The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-09
BREEZE WAS NOT STRONG
AND CONSTITUTIONS PERFORMANCE
WAS ALMOST WONDERFUL.
Sailed Faster Than the Wind, Cover
Nine Minutes Forty-Six Seconds.


Independence in the first of the three
cornered races on Saturday was significant
and definite her winning to-day may well
be characterized as overwhelming and the
defeat of the Independence as positive and
almost hopeless. The approach of evening
again found the committee boat anchored
far out in Narragansett bay, along with the
cat boat, which marked the other end OF
the finish line, tediously waiting for the
Boston boat to cross, while her rivals were
we'll up the harbor on the way to their
moorings.
Columbia by nearly half an hour over the
thirty mile course, while the record against
the Independence was over hour. She
came near travelling around the triangle
while the Crowninshield creation was COW
ering two legs Of it.
To-day's race establishes the new Bristol
sloop as record-breaker in light airs. She
has accomplished what yachtsmen con-
sidered impossible in thus beating Colum-
bia, while her performance has Tut the In
dependence entirely out or the lunning in
conditions like those of to-day. What her
showing may be in heavy weather is still
a matter of conjecture. as it is with the In
dependence, but experts are now almost
ready to accept any achievement of the
Constitution with surprise.
OF all the conquests In the history Of the
renowned races for the Americas cup, that
Of to-day Is the most remarkable, not only
of the races proper. but also Of those Incl
dent to the selection OF cup challenger or
a cup defender. Constitution has proved
herself the best light weather craft of this
generation. Volunteer. Vigilant, Defender
and Columbia have in the past achieved
wonderful and glorious things in the cause
of defending the cup. but Constitution to-
day caps the climax.
GREASY GROUND SWELL.
The wind was light from the southwest at
the start, and there was a long and greasy
ground swell from the southwest when the
start was made from a point five miles
east-southeast of Brenton's reef lightship.
The first leg of the triangular course of
thirty nautical miles was a dead beat to
windward OF ten miles. the course being
southwest. The start of the Constitution
was notable. She did not seem to want to
take the windward position. but. being in
a hurry to cross, started from pretty near
ly the leeward end of the line and luffed
would have been the cause of a berth
further TO leeward. But a little while after
Columbia and Independence had crossed
the Constitution showed her naughty dis
regard of the pair of them by proceeding
on the starboard tack with little jib top
sail defiantly shaking its luff at everything
afioat. then going about and crossing the
bows of her opponents. and. when satisfied
with the lead she obtained, tacking and
occupying a commanding berth to wind
ward and a lead which she maintained to
the end Of the race.
There was haze and dampness and an un-
prepossessing outlook generally. but the
Constitution overcame every obstacle that
offered In the way of flukes and doldrums
and, sailed with tact and skill. won at the
first mark by ten minutes thirty-seven
second over Columbia That great yacht
never before had such a humiliating ex-
perience. On the next leg, a reach of ten
miles, with only q gentle zephyr blowing
on the starboard beam with fine reaching
jib topsail set TO whatever airs might come
her way, she sailed faster than the wind
and by rare skill and superior ability
worked herself through what seemed an al
most inextricable tangle OF humidity and
haze, greasy ground swell and dead calms
to an extraordinary achievement. She
rounded the leeward mark eight minutes
and forty-two seconds ahead OF Columbia.
And then, scurrying faster than the wind,
which never during the racing to-day ex-
ceeded the force of a ix-knot ar. she made
the crowning record Of her history by sail
ing over the ten knots in forty-nine minutes
and forty-six seconds.
Then came the cheering and notes of
acclaim from whistles and sirens in honor
OF the greatest boat that ever sailed a
fast light weather race. What she may do
with topmast housed IL quite iother mar
rative. She is, up TO this time superb in
light airs but a stronger breath may con-
Quer her.
STATISTICAL STORY.
The independence was not handicapped
by her personnel. but simply by her ina
bility 10 sail fast under the conditions that
prevailed. She made a fairly good start,
and experienced no particularly bad luck.
In fact. In the reach 10 the second mark
she had the greatest bit of luck in her
life. as she made faster time over the leg
TO the tune of two minutes and twenty-five
seconds than Columbia. That is the only
satisfactory episode connected with the
race OF the Independence. In two trials in
light weather she has not proved TO be
anywhere near her rivals. What may hap
pen in stronger breezes cannot be predicted
The statistical story Of the contest is told
as follows:
Name. Start Finish. Elapsed. C'rre'td.