The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-29


the starboard tack. but shamrock held on
until she was on well TO the weather OF her
rival before tacking after her.
THE RUN OUT.
Both boats were now swinging along on
the starboard tack. heading almost due
northeast. At HIS Columbia was distinctly
ahead. Both boats were responding to the
increasing wind. out Columbia seemed to
be increasing her lead. Columbia went on
the starboard tack, followed a moment later
by Shamrock. Columbia was evidently un-
able to cross the Shamrock's bow, and was
forced to come around. Columbia was try
ing TO back-wind the Shamrock again, but
the maneuver was not effective.
The wind was steadily increasing. BY 1.90
all conceded that Shamrock was ahead.
Both were on the starboard tack, sailing
northeast. and Shamrock seemed 10 be
gaming. II was a fine contest. Both yachts
had sailed four miles from the lightship,
and 1t was nip and tuck between them. At
noon when the yachts had sailed an hour.
columbia was close under ShamrOck's lee,
ana appeared 10 be reaching faster than
Ine challenger, but Shamrock was still
dhedu. Columbia taCked TO port in an at
tempt TO cross the bow Of Shamrock. but
was unable to reach her, and thirty seconds
tack.
The wind blew true at about ten knots.
mere seemed little advantage on either
size. Both yachts We're sailing magnifi-
Gently, Columbia having worked a little TO
w~indward. but astern of the British boat.
captain Sycamore seemed to be working
shamrock slowly from under C~olumbia's
The boats held to the port tack, standing
OH shore, and at 1920 they were pretty
nearly on even terms. Columbia was still
10 Wlndward. but probably $50 yards astern
of the British boat The outer mark was
not more than six miles away. and Barr
ma sycamore We're each doing his best.
Inc wind was twelve knots. At a quarter
or 1 both boats were on the starboard tack,
having gone about at 1872. There was nc
percept1ble change in their positions. Sham
rock had the weather gage and was hold
ing her own, while Columbia was unable
TO make any substantial gain.
At 1853, after two hours of sailing, Sham
followed closely by the American boat. Co
lumbia got the windward berth, but was
astern. They held this tack for three
quarters of an hour in a neck and neck
race. The boats were not a hundred yards
apart, but the Shamrock maintained her
lead through to the outer mark.
They held the port tack to the outer
toward the turn In a royal race.
ROUNDING THE TURN.
But Shamrock had the right berth, and
Captain Sycamore swung her around the
stakeboat a little more than half a min
ute ahead of the American boat. Column
bia was by exact time just 4S seconds be-
hind Shamrock. Both yachts then squared
away for home. running before the wind.
and seven minutes after the turn both
broke out their ~spinnakers. The official
time of turning the outer mark, as given
by the Marconi wireless telegraph, was:
Shamrock, 1882; Columbia. 1:25:53
1t will thus DE seen that Shamrock was,
in actual sailing time, 80 seconds ahead
of Columbia, as she had crossed the start
ing line two seconds ahead Of her, but
this elapsed time is more than offset by
the As seconds of handicap which the us
ter yacht is compelled TO give under the
rules to Columbia because of her measure
ment. The next few miles of her sailing
showed that the British boat would have
a hard time TO increase her slight lead
on her rival. For a brief time the boats
sped homeward apparently without q
change in their relative positions, but about
2:10 it was seen that Columbia was over
hauling Shamrock. Slowly, very slowly,
she had reached her flying rival. Two
minutes later and she had poked her bow
spirit ahead of Shamrock, and established
a lead. The wind held, but did not increase
in velocity, and both boats seemed TO get
all of it.
The yachts had the long swell behind
them. This caused the big ~spinnakerS,
which We're set to port, to belly out and
then wrinkle, while the balloon jibS were
alternately full and slack. The bOoms also
kept topping up into the air and then fall
ing. Shamrock seemed to roll a trihe more
than Columbia, and this apparently ac-
counted for some of the %latter's gain, al
brought up the better breeze from astern.
Columbia gained steadily, in spite of every
effort of Shamrock to regain her lost ad-
vantage. Both shippers tried every known
means to secure the advantage, and at
times changed the station of the crews to
different parts of the boat. But try as he
would. the British skipper could not over
take his flying rival. and little by little
Columbia reached out until, at 2:31, she had
a full three lengths of clear water between
her stern and the bow OF her pursuer.
Columbia still gained and very slowly in
creased her lead. The wind was blowing
about eight knots, and neither yacht had
of their being of service.
For a time 1t looked as If Shamrock had
caught a bit of wind which had been denied
Columbia. and drew up. but the, Yankee
boat maintained the advantage which she
fought so hard for and won after, they
had rounded the outer mark. She had d
lead. but nothing to spare, and it was a
critical stage of the contest. As the boats
lay, had either met with. some Disadvantage
in the shape of a wind slant Ii probably
would have told the story. The great racers
came slowly on with the white American
yacht still holding her little lead.
AT THE FINISH.
Slowly Shamrock crept up and lessened
the gap between her and the defender.
Now she was only a half length behind.
Now she was very nearly on even terms
and it became a matter of doubt as to
which boat would first cross the finish
line. less than a mile away.
1t was the last of the many exciting
moments in the contest, for very soon the
Columbia. getting her wind free, 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 a winner not only on time
allowances. but boat for boat. Summary:
Yacht. Start. outer mark
Shamrock ........1 II :00:14 1:25:12
Columbia ....1 IL :O0:16 1858
Corrected
Finish. Elapsed time. time.
(S.) 3:31:5S 4:344 4:5l:44
(Co 3:31:23 4:S:OI 4;SO:22
The next race will be over a triangular
course ten miles to a leg and will be sailed
next Thursday.
SIR THOMAS'S BOAT.