Waterbury Democrat., 1901-09-26
beautiful yachts and big excursion

anu boats.
 The Columbia was the first to reach the starting point at Sandy Hook light ship. arriving there at 10:10. No ef- fort was made to set sail on the de- fender until she was within hair mile of the lightship, but five mlnuteS after her arrival the big mainsal Was hoisted. followed fifteen minutes later by the clubtopsail.
 At this time the Shamrock was about half way out to the start, still in tow, and diving into the long swellS With the water dashing in sheets from ner bow.
 Before either of the yachts had reached the start the wind had fallen slightly and the whitecaps of the early morning disappeared. The wind, how ever. gave no signs of shifting, and at 1O:3O was holding we'll from the north east.
 The Columbia swuug away from her tow at 1O:35, going off on the first tack. but almost immediately heading round for the lightship. The sham rock followed five minutes later, and at 10:45 both boats were standing off and on around the lightship under three lower sails and clubtOpsail.
 Both yachts were ready for the race
  excursion fleet arrived at the light ship. But at II o'clock the majority had put in an appearance and the oth- CTS were not far behind.
 The fleet was not as large as on the first day of the races two years ago. although there were probably 200 yachts of various kinds about the starting point.
 At Il o'clock the wind was blowing ten knots. The official time of the start was: Columbia 11:10:49, and the Shamrock 11:11:01. Both boats crossed the line on the starboard tack and headed around on the port tack. In the first five minutes of sailing the Shamrock tried to force the Columbia about and at 11:25 the Shamrock had q lead of one-quarter of q mile. The Columbia put after the Shamrock and at II :42 crossed the Shamrock's bow and soon had lead of a few hundred yards. The Shamrock forged ahead however. and appeared to be footing much better than the defender. Just before she reached the Columbia Cap tain Sycamore gave the Shamrock sharp Huff, but it was not sufficient, for the American boat forged ahead, but the yachts were very close togeth- CT. At 12 o'clock the Shamrock had apparently reached the Columbia, but the latter was still leading and appar- ently able to take care of herself. The Columbia continued to. forge to the front and at 12:08 had a lead of quarter of a mile. At this time the yachts had gone but five miles of the course and the wind was falling. At 12:34 both boats came about on the starboard tack with the Columbia to windward. At 12:45 the Columbia ap- peared to be in the doldrums and the Shamrock was rapidly overhauling her. At this point the Columbia caught the breeze and sped away again from the British boat. Near 1 o'clock the wind was very light and there was not much progress made. Shortly after o'clock it was almost impossible to tell which boat was ahead. so close were they together At 1:20 it was doubtful if the time limit would be saved, as the yachts had at that time gone but ten miles of the course. At 1:30 the Shamrock had taken the lead, and four minutes later the Columbia had re- taken; it. She retained a slight lead and at 2 o'clock she b1anketed the Shamrock and was leading her by 100 yards. At this time the Columbia be- gan to go faster, catching the wind in good shape and she was running away from the Shamrock.
 The Columbia turned the stake boat, fifteen miles of the course having been sailed, at 3:361a. She sent lip her balloon jib and started on a .un for home. The Shamrock at this time was one-half mile in the rear.
 At BY the Shamrock turned the outer stake and set her balloon jib top- sail and started on the home run
 The Associated Press report of the yacht race was obtained by wireless telegraphy. with the cooperation cf the AIarconi Co of London and the Wireless Telegraph Co of PhiladeI- phia.
 London, Sept 26.-Neither the bet ting nor the comment of the newspa- pers respond to the optimistic views