New-York tribune., 1901-10-05

nat ana did not direct the wind into the balloon
Jib as on the Columbia. The balloon jib of the
Shamrock was consequently falling in all the
way. Both balloons pulling TO their full
extent on the Columbia, and the Shamrock was
losing ground.
In this start Sycamore took particular care
not to cross the line before the Columbia and
the result was that both crossed after the
handicap gun they officially timed at II O2
O'Clock, the Columbia leading by seventeen sec
onds as they crossed the line The Columbia
also had the advantage Of being on the spin
maker side of the course out.
THE SHAMROCK MOVES INTO THE LEAD.
Later on the balloon jib did better work on
the Shamrock, but it falling in during a
large part of the time. Notwithstanding this
arrangement of the sails the boat was show
ing remarkable speed, and within ten minutes
after the start she began 10 close the gap be-
tween her and the Columbia and TO move away
into the lead. From until 11:40 o'clock
her superiority of speed this point of sailing
became further manifest. and at 11:45 o'clock
she perhaps quarter of a mile ahead Of
the Columbia
Barr was now coming down TO Ieeward OF his
course, to interfere with the Shamroek's wind.
There man the starboard crosstrees OF
the Shamrock looking for the outer mark, the
yachts having run three-quarters of an hour
and the wind being about eleven miles an hour
1t now hauled two points to the westward, and
was blowing northwest. This promised the
boats long and short leg. instead of dead
beat TO windward on the return. The gain OF
the Shamrock may have been due to the diner
ent trimming of the spnnakers. Sycamore dis
regarded the work of his balloonjib, and
trimmed in his spinnaker a line with the
main boom and toward the mast. This kept
the balloonjib from filling the way as the
Columbia's filling. but it, perhaps. had the
merit of making the spinnaker hold all the wind
that il could grip.
Some experts question the advisability of spill
ing the wind from the spnnaker into the bal
loonjib. and contend that the fact of the bal
loonjib being distended does not mean neces-
sariy that the sail is helping the boat when she
is directly before the wind, and they say that
one lane or channel of wind will not work on
more than one sail.
GAP RAPIDLY DIMINISHING.
At 11:50 O'Clock the press tug Walter Lucken-
bach was directly abeam of the two boats. and it
was then seen that the Shamrock had a lead of
half mile, but II o'clock the Columbia got
a new streak of wind, and when the Shamrock
was almost becalmed in a bald spot the Columbia
came down on her. hot foot with heavy breeze
in her sails and the gap rapidly diminish
ing. The Columbia. being the following craft of
this leeward sailing. had, of course. the advan-
tage Of getting any increase of breeze first II
was not until the Columbia had cut down at
least three-quariers of the gap that the Sham
rock began to feel the wind that was bringing
her pursuer.
From a distance ahead of only four lengths
the Shamrock now began to open up the gap
afresh AS with northwest winds this was
full OF streaks. and II was only the quick alter
nation of the luck that kept the boats together.
With the Shamrock in the lead and with the
consideration of Sir Thomas Liptons chance OF
winning his first race. the situation became more
interesting as the boats proceeded. The general
view OF many Of the spectators seemed to be
that IL the challenger were able TO take one race
everybody would be pleased
CHALLENGER ADDS TO HER LEAD.
The Shamrock got another little start at 1920
and added a couple of lengths TO her lead. but
II was clear that in the streaks through which
the vessels were sailing the lead could be held
only by good luck
The fifteen milo outer mark was first seen
from the Luckenbach at 1926 and the wind at
that time had hauled a trine more westerly.
causing the srinnaker booms on both boats 70
be Stacked UP more forward. The direction OF
the breeze was about northwest half west, and
probably both boats would have gone faster
under balloon jibs only, if the spinnakers were
taken in However, the Columbia made no
change, and the shamrock Gid not after nef
canvas but at 1872 Sycamore took in his bal
loon jib and broke out his working jib. He
would probably have done better to take in his
spinnaker- and mold to mis- balloon jib. as in
that case, with the wind we'll one side, he
would hold the weight of it when reaching un-
der his balloon jib only. The Columbia held to
both her big balloons, but did at this time
seem TO be gaining. What Sycamore wanted to
do in these last two miles the way to the
ward work back. AT I2:26 he sent up a work.
ing jibtopsail I'm stops, and thus abandoned one
chance Of running out considerable lead
through trusting to his balloon jib solely on
the rest OF the way TO the outer mark.
THE COLUMBIA BEGINS TO GAIN.
The Columbia began to gain perceptibly
and at 12:42:50 began TO lower her balloon jib,
but the rings the stay fouled the luff of the
spinnaker and tore a hole in it. The sail hung
on the stay for nearly two minutes, and it was
partly hoisted again. The crew pulling at
the sail to lower ii down.. but ii evidently re-
fused to come. 1t looked if the spinnaker,
being Stacked. well forward, had been lying
over the stay they attempted To lower the
balloon Jib, and the only way they could get
the balloon jib down to rip the spinnaker
and break the balloon jib away from the spin
maker by main force.
At 12:46:20 the spinnaker was slackened
forward and taken down by the crew
and then. at 12:47. the crew were able
which the balloon jib was lowered quickly and