Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-24
Columbia. and Constitution Doing
Their Best Work Today.
old OFFENDER IN TEE LEAD
Got Fifteen Seconds Advantage in
Start and increased It.
CONSTITUTION CLOSE ASTERN

NEW YORK, August 24.-The Constitu-
ton was measured yesterday by Mr.. Hys-
Top OF the New York Yacht Club. He did
not take her water line length, but meas
ured her sail area and today announced
as the result of his calculation that her
racing length had been reduced by five one
hundredths of an inch, making her at pres
ent IO414. This reduces her allowance to
the Columbia about two seconds in a
tnlrty-mile course, and she will therefore
allow the Columbia about one minute and
thirteen seconds in ..today's race, the last
OF the Seawanhaka-C orinthian series on
Long Island sound.
The Constitution left for the starting line
at Ills. and was followed half an hour
later by the committee tug. On getting
OUTSIDE the Columbia was found waiting.
AT noon the steam yacht Erin, with Sir
Ihomas Upton and guests on board, ar
rived from New York
AT noon the wind was blowing about six
or seven knots from the southwest. At
l2:I5 the committee tug took it's position at
the starting line
Columbia Gets Best Start.
The preliminary signal was sounded at
I2:5O. The committee signaled the course
as follows: Starting from off Oyster Bay,
broad reach northwest. half-west, AZ
miles; another broad reach east by north
o miles: then beat to the starting lire
south southwest, AZ miles: distance. 15A
miles. to be sailed over twice. Both boats
bore down to the eastward Of the commit
tee tug, and the Columbia was the first
to go around and stand back for the line.
Captain Barr timed the distance exactly
ana. coming up with good move, he cross
ed the line about ten seconds after the
starting signal was given. The Constitu-
ton was not as quick and followed fifteen
seconds later. The time Of the start was
Columbia, 1886 10; Constitution 1235:25
Both boats then headed for the first mark
with booms of to starboard and large
reaching jibtopsails set. At 12:45 the Co.
lumbia was leading by a few hundred
yards.
On the run to The first mark the Column
bia gained. principally through a lufing
match. Just before they reached the mark
she did 1t over. The times at the first
mark were:
Columbia. 1:O2:55
Constitution. :O3:33.
A Very Close Race.
Just after rounding the first mark the
wind shifted to a little east OF south. so
that the second leg. instead Of being a
broad reach. was rather close reach on
the starboard tack.
Both boats set small jibtopsails. and the
Constitution made every effort to get by
the leader. She was not fast enough how
ever. and the old boat turned the second
In the five-and- -half-mile run. The yachts
turned the second mark as follows:
Columbia. 1890
Constitution, 1855.
The Constitution gained three seconds on
the run. Sheetsawer iattened for the run
back to the Starting line on the third leg.
The Constitution lost some time after
rounding the second mark in changing jib-
tOpsail, but at f:40 she was standing af-
ter the Columbia.
Completion of First Round.
The yachts completed the first round. 15A
miles. In Iess than an hour and a half, the
times being: Columbia, 1895; Constitu-
ton. 1:59:13
This quick time was due to the shift OF
the wind to the east of south, which en-
abled the yachts to sail the last leg close
hauled on the port tack. instead Of having
beat to windward. as planned by the
committee.
On the last leg Of the first time around
the Columbia gained 13 seconds. leading
at the turn by 40 seconds. The Columbia
Ioke out her balloon jibtopsal on round
ing the mark and then set her spinnaker to
port. The crew Of the Constitution was
not as quick. and 1t was several minutes
before she broke out her spinnaker.
On the first mile or two Of the first leg
Of the second time around the Constitution
appeared to gain some. but at 2:1O the CO.
lumbia was still leading. and at that time
1t looked like a repetition of Thursdays
race.
London TO become enthusiastic over the
Americas cup races, but there Is a grow
Ing belief that Sir Thomas Lipton's chances
are good. commission, representing a
number Of sporting clubs, has sailed for
New York, carrying 10000 to wager on