Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-01

nre0 IN IOliOWiUk eaCn OLnef IN CiTCacS
about the committee boat. Soon after the
warning was fired the Columbia stood Off
and then headed back for the Shamrock.
which at that time was standing on the
starboard tack and heading for the line.
There was the usual tockeying for the
windward berth.
Hard luck was with the British chal-
Ienger for she stood In too near the line
and went over before the starting gun was
fired. Columbia on the other hand, was
in beautiful position and poked her bow
across the line a few seconds after the
gun fire. The Shamrock had to wear to re-
cross the line, this mistake badly handicap
ing her at the outset. The wind was not
more than four knots, and both yachts
headed for the Long Island shore on the
starboard tack The Columbia was far to
the windward, but the yachts were appar-
emily on equal terms as far as footing was
concerned
rock swung around the port tack and
was soon followed by the Columbia, which
was still holding a commanding position.
At "a Shamrock went around on the
starboard tack and stood across Columbia
wake, but less than a minute afterward
Capt Barr swung the Columbia around on
the starboard tack, still holding her in a
nice berth to the windward of his rival.
At this time the wind was discourag ingly
light, and it seemed impossibility that
the yachts would finish within the time
limit
The yachts held this tack for about six
minutes when the Shamrock, taking the
lead in lacking. again went on the port
tack. Barr waited nearly two minutes be-
fore following suit. and the wind was 50
light that both yachts were more than
thirty seconds swinging in stays.
Columbia Kept Her Lead.
For nearly an hour the Columbia and the
Shamrock both held the port tack. the wind
being so light at times that they alternately
fell off with the sea and then luffed up.
Shortly after II o'clock they were for a
little time practically becalmed. but through
It all the Columbia maintained the lead
which she had secured at the start. About
half-past u there were signs down the Jer-
sey coast that the wind was increasing, and
both shippers. evidently catching scent of
this fact, at 12:41 went about on the star
board tack.
What wind there was had hauled around
little to the south of east, and it looked
If there would be more windward work
in the race II it held from that quarter.
With the wind from that direction the two
remaining legs would be reaches.
Far out to sea there was at this time
dark streak, showing that there at least
was some wind. Inshore toward the mouth
OF the harbor fine eight-knot breeze was
blowing, sending the small SailboatS about
at a lively rate. But up of the Long Island
shore, where the big racers were. there was
no wind, and they made but slow progress
toward the first mark.
Slow Work In Light Breeze.
1t was slow work for the next twenty
minutes, but then the tickle wind, which
had been blowing everywhere but on the
yachts, caught them at last. The Sham
rock got 1t first. and with her canvas fill
ing out darted ahead and rapidly cut down
the distance between her and the Columbia
Captain Sycamore took every possible ad-
vantage of the favorable slant, and before
IL had reached the Columbia he was almost
on even terms. Fortune was with the Brit
i-r1 -l- I'LL
current which he had caught he slowly
worked into the windward berth and then
took the lead.
1t was not much of an advantage, but for
the first time since they had crossed the
line the Britisher was ahead. 1t was lust
1:15 o'clock when, beyond question of
doubt, 1t was seen that the boats had
changed the positions that they had held
since the start The fuky, shifting wind
seemed always to favor the Shamrock Try
as he would, the American skipper cou1d
not catch a favorable air current, and at
1:52 o'clock the Shamrock had good four
lengths OF open water between her stern
and the Columbia's bow. In the meantime
the Shamrock had taken in her baby lib
topsal and the boats were rapidly nearing
the first mark
The Columbia set her lib topsaiI and a
few moments later the Shamrock followed
suit Both boats were now getting a good
slant or wind, and it seemed as if the Brit
1sner was making the most of 1t, her sails
drawing well and apparently momentarily
widening the gap between herself and her
rival The race had become pretty strug-
gle for the first mark despite the Iightness
Of the wind.
Very FitfuI Wind.
The light and ftful wind now began to
play pranks with the racers, and the Co
iumbia, catching a little more than her
share of it, cut down the Shamrocks lead
and passed her to leeward. After another
five minutes of sailing, it looked as If the
Columbia had managed to catch slight
advantage, though the Shamrock still had
the windward position.
The breeze became more cratic flirting
first with one boat and then the other, and
while the first mark was growing nearer
little by little, it was then anybody's race
to that point.
At 214 the Columbia swung about and
headed for the north shore on the port tack
but Captain Barr soon brought her around
10 the Starboard tack again, Shamrock still
holding the windward position and appar-
emily being able to catch more of the fiuky
breeze than her rival.
At this time she had esta blished lead
both continuing on the starboard tack.
This lead she never lost to the first mark
but holding her advantage, rounded the
stake boat comfortably ahead of the CO.
lumbia. Nearly three minutes later the
American boat turned the mark and both
went on the port tack.
DETAILS or TIE nACE