Waterbury Democrat., 1901-07-12
COLUMBIA WON TO-DAY.
The Big Yachts Had Good Weather
 For the Start.

Bateman'S Point, R. l., July 12.-1t was the best yacht racing weather of any day of the series when the three big 90-foot yachts came out of Newport harbor to-day for their fourth contest.
 The wind was strong from the north east, blowing nearly ten knots an hour at 10 o'clock while the heavy sea of yesterday had subsided considerably.
 As two windward and leeward cours- es had been already sailed, the judges arranged to-day'S race as a triangular affair of thirty miles with ten miles on leg, but the wind being from the northeast the judges, on reaching the lightship, had some difficulty in laying out the triangle. It has always been the intention of the judges in those tri- angular races to have one of the legs, preferably the first one to windward, but the judges found this morning that ten miles to windward of Brenton's reef ightship would bring the yachts upon shore, so nearly an hour was spent in running off and on, debating the matter and at the same time wait ing for the yachts to come out.
 Columbia was the first to put in au appearance at the mouth of the harbor coming down under mainsail and jib and running out little ways towards the lightship. Finding the breeze not particularly strong she headed up to- ward the harbor again and set her No l clubtopsail Soon after this was up, the 1899 champion swung off again and headed out to the start The Inde- pendence and Constitution came out of the harbor together under exactly the same sails, mainsail, jib and clubtop- sail
 The warning signal was given at Il o'clock. Just previous to that signals were set for a triangular race with the first leg due south; the second about northeast and then back to the light ship. This will give the yachts a smart reach to the first mark, beat to the second and run to the finish.
 The preparatory signal was given at II :05 and the yachts about northwest of the life are preparing to cross with balloon jibtopsails set. The mark boat has already started running off in a southerly direction.
 The Columbia was the first to reach the line, followed closely by the Inde- pendence while the Constitution was we'll astern: The yachts crossed the line in the following order: Columbia, Hill :02; Independence, Hill 20; Con stitution 11:12.
 All three yachts were working under their lower sails. For a minute after the start the Columbia seemed to pull away bit from the Independence and both were we'll in the lead of the Con- stitution. Suddenly about 11:12 a hard puff of wind struck the Independence carrying away the topmast at the head of the mast and with it the club top sail and jib topsail The accident did not affect either the of the peak hal yards and after a delay of few min utes the Independence headed up again after the other boats about two miles astern. The Independence gained on the first leg and meanwhile the Colum- bia and Constitution were having a hot fight to the mark. The Columbia turn ed first at 11:53-40, the Constitution second at 11:57-30 and the Independ- ence third at 12 minutes and thirty sec onds. The Independence picked up about a mile on the second leg by mag .nificant work and all three yachts were working under their three lower sails The boats turned the second mark as follows: Columbia, 1:25-30. Constitu- ton 1:26 40 and the Independence 1:21- 45
 At 1:45 the yachts were observed coming home very fast, the Independ- ence being astern but gaining on the other yachts. although sailing only un- der her three lower sails. The Colum- bia crossed the line winner at 2:09-37, followed by the Constitution at 2:10-5S. The Independence crossed at 2:20-02. The feature of the race was the magni- ficent sailing of the Independence which lost all her top sail at the very start and worked under her three low CT sails to the finish.