The age-herald., 1901-07-14
YACHTS AND YACHTING
Shamrock and Constitution in Training Again
 The Columbia Shows Her Metle.
BY PAUL SELLCoUR.

New York, July 13.-(Special) )-As the time for the race for the America's cup draws nigh, interest in the great inter national yacht race increases. Both the English and American cup racers are now convalescent. They have got out of their marine hospitals at either side of the Atlantic, and if one may judge from their present conditions they are better ships that is if you can call them ships-than they were before they both got their bad knockouts. The Shamrock II. first got mixed up in a puff of wind and was nearly put out of business, independent of jeopodizing the life of King Edward and Sir Thomas Lipton in the Solent. at the other side. Then, at this side we had the Constitution compelled to ac- knowledge the supremacy of old Boreas and buckle her mast to the god of winds and go home to Bristol like wounded sea bird, unable to help herself as she lay at the mercy of wind and wave. Well ~they are once more all right again and GSer for the fray when the time comes 0ovided there are no more mishapS to interfere with their aquatic rehearsals.
 A few days ago the Constitution and the old Columbia started off in a trial race off Newport. When I speak of the old Columbia you must not take me too literal The fact of the matter is the Columbia is only a two-year-old, and any one who knows anything about two years when it comes down to horse flesh. will readily recognize that they are very un- certain quantities. However, that neither here nor there in this case. That the Columbia is a good boat of her kind goes without saying. She has already proved her ability. She Is today the win ner of the America's cup. She defended it, won it, and proved to be the best craft of her kind af1oat. Sir Thomas Lipton acknowledged this fact in the most gracious manner when Columbia got away, hands down. with Shamrock l. in every kind of wind, from the breath of a zephyr to a reeting blow with top masts housed. But that's ancient history now, even if it is only two years ago. What matters it if Columbia got away from Constitution the other day and showed her tafrai to the newer racing machine all over the course and came in a winner. Remember the Columbia is now at her best, and it isn't dead sure thing that she Is not now an abler, speed fer and better boat than when she was relied upon to maintain the American yacht sailing supremacy of the seas. Some people who know a thing or two and who can tell bobstay from a top pin lift, are plain In their speech in that direction. Well, what of it? Wait until the Constitution gets down to her fine WOrk. wat untl f1erreSnOn and Dun can get a true lineon her ability. if she has 1t and we shall see what we shall sec Herreshoh may have reached his limit in this kind of yacht racing ma chine If he has he has not gone much beyond it is his departure from Columbia and Vigilant, both as good machines as cpuld be hammered together for the pur- pose for which they were intended. Two weeks from now the Constitution will be better racing machine than she is to- day. The Columbia is now at her best. She is tuned up to full concert pitch.
 At the other side of the Atlantic Sir Thomas Lipton has been as busy as a beaver, whipping the Shamrock IT. into shape. Since she left the hospital the boat has been convalescing as most en- the original Shamrock she showed a clean pair of heels over most of the course. Sir Thomas has nothing to be discouraged about. lis an i'll wind that blows nobody good, and who can tell but the blow that took the mast out of the challenger the day the King went aboard her to see the first of the trial races may not have been a blessing in disguise When blessings disguise themselves it Is very difficult to decide what agencies sthey employ to get to windward of you Oh no! There is no change in the orig inal situation. The Shamrock IT. Is the challenger. and Constitution in all prob ability will be the defender. No good American can go back on the Constitu- tfon. In case it does not follow the flag they both go together.