Evening star., 1901-08-31
C0LUM BIA IN LEAD
About Half q Mile Ahead of the Con-
stitution.
FIRST. OF The BIG CONTESTS
To Settle as to Who Shall Defend
the Cup.
RACE OFF BATEMAN'S POINT

BATEMAN's POINT, August 81 2N
p.m.-The Columbia is within mile of the
finish and is leading the Constitution by
over three and a half minutes. having
gained steadily during the past half hour.
The Constitution is making every effort to
reduce this lead by setting its spinnaker to
starboard, while the Columbia is running in
under balloon jib and staysail.
BATEMAN'S POINT, r. l., August 81
The Constitution and Columbia went out
to Brenton's Reef lightship this morning
for the first Of the series of trial races to
determine which shall be the defender OF
the Americas cup against Sir Thomas Lip
toms Shamrock II. Both left the harboR
In the very best Of condition.
The early morning was a beautiful one
for racing. The air was clear and inyig.
Grating. the sky was spotlessly blue, while
from the southeast a good seven-k knot
breeze was blowing that gave every indica-
tion of increasing before IL 80 am, the
time set for the start.
The regatta committee came down to the
yacht club station about 1890 a. m. and an
nounced that the yachts would be sent
over q fifteen-mile windward and Ieeward
course under the regular Americas cup
conditions. with the time limit at five
hours and a half.
Start Made at 11,4O AM.
The starting gun was fired at 11:40. The
Constitution was then already across the
line and was obliged to put about. She
failed to cross the line the second time
within two minutes after the firing OF thl
gun and was therefore handicapped. The
time of crossing as taken from the short
was:
Columbia, Ii Al 45
Constitution. 11:42-
Three minutes before the starting signal
the Columbia wore round and stood for
the flagship on the western end OF the line.
The Constitution followed and tried to
overtake the old boat by breaking out her
Jib topsail. By cutting in close by. the
stern Of the committee boat the Constitu.
ton succeeded in getting a nice place on
the weather of the Columbia but Capt.
Barr knew trick worth two Of that. He
trimmed in his sheets and, being on the
starboard tack. forced the Constitution
across the line before the gun was fired.
The Columbia was also over but by quick
and the next time the Columbia crossed
she was to the weather of the Constitu-
ton and also ahead. The Constitution, be-
ing slower, could not catch up with the old
boat, and crossed aStern.
Constitution Handicapped.
ne CONSTITUTION was ldNutCAppeQ Dy
not starting within two minutes after the
starting gun was fired.
The Columbia went over on the star.
board tack. but Immediately tackled on the
CONSTITUTIONS weather bow as the latter
crossed on the port tack.
The wind at this time was blowing q
good ten knots and the yachts stood
straight out to sea, and at 11:jO the CO.
lumbia was gaining and fully one-eighth
of mile ahead of the Constitution.
The Columbia turned the outer mark at
1905; Constitution. 1:322. Columbia
from the shore. The wind was increas-
ing.
BATEMAN POINT, 2:13 p.m.-The yachts
are within seven miles Of the finish, the Co.
lumbia still leading, and with the race weil
In hand.s barring accidents. The Constitu-
tion, however, appears to have gained 9
trif1e, but she does not seem able to over.
take the old boat. The wind Is now little
on broad reach, with balloon jib set with
spinnakers.
BATEMANS POINT, R. l., August 81
Both boats held out to sea on the port for
over an hour and half after the start.
On the way out the Columbia gradually
pulled away from the Constitution. From
shore 1t seems as II the wind shifted q
little to the east SO that the boats were
able to lay better course on the port tack
than on the starboard tack.
The Columbia was the first to come about
and head for the mark on the starboard
tack at TIA. followed a minute later by
the Constitution. At this time 1t looked as
If the Columbia was nearly half q mile
ahead. Only the topsais Of the two yachts
could be seen from shore, the hulIs being
below the horizon.
So nearly had the yachts been able to
fetch the mark on the port tack that the
starboard tack was a short one. On this
brief tack, Columbia gained more and had
fine lead when at /: :2S she swung round on
the port tack again and headed for the
outer mark. The Columbia rounded at
1:30:35; Constitution, 1920, a lead for CO.
lumbia Of one minute and forty-fve seconds,
and as seen from shore, a gain In a fifteen
mile beat to windward of 1 minute and 30
seconds.
Both boats gybed around the mark. and
with booms to port headed for the finish.
The yachts sailed some time before break
ing out their spinnakers, and In the first
fifteen minutes Of sailing 1t looked as II
Constitution had gained little. Just be-
fore reaching the outer mark the wind in
creased to something over twelve knots
an hour, which practically insured fine
race to the finish.
The yachts spent the time before the
start in standing of and on about the light
ship. Just before leaving for the start tho
committee announced that under the new
measurements the Constitution allows the
Columbia one minute and eleven seconds
over a thirty-mile course. This Is de-
crease OF six seconds since the yachts were
last measured.
w, G. Jameson Arrives.