Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-05
''onlr 70 SECONDS
CONTINUED, from page H.

a miserable piece of canvas. There was
no more set to it than there would be
to an ordinary bed sheet hung up
| there. 1t was pulled and hauled and
drawn, but II was no use; the sail was
not improved. It appears that the sail
was set because they had no small
olubtopsails aboard.
At lo.i5 O'Clock the letter IT, was
hoisted on the flagship. meaning that
the race would be postponed temper
lily. This move was made in order to
give ample time to some of the yachts.
which were changing their clubtop-
sails.
At the same time tic course .ignaIs
were hoiSted. thus giving the three legs
TO be sailed as follows: Southwest by
south. east. and north northeast
Inc tifSt was beat. the second a
broad reach and the third a close
ie1ch. AT II o'clock the postponcment
nag WAS hauled down and II minutes
later the preparatory signal was
sounded. Five minutes later the second
signal was given ana five minutes after
that the signal to start.
When the second signal was given
'NS'ii " Jbtktv TIC IibSt
ton. HaT was in shore with the indie
rendence and was heading for
the line on the starboard tack.
me columbia was out to
sea beyond the light shin She
gNbed and headed back toward The
lightship. Half saw him coming. and
as the Columbia drew nearer, the IN
dependence was brought up in the
wind pretty Well and ii looked as if the
Columbia would have to pass by her
But by some clever jockeying Barr
managed to huff on the Independence
weather.
They ran for the line and just before
reaching it the Columbia fouled the
independence. striking her with her
Doom, forward. Barr. probably real
iZinS that he might do some serious
damage and also realizing that the
Independence had the right of way.
wore off and passed the stakeboat to
windward. He was obliged to eybe
and make another attempt. Mean
while the Independence had reached
the weather end of the line. but she
had 10 seconds and was obliged to run
down to the leeward end Of the line be
ipI' SiiC Sot tIit Sldi tiIls, SISldi. HIS
foul was bad one and about every
yacht at the starting line saw it. yet
the committee said they did not see
any foul.
When the Columbia did cross tn
line. Barr took her across at the
weather end. giving her a good berth.
Although the Independence was ahead.
she was quite a bit TO leeward and
her lead was badly reduced by this.
Both the yachts stood out to sea on
the starboard tack until l.33. when the
Columbia tackled to port and headed
in shore. The Independence followed
her Immediately. Barr was pinching
the Columbia some and she was point
ing much better than the Indepcnd-
cnce.
The Independence was footing lit
tie faster than the Columbia. but Half
was sailing her pretty close. and it was
evident that she could not stand IT,
Her working topsail was not helping
her particle If She had had q club
topSail in place of it. the chances are
that it wouid not only have helped her
along. but helped her To point.
At 1l.50 the Independence came about
! and stood out of the starboard tack.
| After two minutes sailing on this tack
she came about again on the port tack
| and stood in shore While making two
| short bitches the sheets We're flattencd.
There was another purpose. also. She
was getting quite close 10 tho Column
bia and Was feeling the effects Of back
wind.
| BY making this short hitch she vas
enabled to get away a safe distance.
! Columbia went about at 1i.J5 and
| beaded out tn sea on the starboard
! tack. Two minutes later she cross d
! the Independence bow. having i lead
| of about half a minute.
\ minute after this Columbia went
about On port tnck. AMI 4 minute later
she went about in the starboard tack
A minute later she once more came
about on the port tack and stood in
shore with the lndcpendcncc.
The yachts were now bowling along
ut great speed. with their Ice rails well
awash. At times they hcclcd SO far
| that it :,emcd as if they would lay
down fiat About 10 minutes past l.
| the Independence went about on the
Starboard tack and was followed by
the Columbia
Half an hour later. Independence
came about and stood over toward the
first mark She was followed by CO.
lumbia
The Columbia was holding the wind
| better and seemed to be heading nigh
| cr than her opponent. The lee rails of
the Yachts were frequently under, and
when the puffs struck the independ-
| cnce she would lay down almost on her
beam ends. Then capt Half woul1 huff
to save her. and the gaff topsail would
become back sail. The Columbia had
increased her lead gradually.
AT noon she was about one-eighth of
a mile to windward and gaining slow
ly. but surely. A couple more tacks
and the outer mark was close aboard
The Columbia stood for it on the star
board tack passing it to port she
made it at 12.42.30 and bearing away
set her No. 9 jibtopsail and stood fol
the second mark with the wind on the
starboard quarter. The independence
rounded at l2.41.51. having been beater
3 minutes and 81 seconds in the beat
She too, set No. 2 jibtopsail, ano
with good heel rompec through the
water at fine rate of speed and beSar
to overhaul her rival. 1t was on this