The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-03
COLUMBIA The winner.

and the Columbia Tne latter peinS
under tie ShaJnrocks lee, apparently
decided not TO cross in that position,
| but wore around again. Holding tight
/ to his advantage when the gun was
| fired, Capt sycamore sent the sham
| rock across the line almost before the
| stiff wind could sweep the powder
smoke away. Columbia being consider
ably behind.
After crossing both yachts went on q
close reach for the first mark, fairly
tearing through the water and throw
ing great fountains of spray from un-s
der their bows
The official time of crossing the line
was: Shamrock, 11:O0:13; Columbia,
II :01:47-
1t was a magnificent and od-stir-
ring race to the first mark The pace
was terrific. and it was impossible to
determine, when half the first leg had
been sailed whether or not the Sham
rock was maintaining the lead she
gained when they crossed the line.
Both were carrying the same sails.
Every yard of the canvas piled above
the flying hulls of the racers was as
hard as a. board. The crews were lined
under the windward rail, while off to
leeWard the spray from under the bows
of the yachts was swept in clouds by
the increasing wind.
They lifted the first turn as though
the stake boat itself was coming TO
meet them, the Shamrock still holding
her big lead.
Shamrock turned the first mark un-.
official time 11:50:55. and gybing
stretched out for the reach to the sec
ond mark. The Columbia followed her
around one minute 25Seconds later and
based on official figures it seems that
she had gained nine seconds on the
first leg Both swept away on the star
board tack, Shamrock leading by about
a quarter to third of a mile
The official time of the turning of the
first mark was: Shamrock, IL :51:06;
Columbia 11:52:17. This showed that
the Columbia's gain was % seconds in
the ten miles of close reaching of the
first leg.
The. second leg of the race lost moth
ing in exciting interest The wind held
strong and true, and after rounding
the mark the racers maintained their
terrific speed. making no change in
their sails. The excursion fleet had a
fight to keep up with the race, being
compelled to crowd on a full head of
steam to maintain a position which
would keep the flying yachts in view.
AS in the first leg, it was mere guess
work at first whether either boat had
gained or lost. When about half of
the second leg had been covered 1t
seemed, however, as if the American
boat had managed to slightly crawl up
on her fast sailing opponent.
At any rate she was safe within her
time allowance. and as they neared the
second mark It was evident that if she
was not gaining she was easily holding
her own.
Still scudding in the strong wind, the
big white racers fetched the second
mark, Shamrock rounding it first and
with fiattening sheets she held toward
the Jersey shore, on the starboard
tack for about an eighth Of mile.
The Columbia. however, luffed around
the mark and stood off on the port
tack AS soon as the Columbia had
rounded the Shamrock also went on the
port tack. and in this position the
yachts stod nearly due north for more
than forty minutes.
1t was the first windward work of
the race, and the result of the contest
depended upon the respective merits of
the two boats i'll the thrash to wind
ward toward the finish line.
At 1:06 both yachts went about on thV
starboard tack and stood for the Jersey
shore the Colum bia tacking first The
race was as close as ever. Both yachts
had taken in their jib tOpSai1S before
reaching the second mark preparas Dry
to beating up the last leg under the
three lower sails and lower club top
sails. Working in the wind, the Sham
rock was apparently footing very fast,
but Columbia seemed to OutpOint her.
In the first half hour of sailing after
the second mark had been turned, the
Columbia had the race in hand on time
allowance unless the Shamrock did some
unexpectedly superior work
1t was nip and. tuck for the next
twenty minutes or more until about 1:20
when both boats went about on the port
tack and it was seen that the defender
had crept up upon her rival and taken
the lead.
She had outpointed the Shamrock and
secured commanding position on the
latter's bow.
With the finish line about four miles
away at 1:40, the American bq : had the
race well in hand and barring accidents,
it seemed inevitable that she would more
than make up the Shamrock'S lead over
the line and get home ahead of her. But
even with the Columbia's sudden squirt
and the advantage the race was still
an exciting one, and never for mo-
ment did interest flag as the two superb
ships thrashed to windward, the breeze
holding strong. The weather conditions