Evening star., 1901-09-28

1OflQ ABOUT Inc line Win E1aInSdhS, Cluo
tOpsa1s, staysails and jibs set. 1t was no.
ticeable how much higher Columbia's bow
comes out OF the water as she moves under
saii than does the Shamrock's. She did not
dip IN the bigger seas nearly as much as
the challenger. Both boats. after running
to the north tackled and ran south. Co.
lumbia beating her rival in getting about.
The yachts were sent away within
minute of the appointed time. Shamrock
took the honors of today's start, the Off
Cial time Of crossing being: Shamrock II,
11:O0:14; Columbia, 11:O0:16.
The Shamrock occupied the weather
BERTH The jockeyiDg at the start was in
no way as spectacular as that displayed
III the maneuvertng prior to the start
Of Thursdays contest, and whatever Of
honors there were went to the captain
of the Shamrock.
Promptly at 1915 the preparatory gun
was fired. The Shamrock at once broke
out her number jib topsail The Co
lumbla sent the same canvas up in stops
and moment later broke it out. 1t was
not long before they came together to the
leeward Of the line. Both were on the
starboard tack.
when the ManeuverIng Began.
There was little real maneuvering. how
ever. until 10:5J. when the warning gun
doomed. Both boats bore down from the
weather side of the line on the port tack
with the American boat to windward- The
Shamrock undertook to head in. but the Co
lunbta came a little higher into the wind
and still had her rival under her lee. The
Columbia went about on the starboard
tack, and the Britisher followed speedily.
They passed outside the committee boat.
The Shamrock came about for the line first.
She trifle quicker in stays, appar-
entity. and got away more rapidly than CO.
lumbia- This gave the Shamrock a chance
to take the windward berth from the Co
lumbia. and the foreigner went to leeward
of the committee boat on the way back to
the line The American skipper thought to
the disadvantage nnhpr which
ne had been placed and went to windward
OF the mark boat.
It was too late, however, and as the
yachts again came together behind the line
the Shamrock caught him in an awkward
position. The Yankee evidently saw his
fix and made the best of it. heading for the
line as the starting gun was fired to lee
ward of the Shamrock a little to the rear.
Both crossed the line with booms to port
on the starboard tack In addition to her
position to windward the Shamrock was
just two seconds to the good in the matter
OF time. In less than two minutes after
crossing they went about the port tack,
Shamrock making the initial movement.
Within quarter of hour the Columbia
ung on the Starboard tack, but the Sham
rock held until she was well to the
weather of her rival before tacking after
her.
Columbia Shows tn the Lead.
Both boats were now swinging along on
the starbOard tack heading almost due
northeast. At Ills the Columbia was dis
Jinctly ahead. Both boats were responding
to the increasing wind, but the Columbia
seemed to be increasing her lead. In mo-
ment the Columbia went on the starboard
tack. followed a moment later by the
Shamrock.
The Columbia was evidently unable to
cross the ShamrOck's bow, and was forced
to come around. The Columbia was trying
to back wind the Shamrock again but the
mn Of he Sh.yrr1
rock had a fine position on the weather of
the American boat, and all Of the efforts of
the Columbia to forereach her were an
availing
The wind was steadily increasing By
1f::0 all conceded that the Shamrock was
ahead. They were both on the starboard
tack sailing northeast, and the Shamrock
seemed to be gaining.
1t was a battle royal Both yachts had
sailed four miles from the lightship, and it
was nip and tuck between them.
The Shamrock was certainly nearer the
turning boat than was the Columbia
After an Hours Sail.
The yachts had now sailed an hour, and
it had been close work for every yard of
the course. The Columbia was close under
the Shamrock's lee and appeared to be
reaching faster than the challenger. but
the Shamrock was still ahead.
The Columbia tackled to port In an at
tempt to cross the bow of the Shamrock,
but unable to reach her. and thirty
seconds later came about again on the
starboard tack Precisely at noon the
Shamrock went about on the port tack, fol-
lowed Immediately by the Columbia. Ad-
nittedly, the Columbia had gained con-
siderably in the last ten minutes of sailing.
They were both close hauled and each
seemed to be holding his own, the advan-
tage. If any, being with the Shamrock.
The wind held true at about ten knots.
There seemed little advantage on either
y If,,er e
Gently. the Columbia having worked a lit
tie to windward, but astern of the British
boat Captain Sycamore seemed to be
working the Shamrock slowly from under
the Columbia's lee
The boats held to the port tack standing
off shore and at 1925 they were pretty
near on even terms. The Columbia was
still TO windward, but probably 80 yards
asteru of the British boat. Thesouter mark
was then not more than six miles away
and the battle had reached an exciting
stage. Both captains were giving Won
dsrtul exhibition of seamanship and under
the conditions prevailing it looked as If the
slightest error in judgment or seamanship
would be costly
Ten minutes later the outer mark was in
sight and Barr and Sycamore were doing
their best The wind was twelve knots. At
quarter of 1 both boats were on the star
board tack. having gone about at 12:32
their positions. The Shamrock had the
windward and was holding her own. while
the Columbia was unable TO make any
substantial gain
At 12:59, after two hours of sailing, the
shamrock again went about on the port
tack. followed closely by the American
boat. The Columbia got the windward
BERTH but was astern.' They held this tack
for three-quarters of an hour in a neck and
neck race The boats We're not a hun
dred yards apart. but the Shamrock MAIN
tained her lead clean through to the outer
mark
They held the port tack to the outer
mark, the great yachts smothering along
toward the turn in a royal race.
Shamrock Had Best Berth.
But the Shamrock had the right berth,
and Capt. Sycamore swung her around the
stakeboat little more than half a minute
ahead OF the Columbia. The American was,
by estimated time, just 46 seconds behind
her opponent. Both yachts squared away
for home. running before the wind, and
seven minutes after the turn both broke
out their spinnakers. the Shamrock being
little behind the American in doing So
The official time of turning the outer
mark, as given by the Marconi wireless
te!egTaphy. was: Shamrock, 1:25. II; Co
lumbia, :2J.53
Il will thus be seen that the ap,rocl.