The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-29
DETAILS OF THE RACE.
n Nip-and-Tuck Contest, with the
Boats Well adj

NEW YORK, Sept 2S.-Thick fog and
no wind gave a most discouraging outlook
at dawn for good racing conditions. But
the sun had not been above the horizon
many minutes before the fog began TO
melt. By Z o'clock it had lifted entirely,
while out of the northeast came a puff Of
wind full of promise. and by s o'clock it
had increased to twelve knots. AS the
morning wore on the sky became slightly
overcast, some Of the lower clouds seeming
to have considerable speed, and the wealth
erwise predicted the coming of enough
wind to suit either the Shamrock or Co.
lumbia.
The crews of Shamrock and Columbia
busted themselves with the work of prepa-
ration. Shamrock had a pretty silk flag
at her masthead to-day. the gift of the
aged mother of Designer Watson, which
Sir Thomas Upton ordered put in a place
of honor.
Just before 9 o'clock Mr.. Jameson, Mr..
Watson and W. Butler Duncan then went
on board Shamrock. Columbia was first
taken in tow and in five minutes she was
off the point of the Hook, passing out,
Shamrock following close behind her. On
board Columbia were E. d. Morgan, II.
oAN1 e Z lC
wind at the Hook was then blowing stead
lily from the northeast, at ten knots an
hour, with indications that it would fresh
en-. Sir Thomas Upton did not go aboard
Shamrock to-day, but stayed aboard the
Erin until his guests arrived. The Erin
did not leave for the starting point until
$50. 1t was still later than that when the
excursion fleet passed the Hook.
At 1O1S the committee boat set the signal
for a fifteen mile race to windward and
return. The wind was a little south of
east, and about eleven knots. Both yachts
were near the starting line.
Columbia went almost down to the line
without attempting to raise a sail. sham
rock had only her mainsaiI set when she
reached the line, but a moment later she
broke out her club topsail. Columbia got
her mainsail up in lively form, then sent
up her club topsail. Both yachts were then
to the west of the lightship.
Soon after 10 o'clock the flyers discarded
their tug boats and coming up to the wind,
both almost simultaneously broke out their
jibs and stay sails, which had been put
up in stops. AS they tackled back and
forth behind the line, the COMMITTEES boat
set a signal that the course would be east
by south.
Meantime the great fleet of excursion
vessels had rolled out toward the light
ship and spread out behind the starting
line in two great wings.
COLUMBIA HIGH FORWARD.
AS the contesting yachts tackled back
and forth about the line with mainsails,
club topsails, staysails and jibs set, it was
noticeable how much higher Columbia
bow comes out of the water as she moves
,,oJor sofI 4ho, doc CIa.,~0olse ~ a.
not dip in the bigger seas nearly as much
as the challenger. Both boats, after run
ming TO the north, tackled and ran south.
Columbia beating her rival in getting
about.
The yachts were sent away within a min
ute of the appointed time. Shamrock took
the honors of to-day's start, the official
time of crossing being: Shamrock, u:0O:14;
Columbia, 11:O0:16. Shamrock occupied the
Promptly at 1O:45 the preparatory gun
was fired. Shamrock at once broke out her
No. 1 lib topsail. Columbia sent the same
broke it out. 1t was not long before they
came together TO leeward of the line. Both
were on the starboard tack. There was lit
tie real m~aneuvering, however, until 1855,
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. Shamrock undertook TO
head i'm. but Columbia came a little higher
into the wind and still held her rival I'M
der her lee. Columbia went about on the
starboard tack and ths Britisher followed
Speedily. They passed outside the commit
tee boat. Shamrock came about for the
line first. She was a trife quicker in stays,
apparently, and got away more rapidly
than Columbia. This gave Shamrock d
chance TO take the windward berth from
and the foreigner went to lee
ward of the committee boat on the way
hack TO the line. The American skipper
thought TO overcome the disadvantage I'M
der which he had been placed and went TO
windward of the mark boat. 1t was too
late. however. and as the yachts again
came together behind the line Shamrock
caught him in an awkward position. The
Yankee evidently saw his fix and made the
hest of it. bearing for the line as the start
ing gun was fired TO leeward of Shamrock
and a little TO the rear. Both crossed the
line with booms TO port. In addition TO her
n~osition 10 w~indward, Shamrock was just
two seconds TO the good in the matter of
time.
In less than two minutes after crossing
they went about on the port tack, sham
rock making the initial movement. Within
a quarter of an hour Columbia swung on