The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-09-27
SHAMROCK
C0LU MBIA.

New York, Sept.-At 440 O'Clock, at
ter having tried five and one half hours to
complete the first xACe between Columbia
and Shamrock IL for the Americas cup.
the regatta committee fred a gun and
set the signal declaring the race of.
The time limit agreed upon had exsplred
with the finish barely In sight. 1t was
estimate that Columbia was seven miles
Shamrock.
Under The rules on the printed program
Issued by tho regatta committee OF the
New York Yacht Club. an unfinished
race of one kind shall te repeated until
declared The next race will therefore be
laid fifteen miles to windward and return .
The rules soy further that The races
shall be sailed on Thursdays, Saturdays
and Tuesday,
Tho next race will. therefore, be sailed
Saturday, beginning kt the Sandy! Hook
Lightship at IL u. M. If possible.
There was prospect OF q good race
from the earliest hours Of the morning.
Tho course Of the wind seemed to be
east-northsa east. and 1t was fairly ue.
.Thore WAS the remains or the long swell
Of the day before. enongh 10 seriously
make the yachts tumble about bit, but
not enough to seriously impede their pro
gress. They sky was almost clear but
there was slight haze In the air.
The time OF the Columbia was lilo. 40
and that of the Shamrock ll.ll.Ol. The
Columbla kept edging to windward as she
always does and Shamrock held her way
with gond full, going trife faster. A
puff Of wind found the Columbia and she
hauled. up closer to the bro0Ze and drove
ahead. With her main boom setting low
and her sheets tattened in, her jlbtopsail
ST owing beautifully. the white sloop
heelsd u little. pokeu her pretty nose high
slappng rate.
Then the wind began to .slacken and
tho speed died away.
Thcn ths Sha,nrook's turn came. She
felt puff and started ahead as though
she would go tearing past her rival TO
leeward. But Barr tore away and bore
down upon his brassy rival, killing. his
wind and stopping him In good style.
The contes 81 was very hot and exciting.
Money was bot eagerly on both vessel
and 1t was hard to form an opinion as to
the better craft.
At noon the ships were on the starboard
tack and close to Long Island. Sham
rock came about and stood off shore and
the ColCmb bia followed while the wind fell
almost to u calm. At a little after IL. 30
bath came about and In again.
At 1910 Shamrock took slant and
went through Coium mbias lee. A. soon as
Barr had good way on Columbia he tack
Cd otf.shore and was soon followed by
Shamrock.
Atl2.53 the Shamrock was seen to be
gaining and crossed the Columbia's bow
taking the weather side. but seeming to
lose her hendway while the Columbia
went sleedily on. Then was wild cheer
ing for the Irish boat a. she held her way
TO windwarJ and led the race for the first
time. 1t seemed, Indeed, that she would
do something dangerous andlher hackers
hopes ran high.
Then camo tickle puff of wind and the
Columbia drew slowly ahead, leaving
the Shamrock as though she were anchor
ed.
AT l. % Columbia tackled to star board
and the shamrock did the same. The Col.
umbin WAS soon leading and the breeze
was going 10 the southwark. showing
plainly that 1t would fall before tho race
was over.
Both vessels made several tacks but Col
umbla gained steadily. she was now
slightly to leewsrd, but we'll ahead and
see that she was minutes ahead OF her
rival.
The little point Of light was flashing
merrily upon the waves telling Of the
turning point and at sos. 80 the Colin bia
swung around it and doused her stay sail :.
Then, quickly swinging up her balloon
she headed away for the lishtship and
turned. with her rival far behind.
At2.l2.47 Shamrock turned, but for
some reason did not break out her light
for a canvas. The Columbia had balloon
jib and stay sail sot almost Instantly at
ter turning. but the English boat WAS
several minutes breaking out her balloon
jib topsail. Within few moments both
took in balloons and set Jibtop-ails as the
breeze mad turned to the south " ard more
and more until IL was . reach homo.
Tho race became procession and as
J the wind showed no signs .of freshening q
IL was seen that there would be no finish.
tThe yachts and pleasure craft headed
away and soon left the challenger alone, a
mile astern of Columbia.