New-York tribune., 1901-08-23
COLUMBIA WAY AHEAD.
THE CONSTITUTION OUTSAILED IN
PRACTICALLY TWO RACES IN
VARYING WINDS.

any contest of the season Ii practically two
races of fifteen miles each both of which were
by the Columbia the Constitution The
Columbia started in the first round of fifteen miles
and cieanly outailed the Constitution until at one
time she a mile ahead. Then came 4 dead
calm and battling winds in which luck pulled the
Constitution up a closer fnish OF the first round
After starting the first leg of the second round.
which for the most part a run. the Consti-
tuition down freshening breeze from the
southeast and pulled up the whole of the )
minutes and 10 seconds which she lacked at the
home mark This done while the Columbia was
almost without wind and hardly moving. This
started them again close beside each other on
practically a second race. in which the Columbia
gained all the way and finished l minute and -
seconds ahead. If there was any one on board the
committee steamer Dalzcll who was not convinced
of the Coumbias superiority for cup defence he
must have kept his opinions to himself All those
who spoke said that the contests were most In
structive The performance OF the Constitution
was very much Ike that of the first Shamrock.
and If she had been painted green few could have
told the difference. she had the same method
of slightly leeward pointing in windward work, with
a similar big, beamy body, the Same overcanvassed
look. with its sagging gan and huge topsai that
did not stand up TO good work There were seVeraI
who noticed this great resemblance and expressed
the opinion that the first Shamrock, with almost
precisely the faults, would do as well or bet
ter with the Columbia in these light winds.
Yesterdays performance of the Constitution was
good many of the first ShamrocNs with
do 5 she liked with her rival.
The course chosen was a li@s mile triangle, whlch
sailed twice. The wind was east at the start,
but southwest wind blowing inside Oyster
Bay, and this course chosen in order to get
the southwest beating the third leg. This prep
araton to some extent set at naught By the
wind refusing all day come southwest.
After the marks rad all been laid the Constitu-
tion had gone out and reached the eastcry wind
outside. The Columbia waiting FOR her in the
midst of a large fleet of steam yachts, launches,
houseboats and catboats The first gun was fired
at l:3O The wind then northeast. and both
Of the yachts, having then five minutes In which to
choose their position before the start went south
erly the port tack. the Constitution being 10
leeward with the Columbia her weather quar-
ter Both moving slowly. and Rhodes then
made It a little difficult for Barr by gybng round
two almost motionless small soops, He knew that
Barr would wish to gybe and come up on his
weather ssa:n and he thought that these two
boats woUlc keep hUr from going far. But
Barr. while allowing room for his horn 10 clear the
Constitution. contryei to clear the Arst small
siooP alzo-th,s craft lying just between the two
gySng .tretiec-and then secc11 small craft ay-
peered from behind the Coumbias sail. and sre
oleare: also 1t looked Ike very difficult
steecrT. or. rathe: calculation Of Gistaace. but
Barr earn. out OF corne. w!.E uaGisturoed
sere"i.y. AS ne came by the wind EhcGe> tried tn
coca u on his weathe.. but hadn't the legs. and
Barr dTasEe'i Cl; TO winiwarG position. As coon
as this was ohtGileJ he paved OF Quic.;!. laying
tho Co,umbi,. ia, on the CONSTITUTIONS weather
bcn. II 4 net :or the 6octrIn, cf reincarrs-
to-. Tho Constitution wcult be there sji. for Esrr
ki!:ed k'r dead TacLcro. and then fed.
Trey crossed the lire. 1-ct to7 7St. tue Columbia
having EooG wsv - tined the watch.
t"c Constitution d.9 not Get really going sgan for
three minutes after tho c:srte sigma. II other
words, she only got ;ho wlnc tina; 2aTr dc not
want. had ussG up sc that until he went out
ahead. the Constitution did little Two minutes
after rhe :Ignal the Columbia va. fv- lengths
ahead. Thcr tht Constitution. which was never q
quick starter. fine gait on her. which the
easy reaching on the north-northwest course nl-
lowed.
On the way TO the first mark the Columbia me,
q tug towing six big harges end. She paved
! off to cross ahead OF the tow. The Constitution
being further behind hauled her wind 20 pass
| astern OF the tow. In this way she had tie extra
weight OF tho vino and went fast The tus cap
tain took in the situation once. and seing that
the Columbia was pinohed for he dragged
round northWard The two leading baTges to make
II easier fox the old defender.
The C2la7b!a tho mark FIRST being timed
cf'cisiy al I:57 &c. the Constitution following at
5sJs, Il difference OF forty-sight seconds In three
anG one half miles. Barr luret at the mark TO get
his sheeta and then went back on the starboard
tack
They had ROW 70 beat five y nj one-ha!t miles east
by north Topc@lls setting badly on both the
bosts and II hard say wheh sat worst
The new rqainSan OF the Consti,ution which had
nuttarcd ut the leach great deal seemed TO be
getting hsttef all the time the canvas yielded
! TO the different strains
/ At zM2 the Columbia set working jlb topsan
and at zoo had the Constitution dead 10 leeward
and splitting her wind. Rhodes broke out a lib
tOasail 10 get better way at 2N53o and the
/ wind then about northeast by east Then he
brcadcned off the Constitution TO run clear OF the
Coinmbia's damaging influence. Tic was. however
/ unable to move any faster blK full than the
| Columbia going close hauled. The new boats
mainsail had stopped all it's shaking In the leach
and II looked TO be the best sail that ever
seen on the boat She heading for
Eaton's Neck Light. about southeast by east but
at 2:lSl2 she turned for the north shore. The CO.
lumbia her good chance 10 get away here
and did not turn to blanket her Consequently she
had her wind clear, though she did better.
Barr was up to windward about quarter Of a
nile or more when he found his lee bow a mark
! for the club course No and thought It was the
one he had to round. he bore away until she
was exactly on a line ahead Of the Constitution be-
| fore he discovered his mistake That gave the Ice
boat something like two minutes, and brought her
much nearly terms. Then Barr got
| scared and put the boots to the Columbia so that
she did still better sailing than before going out
| to windward In a way that suggested previous
| foolng. From being only perhaps minute ahead
| through his mistake. he now drew away and
| rounded the eastcrly mark three minutes and
rorty-three seconds ahead. He lowered his spin
maker boom at the mark. where he rounded with
his balloon Iib In stops. breaking 1t out the
turn, and letting 1t do good work while the spin
maker was being The Constitution had to
make an extra tack to take the mark and when
she rounded merely broke out her baby jib topsail
which was useless. The timing at the second mark
was Columbia. 2:43:45; Constitution, 2i70S.
Owing partly to having the right headsail set
the Columbia now took long lead, and seemed to
be mile ahead when she struck dead calm be-