Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-02
COLUMBIA WINS.
Beats Constitution 4 Min, 10
Sec, in Favorite Weather.
The New eoat Never Dangerous and
Is Handsomely Defeated.
L'pion al fewport-. Expects 10 Lii Cup. Law
sons Latest Offer.


seconds corrected time. over a course
of - miles to Windward and back in
the first of the trial races to select the
cup defender. The defeat was decisive
and admirers of the Constitution are at
their wits ends to make apologies and
excuses for her bad behavior. She wa;
fresh from the HcrrcShon ship yard.
where her bottom was FURNISHED until
ii glistcned like plate glass in the sun
light. Her sails fitted her admirably
with the exception of the balloon jib-
topsail, which she set Oh the homewdrd
reach
Thus she had no physical drawback
to act as a detriment to her speed.
Moreover. Nat I.crreshoff. her designer
and builder. was aboard to lend the
magic glimner of his name. All. how
ever, was Of no avail
The Constitution was beaten fairly
ana sIuarcly on her merits and unless
she sails better on Monday and
Wednesday, the committee which has
the matter in charge may decide upon
selecting the Columbia to meet Sham
rock ii.
The only possible excuse that the
hackers of the Constitution have to Of
FER is the circumstance that the yacht
got the worst OF the start. being handi-
capped several seconds. This is quite
true. She got the worst of the start
because her skipper was outgeneraled
and outclassed. But the few seconds
she lost thus cannot by any means be
distorted to account for the signal de-
feat the Columbia gave her. -
The race was started as Il dead beat
to windward. the course being south
southeast dead in the teeth of 10-knot
breeze and in smooth water. the very
choicest weather for the Constitution
| if she had been sailing in her old time
form or if the Columbia has not much
improved since her early races of this
year. The wind. however. hauled so
much to the eastward as to allow the
yachts to steer their course so that rs
matter OF fact the beat resolved itself
into one long leg and a couple Of short
bitches
The surprising part of the race was
the sagging off to lecWald of the Con
stitution when close hauled. In sti1f
breeze one might have expected to see
the Columbia beating her. but in the
weather that prevailed. today. II was
indeed amazing to see the Cunstiru-
ton 50 badly defeated. The hauling Of
the wind to the eastward nf course
benefited the Columbia slightly w ,he
was the leading yacht but ii cannot
With any justice be ell. ged thar ihis
was the real cause of the Constitution. :;
defeat.
Oft Brenton's reef genie south
easter blew at II o'clock this morning
The Columbia was first out TO lodge
about the starting line. She swung
aloft a dainty clubtopsail that set with
out a flaw or wrinkle Her nlainsail
Was equally as good. Her headsails
were tiptop. ana she carried in stops IN
infant jibtopsail. Barr was at the
helm with Mr.. l.. ID. Morgan close by.
while Mrs. Morgan. with another lady.
lent their aid as mascCts to the lucky
yacht.
Aboard the Constitution. which came
out later. was Nat HcrTcslloff ready to
give valuable aid in the way of advice
The steam yacht Sultana carried the
regatta committee. The tusboat
Unique had a number of the members
of the New York Yacht club aboard
and the tug COastWise laid out the
marks.
The connecting yachts had been re-
measured ana their racing lengths
We're. Constitution loi.1i feet and the
Columbia i0l &C. the Constitution thus
allowing the Columbia minute and IL
seconds over the Gentle course
Twenty steam yachts and eight sailing
yachts of large size. together with an
almost inuunerablc flotilla of mosquito
craft. were out to see the start.
At l1.20 signals were hoistcd on the
Sutana to the effect that the course
would he Is miles to Windward and re-
turn. the direction being south south
cast. AT 1l.30 the preparatory gun was
fired and five minutes later the bang
If the warming gun was heard. Then
begun the tug Of war. The skipper of
the Columbia planted his craft on the
weather side Of his rival and hampered
him in the usual manner, keeping him
under his lee.
The boats stood for the line and in
their efforts to best each other both
crossed the line on the starboard tack
a few seconds before the starting gun
whistle recalled both boats.
The Columbia turned round smartly
or her heel and coming around again
on the starboard tack shot over the
line well to windward of the Constitu-
ton. whose skipper seemed to be re-
markably slow. The starting time of
the Columbia was Halle. The Con
stitutCn passed after the handicap gun
was fired at l1.42.G0 Both yachts went
about on the port tack immediately af-
ter crossing the line. The Constitution
was Kept broad off the breeze. her skip
per hoping thereby to avoids the back
wind of the Columbia.
For a little while it seemed as.though
she was about to run RICH: through
the lee of her competitor. but this did
not happen. Strive as hard as they
knew how. the amateurs. Mr.. Nat Her
reshoT and Butler Duncan. with
Rhodes the professional were kept
jammed under the Columbia's lee all
the time. 1t was marvellous To see the
Constitution set off t. lccward in
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