The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-09-26
READY FOR THE YACHT RACE
COL UMBIA AND SHAMROCK MEET
 FOR FIRST TIME TO-DAY.

COL UMBIA AND SHAMROCK NEE
 FOR FIRST TIME TO-DAY.
 vors the American Boat-LtttIe sham
 rock Money in sight-Columbia Take
 Final Trial spin-shamrock Re
 mains at Her Anchorage All Day.
 New York, Sept. 25.-Weather sharps
 and yachting experts unite in predict
 ing that a breeze will blow tomorrow
 which will give the Shamrock and the
 Columbia a race that will be memora-
 ble in the long series of cup events. If
 weather conditions of to-day presage
 anything, this prophecy will be full
 filled. After four days of almost calm
 weather a rattling breeze blew in from
 the northeast early this morning and at
 sunrise it had reached a gale. When
 the sailors of the cup yachts and their
 attendant vessels turned out for the
 last work of preparation a thirty -mile
 wind was kicking up the whitecaps in
 Sandy Hook bay and outside a heavy
 sea was running and sailing vessels
 were pounding along under close reefed
 sails. While the wind died with the
 sunset the weather wise say it will come again with the morning and that all indications are favorable for one of the most magnificent spectacles in yachting annals, when the two fiiers go over the line tomorrow.
 Neither Sir Thomas Lipton nor MT. Duncan cared to risk a trial run un- der the conditions of wind and water that prevailed in the first half of to- day, but at ? o'clock when the wind had fallen the Columbia's mainsail was hoisted and a few minutes later she filled away under mainsail, club topsail, skysail and jib. At 2:17 while sixteen men sitting on deck tug-ofwar fashion, trimmed down the main sheet others seta a No jib topsail. The mainsail and club topsail set nicely, but the the leach and foot.
 Packing to port at 2:22, when she had reached the north side of the main ship channel, the cup defender stood out to sea. In this narrow channel, however, she was forced to tack again in six minutes. The wind was very light and there was quite an ugly swell running in from the eastward which knocked the wind out of her sails. From here out to the black buoy, at the entrance to Gedneys chan mel, where she turned around for the home run at 3:15, the Columbia was forced to make thirteen tacks to cover a scant three miles so that it may be seen easily that she was unable to show any speed during the spin, especially as the wind was very ligth and baf- fling.
 When sheets were eased for the run back to the Hook the yacht showed some of her old time speed Before the small jibtopsail was taken in, six teen men manned the balloon jibtopsail halyards and in three minutes that sail was set and drawing well. In hauling aft the sheets it caught in the end of one of the battens of the jib and tore the batten pocket about a foot. It | can easily be repaired, however.
 Gybing at 3:22, the yacht made her way slowly to point off Sandy Hook. there she ran quickly to her | buoy and made fast for the night, the | whole run having lasted less than two | hours.
 After consolidation with Manager l Jameson and Designer Watson Sir Thomas Lipton decided that it was not necessary to take the Shamrock out for l final spin. So she laid moored at her buoy all day, her shining bronze body being the object of much curiosity. During the afternoon the tug Lawrence passed line to the challenger and she vas swung for the adjustment of her 
 When Sir Thomas was told to-day hat as result of the official of the yachts the Sham ock would have to allow the Columbia e was much pleased.
 Don't you think we have a splendid nance to win, now" he remarked We fully expected to have allowed nore time but of course we are very veil satisfied with the result. And ay, may the best boat win. If the Shamrock should lose I can certainly ay that have done everything man ould do to put the yacht in perfect ondition for the races and l think veryone admits that she is as nearly erfect as can be-" Men were put to work to-day polish 1g the shear strake of the Shamrock. 'thers gerased the big mast to make {, he gaff slide easily tomorrow. Fin ( thing touches were put on the paint I 'ork and all the standing and running ear received final overhauling The g men rubbed down the white | aint on her hull with sandpaper until f was smooth as glass.
 Tonight the two yachts lie within | ailing distance of each other, swing g at their moorings to good breeze
 which lies the hope of to- morrow's tee. All has been done that skill and F ,perience can do and none of the 'incipals will make prophecy as to e outcome. Only the betting shows. le trend of opinion and the prevailing Ids are 10 to on the American boat. F was reported that late this evening I csc odds had been increased to 10 to ! but so far as can be learned no large = agers had been laid. A firm of brok- |, S was to-day offering s25,O00 or any ., .s ,rt thereof at 10 to 8, but had been II lable to place but small part of this :,