The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-04
VICTORY FOR
THE COLUMBIA.
Continued from First Page.)

started out on the first leg of the tri-
angle.
During the first few minutes it was i'm
possible to- say whether the Columbia
was gaining or not. In the gusts of wind
she seemed to heel over less than the
Challenger and also appeared to steer
slightly higher course.
The wind, though holding true from
north northwest varied in violence De-
casionally a heavy squall would strike
one of the racers, causing her to heel,
but taking the mean of the puffs, neither
could be said to have been more ia
vorable.
1t soon became apparent that the race
was to be sailed in very quick time.
The gain of the Columbia, which the turn
of the first mark proved she had made
was almost imperceptible.
COLUMBIA GAINS % SECONDS.
Toward the mark the wind freshened.
The Columbia with a lesser sail spread
seemed to stand sitter than her rival
but there was little to choose between
them. They smothered along toward the
mark and when they rounded it the CO.
lumbia had gained only twenty-five sec
onds.
The gybe on both craft was we'll done.
Under the same sail as they started they
both stood for the second mark. The
wind piped stronger and in the stro-~est
of the tufts the Shamrock had to lun a
little to ease her to the force of the
breeze.
The Columbia, on the contrary, was
Al f,,II of
suuall. never being eased and it was this
that helped her ahead. In spite of the
larger sail spread of her antagonist she
was never left behind, but kept up with
the challenger.
1t became apparent at the time that the
Columbia had sailed over one-half of
the second leg that she had saved her
time and was barring accidents winning.
Her skipper instead of nursing her
through the squalls let her feel the
strength of them, while the Shamrocks
larger spread of sail caused her to make
imperative tufts or else carry away some
thing.
In a reaching breeze closer and finer
sailing was never seen. There were fire.
quent occasion when the collapse of
topmast seemed almost due. But every
thing hung on.
SECOND MARK IN SIGHT.
Now the second mark was in sight and
at 12:45 jib-topsails were devised on both
yachts and they luffed round it, Shamrock
in the lead. but the watches showing
Columbia's gain on this leg to be thirty
seconds
1t was now a dead beat to windward to
the finish line. The Columbia was now
the leading craft from the mathematical
point of view. She had gained on both
legs and also had her time allowance of
43 seconds to help her. Thus if she could
hold her own to the finish the race was
hers.
In rounding the mark the boats split
tacks, Shamrock standing on the star
board tack for a few hundred yards. Co
lumbia went on the port tack for a while
and then at / 06 both were on the star
board tack.
Then began splendid thresh to wind
ward. The Columbia outpointed the
Shamrock, but the Challenger seemed to
| be going a little faster.
THE COLUMBIA LEADS.
At Ills the Columbia ran like a streak
of lightning through the lee of the Sham
| rock, luffed out across her bow and for
the first time in the race she was lead
ing and the windward beat.
At 1920 both yachts went on the port
tack, standing toward the Long Island
shore. There was little or no difference
between them on this board.
| At 1:57 both went on the starboard tack
| for the finish line. Then came the big
gest puff of ALL The Shamrock had three
or four strakes of the deck under water
but ran risks hoping to diminish her de-
| feat or even to win.
| But it was in vain. She made up lit
tie of her leeway but the Columbia cross
ed the line a winner and with time to
spare.