The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-05
But for Handicap mt the start and
Rending of Her Balloon Jib Top
sail She Might Have Won.
SHAMROCK II A WATER WITCH
ANOTHER DISPLAY or SPEED AND
TO LIE To WIND
story About Ia Big Bet Now said TO
BE n Myth-Statement from
James 4. Chambers.

NEWPORT. R. l.. Sept. 1.-THE Constl-
tuition sailed a capital race to-day against
Columbia over a course fifteen miles TO
w~fndward and back in a breeze whose
force averaged about eight knots. Its
greatest power being twelve knots near the
finish line. The Columbia won by seven
teen seconds. corrected time, the Constitu-
ton beating her rival boat for boat over
the course on elapsed time ffty-four sec
onds. This does not include the handicap
of twenty-One seconds or more with which
the Constitution started. Had she not
been handicapped she would have won.
on the windward work she gained on the
Columbia thirty-twO seconds and also
twenty-five seconds on the run home be-
fore the wind. In heavy puffs. when close
TO the finish line, her balloon jib topsatl
split in two and caused a big tangle aloft.
The COlumbia was compelled TO haul down
her balloon at the same time, for the squall
carried away the cringle at the head Of
the sail. But the big sail on the Consti-
tuition refused to be controlled, and hut-
tered in segments alOft. and all hands had
10 do their best to muzzle it. On the other
hand. Columbia hauled down her balloon
jib tOpsail In seaman-like style, and smart
~ bending on the ~spinnaker halyards,
hoisted "A reaching jHb topsail in stops,
and breaking it out quickly, darted across
the line a winner. In taking in spinnakeTs
about twenty minutes before the finish
line was reached by the leader COnstitu-
TONS sail got tangled in the head
stays and it took several minutes
to get it on deck. While Tapping
alOft the balloon jfb tOpsail had no oppor-
tunity to exert its utmost drawing power.
All this time the Columbia balloon was
doing most effective work. To smart han
ding and excellent judgment Columbia's
victory to-day was due. There is no ques-
ton that the old mainsail and the altered
headsails Of the Constitution, which she
carried to-day, had much TO do with the
improved showing she made.
The handicap at the start seemed to be
due to a lack of smartness aboard the Con-
st.tution, and also 10 the more able sea-
Jockeying of those in charge of the Column
bia. The Constitution allowed herself To be
forced on the wrong side of the line, was
compelled 10, gybe around short on her
heel, and then 10 take the other end of the
line. a deadly handicap. This and the split
ting OF her balloon jib tOpsail certainly lost
her the race. Had 1t not been for these
mishaps the Constitution would have beat
en- the Columbia by a small margin beyond
the one minute and eleven seconds time
allowance. over the thirty-mile course.
There will be no race for the yachts to-
morrow. and, while the challenge commit
tee held a meeting this evening. no an
nOuncement or future races was made. 1t
IS generally expected, however, that other
contests will he held here later in the week.
This morning. in Newport harbor there
was scarcely d breath of air stirring. There
seemed little prospect of a race until 1880 a.
m. when a light sOuthwesterly wind set in.
This soon freshened into a breeze and the
outlook seemed fattering for a rafting
good race. The Constitution. with Nat
Herreshof OF. board. in addition to the
regular amateurs and professionals was
the first 10 slip her mornings at noon and
beat cut 10 the starting line. At 1910 flags
were hOisted on the Narada, announcing
that the course would be ;. 5. w. fifteen
miles to Windward and return. The sea was
remarkably smooth, but there was a smoky
haze on the Iater. The yachts approached
with Columbia to windward. The sailing
master OF the Columbia repeated his old
terrorizing trick of bearing right down on
his rival as if about 10 ram her. shaking
the wind out of her sails and then luffing
up and clearing her by the smallest of
margins. The maneuver he repeated three
times and finally luffed across the line
forty-seven seconds after the starting gun.
The Constitution had plenty of room TO
tack, but not caring 10 come into such
on the port tack crossed the line twenty
two seconds or whereabouts, after the
handicap guns.
Both yachts stood on the port tack toward
the Narragansett shore with Columbia in
the weather berth, thus having a com
manding lead. For nearly half an hour
lnC 1dClAE EAOOu III lis UOIL LdGk. NlLn the
wind freshening as they sailed shoreward
until IL attained about a nine-knOt force.
At 1:23 the Constitution went on the star
board tack, followed Immediately by the
Columbia. BY this time the sails of the
Constitution bad stretched and il was seen
that the old 'mainsail was far superior to
the new one and also that the retrimmed
head sails set better than those carried i'm
the race on Monday. The Constitution
again, at 1:5O, went on the port tack. stand
ing in shore ana the Columbia followed
like a flash. For ten minutes they held
this board and then ensued a succession
of short tackS.
At 2O9 the Columbia for the first time
on the port tack crossed the bows of the
Constitution Aabout an eighth of a mile
ahead. For tnearly an hour the yachts
continued to make short tacks. The result
was far efficient from the same maneuvers
on Monday, when Columbia beat her rival
nearly five minutes on a beat out 10 wind
ward Of ten miles. The Constitution gaines
a little in these tacks, and when She was
approaching the windward mark ON the
starbOard tack she had considerably di.
minished the gap. y short hitch To port
was necessary TO enable them TO round the
raft. and quite a fleet of steam yachts had
assembled 10 see the turn. The Columbia
rounded at 3:02:44, the Constitution 3:03: %,
the elapsed time of this ffteen-mile beat
for the latter.
The Constitution was the first TO set her
~sPinnaker TO port, the sail being handled
with commendable speed. The balloon iii
topsail ON the Columbia was first hoisted,
however, the hOnors thus being even. The
CONSTITUTION .stealthly CraWled up on the
Columbia, thS wind being at this time about
ten knots. At 3.2S the Constitution led for
the first time in the race. Her victory was
short lived, for at $50 the Columbia was
once more ia. the van. Constitution again
at 40 led by a few lengths. The tide had
set them considerably 10 the eastward of
the true course and IL became necessary 10
take In s~pinnakers. The Columbia set a
balloon staySail and the Constitution fol
lowed suit. Then came a savage puff which
sent the lee, rails of both yachts under.
ton.
At this mement came the squat which
split the Constitutions balloon jib topsail
1airly IN two. the rip being in the center of
the san. The men had much difficulty in
getting the pieces in a few seconds later
came the accident 70 the balloon jibsail OF
the Rapidly the sail was hauled
down and taken on board. 4 smartlv reach
ING JiD tOpsan was tugged out TO the bow
spirit end in stops and In a little while the
san was brosSen out and was doing some
strenuous pulling. II was a daShing piece
or good searaanship. The Constitution did
not attempt TO set another jb topsaiI. but
held on 10 her club t0psail. although the
Squat was rather strong. The columbia
romped across the line, winning by a very
close margin.
No BIG BET MADE.