Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-10-05
DEFEAT LAID TO ERRORS.

The New York "5up's" yachting ex-
pert says bad bIndling lost yssterday's
race TO Shsnrock. Hssays:
According to many yaehssssa the
Shamrock WIS really beaten by the CO.
lumbia more through errors OF juds-
meDt made by those who we're In
charge of the yacht than by the su-
perior sailing qualities of the Columbia.
and there are many Of the opinion that
If the Shsmrook hsd been called prop
erly in the races between that boat and
the Columbia for the Amsrics's Cup,
instead OF having been bseten three
times conssoutivsiy Dy the American
boat she should now hsvs had two
victories to bsr credit. There were
msny yesterday who watched tho race
and who are familiar with the sport
who thought that the trouble With she
Shsmrock was that there was too
much talent aboard and that the sail
ing master, who 10 acknowledged 10 be
the best man 10 his profession 10 Eng-
land, has been hampered too much and
did not have free hand.
"The first error made yesterday
wss in taking in the balloon
lib topsail when the yacht was
more than . q mile and quarter
from the turning mark. This sail
should have been carried for at least ten
minutes longer snd then could have
been lowered In plenty of time to have
ls slowed away before the mon were
wanted TO lo~or the spinnaker aud trim
it's sheets. This error was costly, and
snssled the Colunbia TO pick up qulte
q good deal, sad her gain would have
ceeu much moro but for the accident 10
the spiopsksr on CJlum Die.
"The Shamrock turned the hrst
mark fnrty-seveu seconds in the lead
and vent on the starbosrd tack, head
ing toward the west. The breezs was
tresheniug and the yacht vas doing re-
msrkably we'll. The Colu IN ois made
short tack and then took q s,arboard
tack and stood after the Shamrock, and
Sss sailing to windwerd OF the caslleG-
ser's wake. The Shamrock tackled,
crossed the Columbis's bow, and then,
instead of tackng and heading on the
same course which Captain Barr had
selected, aud keeping on toward the
irsshening brsza, which was coming
off the Jersey shore, the Shamrock kept
on the pors tack and allowed the 90
lumbIa to sell on with her wind ell
clear, and that boat, getting the iresn-
ening bre,z1 6rst, improved ner posi-
tion very mHoh.
"Oue OF tho first principles that q
Ealing master learns is when be hss
beaten bis opponent TO keep bis yacht
betweeu the beaten boat aud the mark
for which be is sailing. But yesterday,
whoever was In charge OF the Shamrock
seemed to have forgotten this and was
crossing tacks oil the way home. The
shamrock tackled after the Columbis
when it was to late, and then, as the
the Shamrock was falling down into
the Columbi.'s wake, the challenger
took the port tack again and beaded
toward the northeast. This costly error
Was repeated on The next tack.
"T vice the Shamrock appeared tc
have the race won yesterday and twice
il was thrown away, apparently
| through poor judgment shown by those
| in charge OF the boat. Captain Syca'
more is the skipper who sailed the
| Shamrock, but Jamleson Is tie man
Who directs how the boat shall bs
sailed.
at was learned yesterday from one
who had been in consultation with
those on board the Erin that 1t was Mr.
Jameson who Insisted on the Shsmrocs
luffiDg across the starting line on Tues
day. when the Columbia had gone ove
iu the weather position. The sham
rock had crCsIed the line too 5000. Sn'
h.d been recalled and the yacht bor'
of and then luffed across Instead o
wearing around, gibing aud taking tn
end OF the two minutes and crosslDl
we'll TO windward.
$40 the race sailed last Ssturdsy-th
first sailed to @ floish--the Shamrocl
kept the Columbis under her lee all 30
way to the weather mark and turne
that mark With fair lead. Tnen, 10
stead OF breaking out her light sails q
once and sqaaripg away for home, thu
making tbs most OF her lead, abe loafe
alouQ. waiting for TIE Columbia. an
then had q luffiog match with tha
Yacht. which proved disastrous. II ID
shamrock yesterday had been handle
As well on the windwatd leg OF To
course ss she had been In the race
which she turned the weather mar
first, instead OF being beaten on 60
rected time she would have won th
race with a good margin to spare"
FRAfrNINE VANITY. The real troI