Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-10-01
No Race.

tional yacht series todsy. The course
will be an equilatersl triangle ten miles
to leg. II is over this course that Sir
Thomas Upton has pinned his faith that
Shamrock will show Columbia wake
to follow. Shamrock is known to be
marvel ut reaching and the course to-
day will give Der two legs in that point
of sailing. a IL knot breezs blew from
the north at dawn this morning, just
the kind OF weather that Sir Thomas
has been hoping for. Near 8 O'Clock,
however, the wind began to haul to the
eastward, but still maintained veloci
ty OF about IL knots. The sea was
smooth, however. Captain Sycamore,
skipper of Shamrock, has promised his
crew to win today.
Shamrock enters into todsy's contest
with new sails. The texture of the
sails used in the two previous races
was found to be trifs heavy for the
weight OF air. The challenger Is ex-
pected to improve her speed by the
change.
Capt. Barr, skipper o. Columbia, re-
| marked as far IS Columbia was con-
cerned wind and water conditions suit
ed him. At $50 the tug Wallacs b
Flint came along side OF the Columbia
and giving her q line stood for Sandy
Hook point.
Shortly after the tug James Law
rencs took the Eoglish challenger in
tow, md followed along astern OF the
Columbia.
At 9 o'clock the wind continued to
haul to the eastward and fell of bit.
Highlands, N. j., Oct. 1.-The COM
mittee boat Navigator passed out OF
the Hook at $50 o'clock and stood
away for the lightship to lay the COM
pass direction for the race today. Fol-
lowing the Navigator came fleet of
vessels aud excursion craft to witness
| the race.
At 10 o'clock the wind was as tickle
rs 16-year old maid and threatened to
box the compass before the day Is over.
Having hauled to the east 1t slowly be-
gan to swing to the south.
At 1890 the compass courses were
set, the code flag was hoisted, indicat-
ing beat to windward ten miles east.
The code flag showed q course south
by south west, a half west, which will be
| the reach for the second mark. The code
flags indicating a course north by
northwest, half west for the third
leg. This will give the yachts a reach
home.
At 10:45 the preparatory gun was
fred and the blue peter set.
The yachts stood In toward the
Jersey shore on the port tack with
Columbia to weather. There was little
| wind out to sea and the yachts moved
suggishly.
At 1855 the warning gun was fred,
and the yachts started for the line after
some jockeyiDg. Shamrock got over
the line fret and was called back.
At IL O'Clock Columbia crossed fol-
lowed by Shamrock few seconds later.
The official time was Columbia
1100:10; Shamrock, 1100:22.
As the boats stood along on the star
board tack, towards Long Island shore
Columbia appeared to eat further out
to weather OF the bfonze.hulled boat.
II looked as il the American was
being favored by slants oil wind that
the Englishman did not catch. The
wind was now running about five knots
and the boats did not appear to be
making fast time. The wind shortly
after IL o'clock had funked out almost
entirely and the boats moved along like
a couple of old mud scows.
The wind then began to favor first
one and then the other yacht.
Near 1l:25 Columbia seemed to run
into soft spot and Shamrock, striking
a favoring wind, began to pull up on
her.
At 1852 Columbia got tayoring
slant OF wind and pulled up 50 fast
that she was able to force weather
passage by Shamrock. Shamrock was
practically becalmed.
At 1920 the yachts could not have
been more thsn four miles from the
starting line.
At 1876 the yachts were still drifting
along on the port tack standing out to
sea. The wind had picked up little
along 10 shore and was coming south.
Columbia and Shamrock were
brought about on the starboard tack at
12:41. They had now covered about
half the distance of the first leg.
The yachts at Los we're still on their
long board to stsrbosrd With Columbia
leading easily; the wind of shore is still
very light and the ocean is filed with
soft spots. At this time the yachts
we're about three miles from the outer
mark, and there was little chance for
the race to be finished within time limit.
At 100 the yachts were about on
even terms with the advantage, II any
thing, in favor Of Columbia. The wind
however, having hauled 10 the south,
it has placed Shamrock in better po-
sition for reaching the outer mark.
At 1:45 Shamrock has good list
showing that she is catching better
breeze than Columbia and che is pulling
up on Columbia very fast and the fight
TO round the mark has resolved itself
into pretty struggle.
The freshening wind has developed
today's drifting match into q good race.
The yachts at 2 o'clock were about on
even terms, with the advantage 10
favor of Columbia.
Shamrock has now q certain lead
over Columbia, having bad the advan-
tsge Of being to the south when the
wind hauled.
at PIP Columbia tackled and Sham
rock crossed her bow. Columbia was
compelled to make the tack 10 order to
fetch the mark.
Shamrock is now reaching like q
steam engine and 1t looks az II she in
tended 10 force a weather passage by
the Columbia.
2:20 p. N. Ia the last % minutes OF