The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-29
The COLUMBIA WINS The RACE
The American Yacht Flashes Across the Fin
sh Line Two Hundred Yards Ahead
of Shamrock the Second
SHAMROCK LEADS TO THE OUTER STAKE


wheel.
The force of the wind was now fully
nine knots an hour. 1t was sometimes
puffy and occa casionally reached the di-
mensions of scupper breeze when the
yachts heeled to it's strength.
THE WARNING GUN.
The warning gun was fired at 1885
and at that time both yachts had worked
to windward of the line with the Sham
rock now in the weather position. At
the warning signal both yachts bore down
and came toe leeward.
At 1888 the Columbia went on the
starboard tack. this manoeuvre being
repeated by her rival. The Shamrock
luffed up to windward of the Columbia,
and when the starting gun came had
splendid position and went over the line
two seconds ahead of her rival and we'll
placed in the windward berth.
For once the doughty Charlie Barr had
met his equal in the starting trick. The
Columbia tried in vain to work out
through the lee of her opponent Sew
eral short tacks were taken, but in spite
OF all efforts she could not get clear.
SHAMROCK IN THE LEAD.
At 11:40 Shamrock lhad a good lead of
nearly 800 yards. When the vessels were
on the port tack they encountered a
pretty hard head sea. While on the
starboard tack the sea smote them
abeam. The Shamrock appeared to
splash more against the nose enders than
the Columbia. but the splashng did not
retard her speed in the least Not a
tremor could be detected in the luffs of
the sails of either racer. Both were
handled to perfection and were given a
good clean full, not the least quiver be-
ing allowed to make itself manifested in
a single cloth
At 1854 both boats on the port tack
were heading for the outer mark which,
on this occasion was the tug Edgar of
the Luckenbach. the raft which she car
ried having failed to right itself when
put overheard. The wind now was the
freshest of the day. The Shamrock had
lead of at least 400 yards, and as she
approached the mark it was seen that
she had handily beaten the old defender
in the windward work. She turned in
with excellent style and with main
boom square off to port, the spinnaker
boom was lowered to starboard. The
Columbia made an equally good turn.
The Official time at the mark was as
follows.
Shamrock 1:25:12.
Columbia 1853.
SHAMROCK GAINS 80 SECONDS.
The Shamrock in the beat to wind
ward had thus gained 80 seconds. She
had beaten the Columbia boat for boat
but had not overcome the handicap of
43 seconds time allowance which under
the rules of the New York Yacht Club
she was compelled to cOncede. There
was considerable delay in setting spin
Makers The Shamrock waited apparenS-
ly for the Columbis, luffing out in
order to prevent blanket.
Finally at :32 the Columbia broke
out her spinnaker and at the same time
a tremendous balloon jib Shamrock
smartly followed suit. In the heavy roll
of the sea which was now on the port
quarter on the two boats, the main
booms trailed in the water as they
lurched to leeward. These were tauted
up clear of the sea, thereby spelling
somewhat the set of the mainsails.
THE COLUMBIA AHEAD.
The stern chase is long chase but
slowly the old Columbia crawled up on
the new Shamrock. At 2:10 she was
a-beam and half a minute later was
the leading boat. Slowly she still crept
| and at 2:14 was all of half a length
| ahead. From that time on to the finish
line she kept in the lead.
The wind was now dropping but in
spite of her much larger sail plan the
Shamrock could not prevent the steady
though slow gain of the Columbia.
For nearly an hour the race continued
without further event. Then at 3:15 the
wind freshened slightly, filling out the
immense sails of the Shamrock. Slowly
she crept up and lessened the gap be-
tween her and the defender. Now she
was only half a length behind Now
she was very nearly on even terms and
it became matter of doubt as to which
boat would first cross the finish line,
less than a mile away.
LAST EXCITING MOMENT.
1t was the last of the many exciting
moments in the contest for very soon
the Columbia getting her wind free
again pulled out and with surprising
rapidity opened up on the challenger
and pulled out a lead that left the result
no longer in doubt. She crossed the line
winner not only on time allowance,
but boat for boat
Yacht. Finish Elapsed Corrected
Shamrock BIBLES 431:44 4:31:44
Colombia 3:31:23 4:31.O7 4.3O. %
The next race will be over a triangu-
lar course ten miles to a leg and will be
sailed next Tuesday T