Waterbury Democrat., 1901-09-26
COLUMBIA'S START
Got Over the Line Eleven Sec
 onds Ahead of Samrock.
SHAMROCK QUICKLY rooKLEAD

Was Leading By Quarter of a Mile at
 End of First Half Hour-After an
 Hours Sailing the Positions Were
 Reversed and the Columbia Was
 Leading-The Wind Had Fallen aud
 It Promises to Be Slow Race.
 New York, Sept 2G.-with brilliant autumn sun and a piping breeze, the first day of the international yacht races opened with every promise Of perfect conditions of wind and weath- CT. After blowing half gale nearly all night the northeast breeze sub sided a trifie at sunrise. but at $ o'clock both Sandy Hook and the High lands of Navesink reported that it was blowing at eighteen knots It had swept away every yestige of mist or haze, and the Long Island shore was visible from the Jersey coast.
 The sea. however, was quite rough, and heavy surf was pounding on tine beach at Sandy Hook. or the Sandy Hook lightship a little fleet of pilot boats was scudding about under reel mainsail, while two or three tramp steamers bound out tumbled badly ill the heavy seas.
 Remembering how the breeze fell yesterday, however, from a half gale in the early morning to light six knots at . o'clock, the weather wise were inclined to place only faint faith in the early morning conditions.
 nra ay.d hnI md of fI- CT everyone was early astir this morn ing. As early as 6 o'clock the launch from the Columbia's tender put some sailors aboard the yacht and they fin ished up the work begun yesterday of polishing off the side paint. Shortly after o'clock the Shamrock's crew was put aboard from the Porto Rico and went to work stripping the pro- tecting canvas from the boom and bow spirit and putting the forward sails n stops. In the meantime the Colum- bias crew had gone to breakfast and the boat was deserted for about an hour. On board the two tenders all was excitement and preparation. On the Porto Rico. where the sailors of the Shamrock are quartered, the men were confident that the breeze of early morning. if it continued, was in their favor. Fifteen to seventeen knots they said was what they wanted. By s o'clock the full crews of both yachts were aboard and every man was busy.
 By S:10 o'clock both boats had got ten their jibs and staysails in stops and laid their spinnakers ready to. break. The big club-tOpsails also were made ready and the covers taken off the mainsail. The bedding and per SOnal belongings of the watch were taken from both yachts and sent aboard their tenders and by half-past s o'clock it seemed as if everything was ready for a start.
 No changes were made in the prin- cipal sails. The Shamrock IT. has the same mainsail bent that she used in the squall off Sandy Hook last week, and the Columbia's mainsail is the same one which she tried last Satur- day on Long Island sound. Captain Sycamore walked the deck of fhe Shamrock for about fifteen minutes, anxiously looking seaward. Captain Barr of the Columbia. with his mate, Miller. did exactly the same thing.
 At the challenger's main truck a brand new shamrock flag was flying. The Columbia flew only a small wind pennant.
 At S:30 the crew of the Columbia went below and appeared a minute later wearing clean white working suits and watch caps of black and vel low, F.. ID. Morgan's colors. The Shamrock's men are wearing white navy hats with their white suits.
 On board the Erin. Sir Thomas Lip ton and his guests turned out early. and from the quarterback closely watched the preparations on both The racing yachts.
 Standing with MT Jamieson and De signer Watson. Sir Thomas said:
 That boat" mOtiOning towards the Shamrock IT.. ''is perfectly it. If ahe dces not win it won't be because she has not been given every attention"