The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-10-01

around on the StarDOard tack, still hOlu-
ing her in a nice berth to windward of
his rival.
Breeze Was Light.
At this time the wind was discourag-
ingiy light and it seemed an impossible
ity that the yachts would finish within
the time limit.
The yachts held this tack for about
six minutes, when the Shamrock, taking
the lead, in lacking again went on port
tack. Barr waited nearly two minutes
before following suit, and the wind was
so light that both yachts were more
than 30 seconds swinging in stays.
Both Boats Becalmed.
For nearly an hour the Columbia and
Shamrock both held the port tack, the
wind being so light at times that they
alternately fell off with the sea and then
luffed up. Shortly after II o'clock they
were for little time practically be-
Gained; but through it all the Columbia
maintained the lead which she had Sc
cured at the start.
About half-past ~ there were signs
down the Jersey coast that the wind
was increasing, and both shippers evil
IDENTIFY catching scent of this fact, at
12:41 went about in the starbOard tack.
w Nat VIII there Was udU Nduleu dTOuHu
little to the south of east and it looked
as il there would he no more windward
work in the race if it held from that
quarter. With the wind from that direc-
ton, the two remaining legs would b.
reached. Far out to sea there was q
dark streak showing that there. at least,
was some wind. In shore, toward the
mouth of the harbor, a fine eight-knot
breeze was blowing, sending the small
sallboats about at a lively rate. But up
along the Long Island shore, where the
big racers were, there was no wind ana
they made but slow progress toward the
first mark.
twas slow work for the next twenty
minutes but then the tickle wind caught
them at last. The Shamrock got it first
and darted ahead. Captain Sycamore
took every possible advantage of the To-
vorable slant and before 1t had reached
the Columbia, he was almost on even
terms. Fortune was with the British
skipper and he slowly worked into the
windward berth and then took the lead,
for the first time since they had crossed
the line. The shifting wind seemed al
ways to favor the Shamrock and at 1:52,
1t was ahead four lengths.
Shamrock Ta44es Lead.
At that time Shamrock had taken in
her baby iib top sail. Columbia set her
jib top sail and a few moments later
Shamrock followed suit. Both boats
We're now getting good slant of wind
and it seemed as though the Britishel
was making the most of it. The race
had become a pretty struggle for the
first mark, despite the lightness of the
wind The light and fitful wind now be-
fn p1av with hn nd
Columbia, catching a little more than
her share of it, cut down the Shamrock's
lead and passed her to leeward. 1t was
still anybody's race to the first mark.
At 2:14. Columbia swung about and
headed for the north shore on the port
| tack but Captain Barr soon brought
her around to the starboard tack again,
! Shamrock still holding the windward
| position and apparently being able to
| catch more of the flukey breeze than
| her rival. At this time she had estab-
| lished a lead. both continuing on star
| board tack. This lead she never lost to
the first mark. but holding her advant-
| age, rounded the stake boat comfOrtab bly,
ahead of Columbia. Nearly three minutes
| later the American boat turned the
| mark ana both went on port tack, head
| ing for the direction of the wind. a close
l
sailed but One-thrd of the course. and
| with only one hour and forty-five min
| utes remaining it looked impossible for
| them to finish within the five and half
| hours allowed for a race.
| Shortly after rounding the mark CO.
| lumbia changed her jib top sail for a
| baby jib; Shamrock, however. continued
| with the larger sail, and while Columbia
| was making the change the foreigner ap-
% AIRED to be increasing her lead. The
| yachts could cover but few more miles
| in the time limit when at $40 the COM
| mittee beat signalled the race off. as ii
| would be impossible to complete the re-
nrainder of the distance within the time
| limit.
| At that time Shamrock was about hall
a nile ahead. and in the last half hou,
of sailing seemed to have increased he.
/ sol,