Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-04

| anchorage 10 the StdTt1nS line WAS ue-
void of interest. When the prepara-
tory gun was fired it was clearly evil
dent that the Columbia cared little for
the start which was made to leeward
on close reach. the triangular course
Offering no benefit whatever TO the
| craft first away.
At 1880. both yachts in tow under
bare poles headed up in the wind and
hOisted their main sails. Their head
sails We're already in stops. The Sham
| rock was first to cut loose from her tug
| and a moment later her headsails were
| broken out and she made a clean run
! for the lightship.
| The Columbia. which had been hug
! 2ing the easterly end of the line eascd
off sheets and stood for the mark. Sig
nails were hOisted from the committee
| boat that the course would be triangu
lar. which meant that there would be
| two close reaches and one dead beat to
windward for home.
The yachts heeied to scuppcr
breeze when the preparatory gun was
fired at 1915. The Columbia far to The
eastward stood down before the wind
for the line Meanwhile the Shamrock
was circiing around the lightship. Be
fore the warning gun was fired, 10 min
utes after the preparatory signals CO.
lumbia was ahead and not wanting 10
cross the line too early. luffed up With
her headsail shaking until she almost
stood still. This put the Shamrock IN
the better position and, wearing close
round, she crossed the line almost with
the gun. while the Columbia elected to
cross considerably more than one min
ute behind. Many experts thought
that the Columbia would be handicap
ped. but Barr was on the alert ana
sent her across in time to save him
self
With the wind forward on the port
beam and with a tiny jbtopsail set on
the Shamrock and much larger and
better pulling sail on the Columbia.
the yachts started out on the first leg
of the triangle. During the first few
minutes it was Impossible to say
whether the Columbia was gaining or
not.
In the gusts of wind she seemed To
heel over less than the challenger and
also appeared To steer a slightly high
CT course. The wind. though holding
true from north northwest, varied in
violence.
1t soon became apparent that the
race was TO be sailed in very quick
time. The gain Of the Columbia which
the turn of the first mark proved she
had made was almost i,nperccptible
Toward the mark the wind freShencd.
The Columbia with Il lesser sail spread
seemed to stand sitter than her rival.
They smothered along toward the
mark and when they rounded it thc
Columbia had gained only % seconds.
Under the same sail rs they started
with they both stood for the second mark
The wind pipcd stronger and in the
strongest Of the pans the Shamrock had
to lun little. The Columbia. on the
contrary. was allowed 10 feel the fIll
power Of every spUall. never being eascd.
and it was this that helped her ahead
In spite Of the larger sail spread Of her
antagonist she was never left behind.
In a reaching breeze closer and finer
sailing perhaps was never seen, There
We're frequent occasions when the col
lapse of tormast seemed almost due.
Now the second mark was in sight ana
1t l2.45 jibtopsails Were devised On Ioth
yachts ana they luffed round it, sham
rock in the lead. bat the watches show
ing C"umta's gain on this leg to be D.
seconds.
1t was now q dead heat to w.ndward to
the finish line. The Columbia was row
leading from the math, NAUTICAL point OF
view She Ead gained On both legs ana
also had her time allowance of IS seconds
Ia help her. In rounding the mark ,hr
boats split tacks Shamrock standing on
the starhoard tack for a few hundred
yards. Columbia went on the port tacl.
for Il while ana then. at l.06. both wcr,
on the Starhoard tack
Then began a splendid thre,h to wind
ward. The Columbia outp1intcd til.
Shamrock. but the challenger seemed to
be going a little faster. At Is. the 90
iumba ran like 4 streak of lightning
through the Ice Of the Shamrock. lGffrl
out across her bow. and for the first tin:
was the leading boat
At l.2e, both yachts were on the por.
tack. standing toward the Long Island
shore. There was little or no difference
between them On this board. AT 151. Eoth
went on the stIIboard tack for the iinis
line. Then came the biEg. It pan az ail.
The Shamrocl: had three or four strdkos
of the deck under water but ran rsks
hoping to diminish hcr defeat or even to
win. Bat it was vain. She made ~ Il
Little of her leeway. bat the Columbia
crossed the line a winner ana to spare.