The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-02

neal the line and went over before the
starting gun vas fired. Columbia. on the
other hand, was in beautiful position. ana
poked her bow across the line a few sec
ouds after the gun FIRE. Shamrock had 10
wear TO recross the line. this mistake bad
~ handicaping her at the outset. The WIND
was not more than four knots. and DoIu
yachts headed for the Lorg island shore
ou the starbOard tack Columbia was far
to the windWard. but the yachts were ap-
parently On equal terms so far as footing
was concerned.
After fifteen minutes OF sailing the Sham
rock swung around on the port tack and
was soon followed by Columbia, which
was still holding "A commanding lead. Al
1874 Shamrock went around on the star
beard tack and stood across s
wake, but less tnan a minute ~alleTWdIu
Captain Barr swung Columbia around on
tie starbOard tack. still holding her IN Il
nice berth 20 the wiudward Of his rival
The yachts held this tack for about six
minutes. when Shamrock. taking the lead
f. lacking. again went on the port tack
Barr waited nearly two minutes before t0l-
lowing suit and the wind was 50 light tnat
both yachts We're more than thirty SECONDS
swinging In stays.
For nearly an hour Columbia and Sham
rock both held the port tack. the wind be
ing so light at tines that they alternately
fen of with the sea and then luffed. snort
IS after L O'Clock they were Tor a niue
time becalmed, but through II all the Co
lUmbia maintained the lead. which she
had secured at the start About haI past
twelve there were signs down the Jersey
coast that the wind was increasing and
both shippers, evidently catching scent OF
this fact. at 12:n went about on the star
board tack
POSITIONS CHANGED
What wind there was had hauled around
a little TO the south Of east and it looked
as IL there would be no more windward
work if It he'd from that quarter. With the
wind from that direction the two remain
ing legs would be reaches. Far out to sea
- III -s-.-I ghnuufnU that
there at least was some wind. In shore, to-
ward the mouth Of the harbOr, a fine eight
knot breeze was blowing. sending the
small sailbOats about at a lively rate but
10 off the Long island shore, where the
big racers were, there was no wind ana
they made but slow progress toward the
first mark
IL was slow work for the next twenty
minutes, but then the tickle wind, which
had been blowing everywhere but on the
yachts. caught them at last. shamrock
got il first and. with her canvas filled out,
darted ahead and rapidly cut down the
distance between her and
Captain Sycamore took every possible ad-
vantage Of the favorable slant, ana before
1t had reached Columbia he was on almost
even terms Fortune was with the BRUSH
skipper, and holding tight to the air cur
rent which he had caught, he slowly
worked into the windward berth and then
took the lead. 1t was not much or an ad-
vantage. but for the first time since they
had crossed the line the Britisher was
ahead. 1t was just Ills when, beyond ques-
ton Of doubt, il was seen that the boats
had changed the position they had held
since the start. The huky, shifting wind
seemed always to favor Shamrock. Try
as he would. the American skipper could
not eaten as favorable an air current, and
ar 1:22 Shamrock had a good four lengths
OF open water between her stern and Co
lumbia's bow. In the meantime Shamrock
had taken in her baby-jib topsail and the
boats were rapidly nearing the first mark.
Columbia get her jib tOpsail. and a few
moments later Shamrock followed suit.
Both boats were now getting a good slant
Of wind and IL seemed as If the Brftisher
was making the most of il, her sails draw
ing well. and apparently mOmentariiy
widening the gap between herself and her
rival. The race had become a pretty
struggle for the first mark, despite the
lightness of the wind.
The light and ftful wind now began TO
play FRANKS with the racers and Columbia,