
quarter pointing higher and outfooting. It took
Barr lust about thirteen minutes TO work out
4 from an apparently fatal position and land his
| boat safely In the weather berth.
| The official timing at the first mark az the
and of the thirteen mile run was Constitution
! o39:46: Columbia, u 3S.33-
| In the mean time the Independence had ranged
herself a bout half mile to the eastward OF the
mark and a little 70 leeward, and then started TO
| work toward the West Island mark a distance
| ~ eighteen miles 70 windward. Here the Inde-
! nendsnce showed a gTandly sitting mainsa
In; club gaff topsai that bagged In the middle.
/ Her new lib was apparently no better than the
/ Yorner one with apparently the fault.
/ which seemed 10 be due 10 stretching of the
bolt ro0e
/ AZ "A the Constitution, having seen that she
I rouId rot point up with the Columbia when both
/ were without their ubtopssils, set her working
,,h,onssil 10 make a better pace on her
! ieeward course. The peculiarity and benefit of
I this race were that the two boats always
| in the "a me water, and consequently there
| no dukes or favors for either boat At the time
OF turning the orst mark and On up to this part