The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-31
COLUMBIA IN THE LEAD.
The Cup Candidates Again Racing
OFF Newport.

Last OF the Series of Contests Before
the International Evcnt-Intercst-
ing Maneuvres of the Rival Cap
tHinS OF the HOass at the start.
NEWPORT. r. l., Aug. 31.-Yachtsmen
are taking a keen interest I'm the race be
tween the Constitution and the Columbia,
the first Of the last series which is to
/ determine the boat TO be selected as the
! defender Of the Americas Cup against
! Shamrock H.
The candidates are sailing well with
| good wind. the Columbia leading, and It is
expected that the contest Will be finished
! shortly after o'clock.
A clear blue sky across which a few
smoky clouds were floating and a breeze
/ that blew out Of the south. were the ear
/ ly morning conditions for the race.
In the Iandlocked harbor lay the rival
yachts and clustered all about them from
! Rose Island light to Brenton's Cove float
ed the airy white squadron that had been
called thither by the race The old de
| fender lay just inside BreutOns Cove
and to the north of her Just outside Goat
Island lay the Constitution.
After three bells had been struck, and
the racers breakfast flags came down, the
harbor broke into gaiety. Launches sput-
tered in and out among their parent craft.
hurrying yachting parties out from the
shore.
Both racers. each with eight victories TO
her credit, were in the best Of condition
for trial which meant so much for both
| of them The work on the Constitution
the past week had repaired the slight in
juries which possibly hindered her some
what in her last few races and the plates
had been polished and oiled Nat HERE
! shoff. himself. had charge Of her final
fitting up. an advantage which Here
! shoffs illness has prevented the Constitu-
tion from having before
The last mainsail which was bent on
her. the one first tried in the Seawan-
haka races. has been kept on, and it is
said to fit better than any OF her others
! The new boat took a trial spin down the
bay yesterday, and all her sails got a
good stretching The head stays which
slackened when the yacht was hauled out
were frightened. and the rigging thorough
ly ovCrhauled.
The regatta committee came down 10
the yacht club station about 1870 o'clock
and announced that the yachts would be
sent over a hfteen-mile windwarJ and
Ieeward course under the regular Ameri-
cas- Cup conditions, the time limit be-
ing five hours and a half
| The signal f0r a ffteen-mile windward
and leeward race was hoistcd at I1.20.
making the first leg a beat out south by
southeast and a run home The wind
was blowing ten knots. The sea was
smooth and the weather very clear.
The preparatory signal was hred at
Il 30. The Columbia crossed the line first
at u-4l-45 and the Constitution at ll:42.
The Constitution went over on the star
board tack. but headed out 10 sea on the
port tack The Columbia which was just
ahead Of her. did practically the same
thing on crossing the line At u:45 the
Columbia was ahead by 2 few hundred
yards
Just before leaving for the start, the
committee announced that under the new
/ measurements the Constitution allows the
/ Columbia one minute and eleven seconds
on a 3o-miIe course. This is a decrease OF
six seconds.
Before the starting signal the Coium-
bia wore round ana stood round the flag
ship on The western end Of the line The
new boat followed and tried TO OveTtake
the old boat by breaking out her Jill top
I sail. BY cutting in close to the stern Of
the Sultana the Constitution succeeded IN
I getting a nice place on the weather Of
the Columbia But Captain Barr knew a
/ trick worth TWO OF that He trimmed In
his sheets and being on the sLaTbOsrd
track forced the new boat across the line
before the gun was fired.
The Columbia was also over, but by
quick work Captain Barr wore ship and
stood back and the next time the Colum-
bia crossed she was in a nice place 20 the
weather Of the new boat and also ahead
At 1Z.46 p. m the Columbia was appar-
| entity half a mile in the lead Of the new
boat The wind had freshened consider
I ably.
Columbia turned the outer mark al
1:51.35; the Constitution at .a2 20; the Co
Iumbia leading by one minute and forty
/ five seconds as seen from shore.