The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-02
A DRIFTING MATCH
DISAPPOINTMENT NUMBER TWO OF
THE YACHT CONTEST.
BREEzES WERE TOO LIGHT
SHAMROCK WELL IN THE LEAD AT
THE CLOSE.

W hS DA0
spIendidIy for the Little Favor
shown Them by the Weather-Co-
Iumbia Had the Best of 1t Early i'm
the Day, but the Shamrock Had
Better Luck With Chance Breezes
Later-She Has Developed Splendid
Qualities as Goer in Light
Winds.
New York, Oct. 1.-To-days attempt
to sail the second of the present series
of international yacht races for the
blue ribbon of the sea proved dismal
failure. Between $4,000 and 10000 peo-
pie who crowded the pleasure fleet off
Sandy Hook lightship in the hope of
seeing a repetition of the thrilling
sport of last Saturday witnessed in
stead more of a drifting match than a
race. The wind was exceedingly light
and variable, at times falling so low
that the gossamer wind pennants,
which are as light as thistle down,
hung limp against the masts of the
big single stickers. The wind, with
crews lined up on the lee rails, was
AACh oOAANiOAAN at any tlAiC ~ bhC
racing machines heel to the lines. At
the end of four and a half hours, the
two yachts had covered less than one
half of the course of thirty miles, and
as there was no possibility of their
finishing with the time limit the Re-
gatta Committee declared the race Off.
When the gun was fired announcing
this decision the challenger was about
half a mile ahead of the defender and
to that extent to-day'S trial was a vic
tory for Shamrock II. But the fiuke to-
day demonstrated little as to the ques-
ton of supremacy between the two
boats except, perhaps, that Sir Thorn
as new champion is more dangerous in
light airs than was supposed after her
two former meetings with the Column
bia. In huky winds of variable
strength, shifting as they did to-day,
through six points of the compass, luck
cuts almost as much figure as model
and seamanship, and to-day fortune
was Enthusiastically with the foreigner.
The course was an equilateral trian-
gle, ten miles to the leg, the first leg
being beat due east into the wind.
The Yankee skipper at the start out
generated his adversary in a splendid
piece of jockeying, crossing the line in
1AAC alO OCIlll IWclNG SECONDS
ahead of the Britisher This ADVANTAGE
Columbia held for two hours, while
both yachts steered far off their course
to the southwark looking for streak of
wind that would profit them. Finally
Barr declined longer to continue the
vainless quest. He put his helm down
ond headed in shore on the starboard
tack. The Shamrock at this time, af-
ter both had been sailing in the same
airs, was beaten boat and her skipper
could afford to take a gamblers chance
with fortune. He held doggedly on
and fortune smiled upon him. Within
south, which ruffied the crestless
waves and waited him like a ghost
through the Columbia's weather.
Fortune Fayors Shamrock.
But this was not his best piece of
good fortune. After this reverse the
Columbia, slipping through the seas
at an astonishing pace considering the
lightness of the breeze, had worked
out ahead of the Shamrock, but to
leeward. When the two yachts were
in this position about two miles from
the first turn cant of wind threaten
ed to blanket Columbia, and to avoid
such a possibility Barr went under
Shamrock'S stern. Just as he did so
the wind hauled around more to the
south, knocking the Columbias head
off until, to the astonished spectators,
she seemed headed almost back fol
the lightship at the starting line. The
golden boat, favored by the same
breeze, was headed in exactly the op-
posite direction. Then the shifting
wind backed again and Barr got the
Columbia Strengthened out. He was
third of a mile astern. This position
the two boats held rounding the first
mark, Shamrock three minutes and
eight seconds before Columbia, or a
gain for Shamrock in the beat to wind
ward, adding the twelve seconds which
Columbia beat her over the line, of
three minutes and twenty seconds.
The Race Declared OF.
During the next hour in a close reach
for the second mark the yachts were
able to cover about four or four and
a half miles of the remaining twenty,
and as only fifty minutes then remain
ed before the expiration of the time
limit the race was declared off After
turning the mark the experts thought
Shamrock increased her lead slightly.
This gain may, however, be accounted
for by the fact that she carried a
large reaching jib topjail, while Co
lumbia was working close to the wind
with small baby jib topsail. a mere
handkerchief compared to Shamrock s
larger sail. When, the excursion fleet
headed back for home the only real
race of the day occurred. 1t was the
race for New York. Tonight both the
Yankees and the foreigners are pray
ing for a good stiff breeze on Thurs
day, when to-day's race will be re-
sailed.
Shamrock Had Sew Suit.
When the string of signals was hoist
ed on the committee boat indicating
the course the rival racers were circling
about the lightship performing nearly
every known variety of marine ma.
neuvers. The Shamrock was clothed in
a brand new suit Of light weather sails,
admirably cut and of marvellous fit.
The Columbia, however, was obliged
to content herself with the same old
suit that carried her to victory on
Saturday. Before the start the Sham
rock holsted a tiny jib topsail, per-
haps the smallest ever carried by a
cup contender. 1t answered it's pur-
pose capitally as a steering sail and
proved of great advantage in a day so
prolific of hukes and calms. The pre-
paratory gun was fired at 10:45. At
that time both yachts were on the
port tack standing to the southwark
with the Shamrock In the lead and
the Columbia following in her wake
Ten minutes later the bang Of the
warning gun was heard and the Co
lumbia, wearing sharply round.
trimmed her sails on the other tack
Shamrock crossing her bow. The Co
lunlbia took good care TO secure the
weather berth and ten seconds after
the starting gun. which was fired az
the dot Of II o'clock, she crossed the