The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-26
YACHTS RACE TO-DAY
SHAMROCK AND COLUMBIA WILL
TRY For AMERICAS CUP.
A LIVELY BREEZE PREDICTED.
PEOPLE OF TWO NATIONS ARE IN
TEREsTED IN RESULT.

A RnttIing Breeze and a Heavy Sen
Yesterday Morning, and the Same
Is Expected To-day-Both Yachts
Are in Splendid Condition AMI sir
Upton Seems Confdent--The Odds
Are on the American Boat. How
ever, and the British Sportsmen
Are Very Careful in Placing Their
Money.
New York, Sept. 25.-Weather sharps
and yachting experts unite in predict
ing that breeze will blow tomorrow
that will give the Shamrock and the
Columbia a race which will be memoir
able 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, rafting breeze blew in from
the northeast early this morning, and
at sunrise it had reached half a gale.
When the sailors of the cup yachts
and their attendant vessels turned out
for the last work of preparation
thirty-mle wind was kicking up the
white caps in Sandy Hook bay and
outside a heavy sea was running and
sailing vessel were pounding along un-
der close-reefed sails. While the wind
died with the sunset the weatherwise
say it will come again with the morn
ing, and that all indications are favor
able for one of the most magnificent
spectacles in yachting annals when the
two flyers go over the line tomorrow.
Neither Sir Thomas Upton nor Mr..
Duncan cared to risk trial run under
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.
The Columbia was forced to make
fourteen tacks to cover a Scant three
miles, so that it may be easily seen she
was not able to show any speed dur
ing the spin, especially as the wind
was very light and battling
After a consultation with Manager
Jameson and Designer Watson Sir
Thomas Upton decided that it was
not necessary to take the Shamrock
out for final spin. So she lay moored
at her buoy all day, her shining bronze
body being the object of much CURL
osity. During the afternoon the tug
Lawrence passed line to the chal-
lenger and she was swung for the adj
justment of her compasses.
Making Ready for To-day.
Men were put to work to-day polish
ing the shear strike off the Sham
rock. Others CREASED the great mast
to make the gaff slide easily to-mor-
row. Finishing touches were put on
the paint work and all the standing
and running gear received final over
hauling. The Columbias men rubbed
down the white paint on her hull with
sandpaper until it was smooth as glass.
Tonight the two yachts lie within
hailing distance of each other, swing
ing at their mOoringS to a good breeze,
in which lies the hope of to-morrow's
race. All has been done that skill and
experience can suggest, and none of
the principals will make a prophency
as to the outcome. Only the betting
shows the trend of opinion. and the
prevailing odds are 10 to 8 on the
American boat. In some instances it
was reported that late this evening
these odds had been increased to 10 to
Z, but so far as can be learned no
large wagers have been laid. A firm
of brokers was to-day offering $4,000
or any part thereof at 10 to 8, but had
been unable to place more than a
small part of this amount.
The final arrangements for the races
are complete and the Regatta Commit
tee having the matter in charge feel
assured that everything possible has
been done to give each yacht fair
show. AS in the case of two years
ago, the course will be patrolled by a
fleet of revenue cutters in command
of Capt. Walker of the revenue ma
rine service, and the yachts Will have
an unobstructed course of at least a
mile wide.
AS is usual in all Americas cup con-
tests, each club will be represented on
the opposing yacht. w. Butler Dun
can who during the past season man.
aged the Constitution, will represent
the New York Yacht Club on board
the Shamrock II. On board the Co
lumbia will III. McGildowney, a men,
ber of the Challenge Committee of the
Royal Ulster Yacht Club, man of
wide yachting experience.
Good weather for the Race.
Washington, Sept 25.-Official Fore
Bureau tonight made the following
prediction of the weather for to-mor-
rows yacht races:
I'VE will have tomorrow off Sandy
Hook light to fresh northeast WINDS
and fair weather"
Shnmroc<'s BnclSers Are Very Timid
London, Sept. 25.-The betting in
London shows how slim are regarded
the chances of the Shamrock lifting
the Americas sup. There is such diff
flculty to find takers that after so tc
40 was twice laid, the Columbia's ad-
mirers were obliged to raise the odds
to 110 to so. Even this did not attract
the betting men.